New 2008 #4 in Minnesota

Hello -

I've been driving a 2002 CVT Honda Insight for nearly six years now.

My wife is finally done with her medical residency and is due to begin work at a local clinic soon. Over the weekend, we put her signing bonus towards the purchase of a shiny new Silver Pine Mica 2008 Prius package #4 for her.

That makes us a two-hybrid home.

I quite like the Prius -- very spacious inside, lots of nooks and crannies to store stuff in. Still doesn't beat my Insight on basic acceleration (but then my Insight weight 1000 lbs. less), but it's quite fantastic for a car its size. The Prius is definitely a huge improvement over the Civic hybrid.

I was quite happy to find out today that, owing in part to some of the extra safety features on the modern Prius compared to my older Insight, that the insurance cost for the Prius is quite reasonable too.

I figure I can get another three or four years out of my Insight, but then I'll have some decision to make. Honda has been designing a new vehicle (is it the fuel cell-electric hybrid I've been hearing about?) to replace the Insight that ought to be out by the time the third generation plug-in LiIon Prius hits the streets. Looks like I'll have to choose between them.