Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/09/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101107051755AAyen1E On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 5:11 PM, Richard Man <richard at imagecraft.com> wrote: > Of course the Prius is the standard issue car in the Silicon Valley and > especially in Palo Alto :-) > > The big problem is that the battery is rated for 7 years only and a > replacement would be around $5000-$6000? The battery may and probably will > last longer than 7 years, but that's an additional cost. > > Otherwise, I'd jump on it too. > > > On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 11:23 AM, Herbert Kanner <kanner at acm.org> wrote: > > > 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< > 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! > > > > > > ______________________________**_________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/**mailman/listinfo/lug< > http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug>for more information > > > > > > -- > // 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 > -- Regards, Sonny http://sonc.com/look/ Natchitoches, Louisiana USA