Anne-Marie on her Prius..

How would you feel if you just signed on the dotted line for a very major purchase – only to find out that the manufacturer knew when he sold it to you, that it had some safety problems? And now you were saddled with payments for several years?

Figured it out? You are correct if you guessed that I am now stuck with a 2010 Prius that Toyota knew had some problems when they sold it to me. Even though I haven’t had any safety issues myself – yet – I must admit that every time I get in that car and drive it, I am a little worried. What if? What do I do if the car takes off at 90 miles an hour on the turnpike?

When we went back to the dealer who sold me the car, he all but said out loud that there was nothing he could do about it. What a shock!! And, while I have joined the class action suit against Toyota, still doesn’t make me feel any better every time I drive. And, the puny $16-million fine imposed on Toyota by transportation secretary la hood for being “safety deaf” also doesn’t make me feel much better either. Like they’re even going to notice the fine!

The whole thing stinks to high heaven. And, honestly, it’s not like buying a bad stove or refrigerator, unless they are defective and leak carbon monoxide and threaten me or my family’s health. A car is a different kind of purchase – first of all it’s expensive, secondly, it can kill you if there’s a defect. And don’t try telling me to call the company – have you ever tried calling a major auto manufacturer? Futile.

What I truly don’t understand is that Toyota sales are up 30% or so – who the heck is buying these things anyway? And, if they want one, I know where they can get a nice red Prius, hardly used, great price.