The New Chic Vehicle: Hybrid Cars

"Bay Area drivers are so enamored that they've bought roughly one in five hybrids sold in America in the year-plus that the cars have been available. The average time on waiting lists to dance with the two high-mileage hybrids -- the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight -- is up to five months at local dealers. The cars appeal to the Bay Area's yin and yang: Environmentalism and technology. Here in the incubator of geek chic, low-emissions "green" cars are cool in a way hemp shirts never will be."

Thanks to Tom Collins