Living in the COVID-19 World ... and Beyond #48: My Prius

In 2004, the idea of hybrid cars was still in its infancy.   I read about the Toyota Prius and was intrigued.   I was already conscious of environmental issues and understood that the burning of fossil fuels (like gasoline) was destructive to the environment.   So, I decided to get a Prius and trade in my Toyota sedan.

Back in early 2004, there was great demand for hybrid cars given the relatively small supply.   I ended up paying a premium above list price to essentially jump the line and get a Prius sooner rather than later.    My new Prius arrived in June 2004, and I immediately loved it.  I liked being able to see, on an ongoing basis, whether I was utilizing electric or gas power and how many miles per gallon I was getting.   I was practically the 1st person “on my block” with a Prius and I remember people wanting the opportunity to go out with me for rides.   Oh, and it was so quiet … you could not hear it coming down the road.   I was so pleased when I saw that I was averaging 50+ miles per gallon when I was doing mostly highway driving.

Fast forward 20 years.  I just celebrated my 20th anniversary with my Prius.   Yes, it has some dents from when deer decided to run into it in backcountry Connecticut.   And yes, it no longer has that new car smell and has accumulated much wear.   But it has been reliable for 20 years.   And I just looked yesterday as I was driving, and I’m still averaging just over 50 miles per gallon when most of my driving is on the highway.  

I know some people lease their cars and trade them in regularly, and other buy their cars but still trade them in every year or two.   I’m pleased that I have held on to my Prius for 20 years.   In addition to the good gas mileage and the reduced usage of fossil fuels, there is a preoccupation in our society with having “new stuff.”   That stuff can be cars, computers, household appliances, clothing, and so much more.  There is a common point of view that new is better.   And this is not necessarily true.   Consumers are encouraged to buy new things.    New things can appear to enhance one’s status, within our own and others’ eyes.  The manufacture of all this new stuff is destructive to the environment, both in terms of the pollution involved in the manufacturing process and the waste created by the discarding of the old stuff.  

I would like to encourage all of us to think before we make a replacement purchase.  Consider whether this is something that you really need or whether you are fine continuing to use what you already have.

I’m not sure how much longer I will actually need to have a car.   My wife and I have thought about reducing to one car and I can see doing that.   But for as long as I need a car, I intend to proudly keep driving my 2004 Prius.