Prius Again

Salsa Red 2005 Toyota Prius

I must confess that my obsession with the Prius is such that I continue to point out the car every time I see it. I’m a particular fan of either the salsa red color (shown at right) or the black. I don’t have a particular color preference, per se, but there’s something about the red that really jumps out at me. The black does the same.

In the past, I’ve talked a lot about the Prius, perhaps to the point of slight insanity (I admit that building a car I can’t afford and then posting the specifications might be slightly overboard). However, this is because of my background; ever since my freshman year in college, I’ve been very interested in issues of sustainability and environmental awareness. This is almost a necessity if you want to attend Evergreen, but it’s very sensible in my eyes. I’d love to do my part, and I do really, really want a car, but a part of me wants to hold off until I can afford a hybrid. What better way to make a statement than to use alternative methods of transportation until you can drive a car that reflects your values?

Really, though, the nature of the hybrid market is such that it’s now beginning to approach mainstream status (though, I admit, some car makers still don’t get it). Honda’s jumped on teh bandwagon, and Subaru is rumored to be doing so. The hybrid is the thing of the future. The big debate seems to be just what kind of hybrid.

There’s some minor justification for this pet of mine (which, I admit, even my girlfriend probably groans over from time to time, though she obliges me by pointing out Priuses when we’re out and about). Hopefully, that clarifies some things.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, the New American Dream contest I wrote about long ago is now in its voting phase — I didn’t get into the final stage, though an entry very, very close to mine did. I submitted “Gasoline is so yesterday”; someone else submitted “Gasoline is so last century”. Ah, such is life.

Toyota Expands U.S. Prius Offerings

The New London Day (charming name for a newspaper) has posted an article stating that Toyota plans to increase its U.S. allotment of Prius models to 100,000 for the 2005 calendar year. Cool. I’ve been seeing Priuses sort of on and off since moving down (there’s a white one apparently owned by a local company that I see relatively consistently as well). The article makes mention of SUV hybrids, including Toyota plans for a hybrid version of the Lexus RX SUV. I’ve already talked about why hybrid SUVs don’t really make sense to me, so I won’t go there again. Consider the argument repeated.

Toyota Has a Revelation

In recent news, Toyota Motor Corporation realized something that apparently wasn’t all that obvious to them: they could sell more of their Prius line if they built in the U.S. in addition to its already existing Japanese plants.

Well, duh. Why it took them so long to realize that they could meet or exceed current demand by adding a production plant manufacturing hybrids in the United States, I don’t know. I suppose we should be glad they got the idea.

Great thinking, whoever came up with that (note extreme sarcasm).

Prius In Stock

Toyota of Kirkland apparently now has a Seaside Blue Prius 2004 in stock, with the perfect options. Shame it’s about $27,000 and I’m not around to test drive (or necessarily even ready to test drive).

Happy day-after-July 4th (which would make it July 5th)!

Raving about the Prius

Anyone who doesn’t care about advocacy for a cleaner environment can probably skip this entry (he says with tongue in cheek).

Okay, so I admit that the 2004 Toyota Prius is now my hybrid car of choice. It’s got the highest ratings through Car and Driver, some damned good safety ratings from Consumer Reports (last I checked, at least), and has some really interesting statistics. I particularly like the dashboard. Coool.

A really, really nice Prius site is john1701a.com. John was once an owner of a 2001 Prius but now owns a 2004 Prius. Of particular interest to me were the Prius Misconceptions, the Prius Selling Points document (PDF), and the Prius Info Sheet (also PDF). The Selling Points document still seems to reflect the 2001 Prius, but seems like it’s still applicable to the 2004.

In addition, there are IntelliChoice reviews, a US Department of Energy article on the Prius’ technology, and a review from The Car Connection.

Bottom line: test drive, anyone?

Update (11:46PM): I got bored and priced my ideal Prius through toyota.com, just for fun. Never let it be said I had nothing better to do.

MSRP
4-Dr Gas/Elec ECVT (1224) $20,295
Delivery, Processing and Handling Fee $515
Exterior / InteriorSeaside pearl (08S2)/ Ivory/brown (FA08)
OptionsPackage #7 (AM) includes: Intermittent Rear Window Wiper, Driver & front passenger
seat-mounted side airbags and front & rear side curtain airbags, Smart Keyless Entry
System, Vehicle Stability Control, front foglamps, HID headlamps, 50 state emissions
$2,255
Total MSRP $23,065

Hybrids

I’ve been reading up on hybrid cars lately — mostly the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius (forget the Honda Insight — it’s a two-seater transport car, which isn’t what I’d need). Car and Driver rated the Prius and the Civic Hybrid, with the Prius coming out ahead in reviews and user tests. Apparently, the braking is a little screwy on the Prius, but this is hardly your normal car, and this choice seems to have been intentional. Perhaps this is a fantasy debate, but it’s interesting reading nonetheless.

In other news, we need to be increasing the number of available petroleum alternatives. Duh.