I have an appointment in Nashville and two plug-in hybrids: BMS i3-REx - bought because it has the range to reach and return. Already demonstrated, we know it can. Prius Prime - higher gas MPG but competitive if EV included. Prius Prime jack and my spare tire - this means I can make my appointment even if I have one flat on the way up. So this is an easy decision. Both cars carry the best plug kits I could find. But the Prime reduces the risk of missing my appointment by the square of the probability of a flat on the way up. So I will take the Prime not because the BMW i3-REx can not do the trip but because it has no jack or spare. Bob Wilson
We have roads with potholes that swallow wheels, roads where instead of fixing the pavement that is literally sliding off the side of the mountain they just erect a "road damage" sign for decades, etc. Terrible roads. But flat tires? Really how often does that happen? I've had 1 flat 4 years ago on the Leaf when the giant pothole was covered with a bit of slush and ice hiding it until the tire punched through the little top.The one before that was in 1998 or 1999 on a road-trip. Flat tires aren't something I even think about, I can't imagine living in such fear of one that you make driving decisions based off of them...
Inside of my wife's right rear tire last week: Her friend said, "Don't you have roadside assistance?" My wife said, "Why? I have a husband." BTW, it's her 2nd flat in less than a year and neither was pluggable. I have plug kits and pumps in both cars, but this one needed a spare. See? I'm not just another pretty face.
Who knows? There was no one standing by the side of the road yelling, "Hey! That's mine. Bring it back!!" I've seen all kinds of hardware falling out of the back of tailgate-less contractor trucks. I've managed to dodge it all so far. (Well except that piece of 4X4 lumber I hit on the motorcycle on I-75 up in Toledo. But that was in the dark and had been there a while. ) What I don't get is that she sees every penny on the sidewalk, and didn't see that big honkin' drill bit on the road. Thankfully, she was only a couple miles from home so it was easy for me to go grab our full sized spare from the garage.
I'd take the REx if it's in it's range and the Prius is not, even if it is a butt ugly car. ;-) I don't think about spares, that's what a cell phone is for.
To each their own, but I'd rather use my cell to call and say I might be 10 minutes late...whether I'm two blocks away or two hours away.
