Hi!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hisshers @ Mar 14 2007, 07:40 AM) [snapback]405334[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brick @ Mar 14 2007, 06:27 PM) [snapback]405798[/snapback]</div>

I am not confident that the Prius can safely execute a quick lane change and back at highway speeds, to avoid a foreign object on the roadway or a stalled car behind the bend for example, without spinning out of control. Have you ever seen the videos of Consumer Reports running such tests? I had such a misfortune with a Dodge Dart decades ago. I never had such concerns while driving my next cars, a German made Mercury Capri V6, a Datsun 280z, an Audi 5000S turbo and a Mercedes Benz 300E, until I got the Prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hisshers @ Mar 14 2007, 04:17 PM) [snapback]405643[/snapback]</div>

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I'll weigh in on the snow handling ability of the Prius. We got our 2006 in early January of that year so we are just completing our 2nd winter. I returned from a trip to the far reaches of the U.P. of MI in mid-March of 2006 during white-out conditions. Very heavy, wet snow was falling. Because we were well on our way, we were out long before the plows. Anyway, while having to drive slow due to lack of visibility, the Prius had no trouble continuing southward - even in snow that was getting in excess of six inches deep.

Once we got back into WI, the snow was less heavy and salting had commenced. This actually caused slushy and somewhat more slippery roads but, again, we had no problem. No lie - we did observe a few SUV's that were in the ditch - presumably from driving too fast for conditions.

This winter, I've had many more opportunities to drive on snow covered and/or icy roads. On icy roads, stopping distance and making a hard turn (on a residential street) were affected but I didn't think any more so than in other vehicles I've owned. Bascially, different conditions require different driving styles. And, with only a little under 14,000 miles on the vehicle, we DO still have the OEM tires on the car.

Lastly, maybe we're just lucky or maybe it's an improvement on the 2006 and later Prii, but we haven't had the traction control issues that many have complained of on this forum. Living in WI, we've been driving in snow all our lives for more months of the year than many who post here so 'maybe' it's just an experience difference. I just know that we've had NO complaints with driving our Prius on snow and ice with the oem tires. Also, that's with tires inflated at about 44 front and 42 psi in the rear.

I also echo what others have said about test driving enough to be sure of the comfort level for your height. I'm just short of six foot and I am more comfortable on long trips than I am in our old Plymouth Voyageur mini-van. I've never measured but it may be that the Prius actually has more front leg room than the old van did.

Good luck with your decision!

Jim