THe Perfect Harp Car

[barbara-brundage]

Sorry, Janet, I live in FL. I can’t imagine needing all-wheel drive here. 🙂

[barbara-brundage]

Just saw the article in today’s paper about $4 a gallon gas by May. All us Matrix folks can feel smug about that, anyway.

[Leigh Griffith]

Yeah, the rest of us poor shmucks who can’t afford the expensive
economical cars have to pay through the nose for gas or go nowhere.

[barbara-brundage]

The matrix is pretty cheap, Leigh, and my escort was about as cheap as you could get. I can’t think of any larger car that has a lower base price than the Matrix/vibe, and there are plenty of used ones available. The Prius, on the on the other hand…

The Yaris is cheaper, and it would haul a semigrand, I think. It was just barely too small for my 11.

[barbara-brundage]

I actually like the Yaris a lot more than the Matrix, and I seriously considered getting one and just renting a van on the few occasions when I need to haul the 11, but since that’s usually times like Christmas Eve and running away from hurricanes, I decided against going that route. The Yaris would be fine for a smaller harp and it feels a lot less GM-ish inside and gets close to 40 on the highway. And you can’t get anything cheaper than that.

[Leigh Griffith]

Okay, I was thinking of the Prius, sorry. My hubby’s Scion is supposed
to get close to 40 on the highway, too, but it’s more like 35. Still
better than the Sube, unfortunately.

[barbara-brundage]

Yeah, that was one reason I didn’t really consider the Prius–it does better for in-town mileage, and I do mostly highway driving. Aside from the fact that I’m not perfectly sure how the people who post here that they can get a harp in a Prius actually do so, the mileage difference relative to the cost difference for the car just didn’t add up. Cute car, though.

And I really totally don’t understand why they cut the EPA ratings on the upcoming matrix model. It’s not nearly as attractive a proposition at the new figures. Seems like a silly thing for Toyota to have done.

[Leigh Griffith]

The question is, did Toyota change it, or did the EPA do it to make the
U.S. cars look better in comparison? I wouldn’t put it past them. My
experience is that most cars do not do as well as the rating on the
window.

[diane-michaels]

A recent report on the environmental impact of a car, perhaps it was entitled “Dust to Dust” (?) examined not just fuel efficiency, but factory efficiency, materials used, etc…

[harpglo-jean]

Okay, I’ve read most of these posts, and cannot believe the types of

[barbara-brundage]

Yeah, I don’t doubt Toyota did change it. They were one of the big lobbiers against Congress raising the EPA average requirements, for all that they capitalize on the green thing in their advertising.

[barbara-brundage]

Gloria, won’t it go in lying on its back across the back seat?

[harpglo-jean]

Barbara, I just went out to the garage with my harp case to give your suggestion another try, and it really doesn’t work..can’t close the doors without it hitting either the top or bottom of the harp…I also moved up the passenger seat and tried to angle it in, but to no avail (center console was in the way)…the Dusty case is just so bulky, but I wouldn’t even consider transporting my harp without it..

Thanks anyway!

Gloria

[Mel Sandberg]

What an enlightening thread.

[unknown-user]

My beloved 1999 Taurus wagon, with 200,000+ miles on it gets 35 mpg on I-81, but the hand writing is on the wall, so I’m looking for a new car.

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