I've filled it up 4 times now and I have yet to put more than 8.5 gallons in the 10 gallon tank, which equates to less than $30 thank you. You can argue all about the environmental impacts of the batteries - I won't argue. You can argue all about buying a cheaper, used car that gets 40mpg - I won't argue. I wanted a Prius so I could have an extra battery pack installed and so I could run pure ev (electric vehicle). There's a local company that adds packs and then allows you to run many miles on just battery alone. I believe in diversification.
Once I get the truck done, I'll have a diesel that is capable of running on veggie oil, a Subaru for gasoline, and then a hybrid. Perhaps I'll start a Prius blog when I get the truck all done. I could talk about all the benefits of running pure ev for my 24 mile round trip commute. Maybe after that blog I could start one about the benefits of capturing rain water or canning or using natural deodorant (or none at all)...
So about that Prius, I'm at the dealership negotiating my poor, injured TSX. I'm an honest fellow, so I don't lie about anything. I tell them everything. I'm a firm believer in you bring goodness into your life by believing in the goodness in others, so I didn't lie about anything. I told them all about the problems I'd just learned.
- Them - $2900
- Me - Oh no. Gotta do better than that.
- Them - Oh, we called around and we could do $3500
- Me - What if I bring it from the Acura dealership to you to check it out?
- Them - Well we won't go below $3500, so it won't hurt you to bring it.
- Me - Ok, I'll be back.
I pay my bill at the Acura dealership. They washed it for me or more accurately for the Toyota dealership, nice. I remember seeing the car come around the lot looking all clean and shiny. I took the wife over to the Prius to give her a run though on the controls while the porter brought my pretty car to a spot, of course he backs it up. I'm a backer-upper, too. I think it always makes a car look good when it's backed into a space. I kinda respected the guy for backing it up for me. Meanwhile, I'm talking to to the wife about this button and that and here's how you adjust the seat and I hear a strange sound. It sounded like he drove the front valence over a curb, but he wasn't parking it facing a curb...
I turn around and see him frantically pull the car forward.
Ah, comon! Are you kidding me??! I was not quiet.
Yea, he wrecked my car. The car that I was trading in, trying to get the highest trade-in value I could, and the damn porter backed my car, my beloved car, into a pole. The passenger tail light was busted and the bumper was scraped. The porter suggested that he could use some touch-up to cover the bumper scrapes - ah, no dude, you're done. Keys please.
After some loud talking in the dealership - I didn't cuss, but geez did I want to - the general manager came outside to assess the damage. They were good. He offered to buy it from me. He offered $4000.
I guess I could've really taken advantage of the two dealerships, but as I said, I just don't think that way.
The Toyota dealership offered $100 more to beat the Acura dealership - good for us.
I was a bit hot after the exchange, but it really did work out for the best for us. I don't know if we'd gotten $4100 for the Acura had the porter used the mirror when backing up. The Toyota general manager really liked it. He said it was nicer than he figured it would be, so that was a nice little validation for me. I was so sad to see the Acura go, but I'm happy with the new purchase.
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