1 Prius + 1 Prius = 2 Prii

We didn't waste any time in getting a replacement for the old Volvo.  It's not exactly where we had thought we were going, but it's a very nice addition.

Several years ago when we went to a car show at the Convention Center, we had determined to get an electric car as our next car.  At that point the Nissan Leaf, the Chevy Volt, and the Ford Focus seemed just on the verge of reality.  But they haven't come into production as quickly as promised and there are still a lot of unanswered questions about how they will function.

So we decided not to be on the cutting edge, but at the same time to go with one of the most fuel efficient hybrids on the market, which happened to be another Prius.  Having had absolutely zero problems with our 2005 Prius, we thought it was a logical choice.  Besides the new Prius gets even better mileage than our old one, advertising 51+ MPG on the highway.

There are now bigger Priuses and smaller Priuses on the market and we tried them all.  The Prius V is the station wagon model which adds inches in every dimension and therefore feels quite roomy.  But the extra weight reduces the gas mileage to 44 MPG.  I also envisioned parking in DC with 9" in additional length.  A great car for a family, but we are just two people and (hopefully) a dog.

Feeling somewhat like Goldilocks, we looked at the Prius C, a zippy little car with the same engine as our current Prius, but a lot less space.  I was set to get one of these, especially since the price is considerably lower than that of the other two models.  But after our son pointed me to a Consumer Reports video on the little Prius, we both decided against it.

So we have a very deluxe standard Prius, a dark gray like many of the other gray cars on the highway.  It has fake leather seats and a console that looks like it could navigate an airplane.  The really cool thing is that the car has voice recognition, meaning you can use the GPS and make and receive phone calls without ever taking your hands off the steering wheel.  It also has a little hologram in the lower part of the windshield which reflects your speed so you don't have to look down to see it.  No more excuses for speeding!

The hardest thing for me to get used to is the fact that everything works!  There will be no need to replace duct tape.  The doors all lock and unlock at the push of a button.  The speedometer works.  And on and on and on.

It would seem we are set for many years.  There is the little matter of what happens when the battery in our 2005 Prius goes.  But I guess we will cross that bridge when we come to it.  For now, I am luxuriating in hybrid luxury!