December 11, 2007
The Prius Disappointment
You haven't heard much about my new Prius, have you? Even though the new Consumer Report survey says that Prius owners have the highest customer satisfaction, I personally am pretty disappointed.
If I'm lucky, I get 28 miles to the gallon which wouldn't be bad if the damn thing hadn't been advertised as 61mpg in the city and 51 on the highway. This may be due to my "bad driving" -- but could that really account for a thirty mpg difference? I blew up the tires and always make sure to keep the AC off, since it turns on spontaneously with a multitude of other buttons -- that isn't difficult , since it's 25 degrees outside.
Buying a 2008 Prius was the next best right thing to do, rather than the really right thing which would have been giving up a car altogether. I do feel that I have made a some significant sacrifices by chosing this auto, the worst of which is the terrible visibility in the back and the two semi blind spots on either side. If it's not too sunny, the compensatory back up camera shows you large living things that you may be about to squash with your rear wheels. However, it distorts the space by about 15 feet, which leaves you to parallel park by ear. I also miss my trunk, but not that much.
I had occasion to ride with the heir to my old Camry. I felt like I was on a visibility prairie, rather than in a one room third floor walk up in a four floor building in the city at the end of a dark alley facing the air shaft.
Oh I sound so grumpy, Esther Hicks would be ashamed of me. Okay the Prius handles well, is comfy and peppy enough for a little old lady. It also makes a great background for a leaf shot.
Photo note: The Prius in autumn
Posted by Dakota at December 11, 2007 06:42 AM