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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=872130614-04052006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>Marshall,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=872130614-04052006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=872130614-04052006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>You might consider a less "traditional" tool case
option. I use the newer soft-sided canvas tool "case." You might
pack your tools in one or two of these (maybe three), and then pack them into a
college-style canvas backpack. This makes for easy transport, and
won't cause any sort of spectical on puplic transport.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=872130614-04052006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=872130614-04052006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>All the best!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=872130614-04052006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=872130614-04052006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>-bruce</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=872130614-04052006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV><BR>
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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> pianotech-bounces@ptg.org
[mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>pianotune05@comcast.net<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, May 03, 2006 1:47
PM<BR><B>To:</B> Pianotech List<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: Prius for Piano
Tech?<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I'm still wondering how to transport more than one tool case
on a bus or train when I'm up and really running like you guys here on the
list. When my wife drives me, we use our 92 Astro van we bought f rom
her brother who was the first and only owner, so at a 185k miles, it's still
running great and no car payment. The gas milage isn't bad
either. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Marshall</FONT></DIV>
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style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">--------------
Original message -------------- <BR>From: "J Patrick Draine"
<jpdraine@gmail.com> <BR>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. <BR>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.<BR>Patrick Draine<BR><BR><BR>
<DIV><SPAN class=gmail_quote>On 5/3/06, <B class=gmail_sendername>Michael
Spalding</B> <<A
href="mailto:spalding48@earthlink.net">spalding48@earthlink.net</A>>
wrote:</SPAN>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=gmail_quote
style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(204,204,204) 1px solid">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 <<A
href="mailto:vbela@MIT.EDU">vbela@MIT.EDU</A>> <BR>> To: <<A
href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>><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 tw o
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<BR>> has been wayyyyy too long for something like that to come out!
There <BR>&g! t; is c ertainly 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
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