2006 Toyota Prius

Pros: Great gas mileage, radio keyless entry, push-button start, near-zero emissions, touch-screen climate/audio controls, fun to drive! Cons: Semi-expensive scheduled maintenance. (For some: appearance/engine sound) Would buy again: Yes, if I could afford it!

When my beloved Saturn SL2 was totaled in 2006 by a semi-truck that made an illegal turn into my driver's side door, I knew the only suitable replacement would be a hybrid car. I had been dreaming about owning a hybrid for a long time, and while I was not thrilled to be in an auto accident (Oh, the headaches! Literally and figuratively!), I was excited about the possibility of getting a new car.

I researched for a week, checking Consumer Reports and online reviews, scrutinizing aspects like fuel economy and crash test results. Front-runners were the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius, but my affection lied with the latter, not only because Cameran Diaz drove one, but because it had the best gas mileage for a 4-door sedan in its class, and rang in at about $25k.

At the dealership, I fell in love with the push-button start, radio keyless entry, and touch-screen climate/audio controls. The nerd in me especially appreciated the bar chart report of gas mileage averages, and my competitive nature kicked in as well, hoping to keep that average as high as possible. The environmentalist in me also took note of the nifty silicone bag which lined the gas tank, thus reducing evaporation/waste of fuel and further pollution of the air we breathe.

And so I eagerly bit the bullet and signed on the dotted line, not thrilled about my newly acquired $432/month auto loan payment, but willing to make the sacrifice since the whopping $4 / gallon (or more!) gas prices had been looming at the time. As I drove off the lot, I was beaming, and wanted to smile and honk at every other Prius owner I encountered on the road - "Look at us, we're saving the world! And our pockets! Aren't we great?"

In the 2 1/2 years I owned my Prius, I had 0 problems mechanically or structurally. I kept up on my regularly scheduled maintenance (which was a bit expensive at times), and clocked in over 54,000 miles in just under 2.5 years. Included in that mileage (around the 20,000 mile mark) was a road trip to Florida from Michigan, which the car handled beautifully. My lead foot averaged 47 miles per gallon on the highway (driving 78-82 mph, usually), and 52 mpg in the city. Winter averages were a bit less, due to the cold weather's effects on batteries. All-time-low was 33 mpg, still much better than most cars in its class!

Some may shy away from the futuristic Toyota Prius, citing its "odd" shape or less-powerful engine, but those of us who are frugal and environmentally conscious will look past these minor downfalls and focus on the benefits: amazing tax rebates (I got $3150 back in 2007), near-zero emissions, the ability to travel 500 miles on a 10.9 gallon tank, and the savings in our bank accounts. I will smile all the way to the gas station in my "funny-looking remote-control car!"