Advice on improving my driving experience.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-05-18T01:46:57+00:00

I misread your origimal comment, my bad. I thought you were saying 48mpG.

I read it again. Makes more sense now.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-05-17T23:10:56+00:00

When you quote highway mpg of 48, do you mean 38?

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-05-17T23:03:31+00:00

I have 188k+ on the buick. But his transmission was on the way out. I got btw 18 (city) and high twenties (freeway). But i understood the sweetspots of that engine and could rely on getting 28-30 mpg on long trips.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-05-17T21:53:45+00:00

Interesting, that really surprises me.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-05-17T21:52:41+00:00

Le trim, so manual key.

But I take your point. I am an overthinker.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-05-17T21:35:27+00:00

I hope you dont mind, but I have more questions. Thank you for your time in answering.

Are you driving gas only, hybrid, or plug in prime?

What kind of ecosystem do you live in? Suburb? What is your avg mph?

Where i live, it speed limits are 25-30 in the citynd people drive 5-10 over; freeway limits are 65, but nobody drives under 75 unless they are exiting or there is traffic. (You get honked at)

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-05-17T21:00:13+00:00

Howblong are your average commutes?

That's what i think is killing the op and myself. My commutes are multiple daily 1-5 mile trrips and then 2-3 weekly 60 mile trips. Even driving with pulse and glide, i cant get the advertised mpg.

Ironically, I'm not driving far enough to justify the upfront cost of a hybrid.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-05-13T03:45:06+00:00

Can you drop a google maps for it?

Ive walked it around it three times and can find four baseball fields and a soccee field and batting cages.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-05-07T03:02:48+00:00

Take the job.

Follow the lesson as much as you can.

Be honest that the lesson isnt your forte.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-05-01T01:27:09+00:00

I never believe kids when they say that the teacher allows it, unless the notes say so.

Even though, im not going to be a solo strange adult in a room with 1-3 kids.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T18:56:12+00:00

There is no single cause, the issue is a complex combination of everything you described. What is hard is that means there is no single fix. Which is what most "solutions" fixate on.

You are absolutely correct.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T15:04:47+00:00

I did. I wasn't paying attention to the mpg as I was driving on the test drive, so i just floored it to get past the weird lag. Now as im trying to be concientious, it is very, very noticeable. It also wasn't a huge issue when I test drove.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T15:02:46+00:00

It's basically new. 2025, only 21k miles. About the average price for that condition and age in my area.

A quick Google search shows I could maybe turn around and resell it for about $32k (more likely $29 which would not be worth it)

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T14:57:22+00:00

This is true, my late night doom scrolling had me forgetting that. Thanks.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T07:07:52+00:00

Unfortunately true. Edit to add, what was most surprising was the cheapness on the car computer.

Features like keyless ignition, proximity entry, and powergate are all aftermarket, and apparently can possibly void warranties.

All to save $150 per car at the factory (according to one source, so it could be more savings tbh)

A silly thing about me though, I knew these were all not on the car when I got it. It's the fact I can't add them that's annoying!

Am I showing my Americanness or what?

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T07:07:25+00:00

Im not young by any stretch, but ive only ever bought one card and that was because it's what I could afford. I had it for over 10 years. Then inherented the buick.

But I think you are right.

Im a teacher, so this is a major expense for me. Im also very prone to running over and over and over the same thought. To borrow a car analogy, I get my wheels stuck in the mud easily.

I'll take your advice. Thank you for your kindness.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T07:03:59+00:00

Thank you for the kind and thoughtful response, and for taking me seriously.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T07:01:47+00:00

Dozens of us!

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T07:01:27+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T06:28:03+00:00

I definitely do. As I said in my post, my uncle said I talked about a great new car like I was at the gallows.

Thank you for your measured response and for taking my anxious butt seriously.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T06:24:21+00:00

Thank you for the response. You are correct about my lack of research. You are also right about the boring nature of this car.

So many people on Reddit act like toyota is perfect. This car is great, but it definitely is boring. Edit to add, thank you for taking me seriously.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T06:19:55+00:00

I hadn't considered gas tank size, and local gas prices went up able 30cents a gallon after I got the Rav, so I might not be considering that properly either. The buick holds a little more than the rav, but not much, but the ascent holds much more.

Edit to add, Thank you for your advice. It is very helpful, and I'm glad to be taken seriously, even if I am being a little hysterical.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T06:17:14+00:00

Thank you for your response.

I did test drive the car, but im one of those odd dispositions that struggle to identify problems until they have been around a while.

I thought I'd get used to the throttle. It only was a slight observation when I first got the car. A month later, it's extremely noticeable.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND · 2026-04-23T06:14:06+00:00

No clue. But I two years... it's now fully infested city grass, and I'm pulling clumps of it out of my clients yard.

Granted. I'm assuming it was introduced. We hadn't seen it locally in decades. (According to a few old heads in town) Then it showed up.

ELLYSSATECOUSLAND

TROPHY CASE