thank you all, i am learning lots from this post and others on the topic of the prius. i recently bought a 2006 prius. i was introduced to the prius 'way back when' while living with my daughter/husband and helping to raise my granddaughter. at the time, they owned 2 of them (2000 and 2010). i drove them all over the place with my granddaughter in tow and they were both easy to handle, got spectacular gas mileage, and all the other things you've mentioned. the one thing that was difficult was that my legs would fall asleep while driving and i constantly had to readjust my sitting position in the seat. also, sitting in the back seat as a passenger was extremely uncomfortable (i am tall and have a bit of arthritis in my back). so, with my latest prius purchase i have gotten a neck pillow (because of the donut hole) and i use that to sit on. voila! it relieves the pressure from the seat on the tailbone and it works like a dream. no more leg issues while driving! i have not yet slept in the car so that arrangement will be interesting to figure out. i, too, have been considering whether to get a roof rack or a back porch.
ps: oh, forgot to say that their 2000 prius is still running and has never had to have the hybrid battery replaced. the 2010 was recently sold in order to upgrade to a suv. it, too, was in excellent condition and never had to have the hybrid battery replaced.
