Day 1, first 100 miles - surprises!

In Europe diesel is cheaper than gas, and there are lots of cars over there with 1 to 2 liter diesels that don't clatter all that much, and get excellent mileage. I think that's what drives the diesel market.

Yeah, that is pretty silly. Check this out HybridInterfaces

Here is the PC thread on the Can-View.

I take it you don't fly an Airbus

 

:lol: I've known 2 ...one V tail, one not. Someone has to keep the stereotype going :lol:

 

Diesel fuel used to be cheaper than regular-grade gasoline in this country. I don't remember exactly when it became more expensive than gas, but it wasn't that long ago. I did find a Detroit Free Press newspaper article from 10/27/2004 that mentioned diesel fuel prices jumping quite a lot, and attributes that to world-wide demand for it:

"Diesel prices have jumped 48 percent in a year from $1.49 a gallon to average $2.21 a gallon nationally, the U.S. Energy Information Agency reports. The statewide average in Michigan is $2.25 and according to AAA Michigan is the highest in history.

Michigan motorists are paying an average of $2.03 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, compared with $1.56 last October. "

and

"It all comes down to supply and demand," Brockwell said. "Demand in many industrialized nations in Asia such as China, India and Thailand is growing at rates that rival that of the U.S. Worldwide, diesel fuel is much more in demand than motor gasoline."

-Roger

 

Yes and no matter how hard you press on the brake peddle it still won't stop. Last time I drove my old Explorer to the dump my right leg was sore for the rest of the day from pressing on the brake. The other thing is that I tend to jump in the car and expect to push a button to start it. I then have to undo my seat belt so I can get my hand in my pocket and get the key out!
Check out Efusco's stages of Prius Mastery.

 

Maybe we need our own post for pilot prius owners. I do not fly professionally. I have a Cessna 206 that is a great cross country machine.

/Jim

 

Maybe in the northern climes you don't have this, but CA is overrun with ice cream trucks and even little pushcarts, mostly operated (but not owned) by Mexican/Hispanic "immigrants". They cruise neighborhoods in even the smallest towns whenever it's over 60 degrees, it seems. They all have calliope-type music to announce their presence.

Maybe this should be the Prius's next option---a little weatherproof speaker that will play (like ringtones) a number of snippets of music.

Can you imagine announcing your prersence in a parking lot with the opening notes to Beethoven's 5th?

 

OP, for a laugh out loud moment, head over to john1701a.com, click on Prius videos in the menu on the left, and watch TV:recharge.

Congrats on your new car/toy. It really is quite brilliant.

 

I lived in NJ for 33 years, home of those "Softee" Ice Cream trucks...and that annoying music!

 

There are apparently real-life products out now that allow people
to mount speakers underneath their cars and feed sampled/synthesized
engine noises to them at high volume, which even track throttle/
acceleration. Evidently it's possible to make your ricer sound like
a Harley, or your big-block 'Stang sound like a Vespa. Go figure.
I don't have a URL offhand but if your googling turns up nothing,
I can dig around.
.
_H*

 

Get the soundtrack to Chitty Chitty Bang bang and wire a speaker under the hood just behind the lower front grille thing, then play the part the car makes when it is starting up.