Prius for Piano Tech?

[David Ilvedson]

Selling like hot cakes...

David Ilvedson, RPT
Pacifica, California






Original message
From: "Fenton Murray" 
To: "Pianotech List" 
Received: 5/3/2006 3:10:54 PM
Subject: Re: Prius for Piano Tech?


Prius ordered today for piano tech! Volvo for sale. Thanks in large part to this thread I started. Thank you all. 1 to 4 month wait, salesman seemed like he could care less, what does that tell you?
Fenton
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Victor Belanger 
To: pianotech at ptg.org 
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 8:57 AM
Subject: Re: Prius for Piano Tech?


Hi Michael,


My first experience was in a couple of feet in a storm in Dec. and it managed quite well.
The different thing with this car is that it does not spin or rev. So one has to rock it. Being that it is not a straight ahead transmission ( Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT)), it is easy to rock. On the gear shift all you have is Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, and B for brake driving. Kind of a low gear when going down long hills.


But I was in Wellesley Hills, and some of the hills that some cars could not make it, I went up without effort.
I made it on purpose to try to go through a snow plow pile, and it did not go through ( two plus feet). But I was able to rock out of it with not great difficulty.


Other than that it manages quite well in wet weather; rain or snow.
I do have to be more careful than if I would have my Subaru. The all wheel drive is just awesome. That is really what I miss from that car.
There is also a  traction system called Vehicle Stability Control.


It manages sharp turns very well, and can take corners without effort.


6" fresh wet snow for me found that it could take it. It was a pretty mild winter here this year.
There is a little bit of more contact with under the car since it is lower. A lot of of area under the car there seems to be shielded. I know that when some storms that it turned rough and icy it was fine.


Hope this answers your questions.


Victor




From: "Michael Spalding" <spalding48 at earthlink.net>
To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech at ptg.org>
Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 05:32:56 -0600
Reply-To: spalding48 at earthlink.net, Pianotech List <pianotech at ptg.org>
Subject: Re: Prius for Piano Tech?

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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