Car choices

[cjsmith]

Test-drove a 2007 Corolla. If I buy one of those, I know exactly what I want on it. (Well, almost. Undecided about sunroof: just another thing to go wrong?) Spent lots of time fiddling with it in the parking lot and on the road, and it passed almost all of my tests.* That's pretty good.

Not at all firm on the decision for a Corolla though. Should drive a Yaris too. Better turning radius, a tinch better mileage, fewer frills available. Want to compare the two on trunk space. Would have done that today if I didn't have to get to the airport.

Should also drive that 2001 Prius before somebody buys the dang thing. Financially stupid to consider it, I know. Its batteries have half their useful life gone already, and I know darn well I don't drive enough to warrant a Prius even at used prices. Ah well. I may drive it anyway. :-)

____________
* Failures:
- No way to get cassette-playing capability. Would have to replace the radio right off the bat to get it.
- Cup holders suck. They're there but they can't be retracted and they fit only one size of object.
- Recirc exists only when the windshield air vents are turned off. Stoopid interlock.
- Timer turns rear window defrost off. Every car will fail this, though, and I know I can change it.
- Right-side mirror does not fold.
- Turning radius is distinctly mediocre compared to what I'm used to.

Comments

[nosrednayduj]

Of course I love my 2001 prius. We have a friend who has gone 240K miles on his 2001 prius with no electrical system problems -- don't knock the battery life, it's spec'd low. We haven't quite hit the 80K warranty yet on ours; just about to with about 75K on it.

Re your checklist:

- Sure would be nice if I'd stop getting red scrapes on my neck from the seat belt.

There are little plastic gadgets you can get that snap onto the seat belt to allow you to get it off your neck. Totally unobtrusive when not in use, simple to install. My housemate put one on most seatbelts in our cars so she can be comfy no matter where she ends up sitting, and carries one in her luggage on trips to modify rentals.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure folks really know yet what the battery life really should be; it's spec'd in terms of years, not miles or charge cycles (odd in itself, I'd think) and the Prius isn't that old yet.

Still, I drive 8kilomiles/yr tops. Financially a Prius isn't the best choice for my habits. I also like to keep cars 17 years, and we don't have that kind of data on the longevity of this chunk of engineering. It mainly has the "in crowd" factor, plus supporting cool technology, which I suppose I wouldn't be, much, by buying used.

I've always thought about buying one of those seat-belt-off-the-neck gadgets and (sheesh, for how long?) never got around to it! Fortunately pretty much everybody these days has the kind where the anchor point can be raised and lowered.

I have been amused for years by the "If the seat belt is near the child's face or neck, put the child in the rear seat" thing. I don't drive very well from the rear seat. :)

Out of curiosity, I've also always idly wondered where such a gadget winds up if you do have a crash. My seat belt buckle lost a chunk of its plastic half in this recent impact, and that piece wound up on the other side of the car. What would happen to a little gadget sitting by my face? I'm sure it's designed to break; I just don't know where it tends to go.

Totally Off Topic: I want to thank you hugely for sending me those square dance announcements even though we both know I can't (currently) go. I feel thought-of; I feel included. I smile every time I see one. Thanks. :-)

[nosrednayduj]

Well, the location of the gadget isn't near your face, but nearer your chest. I spoze it could leave a dent; I really don't know. There are also larger gadgets which are made of cordura-like material and would no doubt be better in an actual crash. They are less convenient and tend to make the seatbelt flap out into the doorjamb as you try to close the door.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Oh interesting. I always thought the gadget sat up higher. Of course, I've never used one. I just see pictures of them in junk-mail catalogs. :-)