Yep, I am a rabid Prius owner. I got it for the environment. I love it for the mileage, especially after the gas prices here jumped over $3! When hybrid cars first came out in Japan, I thought I'd wait a few years until they'd worked out all the kinks.  The first models were smaller than a Toyota Corolla and had the battery hogging the trunk. Once I saw the 2004 liftback Prius with the battery hidden under the seat, I said, "It's time. ... http://www.squidoo.com/greencar Sat, 26 Jul 2008 02:55:25 -0600 FeedCreator 1.7.2 Fri, 02 May 2008 11:08:54 -0600 http://www.squidoo.com/greencar Yep, I am a rabid Prius owner. I got it for the environment. I love it for the mileage, especially after the gas prices here jumped over $3! When hybrid cars first came out in Japan, I thought I'd wait a few years until they'd worked out all the kinks.  The first models were smaller than a Toyota Corolla and had the battery hogging the trunk. Once I saw the 2004 liftback Prius with the battery hidden under the seat, I said, "It's time." I was lucky enough not to have to wait long, although I wound up paying more since the only model available was fully-loaded. In retrospect, the extras I got (GPS, keyless entry, bluetooth connection allowing hands-free cellphone use) are some of my favorite features. The Prius is a leap forward, but in fact I'm hoping for cleaner alternatives in the next decade. The great thing about hybrids is that they're convincing car companies that alternative technologies are viable. When I first got mine, it was the only one in my neighborhood. Now they're everywhere. Increasing customer demand will encourage companies to compete in developing more gas-efficient and eco-friendly systems. The graphic, above left, is a mini version of a T-shirt and bumper sticker design I've created for the happy hybrid owner. See below for a selection of reasonably-priced gifts featuring this design! New! Now available with the alternate slogan, "My hybrid kicks gas!"  Fri, 02 May 2008 11:08:54 -0600