We Now Own a Prius
Nov. 15th, 2009 09:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chomijiYou've probably heard me tell stories of my ancient Accord, Ruby Lee, who has been getting less and less dependable. The Mr.'s Avalon made sense when he bought it a decade ago, but it's a little silly at this point in terms of gas mileage. So, Ruby's days are probably numbered, and I'll be stuck driving a Toyota boat. Which is OK, I guess, because I don't drive to work (I take Metro), so it's only for shopping and such. Hence the Prius.
It's white and its rear visibility sucks, but it has a back-up camera (and lots of other strange electronic gizmos). I'm thinking we could call it Jeep and confuse everyone.
Oh, and half the power at the dealership building was out. So it took us more than 3 effin' hours to complete the paperwork (the staff were all sharing the printers in the powered part of the building, for one thing). At one point, I was lighting the process with the Mini-Maglite that I carry in my bag, like the geek I am. I am now more behind that ever on what I was trying to get done this weekend ... .
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Date: 2009-11-16 02:38 am (UTC)Enjoy your new car and its gizmos.
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Date: 2009-11-18 02:44 am (UTC)Whatever was happening at the dealership, the owner was looking quite frazzled - as we were finishing up, I heard one of the flunkies say to him that the electrician was on his way.
Actually, it's mostly going to be the Mr.'s car - he has the long driving commute. But I need to learn to deal with it too.
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Date: 2009-11-16 02:43 am (UTC)I'll be curious to see if the Prius grows on you. I've had one for the past three+ years and love it to pieces, but you're right, when driving in a crosswind it handles like a boat. On the flip side, though, if the wind is behind you, you pretty much only run on the electric engine. I've done over 500 miles on a tank of gas under those conditions.
The only thing that I'll warn you about is that the puppies hydroplane really easily, and you'll want to avoid driving in snow or when there's ice on the roads as much as possible. They're just way too light to grip the road very well if there's anything that interferes with traction.
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Date: 2009-11-18 02:48 am (UTC)The Mr. is just being tolerant about the name idea - he never names his cars. (The poor Avalon has no name - it's such a smooth but bland car that I never thought of anything to call it.)
His commute is so weirdly variable that it made sense to get him something that's fuel-efficient. He goes to different sites on different days.
This is indeed the smallest car we've ever had, and smaller than the Avalon by far, but not all that awfully much lighter than Ruby or the early-model Camry that preceded the Avalon.
Thanks for the advice - he's also been polling his co-workers about their experiences.
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Date: 2009-11-16 02:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-18 02:51 am (UTC)The Mr. is being a Tolerant Husband about the name. Mr. Engineering does not name cars.
I will pass on the warning about the camera on bright days!
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Date: 2009-11-18 03:26 am (UTC)I love this car.
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Date: 2009-11-20 11:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-16 03:00 am (UTC)Adorable name, too.
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Date: 2009-11-18 02:54 am (UTC)Thanks for the kind words. There was a red Matrix sitting next to the Prius we bought, at the car lot!
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Date: 2009-11-16 09:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-18 02:56 am (UTC)It's mostly going to be the Mr.'s car, and he's not going to call it that ... he never names his cars. I'll have to be sentimental for two!
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Date: 2009-11-16 09:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-18 02:56 am (UTC)Hee, I'll call it Jiipu, but he won't!
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Date: 2009-11-18 02:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-18 02:58 am (UTC)We had heard good things also, both from friends and colleagues and from Consumer Reports (yes, we are geeky people who read Consumer's ... ).