I have tens of thousands of miles behind Gen 1 & 2 Prii, from back when I
worked for a large state agency using them as staff vehicles.  I give kudos
to Toyota for taking the ball and running with it to expand our automotive
expectations of what's possible.  However they handle dreadfully and the
ergonomics are maddening.  I also never got much better than 40mpg as
determined by the central dash readout.  I was much more impressed with the
Civic and Camry hybrids I occasionally drove around the same time.  I'm
much happier to see folks driving them than your typical SUV, so more power
to em.

On Fri, Jan 11, 2013 at 2:46 PM, Ben T <syncro@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Jan 11, 2013, at 2:12 SDF wrote:
> > there is a Vanagon guy ..great guy too, Paul Guzak, whoconverts Prius
> > cars to plug-in. He adds a suitcase size battery in the trunk that can
> > be charged off 110AC.
>
> He used to live across the SF Bay from me before moving north. He also did
> a Sprinter camper conversion. Pics in Van-O-Rama page.
>
> > Reading on a Prius yahoo group ..
> > the early Prius's could have very expensive transmission failures ..like
> > a 4K dollar problem.
>
> What do newer VW transmissions cost? That's about what auto trans cost in
> Eurovans, Passats, Golfs, & Jettas in the early 90's to early 00's.
>
> > Not a very sporting car to drive I hear.
>
> I don't know about that. Sporting for a hybrid. I get passed by the little
> 'door stops' at a fairly fast clip quite often. And mind you, I am not
> exactly a slow driver.:-)
>
> >
>
>
> BenT

--
Casey