Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/09/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I'm surprised that no one mentioned the Prius. I think an older Prius might fall into the desired price range, though I haven't checked. In the past, I've had quite a number of sporty cars, starting with a Porsche 365 (or is it 356) rag top, then a Fiat Spider (Spyder?), a Volkswagen Cabriolet, and a Volkswagen Cabrio. When it was time to retire the Cabrio, I was torn between things like a Miata or a Mini Cooper, and at the other extreme, a Prius. What finally decided me was a trial run in a friend's Prius. There is a particular exit ramp on a freeway that is marked 25mph which I regularly took comfortably at about 38mph. I once tried it in my wife's Camry, and it was damn uncomfortable. A friend let me drive his Prius on the same exit ramp at the same speed, and it was quite happy. That decided me; I liked the idea of 40+ miles per gallon. Having had the Prius now for two years, I find it one of the most driveable cars I've ever owned. It is also the first car of mine without a stick shift. I've never liked automatic transmissions; didn't want an automaton deciding what gear to put me in. But the Prius, which they (incorrectly) claim has a constantly variable transmission, gives such a smooth acceleration that it is an absolute pleasure to drive. To explain: it behaves like a constantly variable transmission. The engine runs at the optimum rpm for the amount of power requested. That latter is a direct function of the position of the accelerator pedal. Herb >So imagine you have a budget of $12K-$17K for a used car, probably around >2004-2007 vintage. > >Imagine a quick, responsive, air in your hair driving experience of a Mazda >Miata, taking confident turns on the Route One highway along the coast. Your >trust Leica and XPan in the truck with a carbon fiber tripod. > >It may not do so well in Death Valley? Or may be the dusty desert of the >Southwest? > >Then imagine a reliable, carry everything and anything Toyota Rav4. Small >for a SUV and drive like a car, and it's a Toyota, it will last another 10 >years, easily. > >What would you choose? > >-- >// richard <http://www.imagecraft.com/> >// icc blog: <http://imagecraft.com/blog/> >// richard's personal photo blog: <http://www.5pmlight.com> >[ For technical support on ImageCraft products, please include all previous >replies in your msgs. ] > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information -- Herbert Kanner kanner at acm.org 650-326-8204 Do not meddle in the affairs of cats, for they are subtle and will pee on your computer!