We were driving our new XC70 to WY last summer. Going up a steep hill on
I15 in Utah in a thunderstorm I was passing a semi doing 70 when I hit a
sheet of water and started going in a direction I didn't really care to.
While correcting I reached down and hit the big W get-out-of-jail
button and it felt like the thing was instantly locked onto a set of rails!
It was pretty awesome - I felt totally at ease about putting the hammer back down.
The wife, sitting as she was alongside the semi's wheels, did suddenly
acquire a new set of dinner plates for eyeballs.
My only beef is that you can't use the Selectronic shifting when in AWD.
Yep, did take me a bit to sort out the blind spots...mostly a matter of having the seatback in the right place. I'm not crazy about the extreme rake on the windshield and where it ends up putting the A pillars (very similar to the Honda civic after the ~2008 restyle), but you get used to anything.
This rig will save me over $1k on gas per year...which basically pays for the cost of the car.
Prius are simply great cars...period. I've owned two and Never had a single problem with either (105K on 1st -- a 2005 -- until I was rear-ended at high speed by a Mrs. Magoo) and currently 35+K on my 2010.
When we replace the other car, perhaps we will get a Prius Plug-In.
The down-side is incredibly poor clearance. You can't reasonably get into places like Clark Canyon. Other than that, it is comfortable to drive and handles city and highway driving well.
Since this thread started about AWD wagons, I'll point out that in my unscientific subjective experience, I believe I see a disproportionate number of Priuses (Prii?) spun out on the median strip in wet weather.
the first prius had great visibility and they fit big people. the new ones suck. at least fit and visibility wise..
Having been in the 1st Generation Prius (which was Corolla sized inside and out). Having owned a 2nd Generation which was substantially bigger inside and out (almost a mid-size inside fit). And, currently driving a 3rd Generation which is even bigger inside -- definitely mid-size sedan space (though visibility is somewhat less), your comment makes no sense.
As far as visibility is concerned, not only do"you have to check your mirrors...just the side of your eye, side of your eye" , but actually turning your head to look is always advisable...
And for those Prius haters out there "Don't drive angry."
Skip ahead to about 1:12 for Phil giving Phil these sage driving instructions.
A former girlfriend owned a first generation prius. We did a number of road trips in it. My friend owns a 3rd generation. I have driven that multiple times. I just fit better in the first generation and it was easier to see out of.
But whatever. If you are happy, then thats cool. I just have a different preference. I never liked the small sports cars with poor visibility either. I'm happiest in a big SUV. Though I really liked the first generation prius and I use to own a mazda glc that I liked for visibility.
Let us know!