For real fun in control variation try hopping between a Volvo 13speed and Sterling 7speed semi-tractors, a Toyota Lift truck and a Mazda B Series pickup.

I knew I was wore out from a long day when I used the turn signal in my pickup to get into reverse like I would on the ‘Yota. I’d also find myself double clutching the Mazda and reaching for the non- existent hi/low splitter on the gear shift.

So I sometimes find myself going for phantom pedals or handles when I switch from one vehicle to the other.

Once I get past starting the car, I’m fine.

Replace a regular slushbox shifter with the Prius shift nub and press Start instead of turn a key, and everything else is the same. If my mother, who grew up on a farm in China with no electricity, can learn the Prius in 2 minutes, so can any Enterprise customer. If he/she can’t, maybe the Enterprise staff should think twice about loaning out their $20k+ machine.

Enterprise already has a green logo. Isn’t that enough to save the planet?

One of our consultants rented a Prius a few weeks ago. He called here saying he might be late because he couldn’t start it, but fortunately our Prius owner talked him through. Seems he, the renter, was waiting for a big ‘vrooom’ to tell him the engine had started. Priuses don’t do that.

But who knows. Maybe I was just in the bad parts of town.