Meet the Smiths. Their names are Tommy and Tina and this is the most recent addition to their happy home. Unfortunately I am not talking about the puppy their young son Tommy keeps requesting but rather a certified pre-owned 2007 Toyota Prius. And yes, if you were wondering, I am from California so cars are like members of the family here. The new addition to the Smith home had only had 30,000 miles on it at the time of purchase and it fit all of the requirements that Thomas Smith, the principal driver, had of a new car. It had to be economical and it had to be quiet. Come on, he has a 4 year old so do you really think he wants to hear a lot of road noise too? Sometimes a parent’s best friend is a little bit of quiet and Toyota understands that. That is why the Prius has always made for a peerless commuter and highway companion. So what happened to the Smith’s happy home when their annoying neighbor (the author) dropped by with a shiny red 2010 Toyota Prius to tempt them away from their classy and understated champagne colored model? Well, although that new car smell is a nice bonus, it appears that even old Toyotas have a lot of appeal to consumers. Add in the fact that the Smith’s only paid about $17,000 for a car much like my brand new $33,000 test model and you can see there is a benefit to going the Toyota certified pre-owned route. So although they don’t regret buying their older Prius, there were some things about the new model that they did (and didn’t) like. Here are their comments (along with excellent images by aspiring photojournalist Tina Smith): Thomas Smith (Dad) When patriarch Thomas Smith opened the door to the 2010 Prius he was immediately taken by the high quality interior, “I prefer the inner door panels, the improved feeling of quality and the big map pockets. I really like the integration of the navi and the shifter.” He was less kind, however, about the new front headlights, “The headlights just look like they are trying way too hard. But I will say I like the new foglight integration on the bumper.” He did, however, add that he liked the more streamlined antenna on the 2010 model’s roof. But Thomas still thinks the Prius would look even better with a shark-fin radio antenna like he has seen on BMW models. Oh yes, and for $33,000 Thomas wonders why there is no power hatch for the 2010 Prius? It seems like an odd omission for a car that is becoming increasingly luxurious. Category:Home › Home • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 2 • Will higher gasoline prices mean lower sales for new cars? — part 1 • Should the crew of the Sea Shepherd board whaling ships? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 13 • Grandparents: Can blogging chronicle your genealogy? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 12 • Are teachers unions the cause of public school problems today? • Which makes a better pet: A dog or a cat? — part 11