I love my Prius. I love the built-in GPS and Bluetooth phone connection. I love the key-less entry and push-button start and leather seats. I love how it accelerates and handles and brakes on a dime. I love how its shape is easy for me to spot in parking lots around here. I love it every time I go to the gas pump.
I hate how low the front bumper is.

In addition to the famous "Prius Blind Spot," they're also known for getting a little too friendly with parking blocks, curbs, uneven roads, and sloped driveways.

When I first got it, it had some minuscule cracks in the front bumper. These cracks started to spread after I'd had it a month or so (probably from all those taps to concrete parking blocks). This made the front grill pop partially out of socket and driver tire guard loose it's clip and drag on the ground (which makes a really scary sound).
I just had the dealership pop everything back in place and drill a small hole at the end of the cracks so they wouldn't spread and zip-tie it together to put off replacing the bumper. It wasn't super noticeable (probably because it so low to the ground) and I kind of thought the subtle franken-car look added character.

Then there was the big ice storm a month ago, where I was driving in lots of high snow and mud and uneven surfaces. Somehow, somewhere a chunk of front bumper on the lower driver side caught on something and partially pulled free. I lined the chunk back up and...well, duct taped it from the inside to keep it from falling off.

Yesterday, I was driving home from work with one of my car pool buddies and fellow management trainee, Jeff, when I suddenly hear an awful noise as I am decelerating. At first I thought it reminded me of "flat tire noise" and I pulled over while muttering a string of less than lady-like words. The front guard had popped its fastenings and was dragging on the road. I tried to tuck it back up in there, but it wouldn't stay. I didn't have any rope or bungees in my car. After a quick search, however, I found a stopwatch that had a neck cord just as Jeff was about to offer up his shoe laces. It was a very MacGyver like moment as he tied my car back together.
As we drove off I commented on how classy it was that I drive a loaded sleek hybrid machine that has a front bumber held together with zip ties, duct tape, and stop watch cord. That's when Jeff hearkened back to a previous discussion on how my car doesn't have a name and dubbed my beauty "Ghetto FabPrius."
...like ghetto fabulous...get it? GET IT???
Victory.

At the body shop, they fastened her back up with more zip-ties and gave me a $1400+ estimate to replace my front bumper and guards. Gah!
It's strictly cosmetic damage and they say I should be able to drive around like this just fine until the next incident. Now, I'm definitely more interested in the car's point-A-to-B capabilities than appearance, but it's starting to get ridiculous. I guess I'll think it over this weekend.


And now a noble thought on Dental X-Rays from SteapandCheap's The Daily Dose:
"I know they say it's a small amount of radiation, but I still think that blasting radioactivity into your skull at any level is likely a bad idea. I need to save those brain cells so I have something to kill with plastic-bottle whiskey."

Tags: car stuff, quotes
The Bottomline: irritated
Background Noise ♫: Oasis