Prius for Piano Tech?

[pianotune05]

Since we're talking about cars, I received an e-mail, entitled, Toyota vs. 
Honda, one of those fake survey things where you have to take advantage of 
special offers.  Im still however trying to figure out how to transport my 
tuning career on a city bus  or train when I'm really up and going.
Marshall
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Victor Belanger" <vbela at MIT.EDU>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 7:16 AM
Subject: Re: Prius for Piano Tech?


> Hi Folks,
>
> Forgive me to be so late on this one. I was backed up on reading the list.
> I bought a Prius in Nov. '05.
> I am very pleased with it.
> I am also a double bassist, and that was VERY important for me to have 
> room for my bass and amp.
> My bass is 45" tall with its case, and the diagonal measurement in the 
> Prius with the seat down is 48'.
> So I can put my bass, my amplifier, and have room for two passengers plus 
> me (seats are 40/60).
> You can't do that with the Subaru as you need to put the whole bottom part 
> of the seat down in order to lower back rest of the seats.
> As someone said that there is a lot more space inside than it how it 
> looks.
>
> I have put a grand action diagonally with the seat down. Along with my 
> tools, a Dampp chaser grand kit in its box, and did not need to put both 
> seats down in the back.
>
> The rationale that it gets better mileage in the city that on the highway 
> is not true for me.
> I get roughly 47mpg at the moment but expect 50'ish in the summer.
> I have done as high as 55.6mpg on the highway.
> I did a long trip from the Boston area to Vermont (Brattleboro) which is 
> roughly 250 miles, and it only took half a tank! It is an 11 Gal. tank. 
> That was impressive in my book.
> for California, MA, and VT the battery has a  warranty for ten years.
>
> As far as energy pick up, it is very fast. As you have the 4 cylinder and 
> the electric motor pushing you at the same time. Acceleration is quick. 
> Like acceleration in an electric tram bus, or a subway train.
>
> Is it a bargain? No. But based on doing something good for the environment 
> it is very fulfilling.
> Something like that, personally is not about how much it costs.
> If cost would've been the issue, I would have gone on the cheaper side, 
> and there are many cars out there that fit the bill.
>
> I owned a Subaru Outback before. I miss that car. Especially the all wheel 
> drive!
> But I really did not need that big of a machine. Neither does the majority 
> of the society.
>
> I commend Toyota and Honda for coming out with the hybrid system. It has 
> been wayyyyy too long for something like that to come out! There is 
> certainly something political on that part.
> The fact that at a stop sign, cars are idling is pretty silly once you own 
> a Prius, and notice that my car is dead quiet at a stop sign. In heavy 
> traffic the engine barely starts. In small acceleration the gas engine 
> does not go on.
>
> I could go on and on but that is enough.......This is my experience with 
> the car.
> I hope this helps.
>
> Best.
>
> Victor Belanger
>
>