Toyota Prius - 2006 Review

I was skeptical about owning a hybrid, but I chose the car we bought last time, so this time it was my partner's turn, and she wanted a Prius.  We've had this car for over a year now, and boy has she proven me wrong!  I love this car!  It is fun and quick to drive, and even though I have a significant commute, I feel like I hardly ever have to stop at the gas station.  We got a package that includes the keyless system, and I thought it would be kind of a stupid perk, but now I have gotten completely spoiled by it.  Using actual keys when I drive our other car seems so old-fashioned.  It's awfully convenient (especially when carrying bags of groceries and such) not to have to dig keys out of my pocket.  I also really appreciate all of the volume and temperature controls on the steering wheel.

The disadvantages that I have seen to this car so far are two.  First, you can pretty much only have it serviced at a Toyota dealership since the hybrid system is so complicated.  This means spending more money than going to your local mechanic.  Also, we have found the staff at the two dealerships near us to be rather rude and impatient.  So that's unfortunate.  The second disadvantage is that the car is just not very big.  Our dog (a golden retriever) gets to sit in the backseat because she just doesn't fit in the back.  (Of course, the dog loves this.)  If you plan to carry a lot of stuff in your car, that could be a problem.

Overall, this is a great car and I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.