If you want an economical diesel commuter, try out that new Jetta TDI. It's no rocketship, but it's a heck of a lot quicker than a Prius. Only thing is, they're a little pricey when you option them out. I configured one online the way I liked it last night, and it was darned near $32k! But you can get a basic sedan out-the-door for about $22k, and the wagons start at $23,5.  

ill stick with my truck i can do alot more and haul alot more, plus it hauls a** when needed  

If you want something economical, check out shade tree conversions out of Byron, Ga. There was just a diesel power blog about this place, but i looked into it further and the put old tractor engins into pickups, and get prius like MPGs on motor alone. They took a late 80s or early 90s model F-150 and put a 6 cylinder Perkins diesel int it. He didnt say anything about it being really fast or about it pulling weight, but they say its a relatively inexpensive way to get 50mpg. Thats 50 mpg without all the fancy computers, without propane or cng, and you still have a REAL truck, maybe its not a 3/4 or 1 ton but its an honest to god truck. They also have another older F-150 with a 3 cylinder diesel, and a car with i think a 6 cylinder, and i think it was an old mustang, i cant remember know. Go to www.shadetreeconversions.com and check it out. The website  says they will be at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Ga, this weekend, and im gonna be down there for the cow show, so ill try to find them and tell yall how it nice it really turns out  

Checked out the site. Cool idea. Wish there were more details on the site, but I guess the guy is trying to sell books.    

those prius guys are just upset because there aren't any performance modules that can be added to batteries.  

Just wait til the hybrid side of the system takes a crap costs them a boat load of money to fix; that and the fact that it is one of the most expensive vehicles to have the hybrid system pay for itself ( operating cost per mile).  

I can't tell you how many times people have complained to me about my truck probably because I drive it like a Mustang but mostly the black smoke. Diesel's are better by far. You should have told the tree hugger strap an extra 3500 pounds on that "Prius" of yours and see what your fuel mileage is. One more thing the guy down the street from me has one as a company car and he said you load it down with luggage and 4 people and your MPG goes out the window. Also i guess he's imbaressed to drive it because the window's are tinted as dark as mine and that's limo.