So this jerk-off says...

Of course, my attitude is that I don't waste time arguing with chuckleheads like that. Who the heck cares what some uninformed environment-hating twink "thinks" anyway? Certainly not moi.

What surprised me recently, when talking to a couple of tire stores about getting all-season tires for my Prius, was when I said that the car was a Prius, their responses were "who makes a Prius? I never heard of it." LOL

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mystery Squid\";p=\"107220)</div>

Good point, that's one way I'm looking at it.
In contrast to the Honda Civic Hybrid and Accord Hybrid, there is no non-Hybrid Prius that can be bought for a cheaper price with the same features.
The 2 closest gas stations to where I live sell the 87 octane (cheapest) at $2.47/gal. (as of 7/17).

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(flareak\";p=\"107328)</div>

I'm loving just walking up to my locked Prius, touching the handle to unlock and open the door, getting in and starting it up with the push of a button, all the while never taking the "key" out of my pocket.
Driving a "regular" car seems so primitive now.

 

"You'll come for the mileage, you'll stay for the gadgets!" At least for me, that's how I got here. I was bleeding to death] over 100 mi / day on premium. When I started looking for an economy car, then I zero'd in on the prius, and elected to spend the extra money over a mini-econocan because of the emissions & gadgets.

It also helped to relieve some guilt, It's very uncomfortable arriving at the organic food store in a V-8

 

Oh, and it does make sense in $$ terms. I'll go from spending roughly $5K / year on gas to $1500. $3500 / yr. is a lot of money.

if you care, math as follows:
Then: (100 mi / day / 15 mpg) = 6.6 gal / day * 250 weekdays / year * $2.69 / gal = $4483 / yr. + weekends ~ $5K

Now: (100 mi / day / 45 mpg) = 2.2 gal / day * 250 weekdays * $2.45 gal = $1347 / yr. + weekends ~ $1500)

and that assumes gas stays steady (not bloody likely)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sid\";p=\"107982)</div>

I hear you, SE/SS makes it just so much cooler and is such a great convenience. Getting in our other car seems like a step back in time. I really enjoy that only other cars with it are luxury vehicles. It is priceless to tell people that it it detects your fingerprint or that only I can open the door.