I have a about 2400 miles on my Insight already and I just got to the stage two econ level. I have been averaging between 48 to 50 mpg per tank. I think that is great considering that I live in hilly Pittsburgh. My question is this I made it to the stage two econ level and I see the two leaves per tree but after my trips I haven't seen any progress in the stage two level; how long does it take to progress through the stage two level? As I said I have seen no progess, the horizontal bar shows no movement after about 4 trips of 35 miles or more. This makes me wonder how long it will take to move along from stage 2 to stage 3. It makes me wonder even more how long will it take to progress in stage 3 if I ever get there.
Not sure, I just hit the "second level" last week and just yesterday I could see some progress into the second level. It may depend how many miles you drive a day. I drive about 70 miles a day so I may see activity before you will.
Nice to meet another owner around PGH. How are you determining mpg, using the readout or actually calculating? I'm running between the South Hills area and Greensburg (I-70) and found the idiot meter to be so far off that it's laughable, even after several hundred miles on a tank. And yes, I've run it without resetting between tanks -- same result. It needs a smarter hamster working the computer.
During warmer weather, say above 50 degrees, measured mileage is between 47 and 48.7 (serious about the .7 thing). Below 50 mileage drops to between 43.5 and 44.8. Oddly enough it doesn't seem to matter whether the gas has the winter (e-10) mix. During the brief warming trend we had a week or so, mileage went back up to near 49mpg. Now that it's below freezing mileage is again off.
Incidentally, to make this post relevant, I've had all 3 stage indicators completely filled for several weeks but never have seen the "trophy." Getting ready to reset and start all over.
When you get the big trophy, it only comes on the one time you reach the top. It happens when you turn the key off and the trophy comes up for a few seconds and goes away. You never see it again. It does take a while of good driving with the horizontal bar full to get the trophy. You might not have gotten the trophy yet. It's exciting when it happens, but sad that it never comes up again. You don't even have time to get your cell phone camera out.
I recently reset mine. Those first stage trees are easy. I can drive like an idiot and still get 5 full first stage trees.
I did notice it disappeared quickly when I hit stage 2, but after almost 2 months on stage 3 (I always look at the idiot panel when shutting off -- keep hoping) with a full display I still get nothing. It's entirely possible I missed it, so I'm going to reset eventually.
For the time being I'm playing with econ off to see if the battery assist runs differently. I absolutely hate it when I'm cruising along and encounter a hill only to have the system kick into regen almost immediately. At 3k+ the car doesn't even hold speed on some of the mild inclines I get on I-70. Still, it continues to get slightly better mileage than the '04 Silverado I traded (doesn't carry construction materials nearly as well though).
__________________ How do I get a sheet of 4x8 drywall in this thing???
I did get to complete stage 3 and saw the trophy. I changed jobs so I drive a lot less now. I have 9179 miles on my car now. My oil life says 20% so when it gets to 10% I will get the oil changed. I wonder if Jiffy Lube carries 0-20W. I have noticed with it being only 20 degrees or so around here and my much shorter trips that I am only getting 38 to 40 mpg during this winter. I am still pleased though since my Honda CR-V never got more than 23 mpg.
I really like the car a lot with the Nav and the XM radio. My 2007 Chrysler 300 C with the Hemi is still a better car. It has built in Nav too but the Insight has voice commands that they Chrysler doesn't. The Chrysler is more comfortable on long trips. My Insight is more comfortable than my Honda CR-V was on long trips but isn't as comfortable as the 300.
I have reset the leaf stages and I am starting all over. It does amaze me how much temperature affects the MPG in this car. It is a lot different than any other car I have owned. Temperature does not affect my MPG in the Chrysler or the CR-V I used to own.
I had to get off the computer so the day crew could log on and only had time for that short reply. In hindsight it probably would have been best not to reply at all until this morning...
Anyway
I have the EX sans NAV (that's what was on the lot in the color I liked .. the lighter blue). Besides, I already have a newer GPS that I was using in my Silverado so it just seemed like overkill to have another.
There are a few things with the car that I'm not excited about but those are characteristics of smaller cars, hybrids in particular. All in all it's a decent ride and does much better, cost-wise, than the former truck even considering financing and insurance. What I *REALLY* hope for is a firmware update to change the recycle oddness of the battery so it doesn't suck engine power as soon as I hit a hill -- or install a pedal feature so I could provide some leg power to assist the car. Being such a small vehicle it's easy for trucks to misjudge distance during my travel times (mostly darkness). It only makes the situation worse when I slow drastically going uphill as trucks are trying to keep speed to make the grade.
The performance does seem a little better with econ off, however, so I'm guess it does affect shift points and charging cycle. I'm on my first tank of gas with econ off so it'll be a few days before I can judge mileage, but I suspect it won't differ a whole lot (ran half of the last tank in "off" and didn't seem to notice much change).
Now I'm left to wonder how many wilted leaves (downward pointing) I'll get. Maybe I'll get a chance to try for the trophy without resetting...
__________________ How do I get a sheet of 4x8 drywall in this thing???
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2nd Leaf Stage
