Well, that would be because I don’t want to spend $40K on a car.
Irritatingly though, one’s “green” credentials are somewhat suspect if one doesn’t drive one of these. I can’t comment much on Toyota’s engineering department, but their marketing department must be run by geniuses. Handing out HTVs at an election for the obvious party, I was virtually accused of hypocrisy by the young Liberal opposite, when I started to pack up my stuff into my generic four cylinder.
Recently a reporter was required to cover a “green” event (must have been a slow news day) and one of the four paragraphs was devoted to his surprise at the fact that their was only one(!) Prius parked out front.
I read that Toyota’s own (US based) research into Prius buyers revealed that around 30% of buyers bought a Prius as a *third* family car. Do these owners get dressed in their tie dye and drive their Prius to visit hippie friends and farmer markets? Toyota seem to be moving some units, but if this is their target market, I think we can safely say they’re not saving the world.
In keeping with its major purpose, our current car reflects our image quite well I think. Quite neat when purchased, we have managed to let it deteriorate to its current shabby state, with features including chipped paint, birdshit, cracker crumbs, broken tape player and radio permanently tuned to the ABC. I do boast the obligatory “Vote Green” sticker, though I have resisted the urge to dilute the message with other worthy causes, such as “Ban Live Sheep Exports” and “Homebirth Naturally”.
Just when my whole look was coming together, I am about to purchase a big f**king 4WD with roo bar etcetera, for the purpose of towing my mobile home on a longish recreational drive. I’m trying to think what stickers will work best.
