ADAM STARR

Residing in:
Winchester, NH

Vehicle Model:
2002 Toyota Prius

Chose this hybrid because:
When I was buying, the hybrid cars available were the Prius, the Insight and the Civic. I chose the Prius over the Insight because the Insight (while getting a higher MPG rating) was only a 2 seat car. Since I use my car for work and am often carrying my photo equipment along with me, I chose the Prius because of the extra room. I decided no to get the Civic because I had heard that the Prius had such a good reputations and didn't know that much about the Civic.

Positive Experiences:
The car's rated for 48mpg city and 52mpg highway - but on average, I get between 50mpg (in the winter) and 65mpg in the summer. A lot more than I expected. The Pruis also has a huge trunk for my gear and it corners like a crab - I can park anywhere.

Negative Experiences:
The 2002 Prius came with pretty cruddy tires for snow driving. Newer "Prii" - I've heard come with better all year tires. I was told that I could get better snow tires for my 2002 Prius, but I'm just too damn cheap to do it! The other aspect of the Prius I don't like is also winter related. When it is stuck in snow, the stupid computer won't let me just spin the tires to get out - I'm a pretty good "controlled skid" driver and I wish the computer would just let me spin the wheels and surf out, but it never lets the tires go out - some kind of traction algorithms? I don't know - I hope newer Prius's get rid of the pampering computer control of the acceleration!

Average MPG:
65mpg in the summer - 50mpg in the winter

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