Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/09/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]We're on our second Prius. The first was demolished when Kathy was hit in the right front by a car traveling 60 mph; she walked away with a bruise on her leg. It is not much smaller than my Camry, and is an excellent road car. I wish it had more places to hide gear; the concealed storage is rather small. On Tue, Sep 20, 2011 at 5:52 PM, Sonny Carter <sonc.hegr at gmail.com> wrote: > http://www.autospies.com/news/Toyota-Prius-Taxi-Cracks-550000-km-32731/ > > 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 > -- Regards, Sonny http://sonc.com/look/ Natchitoches, Louisiana USA