New Owner, some observations...

Who knows why these things have to become political. It's a great car to drive, just try to ignore and enjoy the ride!

 

Just remember, you can't fix stupid. Enjoy the car and ask you friend how much he likes contributing to the Taliban by driving a gas guzzler (if you want to get political).

 

Because they are envious or nervous that the car is made in Japan, was first made successful by Toyota and they likely know Toyota dominates the hybrid market space. If your car was a Ford C-Max, they would have nothing to say.

 

I used to do exactly that when ppl got snooty about the Prius, only I phrased it a bit more bluntly "I don't want to fund terrorists and people that hate us and want to kill us".

Once I traded in my 2012 Prius Five for the 2012 Plug-In Prius... I only need gas once every three weeks or so and never see the same ppl at the gas station any longer and have pretty much permanently ended that situation. Although I admit- it would be fun to see the reaction of a 13mpg SUV driving soccer mom/trophy wife when I (truthfully) state I averaged 95mpg for April and 96mpg for May.

Oh- I didn't vote for Obama BTW....

 

A lot of these people driving the monster lifted 4x4s are just extremely jealous that we are driving a superior piece of machinery than most of these outrageous trucks. I observed a driver of one of those lifted full size trucks complaining and whining at a gas station after spending $160 in a fill up. Serves him right...lol.

 

I think what it comes down to is lack of knowledge. People like to hate the Prius because they don't understand it.
Hows that car get 50-60MPG, must be black magic....kill it.

I get people behind me all the time on the interstate but I do 65 and they can go around if they don't like it. Most of the time I shack up behind a slow semi, or sometimes even behind another hybrid owner looking to max their MPGs out and cruise the 24 miles on the interstate to and from work. I do 1400 miles a month on about $70 in gas. Thats pretty hard to beat.

 

Seems Prius (years ago) was more conservative

Prius Owners: Liberal or Conservative? | PriusChat

 

it takes a while to get use to the prius hate ,now just feel sorry for such insecure people.

 

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How do you average 70 mpg ? I am barely getting 47-48 (hand calculation). Need to know the secret.

 

Ahhh...the "others," yes. These folks love to express their opinions in many different ways, but always on the border of offensive. I stopped caring about them the day I decided to achieve maximum MPG with every tank! Cha ching! More for me, less for them.

 

It takes a lot of patience, the right weather conditions, the right trip route, tire pressure, taking advantage of slopes and hills, being willing to let others go around you. The most important thing is speed though. Keeping your speed as low as possible. My daily route takes me 24 miles on the interstate where speed limit is 70. If i didn't have that I'd average much higher more frequently. Just recently was I able to hit around 65-68 avg mpg, because I REALLY started trying.

 

What kind of speed are you hitting on that 24mile stretch of 70mph Interstate?
Around here the speed limit is 55 (yes 55!) and I try to keep the PIP to 64mph and under because 64mph is the upper limit for pure EV mode- hit 65 and the ICE kicks in. At 64mph in the right lane on our three lane 55mph Expressway- I'm constantly being tailgated, cutoff, cut in front of before exits, etc. I couldn't imagine you safely driving at much less than 65-70mph on your 70mph Interstate.

 

Maybe I just notice it because my car is still new to me (had it less than a month), but it seems people pull out in front of me much more than they did when I was driving a Kia Optima. I've had to slam on my brakes a few times to avoid some collisions from that.

 

I was in a gas station getting gas, I went inside and only had $3, so I tell the guy, $3 on #1, he looked at me with these odd eyes, the guy behind me had a SUV, I just said its a Prius, that should get me a week of driving and walked out. You will always get the guys who don't want to be passed in their BMW's, they will give chase, that's why they put the PWR mode in these. Just leave them wondering.

 

I find a sweet spot for me around 62mph.. I go pretty much virtually unmolested on my 24 mile run. I just try to find another car going slow or semi going slow and just trail them if at all possible. Otherwise folks just go around. I'm way on the outskirts of the Chicago area so there never is really HEAVY traffic

 

Yeah, just man up those $160 at the Pump while the Prius guy fills up for 30 bucks.
$160 every 2 weeks > $4,100/yr
$160 every week > $8,300/yr

 

I guess you're fortunate... I drive 9mph over the speed limit and get all kinds of grief for it- you drive 8mph under the speed limit and life is good. It must be the high-strung NY drivers around here. I have a buddy who sometimes hits 80mph in the left lane (again on a 55mph roadway) on the way to work- and he says there are still people up his butt!

 

I really enjoyed reading all your comments. Knowing that I'm not the only one who has griefs with those tailgaters. Got some pointers from some of you, too. I'll try them out. Thanks!

 

Darn, I thought I was a conservative because I live within my means and conserve resources whenever I can. It didn't cross my mind that driving a Prius might label me as a liberal. Maybe I'll just think for myself and not worry about it.