Prius for Piano Tech?

[J Patrick Draine]

Probably not as well as my 2002 Subaru Outback, or before that, my '89
Toyota All Trac wagon. Continuous 4WD *is* a stress reducer on snowy and icy
roads, but thanks to global warming there's less of that stuff around here
(New England) than in the past. Unfortunately the mileage suffers from all
the extra steel etc. for the 4WD.
For a front wheel drive car, the Prius does handle well. I will shop for a
Prius soon, myself, but the Subaru has been good for me & my business.
Patrick Draine


On 5/3/06, Michael Spalding <spalding48 at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> 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
> >
>
>
>
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