Prius for Piano Tech?

[Michael Spalding]

Victor,

How does it handle in the snow?  Say, 6" of fresh wet?

thanks

Mike


> [Original Message]
> From: Victor Belanger <vbela at MIT.EDU>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Date: 5/2/2006 6:19:29 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
>