I picked up my 2008 silver pine Prius, pkg #2 today. I have ALWAYS driven a manual tranny. Just one more thing to get used to, but I am very excited about this car. Actually, I'm still shaking from writing the check. I really appreciate this community already. I spent a fair amount of time lurking here when I did my research.
Exact same package and color I bought in November. So far I love the car! Great mileage, great color, and handles ok in the snow. Good Luck with it!
Too cool! I picked mine up on Friday! I lurked a little before I got it too. I have a buddy who is into building race cars and he was giving me the business about driving a Prius. Then I launched into the technology: super low coefficient of drag; hybrid engine; CVT; TC and VSC. He started asking about how quick it was - roughly the same as my 240 hp Pathfinder that ave 16 mpg (today I got about 40 mpg - ca-ching!). Rode really smooth - the 15" may not be good for drag racing, but they soak up the bumps just fine. Handling, I'm going to baby this one awhile and we'll see what goodies we'll add. He started asking for a ride. Looks like he might consider making his F150 his weekend car!
Thanks, everyone! Do hope to see you, too, Prius101. Wheeeee! I took it out today on some of my favorite winding motorcycle roads. It performs better than I hoped. Doesn't hug quite as well as my Accord, and of course it's not like being on two wheels, but it's nothing to sneeze at. And I didn't have anyone in front of me who's afraid of curves (that makes me crazy, it does!) This is the car for the video game generation. Look! I won six green cars in the last twenty minutes! Oh, no! My current bar's dropping! Gotta get it up! I averaged a little under 50 out learning to drive this afternoon. Senket
I drove nothing but MT cars before the Prius, too. You'll get used to it (but you'll still get the itch to drive something with a clutch ) If it's any consolation, the car pretty much works by leaving the throttle open and changing the gear ratio to control power output from the engine. Put your foot down and the gear ratio goes down, lift off and it gets taller. See? You still have a manual transmission...sorta...ok not really. But it's neat.
As mentioned before, give it time and you will get used to it. I find driving the Prius is very relaxing and fun.
Here it is Husker4theSpurs! My commuter and my hauler and some proof that the sun does shine in the winter in the Pacific NW! Thanks for asking! I'm really having fun driving this car. Personal best MPG at the end of a week: 49.6.
