Automobile Dreams
For the longest time, I wanted a Suburban or a Tahoe. Stupid, I know. Gas-guzzling, person-trampling, carbon-monoxide spewing giant metal box. But I wanted one. I grew out of it about halfway through college and graduated into BMW lust.
I drive pretty fast. Not dangerously fast, but faster than a lot of people, and I wanted something with acceleration, with power. Something that would respond when I hit the accelerator on the freeway, not mope along while I got run down by all the damn Suburbans and Tahoes.
But, of course, I couldn’t afford one right out of college. So I got a Corolla. Which is pretty good considering I was looking at an Echo (excuse me, an ECHO). Unfortunately, I absolutely needed a car right then, so I couldn’t get the color I wanted. So much disappointment.
The Corolla’s great, though. Runs well. Solidly built. Good mileage. Manual transmission so I can force it to accelerate when I want. I couldn’t ask for a better car at this point in my life.
Which is why the Toyota Prius is infuriating me. I want one so bad. I ache for it. But it’s not fast. It doesn’t have punch. And it looks weird. Why do I want one?
Part of it is this 12-18 month upgrade cycle I’m used to from computers. It just seems natural that I’ve had my car for a little over a year, so it’s time to upgrade. There’s nothing wrong with my car, aside from a few scratches, but it’s old. I want new technology. I want a Prius!
The other reason I’m attracted to it is the features (are the features?). A car that recognizes me as the owner, unlocking the car as I approach and allowing me to start the car at the push of a button. No keys. Awesome. Side curtain airbags to keep me and my loved one(s) safe. 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations for those long drives to IKEA. Voice-activated DVD navigation system with hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth. A car that talks to my phone! 60 mpg city/51 mpg highway. Better mileage in the city, which covers the vast majority of my driving. And it’s twice as good as my current mileage. It would save me, at least, $160 a year in fuel costs. That’s money I can spend at IKEA!
Not to mention the benefits to the environment. Phoenix has terrible, terrible smog, especially in the summer. The Prius is perfect for city driving, recycling energy every time you brake (often), and not emitting anything while you’re stopped (often), because the engine is off.
Phoenix’s Light Rail is scheduled to open in 3 years and a few days. I think that by then a combination of increasing income by me and decreasing prices by Toyota could enable me to buy one. And the light rail would allow me to drive even less, saving more money in fuel costs. I can’t wait.
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