Oshawa, Ontario - I remember the days when my car would stop running when I came to a light, and it definitely wasn't a good thing. Little did I ever think the time would come when I'd pull up to a red and feel very good about the fact that it did. That's just one of the tricks the Toyota Prius has up its sleeve to improve its fuel economy and reduce its emissions. The Prius remains the best-known of the hybrid vehicles, and for good reason. It's the oldest of the available gasoline-electric nameplates in North America - it was actually the first mass-produced hybrid, but the now-defunct Honda Insight made it to our shores first. It's the only one that isn't a hybrid version of an existing gasoline model, and as such, can't be mistaken for anything else. Its oddball styling isn't to all tastes, but that's an important marketing tool in itself. Many people want other drivers to know exactly what they're piloting, and the Prius' unmistakable lines broadcast that much more effectively than a green badge on an otherwise conventional vehicle. Full Article
A year ago I told my wife that I thought the Prius was downright ugly. I compared it to the attractiveness of an AMC Gremlin (which we used to own). I never thought I'd own a Prius. As I read more about it, I warmed up to the Prius, but never really got over the looks until my son (who is in the entertainment industry and is one of the coolest people on earth) stated "I love the way it looks. It should look different." Peer pressure. From my own son. The very child I worked so hard to raise without succumbing to peer pressure. I guess he learned it and I didn't. I love driving a Prius. Love everything about it that is "different", including the way it looks.
