GREAT little car - I just love my prizm!

HOW WE MET:
It was time to get rid of the old(paid for),and finance the new(scary). So, i searched the local used car dealerships online, one of the cars in my price range was the prizm. This being my first time financing, i was very meticulous in my research. Before i ever test drove it, I knew i was going to buy it. It's rated as a 'best buy' by Consumer Guide. It has had great reviews here at epinions. It was affordable. It has a safety crash test rating comparable or better than the other cars in its class. Did i mention that it was affordable?
And here's the clincher. It's really a Toyota.
Sold.
Not to knock american cars, but the truth is, Toyotas go forever. 60,000 miles on a Toy is like 110,000 on most anything else.
So, when i found out the prizm is the twin sister to the corolla, i was thrilled. It turns out they both come off of the same assembly line, starting out with the same drive train, etc. Toyota gets it, pretties it up their way, or Chevy gets it and does likewise. However, resale value on the Prizm tends to be a little lower, but hey, one man's loss in value is this gals gain.
HOW WE FELL IN LOVE:
Yes, it is a small car, but my 18month olds car seat and 4 yr olds booster seat fit just fine. Getting in and out has not been an issue. If anything, its much easier since i can reach them both without stretching or straining.Trunk space is perfect for us,holds the stroller, car care stuff, and all the groceries with room to spare.
Yes, the interior is, as some say, "plasticy" but i like it. It's very cleanable and shines up real nice with some amorall! the absolute only thing i dont like would have to be the placement of the cupholder. It flips out directly under the radio/tape deck. If you place your drink in the holder on the left hand side, it blocks the radio controls. If you put the drink on the right side, it blocks access to the tape deck. But it's not that big of a deal, I've adjusted. There are actually a few little storage areas for change, etc. that are quite nice.
But how does it drive you ask? Very well thank you. The engine is quiet,and it handles very well, even on the curvy roads. It easily tops hills that other cars i've driven had to struggle over(the 2002 neon to name one).
This car is great for getting around town running errands, etc. But where this car performs best truly is the highway.
If you do not look down at the speedometer, you are in BIG trouble.You will be doing 70+ mph without even knowing it, and really, if you're going to get pulled over, you should at least have a clue how to answer the officer when they ask you that question.."Do you know how fast you were going...?""no sir, really. last i checked i was merging into traffic doing about 46 or 47." Honest.The prizm will keep up with just about anything on the road, and you won't feel a thing. Not a rattle, not a vibration. just smoothe sailing.(and 28-30 MPG!)
(you will however, notice a slight drop in power when the a/c is full blast, but isn't that to be expected? The a/c by the way,is freezing cold and powerful.)

All in all, i'm very happy with it. It's a respectable little car for taking care of business, but when the kids are in bed and i'm feeling a little froggy, it hops right along with me! Don't discount the Prizm without giving it a fair shot, you may just be surprised! Did i mention it's affordable?