Find Reviews by Make:
Well, the Canadians might not be too big on hybrids, but (surprise, surprise) Eugene has embraced them fully. But when I first ran across this sign, even I was a wee bit surprised. What’s next? Hybrid Massage? Hybrid Organic Market? or will it jump to Plug-In Acupuncture? To get a better picture of what I mean, take the (full) hybrid jump:
I missed a great photo op one day when a gen1, gen2, and gen 3 Prius were lined up at a light. And I also missed a Prius sitting in front of a house with a Hybrid Realty sign.
And just like old W123 Diesel Mercedes, old Prii are coming to Eugene to live out their latter years. The green one with Oregon plates lives at this house; the Georgia plated-one came to visit, or is it moving here too?
14 Comments on “Curbside Classic Outtake: Hybrid Love...”
Read all comments
RE: Old Prii, that would be an interesting study of how the system holds up long term. Keep investigating Paul and maybe Eugene’s old hippies can keep us updated on how “Hybrid Synergy Drive” ages.
The olders Prius are heading towards 14 years old and have proven to be very reliable. Is the run from 14 to 20 really the deal breaker for anyone?
truly the current Dodge Dart.
I think I’d run away screaming if I saw that many Prii in one place. That being said I think the first generation model is moderately better from an aesthetic standpoint than the newer ones. Then again I’m not sold on the hybrid idea for reasons that other people are more equipped from an engineering background to explain. I live in MN as many of you know and I’m not sure I trust the batteries to hold up that long against winter up here (which have, admittedly, been milder than they used to be) for an extended number of years.
As an aside I think in the last 4 years I’ve seen maybe 6 different gen I Prii. Maybe that says something, maybe not. I’m not sure how many were originally sold here.
All those parked Priuses makes me want to share a story I heard today.
At a university building where a friend of mine works, two parking spaces have recently been posted as “hybrid only.” Although parking is fairly limited there to begin with, three hybrid drivers work in that building anyway, so all it should do is give them normal parking places and not really bother anybody.
Except that the “hybrid only” spaces are the least desireable spaces in the lot. Seems they’re under trees and are always the last to be filled in the morning because nobody wants sap and other tree droppings on their cars. That includes the hybrid drivers. With a hyperactive parking (dis)services department at the university in question, no conventional drivers dare park there. Net result: two fewer parking spaces. I love greenwashing.
The neighbor across the street from my in-laws in central Vermont bought a Prius, trading in her old Outback. First year it proved unable to climb the street to her house, and unable to handle the mud in spring. What is it about green mania that causes someone to give up so much utility for the difference in mileage between a Prius and say an Impreza hatchback (which is far better looking)? Just another peril of emotional car buying.
Maybe your neighbor didn’t want the Impreza’s very poor 20/27 gas mileage…
Paul,
I won’t be convinced you really reside in Eugene until you provide a photo of a brown Volvo 240 w/dancing bear sticker. Get on it!
Sammy, close enough?
http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/08/CC-66-044-600.jpg
Bravo, Paul!
Granted, the 240 isn’t as “fresh” as it was when elbow patches rocked our suits, but it’s still a classic. It pretty much screams “I’ll safely get you and the Rainbow Family to the hot springs, where you can get 420 friendly while I sip some 10w40.”
O/T: You ought to road trip it up to Pullman sometime…we could scarf a few bowls of lentil chili, down some Rainier 40’s & then go find some “Curbside Classic Combines.”
Paul, both of the green Prii in the bottom photo have Oregon plates, unless Georgia has adopted the same blue “Share the Road” bicycle plates that Oregon uses. Are you sure you’re from Eugene, I would think those plates would be all over the place.
Oops! My poor aging eyes. Strangely enough, those plates really are not very common here. Maybe more so up in Portland.
Beyond reliability, I’d like to know how an aged Prius (or any hybrid — but mostly the Prius as it is the standard) feels after 150-200K miles. Does it feel like a used up golf cart, with herky-jerky driveline engagement? Or maybe it smooths out?
A few years ago I was seriously considering a Prius for my next company car purchase. But because I drive so much, I was concerned the car would be annoying to drive with rough transitions from electric to gas power, and odd-feeling regenerative braking. I’m all for technology, but I want it to (for the most part) feel normal. If it feels odd when new, what does it feel like after many years and miles?
So I passed.
I know no car will feel new after the years and miles are piled on. But there is a difference between used and bizarre.
Any feedback from Prius owners?
My nephew bought a Prius about the time gas was heading for 4$ a gallon. I see an awful lot of Prii around Boston. I guess I havent been paying attention. What does a 14 yr old Prius go for? That would make a good story, road testing 10 yr old cars and comparing them to their new counterparts.