Last week, we loaded 4 of us (wife, 6 yr daughter, Grammy, and myself) to drive the 10 hour trip to see family in Virginia Beach, VA. Four people in the 4 bucket seats. This is the stuff that van like this were made for. I did all the driving and I gotta say after 11.5 hour of being in the car (with travel stops included) it was a pleasant ride. These vans do a great job of eating miles. Sure, they are no Autobahn burner and the high speed handling is wollowy but set the cruise at 76 mph and before you know it...you've arrived.
Kid and mom in the back seat with ear buds watching their own tablets. Grammy and I up front with the XM radio pointed to a surprisingly pleasant sounds of the 70's. Yeah, 11.5 hours of The Carpenters, America, Chuck Magioni, with some real disco thrown in too. I'd been a long time since I heard a lot of those. Long time for Grammy too.
So, what does one do on beach vacation?
But, I did find that there are a couple of pull your own JYs in the area. I also found that one had 5 Gen2 Prius on site and one was my desired color. I was hoping it would have a non-cracked front bumper cover...it did not. But, I did see this green one had 3 really nice tires, manufactured in mid 2018 (not too old.) The 4th was there but ruined from the accident. I thought to myself, if it was 4, I'd get them. Then, sure enough, one of the other Prius has the exact same Yokohama, manufactured within 6 months of the others 3 in equally great shape. So, set of four, long wear, 800 treadwear, tires for just $100. The yard took them off the alloys for me so I only had the tires. I also scrounged a needed turn signal stalk to replace the one that no longer self cancels, and a better antenna.
Yes, junkyarding is a vacation activity. And, a lot of jealousy to y'all in these non-rusty climates!
The yard did not have the bumper cover I wanted but I also had sourced one via car-part that was in Richmond, VA area. Right on my way traveling home. More than I wanted to really spend by $50 at $150 but in the right color. I have spent about a year trying to find a right color replacement. Mine has hit a raccoon twice and the second repair is just not that good.
Here is the magic van traveling home. Note the 4 tires on the lowest level, wrapped in trash bags. I was super lucky that the van floor is large enough that these 15" tires all fit flat on the floor. About 1.5 hours away from V. beach we stop at a full service JY and load in a front bumper cover. If you look close, the top item is the dark, back side of the bumper cover folded just enough to fit in side to side.