•  Looks as though all "American" cars are made in part outside the country. 
• That's what I"m told. 

Has anyone looked into the new Prius?  I thought Toyota was going to add a plug-in battery. 
Have not had too much time to research this.  Anyone have input on this? 

    12/22/07: Looking around at alternaternatives to the Prius.  The Nissan Altima Hybrid=
pretty good mileage for a mid-size...but can you tell me why the hybrid asking price has
 nearly $5000 added????  If you bring the vehicle in for maintenance the first year, I really
do not think the hybrid engine takes a heck of a lot of work.  Probably less than the
traditional auto. Is this the way manufacturers are getting into the 21st Century? 
Give a little, guys!

1/6/07: Bought a Magellan Maestro 4040 in late December.  Came with an attachment
device which is worthless.  Only placement of GPS that makes sense in the Vue is the
 air vent.  Was going to drill a few holes in the suction device to make it work but did a
little net search instead and found a vent clip made by the same company, Arkon.  It looks
perfect and safer than what came with the Magellan.  Why the %&*%$$#
don't they include the clip-on instead of that suction thing when you buy the GPS?  
     Soon, I will be able to try out the GPS.  Will report back to you when I try the clip out
and save gas by not getting lost on the road!


1/22/08: A slight delay in trying out the GPS...not that I'm going anywhere for awhile.  I had
ordered the clip, and after no-show, called them to find out it is back-ordered.  Doesn't that
drive you crazy when they do that?  I can still try it out but do not care to be fumbling all over
the console or my lap while I'm driving.  Nerts!

1/30/08: There is news about research & dev. of electric cars and other fuel economy moves. 
See www.greentechnolog.com .

2/1/08: Check out www.cnet.com .  Search for Coskata.  Article dated 1/31/08 is about
alternative fuel.  My question is why are they projecting this so far into the future?  They have
been driving this gas thing in reverse or neutral for too many decades!  You would think some
were making big bucks with the status in quo.

4/3/08: It's been a while but things got in the way of test-driving the Prius.  The car feels
great. Will not go for the GPS on that one, as the package you have to buy is ridiculous. 
With all the technology coming in, may want to get a new GPS in two years, anyway. 
     Locally, I was given a feeling that the Cape is rigid in pricing.  Talked to a gentleman
near Bridgewater who came up with a discount of nearly $2000, although he stated
documentation charges are about $100 more that on the Cape.  This, to me was a no-brainer.
    Twenty minutes after I hung up the phone, a manager from the Cape dealership called
regarding my interest in the Prius. 
"Any questions?", he asked.
"Yes" I said, "Are you offering a discount?"
     He took the particulars from me and in about a minute, came across with a knockoff of
$500.  
     Any questions?

4/7/08: Shopped around for auto detailing for my Vue.  Would cost 100 plus for interior and
about the same for exterior. So I got the new Dyson vac out and used  one of those new micro-
fiber dust cloths for the hard surfaces.  When I say the car needed help, you must realize
that my vehicle was suffering from benign neglect!  
     After a good cleaning, it started to look really good but those floor mats,ugh.  I gave them
a good vacuuming, then scrubbed the ground in soiled areas with a sponge and a strong
solution of Woolite. Sponged entire surfaces of both mats with solution, then rinsed them
in a slop sink. (If you can install one of these sinks in your house, do it.  One of the best
investments we ever made.) Brush up nap when dry.
     I left an open jar of white vinegar overnight to freshen the air inside.
     Will have the car washed outside tomorrow.  It's starting to look good enough to keep.
But alas, I have to give her up.  I plan to negotiate off-Cape to sell Vue and purchase new Prius.

4/11/08:  A Prius is finally in my garage.  Orleans Toyota gave me a break on the price.
They had just acquired one in Silver Mica color with the package I wanted. Drove her all along
Rte. 6A yesterday.  It was a beautiful day (finally).  This put folks in a good mood; I actually
bought a piece of pottery.
     To get back to the Prius.  In order to get the back-up camera, one has to put up with bells 
and whistles.  Just kidding, The system does everything but make your coffee for you.  Want
to know the best part?  As you tool along, it tells you how you are doing fuelwise.  Check out
the average mpg, as you change the music from the steering wheel...56-34-61.  When you
coast downhill, for instance, it reads 99.9.  I am beginning to love numbers.

Wore a new suit and car to the General Meeting of the Yarmouth Art Guild.  The color
drove them crazy, especially the women...no, not my suit, the Silver Mica Prius. The gang there
are artists, so I know I made a good choice.   Today, I'm off to points East on the Cape.
If it would only clear up.

4/16/08: Had been driving around for days.  Have been watching the mileage but do not
know how to figure it accurately.  Right now, between figuring out how things work in the car
and how to work a new phone and a Magellan GPS, my system is on overload. What the hey,
just to give you an idea, filled up at half a tankful and it cost me a little over 15 dollars. YES.

    Have a very nice battery charger that I kept in the VUE, but it is heavy.  I wonder whether
that wouldn't be useless with this car, anyway.  I will think twice about carrying extra weight.
Keeping this car neat will probably be easy.  There are stash compartments all around the
front seats.  I think a woman designed that part.  It's like those nice purses with pockets for
everything.  The main glove compartment on the passenger side has a device that holds
necessary paperwork (registration, etc.) upright and easy to grab.  It's the little things that
drive me crazy.

4/20/08:   The entry to the Prius is higher than what my dog Kelsy is used to.  Shopped
around for a ramp today.  Used the Magellan quite successfully to go to Falmouth and back
via two routes.  Had to improvise to hook up the ramp.  Found a rust-resistant shower
curtain rod that fits nicely into back of the hatchback.  Have to strap the ramp securely.  After
a little hesitation, Kelsy went up the ramp, then down.  She did that slowly the first time,
then up and down like a pro.  She trusts me, thank God.  These ramps are pricy.  So many
manufacturers, you don't know what you are buying on the internet, so I bit the bullet.

4/22/08: Today, I am off for a little cultural exposure at the Cahoon Museum.  Have never
been there.  After meeting a friend halfway, will have lunch and some inspiration for painting.
I will insist on driving and probably drive my friend crazy with miles per gallon bragging.  I am
doing 48 mpg presently and I do let her loose occassionally.  Giving ourselves time to get to
our destinations would save mucho, so I'm trying to change my habits.
    Some time ago, I had a wonderful friend named Nancy.  She was really savvy
regarding money, having worked in the insurance industry with exposure to the stock market.
She had Cadillacs and a Lexus in her family, but raved about my (then) small Saturn wagon.
She called it a "smart car" and even suggested to the Lexus owner that he get one.
If Nancy was still with us, she would call the Prius the "smartest car", I'm sure.

5/1/08:  Several days ago, saw a feature on morning TV news.  Two brothers had put
together a plug-in battery by working in their garage.  Took one year for them (with little
knowledge of cars) to research the device and months to put it together!  So where has the
auto industry been?  Shame on them.  
    Toyota is supposed to come out with a hybrid/plug-in vehicle in 2010.  Hope they make the
device separate as these young men have managed to do.  Toyota would still make a
ton of money by selling charger as a separate item to be added to existing hybrids.
    We live in hope, like my dog waiting for crumbs to fall from the table.

5/21/08: The Type A personalities behind the wheel are beginning to stand out.  I tool along
Rte 6 in the Hybrid, going about the speed limit and other drivers hang with me in the right-
hand lane.  They obviously leave their houses early enough to save a little fuel.  There may
be no hope for the others who "can't wait".  I always had the feeling they must be lousy lovers. 
   Want to save a little more?  Every little bit helps...think about piling on chores at your
shopping destination.  Plan stops along the way.  Speaking of shopping, those parking lots
are scary.  Folks run behind your moving car...even send their children scurrying through
your backup zone as you pull out.  Have had older people (I'm one of them) duck down to hide
so you don't see them walk past the car in motion!  The Prius is quiet, so I have to be especially
careful.  One of the best solutions is to park where you can drive straight out when you leave.
Available spots may be further out from the store, but the walk will do you good. 
And there is a slight saving on gas consumption. 

5/30/08: On Mother's Day weekend, traveled to Winnipesaukee area in New Hampshire with a
gal who recently became a great-grandma.  She didn't care when we got there, so travel at
thespeed-limit or a little over did not bother her.  We had a really nice time, stopping for lunch 
on the way up. 500 miles later, when I arrived home, I was very pleased to note the mileage...
50 miles per gallon!  I do in the upper 40s generally.  It is hilly locally, except when I'm on
Rte. 6.  Here, I can take my time, as there are two lanes.  
   There are two ads I see on TV. One has to do with whitening your teeth and usually a
blond flashes a broad smile.  The other has to do with male enhancement.  (The product even
helps this guy's golf swing.)  He flashes a smile similar to the blonde's .  Well, I am neither
blond nor an enhanced male, but when those Yahoos pass me on the road, I have the same
kind of a smile on my face.