DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Ken At Fry's Electronics

Q: Another gray Prius! Do you ever lose track of your car in a parking lot?

A: All the time. My two and a half year-old daughter always thinks that every Prius is daddy's car.

Q: What is your car's main use?

A: Going to work and bringing my daughter to daycare. When I have to bring my daughter to daycare, I have to go to the West Side, so it takes me a good hour and a half to get there and come back. Pretty much, yeah. I have to do that a few times a week.

Q: Wow! So what do you do to keep yourself sane behind the wheel?

A: Um, not much. It's pretty nerve-racking.

Q: If your car had a human emotion, what would it be?

A: That's funny. Scratchy? I'm finding all these scratches now on my car, which I can't believe I'm seeing them. It's impossible to keep your car clean or scratch-free. I was crazy about my car before. Every time I got a little scratch, I would take it in and get it fixed. It's like, you can't do that here in L.A.

Q: How did you know you wanted this Prius?

A: Actually, when the Prius first came out with the new body, I thought it looked ridiculous. I never thought in a million years I'd get a Prius. But I used to have a Volkswagen Beetle, which I loved. And having the baby, I realized quickly that having a two-door, really small car was really difficult. I almost got the Honda Insight, but the Prius was bigger. I just thought I'd go with this. It has better gas mileage than the Insight.

Q: How do you feel about your purchase so far?

A: It's great. I love it! It's not as unique as I wish my car would be, but it's a great car. I love it.

Q: Lastly, what's your general philosophy about driving in L.A.?

A: Be patient. L.A. can't drive? L.A. drivers suck. I went to Anaheim yesterday and even coming home in the mid-afternoon, you go from going 80 to doing zero. Then finally traffic breaks free and you realize there was no reason for the traffic. That's maddening!