MARCH 5, 2006
The
Toyota Prius is a hybrid motor car that is gaining in popularity because it generates less pollution, greater gas mileage, and last of all, but maybe important to many, it has achieved status in many circles. The last attribute is why so many choose the vehicle they drive anyway.
I do not know about other parts of the country, but when you go to an up-scale restaurant in Los Angeles that has valet parking you will see that the cars are parked in a well thought out pattern. No random parking here in LA, no way! Your car is parked by title. Rolls Royce, one would assume would be in the first spot, but only if no Lamborghini, Ferrari or Masserati was dining that evening. If the valet is really hip the Aston Martins will be prominently featured before all else; well maybe the new half a million dollar Bentley or the 600 thousand dollar McClaren Porsche.
What may top even these is a vintage anything that looks 'cool'. If you show up in a 1960's Jaguar, Porsche or Austin Healy you may move ahead of cars worth 10 times as much. In a less trendy, more modest restaurants, a new Mercedes or BMW would have the title of status car for the evening, but it may get bumped for a 1955 Speedster.
But now, there is a newcomer on the scene and it is the Toyota Prius. I have yet to check if the valet parkers have gotten the message, but this fuel efficient car is making its presence felt in the West Side of LA parking lots of Gelson's, and Whole Foods markets. Last week I saw Ted Danson tooling around in his, and of course, he was talking on his hands free cell phone.
Hooray for Hollywood! Trend setters, money no object celebrities are now leading the way with their buying power and I applaud them. My hope is that it leads to an across the board less consumptive lifestyle. In the meantime, check out which car gets parked where the next time you are at a restaurant that does not have self-selecting parking. Tell me if a hybrid has made it to spot #1.
--Peter