Aw, old aubergine-coloured car is retiring...

My father bought a first-gen Prius in 2002 or so. He is quite fond of it, and has had no major issues in 120K miles. In fact, he sounded a bit proud to have gone past the end of the factory warrantee on the battery without so much as a twinge of doubt.

As a gearhead, I find his car as compelling as dry toast, but that is to be expected.

I have an '02 Prius, the first model introduced to the States. It's the four-door with the trunk, not the hatchback (I think that model came out the next year and has been the basis for all the newer ones).

I love it! The only problem I've had is it's balky to start sometimes when it's been sitting out in cold weather for a few days. And the battery from which you jumpstart it is in the boot, not under the bonnet, which confused the hell out of me the first time I needed a jump.

The screen that displays mileage per gallon is hellaciously seductive -- I find myself trying to hypermile it all the time, which leads to me driving like a snail. On reflection, that's probably a Good Thing. The best mileage I've ever gotten out of a tank was 52 MPG. I average around 43-44 MPG, largely because most of the driving I do is in stop-and-go traffic in a hilly area.

You aren't going to win any street races in it, but it's reliable, affordable, it hauls everything I need it to, and when it comes time to trade in, I'll probably get another one. Second-best car I've ever owned, after my late lamented '91 Honda CRX, which would not only get 36-40 MPG, but was also faster than lightning and cornered like a race car. I've eyed the new Honda hybrid based on the CRX body style, but the reviews of it are, well, disappointing, to say the least.

So, yeah: buy a Prius. They rock. One thing: the scheduled maintenance intervals are about the same as a non-hybrid, but they ain't cheap. Sheesh. But considering that the thing sips gas, it all evens out.

A recent article about Priuses.

I almost got a 2010 (no-interest financing) but it was not quite the right time.

However, I am almost certain to get a plug-in Prius, the first or second year they are out.

My dad had a Prius and so does his gf and my uncle. I like driving them but sometimes I forget how to park and start from parking. Also the rear windshield takes a little getting used to because it is a different shape than in a lot of other cars I've driven. Better than the Saab windshield though.

It's nice not to have to get fuel as often and the interior is sleek and fun.

That article's great, danf, and might even cause me to buy an older (and thus cheaper) car than the ones I'd flagged. Maybe not a 2001/2, but maybe a 2005/6.

And, BOP, I was so surprised to see that you drive a Prius. I'd have sworn you'd drive something like this.

And yes, Specklet, the giant eggplant will soon be sold. It'll be a bargain for someone, 14 years old, 67,000 miles. Like its owner, the bodywork could be in better condition, but it's mechanically sound and in the last couple of years it's had new brake shoes, tyres, exhaust and battery.

I just got a ride in a friend's Prius and that was eye opening. It was amazingly spacious and well appointed, and the quiet was enchanting. Now thinking seriously about going hybrid or electric next time I buy a car.

There are some Prius cabs around the city, and I love watching the MPG change and all the colored arrows as the driver stops and goes. I wonder if that would be distracting while driving though.

And as a pedestrian, you *really* can't hear them coming. So be extra vigilant when watching for pedestrians!

A coworker got the first Nissan Leaf in this part of the state. I got a ride in it and it was pretty amazing.

Since a lot of Leafs were destroyed by the tsunami while sitting and waiting for shipment, there will be a very short supply, and he's entertaining offers for far more than he paid for it.

One thing: the scheduled maintenance intervals are about the same as a non-hybrid, but they ain't cheap. Sheesh. But considering that the thing sips gas, it all evens out.
See, this is what worries me about hybrids - I'm not convinced that they are either cheaper on a TCO basis or any better for the environment than a similar sized, efficient, conventional vehicle.

As a gearhead, I find his car as compelling as dry toast, but that is to be expected.
Yeah, me too, but to each his/her own. If a Prius makes you happy, then it's the right car for you.

Brakes and timing belt are supposedly pretty exorbatant. Do not have details, but I have talked to many Prius owners and only one of them sold it because of the maintenance issues.

I've had two incidents with Priuses backing up towards my front bumper without stopping this year. One of them only stopped after repeated blasts of my horn; the other one hit me. It sounds like the design of this car makes the backup camera necessary (WTF automakers??); however, nothing can substitute for one's own eyes and ears. I avoid them on the highway like the plague and try to give them wide berth otherwise.

I love the difference in pronunciation between USians and Brits.

pree-us
pry-us

*giggle*