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Do I have the most traveled Prius in the world?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by pmelc1, Jun 29, 2024 at 12:11 PM.

  1. pmelc1

    pmelc1 Junior Member

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    My 2006 Prius has been with me to 50 countries so far (I myself around 70), including:

    46 of 48 states of continental US (all but Iowa and Oklahoma), soon to be 48; this includes a 30,000 mile, 10 month continuous road-trip in the US (and Canada), mainly the Western US. (I realized years later this would have been a Guinness World Record for longest road trip in one country, but at the time was not aware it was a record / wasn't thinking about it. I also may have DQ'd part of the mileage by entering Canada, though at that point I may have already exceeded the record. The current record is around 35k.)

    27 of 32 states of Mexico (except BC, BCS, Sonora, Colima, Zacatecas)
    Canada (2 provinces, AB & BC, soon to be 7)
    Central America: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
    40 countries of Europe:
    Spain, Portugal, Andorra, France, Monaco, Germany, Italy, San Marino, Vatican City, Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Moldova, Greece, Turkey

    I shipped the Prius to Europe in 2014 with plans to travel around the continent and sell it after 1 year. I ended up staying there for 2.5 years and living in a few different places, and since it had some dents and dings and wouldn't get much at resale (the used market in Europe was lower at that time), and intending to keep it for the long haul, I decided to ship it back in 2016. Cost was about $2500 each way.

    I got it repainted in Chihuahua Mexico a couple weeks ago. $650 for significant bodywork (took one guy almost a full day) and a high-quality paint job. The original paint was a gunmetal grey, but when I got it repainted at Maaco in 2016-17, they botched the color formula and it came out lighter, but I ended up liking it more. Other modifications are 5% tint in the back and 35% up front.

    Proof of travel includes photos, gas receipts / bank records, export and import records, etc.

    (Anyone from Toyota who's interested in talking to me for a 'Go Places' ad or something, I'd be interested; I am loyal to the brand and also have a 1989 Toyota pickup still running great, and a '98 Tacoma with 300k)

    Reposting from Gen2 forum:
    Do I have the most well traveled Prius in the world? | PriusChat

    Photos after paint job:

    View attachment 256524 View attachment 256525
     
    bisco and PriusCamper like this.
  2. Johnny Cakes

    Johnny Cakes Senior Member

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    MODS: Thanks for moving!
     
    #2 Johnny Cakes, Jun 29, 2024 at 12:25 PM
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2024 at 9:18 PM
  3. pmelc1

    pmelc1 Junior Member

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    PriusCamper likes this.
  4. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Cannot imagine doing that I guess the cost of cars wherever you're going in Europe is prohibitive I remember when we could take a car with us for $500 went under the swimming pool in a big ship but that was a long time ago usually when I go to Europe I just get hold of a big bore Italian scooter like Aprilia Scarabeo. I don't really need a car much in Europe the scoot is about the best way for me to travel there Greece Italy Spain Portugal all along the Mediterranean the scooter rules.
     
  5. pmelc1

    pmelc1 Junior Member

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    It wasn't the original plan. I was considering buying an older car or renting a car, but gas is very expensive in Europe and I would've spent as much extra on gas (or a comparable amount) as it cost me to ship the car, putting aside the cost of renting. I also couldn't easily buy and register (or sell) a car here without having permanent residency in Europe and a European drivers license. 2.5 years later when it came time to come back, it also made economic sense to keep the car and ship it back, or at worst was a wash / break even, without even considering the sentimental part of it.

    Agree that scooters do rule within cities, no doubt. Traffic can be brutal, and many streets are narrow. City to city though would be a little rough and you have to worry about the weather.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    in 20 years, my 3 prius never left massachusetts