Picked up my new green jewel yesterday. Two big impressions: <br><br>Total silence at stoplights had me grabbing for the key to restart the "stalled" engine.<br><br>I work in a high tech company, and my engineering coworkers are all floored by this car. Nothing but praise from them over the interior space and smooth shifting from one energy mode to another. I think several of them will seriously consider buying a Prius.<br><br>Other impressions:<br><br>Plenty of power; drives like other small cars w/decent HP. I carried 5 adults with no problems.<br><br>Still getting used to the handling on the freeway. Is the steering feedback a little different from other cars, or maybe the tires have a tendency to wander on grooved pavement?<br><br>Those who can't program a VCR (I can, but just barely) will have trouble figuring out the radio. The car came w/an FM station preset. It's one I don't care for, but when I tried to override the preset (holding the button for several seconds) it didn't take. Do I need to clear the existing preset before I can enter a new one? Maybe I should RT_M!

&gt;&gt;The car came w/an FM station preset. It's one I don't care for, but when I tried to override the preset (holding the button for several seconds) it didn't take.&lt;&lt;<br><br>Change presets by pressing the long bar that shows the frequency, not the preset number. Yes, you do have to press it for a second or two, because this bar can also be used to select a station.<br><br>Check out the RDS scan feature, too. It finds all stations that transmit a special text-data signal, so you get the call letters and possibly messages as well.

&gt;&gt;Change presets by pressing the long bar that shows the frequency, not the preset number. Yes, you do have to press it for a second or two, because this bar can also be used to select a station.&gt;&gt;<br><br>Ok, thanks! I skimmed the manual and saw that I will need to sit down w/it and study the radio. The RDS function is new to me.<br><br>Another impression: I turn the key and ... nothing happens in the first second or 2, except the displays come on. Not hearing a starter is another reminder of how different this car is. I love it!

&gt;&gt;Another impression: I turn the key and ... nothing happens in the first second or 2, except the displays come on.&lt;&lt;<br><br>It took me a while to twig that you don't have to leave the key in the start position till the engine starts. All you have to do is flick it and release it.

According to the manual, you need to hold it in the start position until you hear it beep. I wasn't doing that at first, but I do now. I'm not sure why, but since it's in the manual I feel obligated to comply.<br><br>Does anyone have any more information on why you should wait for the beep?

&lt;&lt;It took me a while to twig that you don't have to leave the key in the start position till the engine starts. All you have to do is flick it and release it.&gt;&gt;<br><br>Yes, I noticed this too. Curious that the manual says to hold the key until the "ready" light comes on and the car beeps. Maybe it's to keep people from trying to drive before the system is ready.<br><br>A tiny issue: I noticed that my front license plate (currently an ad for my dealer, soon to be a CA plate) covers up part of the opening at the bottom of the front bumper. I wonder if this adds any wind drag. I'm tempted to drive w/o a front plate, if that's legal in CA.<br><br>On the subject of wind drag, I also wonder about the spoiler. I assume Toyota wouldn't have put it there w/o a purpose, but I wonder what it does to the air flow. I recall a post from someone who removed his and saw no effect on MPG, but was this a thorough test?<br><br>I came across a wind-tunnel picture of the Insight, showing how the air flow breaks away cleanly from the rear of the car w/minimal turbulence. Does anyone know how well the Prius does in this regard?<br><br>Last, a survey: Where have people placed their "Eat My Volts." sticker, and has it gotten any reactions?

Priusman a month ago or so said that their (Toyota's) research found that the spoiler added 2-3 mpg at highway speeds. <br><br>I am far from an aerodynamics expert but my understanding is a does helps reduce the air turbulence left in the wake of the car hence reducing drag.

&gt;&gt;According to the manual, you need to hold it in the start position until you hear it beep.&lt;&lt;<br><br>I'm inclined to believe this isn't to be taken literally. If you think about it, the only reason to have the spring-back "starter" position is to make the Prius feel more like a regular car: it's tactile feedback to remind you that you've actually started the thing.