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Bottom line: Hybrids make sense. They're smart, fun to drive and are easier on the wallet. But they don't save cents if you aren't willing to give up your lead-foot ways.
(http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-flhlpvasquez0128sbjan28,0,4800561.column)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/prius_driver.jpgDaniel Vasquez - Sun-Sentinel - Jan. 28, 2008

Very fair article - fuel economy is dictated by your right foot. -- Ed.

I rented a Toyota Prius this month and rediscovered something about myself. I love the open road.

Don't get me wrong. I hate sharing the Turnpike, which I use just about every day, with motorists who drive too fast, too slow or lose all common sense when on the cell phone. But I do enjoy driving long distances, with tunes and air conditioner blasting.

I rented a Prius to find out if a hybrid could help keep my gas costs in check. The only problem: I ended up driving more than usual because the car computer visually showed me I was saving gas — so I just kept going and going.

There are a lot of good reasons to go hybrid these days:…http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/custom/consumer/sfl-flhlpvasquez0128sbjan28,0,4800561.column

Where can you rent these things at?

The car rental companies at the airports seem to have them, but they charge a premium for them that seemed more than necessary. Still a great way to go beyond a test drive to make a decision.

Yes that is what I was thinking. Should be buying a car very soon now, thought we could maybe give the prius a shot.

I don't know why I ever read the comments at the end of the articles...it's really scary to hear some of the thinking out there...

I don't know why I ever read the comments at the end of the articles...it's really scary to hear some of the thinking out there...

Ugh. Your comment made me go read their comments. And their comments have given me a headache. Understanding the non-thinkers is like trying to comprehend the essence of lightweight sound. See? You don't know where to begin. Headache.

I posted a reply, and then I got flamed by an idiot, and then I decided that it wasn't worth it.

Hopefully people who read those comments will actually see the wonderful "sources" that I put up and not believe the stupid hype.

Where can you rent these things at?

Zipcar has them in their fleet, but I doubt Zipcar is in Nashville.

yeah I checked a little bit for places around nashville, and couldn't find anyone that had a prius, or even a hybrid.

Hertz upper west side has 3 for rent

I posted a reply, and then I got flamed by an idiot, and then I decided that it wasn't worth it.

Hopefully people who read those comments will actually see the wonderful "sources" that I put up and not believe the stupid hype.You, Mark Smith, and others made some intelligent comments there to counter the usual CNW Marketing nonsense.

I need to find a link "proving" the earth is flat. :D

I never read the comments at the end of articles; for the choir it is nothing new,for the opposition it is just a chance to repeat the transparently stupid "Hummer uses less energy lifetime than the Prius."
39mpg in heavy city sounds about right for very short-2-3 mile trips with an inexperienced driver. The 70 mpg highway; I can see that causing some comments. I range around 45-60 mpg at 60 mph sea level on a level highway.On a recent trip-65 mph-I got 49 mpg.
How did he get 70 mpg on a highway trip? He must be eyeball estimating and must have had plenty of all electric 30-40 mph stretches. I'm pretty sure you can't get 70 mpg averaging 60 mph-maybe you can get 70 mpg at 40 mph. I'll have to try a 40 mph trip to see.
All in all a very favorable article.
Charlie

What about your local Toyota dealer? Quite often dealers rent cars to people with cars in service... Just a thought.

The 70 mpg highway; I can see that causing some comments. I range around 45-60 mpg at 60 mph sea level on a level highway.On a recent trip-65 mph-I got 49 mpg.
How did he get 70 mpg on a highway trip? He must be eyeball estimating and must have had plenty of all electric 30-40 mph stretches. I'm pretty sure you can't get 70 mpg averaging 60 mph-maybe you can get 70 mpg at 40 mph. I'll have to try a 40 mph trip to see.

I can get near 70 MPG at ~60 MPH on the highway in hot weather with windows rolled up, no A/C, well-inflated tires, and utilizing a number of tricks. I find it highly dubious that a newbie got 70 MPG. He probably did just eyeball it for a while and maybe looked at the last 5 min. bar as he came into the city with a warm engine.

Still, a really good read no matter what.