Hello all,
I expect to take delivery on my '04 tideland option 9 prius next week, and I have yet to drive one. I've wanted a Prius since I first heard about them, which was around two years ago. I didn't have the funds to jump right on it, but I knew as soon as the 2004 models were announced that I was going to have to get one. Little did I know that hybrids in general would catch on so rapidly, but I'm so glad that they have.
I house sat for this guy from November '03 to February '04, and during that whole time there was a brand new '04 driftwood sitting beside his mercedes SUV in the garage. Apparently he bought his son (16 and without a license yet) the Prius as a birthday gift. There was a scribbled birthday card (written on a paper floor mat from the dealer) left on the dash. I couldn't believe the kid (who lived with his mom) didn't come immediately to pick it up. It drove me insane. Needless to say I sat in it a few times, looked at the interior and the NAV, but never started it up.
The dealer that I'm using, Marina Del Rey, CA, has a driftwood '04 test drive car on their lot, but I haven't had the time to get over there. I told my internet sales rep that I had yet to drive one, but I'm dead set on getting it. His reply, "they drive like a normal car." Bah! There's nothing normal about it. Can't wait.
*edit* I should mention I put my name on their list late February '04 and was told 60-90 days (snicker). My first choice was a silver 9. I was offered a white 9 over a month ago for a premium. I replied that I was holding out for my color and MSRP. I expected to have one by now, so I called the sales rep last week to see where I stood. He said the silver was really popular in the area and they hadn't been getting many. I told him I'd budge on the color. He called back with the tideland 9 coming in two weeks. I've since grown to prefer the tideland over the silver so I'm very pleased.
Good luck to you.