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Its first road trip. (http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/prius-diary-part-iv-road-trip/?ref=automobiles)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2007-Prius-Touring-Edition.jpgMicheline Maynard – NY Times – Oct. 2, 2008

Micheline’s 2008 Prius-II Touring allows a nice 50 + highway cruise.

She still sounds enthralled with her Prius as she should :) -- Ed.

Two years ago, I wrote a cover story for The Times’s Cars section that asked, “Is America ready to become a small-car nation?”

This summer, I had the same question on my mind: was I ready to become a small-car owner?

I already knew that I wanted to own a greener vehicle. But would I feel safe enough in a much-smaller vehicle than I was used to driving? Would it be comfortable for a longer trip?

… I wondered how it would perform. I had always heard that a Prius did better in city driving than on the highway, so I was prepared to get less than the 40-plus m.p.g. I was averaging in the city.

Imagine my surprise last month, when I glanced at the consumption screen about halfway through my drive to Chicago. Seeing it, I uttered a phrase often heard on Everybody Loves Raymond… My fuel economy rating: 50.6 mpg…

Back when I drove the Lexus, I felt more on a par with the truckers, sitting up higher with a wider view of the road. Traveling at least at the speed limit, I would get antsy waiting to pass them. Now, I was outclassed by them in size and perfectly happy to give them a wide berth. But when I did need to pass them, I had no trouble getting the acceleration required, and the Prius’s smaller size made the car more maneuverable… http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/prius-diary-part-iv-road-trip/?ref=automobiles

Prius Diary Part I: One reporter’s conversion (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16172)

Prius Diary Part II: The long wait (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16173)

Prius Diary Part III: First impressions (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16251)

My only problem with the story is that the Prius is not a small car. It's a smaller car than what many are use to driving but it isn't a small car. My 1984 Buick Skyhawk two door was a small car. My 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier RS sedan was smaller than the Prius. With the help of split fold rear seat I managed quite well with my Cavalier until a Ford F-250 ran a yield sign and totalled my baby. A family going on a vacation in a small to midsize sedan may not have enough room in the trunk to pack everything they "think" they'll need but they can spring for an aerodynamic roof carrier to increase their storage capabilities. Something families need to keep in mind before packing for their vacation is the weight limit of their vehicle which is usually stamped somewhere on the inside of the driver's door frame. That limit is for the vehicle's suspension and it's limit can easily be exceeded. Think of a 200 lb father, 130 lb mother, and two kids each about say 75 lbs for a total of 480 lbs not including the items you pack for the trip. For many cars, the weight limit is 1,000 lbs. If the family weighs more than the above and packs many heavy items they can easily exceed the weight limit.

Getting back to the Prius, I'm surprised they haven't made a station wagon version yet. I wish more Americans and more car companies would make and buy station wagons again. Even a small station wagon has plenty of room for a family vacation without sacrificing mpg when compared to SUVs. I remember a time when many cars had a wagon version. Cars like Accord, Camry, Corolla, Cavalier, Taurus, Escort, Maxima, Stanza, Sentra, Century, Caprice, and many others had a wagon version.

My only problem with the story is that the Prius is not a small car. It's a smaller car than what many are use to driving but it isn't a small car. My 1984 Buick Skyhawk two door was a small car.

I hear ya. We don't know what small cars are over here. Our Yaris is shorter than my 94 accord, but has more room inside and a bigger trunk. Let's get the iQ over here so we have a small car other than the premium SMART car to choose from.

you know you are in a small car when a prius goes by and it looks like a minivan in comparison! ;)

The Prius is *almost* a wagon. If you inflated the back end
a little bit, raising the spoiler lip, it would be a wagon.
I certainly *use* it like a wagon...
.
_H*