I have to agree that the "mileage game" is a big part of the fun. On the Prius, it gets taken to a different level, because as well as maximizing the mileage, the game turns into the always-entertaining "keep the engine off" game.

More than once, I've been caught letting my speed drop as we climb a hill on a 50- or 60-km road, and taken a gentle prompting form my fiancee to remember that there are worse fates in life than the engine turning off. But are there, really?

I don't know. I find the Prius very fun to drive. Serious performance freaks, probably wouldn't so much. But then, I also quite enjoyed driving my Echo, and the ancient Tempo before that. I just find driving fun in general. Add to that the "mileage game" and you've got all the more fun.

I especially enjoy the pickup from a red light to about 40 or 50 km/h afforded by the electric motor system. And yes, I do occaisionally enjoy the "fun" of the "holier than thou" game, particularly when I'm stuck on the main artery into downtown Toronto which we affectionately call the Don Valley Parking Lot, and I know I'm one of the very few people on that road not idling.

But there's a sad side to that game too, because I think about it deeper, and realize that while it's one victory fo me, it's also thousands of losses for myself and for the next generations, because of all those cars sitting there, going nowhere, NOT shutting down as they idle.