Some cars are exciting because of the way they handle, others because of the way they hurl you towards the horizon. My roommate’s 2007 Toyota Prius does none of these, but it proves my point that automotive excitement comes in many different forms.
The drive happened last weekend after my band played a set at a small camping festival about 3 hours away from my house. While I normally try to use my Volkswagen GTI every time I go anywhere, it simply wasn’t large enough to carry the equipment needed for this particular show and we were stuck in the Prius.
I’ve driven this Prius more times I’d care to mention, including one trip 8 hours through the night back home from Bonnaroo, but this weekend was more exciting for one reason: it was very broken.
Five, count them, five different warning lights came and went throughout my journey, not including the message on the touch screen asking me politely but firmly to pull over and contact Toyota.
I’m sure you’re wondering why the car hasn’t been into Toyota yet and the long answer is: it has but Toyota deemed the sole issue with this particular example was that it was low on “Hybrid Coolant,” something I immediately assumed was akin to blinker fluid until I googled it.
Safe to say their assessment was a bit optimistic, as the car has a squealing wheel bearing, and some sort of serious-sounding problem with the electric motor which sounds like a dog barking in distress.
Every noise, hesitation or bump gave me war flashbacks to being stranded at the side of the road with my Merkur.
Although the panicked little hybrid plead and begged me to pull over, it successfully made the journey home, rendering it a still viable form of transportation, and one that will constantly keep you on the edge of your seat.