Ode to My Prius

April 19: My 2005 Prius is getting its 100,000 mile service today.  There’s no better time to write about a beloved car than in the waiting room of the auto repair shop.

I’ve had a few other memorable cars in my past.  The Honda I purchased from my grandmother a few years after college was the first car I ever owned.  The road trips taken with my husband and the name prominently displayed on the back by the car manufacturer – Hohda – leave a lasting memory.  I cried when we sold this car.

My first new car was a Nissan 240SX and it satisfied a desire I had since high school to own a fun red car.  My dad, upon seeing it, commented on the red in a way that was typical of him; the color choice dominated the conversation and felt like an example of his daughter’s inability to make a wise decision.  Excitement or even pride that his daughter bought her first new car was never voiced.  This is funny to me now.  I even teased him about it before he died because the car he had in his possession when he died was red.  My dad leased most of his cars, making only a few special exceptions.  One of these exceptions, a car he gifted to me when he could no longer get in and out of it, was a fun red car.  It’s funny how the meaning of things change over time, how a perceived judgement may really have been a secret envy, a joke I didn’t pick up on, or simply a concern for his daughter’s well-being because of the attention a red car would draw.

After that and until the Prius there was a string of boring, run-of-the-mill, affordable, practical cars to which I had no emotional attachment.  In 2005 gas was expensive with no price decrease in sight and I was driving an SUV.  I really felt the burden of using too many of the world’s resources.  Hybrids were relatively new and the idea of owning one appealed to me.  But I was also concerned about owning a car with such new technology and worried about being stuck with a car I didn’t feel comfortable driving.  The last thing a woman driving by herself wants to worry about is the car not working or being stuck somewhere or not being able to find a mechanic to fix the car.  My research included renting a Prius for a week.  The rental car fee was a small price to pay for peace of mind.  Within 24 hours I knew – the Prius was the car for me.  It was roomy and comfortable without the big car feeling.  It was solid and stylish and drove well.  The gas mileage was amazing.  It gave me carpool privileges.  It was one of the first mid-size cars with GPS and an iPod connection which at the time was pretty darn cool.  And I felt like I was making a difference driving such an eco-friendly car.

My fondness for the car goes beyond its features; I went to the car dealership alone and sealed the deal by myself.  Cars are usually matters left to men.  Even though times have changed, I’m of the generation that knows women weren’t always treated fairly in car matters and as such I still worry there are people wanting to take advantage of me.  Plus what do I know about cars and price negotiation.  I always want to be fair and be liked which makes me a terrible negotiator.  These are the strengths of the men in my family.  Who knows what got into me on this occasion.  My husband would’ve gladly gone with me, probably even preferred it.  I was just overcome with a desire to prove to myself that I could navigate the salesmen gauntlet, the sales pitch, and the financing options on my own.  Perhaps I was inspired by the novelty and newness of the hybrid technology, pushing the boundaries so to speak.  Whatever the reason, the Prius reminds me of how proud I was to have done this on my own.

Fast forward 12 years.  The Prius has aged just like I have.  The GPS is antiquated and now commonplace.  The proprietary connection for my iPod doesn’t work with any newer Apple device so I can’t hook up my iPhone and listen to Pandora or Spotify.  When my iPod dies my car will become a barren wasteland.  The car has 100,000 miles on it, more miles than any car I’ve ever owned.  Newer technology has invalidated my carpool rights.  The car isn’t garaged so it’s always dirty, the paint is faded, and in some places chipped.  It’s on its second battery.  The wheel rims are dented from my inability to sometimes gauge the distance between the car and the curb.  But the Prius is still strong inside just like I am.  It’s been serviced regularly, the inside is still in good condition, and it hauls as much as an SUV without the size and gas mileage of an SUV.  Traveling in the Prius is like traveling with an old friend — reliable, comforting, and always there for you.

Every time I bring the Prius in for service I tell the mechanic I need to buy a new one.  He asks me why then regales me with stories of Prius’ he’s serviced with 300,000 miles and educates me on the reasons the car is a keeper.  As if he really has to convince me.

My husband and I have this “only one car payment at a time” policy that’s helped us manage our finances over the years.  I’ve already missed my turn……twice…..totally messing up the timing to buy a new car.  I’m not even sure how to get back on track given my husband’s desire to buy a truck next year.  But do I really need a new car?  I still have 200,000 miles to travel with this one.

So today I express gratitude for my old reliable friend, my Prius.  Thank you for helping me navigate the road of life safely.