Prius arrived...three day thoughts.

Re-Cap: I bought 2016 Blue Prius v five from Carvana and waited about 9 days to have it delivered. It arrived on Monday.

First, I really appreciate the easy of buying process with Carvana. They bought my old car and gave me really a no haggle trade-in price that I think was fair. Paperwork done online. A few bits of title paperwork (mostly related to transferring my personalized plate to new car).

I like it a lot. I have a few hmmms.

The hmmms.

I seem a bit dangerous driving it. I ran a red light today and had a few close calls - many of which weren't my fault....just kind of insane driving. Like I was stopped at a traffic light and truck turning left nearly smashed into me. Another truck (towing a trailer) jotted across the road without having enough time and I had to brake sharply. But then there's my issue - new Sat Nav...and between that, driving at night, driving new route - I struggled a bit. The running of red light happened this morning when both my Sat Nav and another system threw curve balls my way. I will give the Sat Nav some time to get used to. It's not bad. Just different. I can always go back to Google Maps. I have this dynamic cruise control thing (can't remember official name) where it slows down when cars in front slow down. Sometimes I think the slowing is too abrupt. Then today when I wasn't even using cruise control, it felt like the car suddenly slowed down.

I have to figure out blind spot stuff. Mirrors I have figured out. I feel like my front visibility on left side isn't great - the post seems to kind of be in the way. I am 5'4" -- so not super short. I did adjust seat higher and that seems to help.

I think the transmission is so different. I'm used to car sounding a certain way as the RPMs move up/down.

I was initially concerned about the noise factor. It was louder than I thought. But my husband made me drive it a while without any radio and I hate driving and hearing car sounds. At one point, I thought emergency vehicles were nearby but it was my car. When I drive with the radio on, I don't notice and different compared to other cars I've had - though, mind you, I've not owned a luxury sedan...with super smooth, quiet rides.

My vehicles for 18 years have been minivan or mid-sized SUVs, so going to a lower vehicle is a change. I feel odd. I am guessing I will adjust to this.

My windows are probably overly tinted. I may appreciate this in hot NC summer. I worry about my teens driving; I hope they see well enough out tinted windows. I'm guessing their eyes are sharper than mine.

So on to the "I like it a lot."

I was worried it would be sluggish, slow. I mostly drive on Eco and even that isn't sluggish except for the drive I did with four other people. Mostly I'm driving myself to work - and it's plenty zippy enough. My top speed is 85, though that was a short time when I was dealing with rush hour traffic.

The seats are very comfortable. The interior seems so very well laid out. Lots of new things to get used to that I know I will like; but ironically the safety features are distracting me right now.

I think the car looks so very nice. I read a few reviews that said it's ugly and/or said Toyota is very utilitarian. I think the shape is sleek and fun. I love unique, cool. I love the gear shifter. I love the push button start. I haven't really read all of the manuals yet but have figured out most of the techy stuff - phone paired, phone numbers added. I can't figure out how to sync messages. It doesn't seem to work.

There is one button by AC that I have no idea what it does. It's to the left of the AC button and it looks like a a cloud or something floating next to the head of a person seated. I know, I know ...read the manual.

I am average about 41 mpg with about 70% highway driving and without doing anything, aside from running red lights and driving the occasional 85 mph.

So that's my highly technical, professional review of the first three days of Prius v owning. And I didn't even mention the great cupholders!
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