The prius is like a moped with the petals. It cant run from a dead stop as its geared too high without the electric motors in operation to spin in reverse to allow sitting still. I guess if you can push it 12mph or so it will start, but you would be limited to like 50mph since only half the cvt will work?
Thats what kind of sold me on the Insight. The local toy dealer will openly tell you of a lady who parked her prius at the airport and how it wouldnt start and couldnt be jumped vs a traditional car. They had to do something to the hybrid system to get it running again.
They also had stories about the turtle light too.
Yeah, the insight is a bit more gutless, gets about 35mpg and in my experience it coasted very well. I am sure with more experience I could of got at least 40 through hypermiling it.