<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Re: Prius for Piano Tech?</TITLE> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <STYLE type=text/css>BLOCKQUOTE { PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } DL { PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } UL { PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } OL { PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } LI { PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px } </STYLE> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1528" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT size=2>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?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Fenton</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=vbela@MIT.EDU href="mailto:vbela@MIT.EDU">Victor Belanger</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, May 03, 2006 8:57 AM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Prius for Piano Tech?</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Hi Michael,</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>My first experience was in a couple of feet in a storm in Dec. and it managed quite well.</DIV> <DIV>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 (<FONT color=#000000> Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT<FONT face="Lucida Grande" size=-3>)</FONT></FONT>), 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.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>But I was in Wellesley Hills, and some of the hills that some cars could not make it, I went up without effort.</DIV> <DIV>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.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Other than that it manages quite well in wet weather; rain or snow.</DIV> <DIV>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.</DIV> <DIV>There is also a  traction system called Vehicle Stability Control.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>It manages sharp turns very well, and can take corners without effort.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>6" fresh wet snow for me found that it could take it. It was a pretty mild winter here this year.</DIV> <DIV>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.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Hope this answers your questions.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>Victor</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV> <DIV>From: "Michael Spalding" <spalding48@earthlink.net><BR>To: "Pianotech List" <pianotech@ptg.org><BR>Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 05:32:56 -0600</DIV> <DIV>Reply-To: spalding48@earthlink.net, Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org></DIV> <DIV>Subject: Re: Prius for Piano Tech?<BR><BR>Victor,<BR><BR>How does it handle in the snow?  Say, 6" of fresh wet?<BR><BR>thanks<BR><BR>Mike<BR><BR><BR>> [Original Message]<BR>> From: Victor Belanger <vbela@MIT.EDU><BR>> To: <pianotech@ptg.org><BR>> Date: 5/2/2006 6:19:29 AM<BR>> Subject: Re: Prius for Piano Tech?<BR>><BR>> Hi Folks,<BR>><BR>> Forgive me to be so late on this one. I was backed up on reading the list.<BR>> I bought a Prius in Nov. '05.<BR>> I am very pleased with it.<BR>> I am also a double bassist, and that was VERY important for me to<BR>> have room for my bass and amp.<BR>> My bass is 45" tall with its case, and the diagonal measurement in<BR>> the Prius with the seat down is 48'.<BR>> So I can put my bass, my amplifier, and have room for two passengers<BR>> plus me (seats are 40/60).<BR>> You can't do that with the Subaru as you need to put the whole bottom<BR>> part of the seat down in order to lower back rest of the seats.<BR>> As someone said that there is a lot more space inside than it how it<BR>looks.<BR>><BR>> I have put a grand action diagonally with the seat down. Along with<BR>> my tools, a Dampp chaser grand kit in its box, and did not need to<BR>> put both seats down in the back.<BR>><BR>> The rationale that it gets better mileage in the city that on the<BR>> highway is not true for me.<BR>> I get roughly 47mpg at the moment but expect 50'ish in the summer.<BR>> I have done as high as 55.6mpg on the highway.<BR>> I did a long trip from the Boston area to Vermont (Brattleboro) which<BR>> is roughly 250 miles, and it only took half a tank! It is an 11 Gal.<BR>> tank. That was impressive in my book.<BR>> for California, MA, and VT the battery has a  warranty for ten years.<BR>><BR>> As far as energy pick up, it is very fast. As you have the 4 cylinder<BR>> and the electric motor pushing you at the same time. Acceleration is<BR>> quick. Like acceleration in an electric tram bus, or a subway train.<BR>><BR>> Is it a bargain? No. But based on doing something good for the<BR>> environment it is very fulfilling.<BR>> Something like that, personally is not about how much it costs.<BR>> If cost would've been the issue, I would have gone on the cheaper<BR>> side, and there are many cars out there that fit the bill.<BR>><BR>> I owned a Subaru Outback before. I miss that car. Especially the all<BR>> wheel drive!<BR>> But I really did not need that big of a machine. Neither does the<BR>> majority of the society.<BR>><BR>> I commend Toyota and Honda for coming out with the hybrid system. It</DIV> <DIV>> has been wayyyyy too long for something like that to come out! There<BR>> is certainly something political on that part.<BR>> The fact that at a stop sign, cars are idling is pretty silly once<BR>> you own a Prius, and notice that my car is dead quiet at a stop sign.<BR>> In heavy traffic the engine barely starts. In small acceleration the<BR>> gas engine does not go on.<BR>><BR>> I could go on and on but that is enough.......This is my experience<BR>> with the car.<BR>> I hope this helps.<BR>><BR>> Best.<BR>><BR>> Victor Belanger</DIV> <DIV>></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>