Rather than Prius owners reading the news, sometimes, they are the source of it. This is such a opportunity... Let's hear the oldest Prius stories you can dig up, something to really excite the newbies. Someday, we'll look back to reminisce about the 2010. For me, it's what happened exactly 9 years ago. Yup, 09-09-00. I still vividly remember that, as if it was a recent event. There I was, at the Toyota dealership being handed the keys to my new 2001 Prius. I was among the first in the country to take delivery. It was quite surreal. Those were very different times. Gas was cheap. The reign of SUV was about to begin. There was little concern for the environment. Misconceptions about hybrids were abundant. The potential was far from being realized. And the rest of the world still respected us. Since then, amazing things have happened. We survived the size & power craze, witnessed some bankruptcies, and Prius is now a top-seller. It's been a wild ride. What do some of you other long-time owners remember? .
Here's my real-world data for the 3 generations of Prius I've owned over the past 9 years, combined: 184,852 MILES total 3,924.4 GALLONS total 47.1 MPG overall .
http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-hybrid-news/3015-motor-trend-one-year-test-update-2004-prius.html http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...toyota-dominates-intl-engine-year-awards.html http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-hybrid-news/4968-car-year-2005-in-europe.html http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-technical-discussion/38659-how-hybrid-vehicles-work.html Toyota Prius to Receive Top Honors at 2004 Industrial Design Excellence Awards Prius Hypermiling with JimboK from PriusChat MotorTrend Announces 2004 Car of the Year Winner Toyota Prius Awarded Title of "Best Engineered Vehicle for 2004" Third year of International Engine of Year awards for Prius Popular Science Names 2004 Prius "Grand Award Winner" Toyota Prius receives WGC Award Toyota Prius is European Car of the Year - AutoWeb News Prius wins British Technology Award - Autoblog Green And PriusChat's first anniversaries of the Gen II Prius Efusco jkash rflagg Prius Maximus drivenmore Tideland Prius enerjazz priusham paprius4030 zoobob N9IWP Ray Moore finman wilco Godiva KTPhil Widdletink
I got the keys 8/21/2001. In three weeks the world changed enormously; in some ways it is hard to remember what it was like 'before'. Most opinions I heard were fuel economy and low pollution were 'good things', but what a risk I was taking as an early adopter. By November I had taken the interior apart for an inside bed, off-roaded on the N. rim of the Grand Canyon, but slept outside for the Leonid meteor shower (better view). What fun. After another long trip Jan 2002, it was clearly time to install cruise control kit from metro TPN. Internet enthusiast groups already had the info I needed to not let the air bag explode in my face. I remember some regrettable disagreements in those enthusiast groups. Also John, Graham, Michelle, Dianne, and a whole lot of other heroes. I simply cannot imagine that any other car has generated its own world of support and interesting discussion. What a risk - ha ha ha! By the way, John posted his "Prius mission statement" on Jul 17, 2000 9/9/9 is a gigantic day for weddings in China, because the 9 symbolizes 'everlasting'. It would not be such a bad day to get a set of keys...
Congrats, John! Well done -- and thanks for the (more recent) memories. I didn't become an owner until I purchased my 2007, but I had spent years attempting to become an owner. (Lots of stories wrapped up in that one!) My first business partner bought in late 2001, and I was immediately enthralled by the technology. The looks about did me in (though I really liked the interior), so I just couldn't pull the trigger on the Gen1. The Gen2 was my cuppa tea, but I had just purchased a new (used) car, so I held off from buying. I followed, quietly, the whole world fly by on PriusChat. I could take it no longer and got on a wait list that eventually was cancelled by the dealer (more than a one-year wait!). On and on and on until I finally got mine. Thanks to all of the early adopters. You paved the way for us all, and the early work STILL makes a big difference!!!!
I was busy winning over 'she-who-must-be-obeyed' to the idea of unloading the Ford Exploader back in '04. The idea of 9-11 fresh in my mind, and with a better understanding of oil production peaking ... our neighbor doc larson had an '03 Prius. I began searching ebay for the 'new' 2004 model, just slightly used. Several months went by before a totally loaded '04 came up on ebay. The original owner was a military guy who was 'skipping out' ... rather than return to Afganastan ... and he drove it down to us. We met up at John Wayne airport, where began his AWOL/desertion jorney ... speaking of surreal. .
That's awesome John. You've lived through the improvements made through three generations. Your 2010 Prius MPG is very impressive compared to even the Iconic generation. I can't wait to find out your winter MPG.
