08 Spectra Blue Mica has arrived

[alg]

Today I picked up the first 08 Prius Spectra Blue Mica in the Pacific Northwest. And it was well worth the effort.
This is the Base model with Package 2 and a value package which offers carpeted floor mats. I traded in an 07 Corolla S and managed to work a high-trade in value (private sale value) by paying $600 over invoice. Without the trade-in, I could have done $200 over invoice. As it is, I'm very happy as the car exceeded my expectations.

The pictures do not do it justice. The Spectra Blue is very beautiful and goes well with the gray interior. Having driven two 2007 Prius package 2, I swear the 08 feels tighter as if it already has a stiffening plate. I have not driven a Prius with the Stiffening plate. In my test drives of 07 Prius', I felt there was a need to stiffen the suspension. With the 08, I did not. As I kept my speed around 45 on a circular on-ramp, I did not feel my body leaning. It felt stable. Almost makes me think to of staying with the stock Goodyear Integrity tires... Oh, the dealer used helium gas to fill up the tires, nice benefit. I kept the tire pressure stock just to get a baseline mpg measure, more on that below.

My short term memory is not great (caveat), the seats feel more supportive as if they have a stiffer foam material. My commute was comfortable. Road noise was hardly noticeable, especially with the stereo on. The base stereo (not the upgrade JBL) sounded clear even when raising the volume up in the low 30s. The stereo is much better than available in the 07 Civic Hybrid. All my favorite stations sounded good. I also took advantage of the radio controls built into the steering wheel, helps minimize fingerprints from touching the LCD screen.

Click on the thumbnail images to see the larger image hosted at Imageshack. The gallery here was off-line. These pictures were taken about 7:30pm, the sun was starting to set in Seattle.









My greatest surprise is the last picture below. I average 52.2 mpg in my first 48 miles!!!
This is with no modifications, keeping the stock tire pressure. The lessons I have learned from here have helped tremendously. 48 miles is a small sample, driving from NorthEnd of Seattle on the highway to Bellevue and back across the highway to Richmond Beach in heavy stop-and-go traffic. Then driving around Richmond Beach which is very hilly. I couldn't be happier starting out over 50mpg.




If you are on the fence in buying a 07 versus an 08 Prius. I highly recommend you go for the 08. It feels improved (not surprising that small, subtle changes have been made in a year).

[patsparks]

Congrats, it looks great!!

[Tideland Prius]

<drooool> That looks perfect!! Love the colour!!

[john1701a]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Sep 7 2007, 12:29 AM) [snapback]508413[/snapback]</div>

Love the colour!!
[/b]

So did I. That's what I had before my first Prius. It looked incredible when clean... which unfortunately, is difficult to keep that way in the land of road sand & salt. Of course, that wouldn't stop me from getting it again later.

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

Prudy!

I think that gives Crater Lake a run for the money on which has the deepest and shiniest blue.

[Boo]

Wow. Did your dealer deliver it to you so super-duper shiney? My guy didn't. He was too busy trying to sell me an extended warranty for $2500.

[Prius 07]

WOW that spectra blue is spectacular

Congrats and enjoy!

[apriusfan]

I am going to have to haunt my dealer to just see the Spectra Blue. It certainly looks nice in the photos the OP provided. I have a weakness for the right shade of blue.

[bgdrewsif]

Beautiful color! Could you elaborate if there were any other noticable changes to the '08 model year Prius? (or are they saving everything for the 2009 model?)

[Michgal007]

Congratulations! That blue looks super, hopefully I can see one on the road soon.