[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

What's sad is how few other platforms have that done to them. By and large, hybrid isn't a powertrain choice, it's a statement! An adventure! A lifestyle choice!

Ahhh... for some it would be.

For me it was a financial decision.
My wife lost her job.
I started working fulltime, driving a lot more.
My old car was on its last legs.
I needed a car that was reliable and economical, yet safe and reasonably comfortable, with a big trunk for the oversized holiday luggage.
I also have tinnitus - ringing ears, gets worse on high noise levels.
Test drove some diesels, very disappointing (by my likes and needs).
Test drove a Fit Hybrid, was blown away by it.
Test drove an Insight too as the salesman insisted. Oh well, nice enough.
Got a crazy sharp deal on an used Insight...

So it was purely financial.
Appreciating it as an adventurous lifestyle statement came later.

For my dad the Fit Hybrid was the only auto trannied small car that he could get in and out of and drive with ease in reasonable comfort.
Coming from a top trimmed Subaru Legacy hr was only expecting a downgrade, but he's quite happy how it turned out.
Being able to stash a pair of Moulton bikes behind the front seats is a nice bonus for him. Thank you Honda Magic seats and flat floor - the gas tank is under the front seats and the hybrid battery is under the trunk floor.

I doubt my dad gets the lifestyle thing yet. He is quite wary of anything popular.