Mike,
I think the Prius is a fantastic car.  I have almost 12,000 miles on
it (it's a 2004 model) with no problems other than the dealership
blowing up the ECU during a software recall/upgrade...they had to keep
it from Friday to Monday p.m. to get the part to fix it.

I'm averaging close to 50 mpg. in fairly short-trip (6 miles at a
clip) suburban driving; about 52-53 on the last 3 tanks, when I've
been trying harder.  Quiet, well-built, lots of features and cool
gizmoes.  My car was the cheapest trim line available ($19,995) but
has power windows & mirrors, climate control, single CD stereo, ABS,
traction control, lit steering wheel controls of stereo, climate, and
both defrosters.  It is very cool to have the gas engine shut off at
stoplights or while cruising.  The transition off/on is pretty
seamless, other than an occasional slightly rough shutoff.

I have been on a waiting list since January for another new Prius,
which I now expect in a month or so, a 2005 model (unchanged from
2004) but with a $3000 option package ("package 7") that will give me
side airbags, smart key, HID lights, Stability Control, and a few
other things.  (I also wanted a Prius with gray interior instead of
the light tan I have now.)  I found a new 2004 Prius locally in August
that had the top ("package 9" $6000) option package, which includes
NAV and a 6-disk stereo, and planned to buy that, but my dad was
intrigued by the NAV in my wife's Accord, so I let him buy that Prius
and I bought his to drive while awaiting my package 7.  (This might
read somewhat confusingly; of the 12,000 miles on my Prius, my dad put
on the first 8-9 thousand -- he bought it new-- and I've put on the
rest since the beginning of August.)

I don't need the NAV on two cars.  I highly prefer the ease of use of
Honda NAV over Toyota NAV.  I love my wife's EX 4-cyl. Accord; she
considers leather & heated seats a must-have; neither is available on
Prius except aftermarket. I'm so happy to have a Toyota again (have
owned many in my life, from Celicas to Land Cruisers), and my first
Honda (automobile, anyway), after driving Ford Explorers for last 10
years (not sure why...they were pretty good vehicles, I must admit,
though).  I wish you didn't have to hide the odometer setting on the
Accord to see the outside temp.; and wish it had memory seats and lit
steering wheel buttons...pretty minor complaints.  For the Prius, my
wish list would be power seats.

As we're on a Honda NG here, please email me at onerpm@yahoo.com if
you have any more questions you'd like to ask me about the Prius.

Rob