PriusChat is on its way to Detroit!

Hi all, well what do you know?
I wake up this morning and I was in Chicago, very different to Adelaide, how did that happen? Why is the ground white outside? Where did all the leaves go from the trees?
Wandered down stairs and FireEngineer had already loaded my main bag into his fantastic Prius, out the door, oh my it is cold!! That stuff there on the ground, that fluffy white stuff, what is it? Cold to touch and soft to walk on, could it be snow? Yes and is there ever a lot of it!
Chuck in a couple more bags and we were off to Detroit.

Slippery roads of snow poorly plowed and ice in the tyre tracks, oops I'm in the US now so they are tire tracks and how many cars did we see in the ditch? Lots but not one of those Prius cars was in there.

FireEngineer expertly drove me across 2 state lines and countless ice patches to Detroit, the salsa red Prius performed excellently, what is this rubbish about the Prius being no good in snow?

So now I'm here at Prius Connection Detroit and I thank Toyota USA for there invitation.
Several people are here I am meeting for the first time face to face but I'll not list them for fear they may be wanted or I may miss a name which could be much worse than the former.
This is awesome, I'll post more soon, right now I need to go find my accommodation and get ready to meet more attendees.
More as I get it,
Pat Sparks (Giving the world the Aussie angle on Prius Connection Detroit.

 

Dear Priuschatters.

If you are coming to detroit and you are looking for good sushi, I know a restaurant that always has a waiting line. It's in Novi. There is also a Japanese bakery, gift shop, and grocery store nearby.

Or, if you want to go shopping there's Somerset Mall which is in Troy, MI.. It's our really big mall and it comes with many high end stores..

Or if you like Outlet malls, you can try Great Lakes Crossing in Auburn Hills, MI.

Or if you like having fun you can try engaging your VSC in some parking lots today.

Stay safe!

 

If I had the power -- and believe you me, I wish I did -- the weather would be much more hospitable here. We won't be getting (much) snow for the next few days, but it looks as though the mercury will be heading for the bottom of the thermometer bowl pretty soon.
Traditionally, the weather always sucks during the NAIAS. Lots of snow is usually a given. And about 10 years ago, IIRC, the heating went out for a day or two at Cobo Center, home of the auto show. Naturally, this was on the day I was attending.
Temperature in the exhibit hall was about 55 degrees.
Send me a PM if you need Detroit advice or -- depending on my schedule -- a tour guide.

 

I uploaded a video I took after the event.

YouTube - Prius Connection Detroit

 

So, how much more efficient will the new Prius have to be than the old one to offset the carbon cost of flying to the Detroit show to see it?

:focus:

 

How does flying here compare with driving here?
I flew over 10,000 miles

 

Jeez Pat, your arms must be mighty tired!

budda-bip :drum:

 

Well at 2 AM what are you supposed to do.:focus:

 

That's awesome!! Maybe the best part of all this is hearing how
much fun Pat's having with the white stuff.
.
Next year, a ski trip.
.
_H*

 

Pat,

OK, the official razzle-dazzle, bluff and bluster is over.

Now what? Do you guys get to kick the tires and slam the doors?

Do you get to grill the Toyota PR people about important things only
current owners would know about like the stupid fuel bladder and 12V battery,
traction control, better NAV system, etc?

Lastly, is there any chance you'll be whisked off to a secret test site and
actually be able to drive one?

(What are you saying...
a what?
a cold day,
where?
in Detroit?
no...
in hell?)

I know ya' gotta' dance with who brung ya'...
and you don't bite the hand that feeds ya'...
but we're all waiting for the hard hitting reporting, you know...

"The Rest of the Story..."

 

Hey Pat ! Makes a big change to be ahead of you on the clock, normally you've posted while everyone else is at work. Enjoy your trip and cool walk in the park there too !

PS Ask them if they can supply a model with the steering wheel in the right place for you

 

Yes, tonight we get to "kick tires, slam doors"... and, hopefully, find out what happens when you push the "Start" button!

Toyota is, indeed, treating us like royalty.
and Pat is JUST like his avatar! LOL...
We are all having way too much fun...

Lots of photos as they come available...

 

pat your artwork is right below my hotel window... your "footmanshp" would be the pride of any third grade class!!

 

Ohhh...THAT kind of writing in the snow. I was expecting a different colour.

 

Well, our tire-kicking session tonight actually is at a still-secret site. They've given no indication that they'll reveal the venue until we actually get there.

I doubt we can drive it, but I'm looking forward to at least sitting in it.

 

I've got dibs on first butt prints on the leather!

 

Sounds like you are all having a fabulous time! I am so sorry to have had to bow out. Darn work! Rae... are you keeping all the boys in line? Hee hee...

 

I don't suppose anybody wrote down all those unanswered questions we came up with while studying the images?? In all the booze-hazed excitement to come, I may just forget some of the important ones...

Oh no wait. There's only one important question: When will I be able to plug it in?