Let me start by saying this is not an apology. When my wife and I sold our 1998 Honda Accord a few years back and bought a small SUV (a RAV4), we contemplated a hybrid, specifically a Ford Escape, though also thought about a Prius. Given our limited driving (~6,000 miles the first year we owned it), the threat of snow in the winter, and the concomitant need for 4-wheel/all-wheel drive, I think we made the right choice. In addition, I still think that an electrified fleet is the way to go for “sustainable” transport, though algal oil needs to play a role as well. Now, with all of those qualifiers aside, the reason for this post.
I don’t like the taste of crow. I can’t imagine many people do. However, I was thoroughly impressed by the mileage Justin and I achieved on our recent drive after my sister bequeathed my family her 8 year old (previously owned, making us the third occupants) Prius. I didn’t want, and still don’t like the idea that we have two cars. It’s expensive. We had to fix a few issues and get an extra key made, plus there are a few outstanding service calls and body work remaining to be done on it, all of which costs extra. I still ride the bus to work. Is the flexibility to drive worth it? I don’t know, since I’d drive our less fuel efficient car, as my wife commutes with the Prius, have to pay for parking, and have higher insurance costs associated with the extra driving.
Having said all that, I think we could’ve purchased a hybrid and rented a 4-wheel drive vehicle if and when needed. Alas, hindsight is 20-20, right? We’re still happy with our RAV4, except for its miserable gas mileage. The best we ever achieved was ~28 miles per gallon and we average more in the 20-22 range. With 2 kids now, we’re glad we have something with the cargo space of the RAV4. Would the Prius v have worked? We’ll never know, because the next car we buy (in 5-10 years) will be an electric. Sorry Justin, I still think we need to shift to electrics now. Just as hybrids took too long to offer an option that might have worked (the Prius v), the market needs a signal that electrics will gain traction, and we plan on doing our part. Here’s to living along Tesla’s supercharging highway.
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