gratuitous snark for the day

[miriamjoyce]

I wonder how much the water, detergent, and energy required to keep a white Prius looking anything other than completely grungy affects its overall eco-soundness? I keep seeing white ones everywhere, and they all look like they get washed daily.

(note: I do realize that the much bigger question is whether a new hybrid represents any advantage over a

Comments

[hyoter]

i'm not sure that the white prius people are washing their cars constantly. i know that ours is red so dirt will show a bit less than on a white one, but i've had at least a dozen people in the last two months comment on how shiny our prius is. they'll say things like "did you just get/wash your car it looks so clean and new." when i tell them that we've had it for three years and i'm not sure if it has ever had a washing they are surprised. generally i have to say it doesn't get nearly as grimy as my subaru. i wonder if the aerodynamics somehow help keep dirt off or make it easier for rain to keep it cleanish looking?

[bratling]

"I do realize that the much bigger question is whether a new hybrid represents any advantage over a decent, small used car [...]"

i've always thought that question is, at best, a red herring. eventually, cars do wear out, and they must be replaced with something -- and used cars must first be new cars

[vfrride]

It's generally been my experience that white vehicles look less dirty than other colors. Never quite understood that, but I know that my white explorer in high school rarely needed washing, but my dark green Mitsubishi needed it constantly.

[miriamjoyce]

OK that's weird. I mean, I believe you, but it's weird. I wonder why.

[chezjake]

My last three vehicles have been shades of silver, and I agree they tend to show less dirt and grime than any other color I've ever owned. My almost 15-year-old truck still looks decent (aside from a few dents and rust spots) even though it hasn't been washed in three or four years.

[jennylisa]

our prius is black, and is almost never washed. However it looks like it needs one just about all the time. ;)