[elhigh]

I can tell you a few things:

1) I'm 5'10, the wife is 5'2, two kids at 6'0 and 5'8. No one ever complains about legroom. And the taller kid generally sits behind me, so it really isn't as bad as all that. For longer trips he switches and sits behind the wife and it's quite comfortable for everyone.

2) Not having to think about a timing belt EVER is more freeing than you can imagine.

3) Lean burn is great until an O2 sensor goes. Interpreting which sensor has failed is not easy - there's three and my reader's explanation of which one doesn't always make sense. *sigh* Back to the dealership.

4) Vehicle is completely driveable with the IMA light on. Mine has been on for over a year now, though its condition has improved markedly with a deep discharge and grid charge.

5) Absolutely get the MT if you get an HCH. The CVT is a known weak spot. Supposedly there is also a known weak spot at the 2nd gear syncro, but mine has been working well.

6) The car responds well to the usual hypermiling tricks, especially EOC with the 5MT. Most days I have a 2-mile coast on the way home, as well as other shorter ones.

Would I buy another one: NO.

I love the fuel mileage and the space inside is quite good. But I can do nearly that well with other cars and dodge some of the budget-eating problems that are peculiar to hybrids. Given my druthers I would shop for a well-cared for four-door hatch from the mid-80s. Yes, as old as that.