Learning to Drive in a Prius!

Tony, do you prefer federal or state prisons?

Tom

 

My driver's ed class used a new 1972 Buick LeSabre. That thing was as big as an aircraft carrier. I'm not a tall person, and I couldn't see any of the four corners from the driver's seat. I thought we should post lookouts at the bow and stern.

I took my driving test in a Jeep C-J5 with a straight stick. The inspector was impressed that I knew how to shift. Shifting was offset by parallel parking. Those little Jeeps were incredibly easy to parallel park. You could just about touch every corner, and the turning radius was 16.5 feet.

As for making jokes about young girls blocking the view, it's not really that, Tony. It's more the close-set criminal look in your eyes...and that bag of candy.

Tom

 

All of this reminds me of my step-daughter's driving test. She would tense up if she had too much time to think about an upcoming test. To make things worse, she couldn’t parallel park to save her soul.

My wife’s solution was to just pull into the testing station on the way back from mall without warning. My step-daughter was wearing a crop-top shirt and shorty-shorts looking way too much like Daisy Duke, but luckily for her, the guy testing her was a dirty old man. When they got to the parallel parking portion, he actually walked her through each step of the process. OK, now turn the wheel to the left…

 

I took my driver's test in a '74 Super Beetle in a snowstorm. I was a bit far from the curb after parallel parking but I did well enough on the hill start (snowy street and all) that he passed me.

 

Took mine in my 2005 Tundra Regular Cab 8 foot bed and 3 inch lift on 33 inch mud terrains in El Cajon, CA....truck capitol of San Diego.

Funny part was, the little old lady went to get in and i had to go around and help her in.

My brother is actually up to get his soon, so i'm thinkin i may let him use the Prius.

 

I love the car! I'm ready to sell my condo and live in the Prius!
I especially like how it's raison d'etre has positively affected my driving behavior--e.g., I experimented on the Highway speed/MPG and now drive no faster than 50-55 to get better MPG.
My only CON (and it's weak at that) is the backup camera--dues to it's wide angle lens it's useless for telling accurately the distance of anything it displays...BUT it does make one STOP and look.

My only other nit to pick is the seat/steering column adjustability. Electric seat/forward UP/DOWN would be better and steering column In/out would benefit greatly.
However it is the BEST most rewarding 'ride' I've ever owned--luxury or 3 on the tree--4 on the floor so called 'econo cars'.

 

My oldest daughter turns 16 next week. Any counsel?!? My mpg is around 60 mpg, my wife's 50. I'm supposing our overall mileage will take another hit starting next week.... Yes, there are more important things than bettering our mpg, but the hobby was fun while it lasted!

PA P

 

Once she's 18, would your daughter date a married man?



j/k

 

Speaking of new/younger Prius drivers. My insurance went up $300 when i went from my 05 Tundra to the Prius....other than the car being smaller, i dont see a reason other than my age(19)

 

When I was your age I had a '95 Dodge Ram 1500. I was originally looking at a smaller truck but talked to my insurance guy. He said people that drive fullsize trucks tend to take less risks than people that tend to drive small trucks. In addition the 4 wheel drive option cost only a few more $$ per month on my premium for the fullsize but it was going to double the premium on the small truck. Again he said that full size trucks tend to be used for farming/camping and not beat on like someone that might buy a small truck (to go 4 wheeling).

Don't know how much water the above argument holds... and for all I know my agent could have been feeding me crap. I can't say, and I'm 32 now so that was awhile ago. Perhaps your situation is just the opposite. You were in a "responsible person" vehicle so you got a break... and now you're in a typical car and there fore paying the going rate for a new car for your age where you live? Just speculating.

Mike

 

haha, i lived out in Queen Creek, AZ and went to ASU East for 10 months last year. I can tell you that the Tundra can take a lot of crap and abuse. Montana Mountain was fun, and so were some of the harder "4WD" trails that i did in 2WD

then again, it was a Regular Cab "Work Truck" so maybe that had somethin to do with it. But man i wanted a Prius from day one i got my license, but they were always out of my price range.

 

Next time you're out here hit me up and I'll take you to run a FJ trail out by where you used to live.

 

and clear the image of the dude in the shorts from the back door panel