Opposition to Prius - Why?

I use a Dymo gun, but the stickers tend to fall off when people sweat.

Tom

 

Has any car in history (even the Hummer) gotten the same response?

I'm half-serious that an ICD-10 code be setup for Priusphobia - it's just a car!

It gets people from point A to B efficiently and reliably, yet responses to it often suggest detractors may need therapy.

 

...and this is because the Prius is a PERFORMANCE car. The mpg performance of the future, that is. I can't imagine driving anything else (except my Tacoma when I need a truck).

 

Yes. Its great he survived!

 

I said "I'd like to be called "the thinker"". I didn't call anybody that.
I said "the conservatives" (they called themselves such, I don't)...
I said to the op "you are a true thinker" as a respectful discription, not as a label.

I don't understand why you virtually labelled me as "The labeller"?

 

I can see that. I just can't see cars having a sexual preference. Speaking of lights, I need to put a set of fog lights in to make my prius look a little better, those blanks make her look kind of cheap

Yes I bought a II. If I had wanted leather I would have gone for the V. If you want nav and don't want a sun roof, I would go for a II and install a system you like. I installed most of it, but had a shop put in the front component speakers and sound deadening in the front doors. Everything was pretty easy except for installing the back up camera. I would have had a shop install that but others have had an easier time than me. Its very easy for an installer to do it. I think I removed a total of 8 screws, everything else was plastic that you just pull off. The head unit itself was $920 but had a $200 rebate pioneer z110bt. I added an amp, new speakers, a subwoofer, back up camera, and sound insulation. This was cheaper than a III + nav, and it has better sound, great ipod control, and better navigation software.

 

Unfortunately, the increasing level of stupidity in this country is breathtaking. It's the overactive macho testosterone mentality that believes that doing things that conserve energy is unmanly. If you care about the environment, you're a tree-hugger, which Prius owners are equated with and which I don't mind a bit being called.

It's the same stupidity that pervades much of the "con"servative right that denies climate change, is against increasing mileage and safety standards and carbon taxes because it might - God forbid hurt the oil companies and other big businesses.

Frankly, anyone who doesn't like my car (for whatever reason) can go to hell. These are the same people who were moaning about paying $100 to fill up their monster pickups and SUV's when gas was $4.00 per gallon. Make no mistake, it will be back to that level before you know it, so drive what you want to and let "them" think what they want.

Honestly, I think that they are just jealous of people who have more common sense than they do. Just sayin'...

 

Ha! nice touch, so a conservative is trying to "con" you to think they're "serv"ing the country?

Make no mistake, it's not the global environment that they're trying to conserve, it's their wallets and status of power.

BUT, we still need them as a checks and balances. If they don't exist, and only the liberals are in power forever, you ever heard of "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"?

 

I enjoy my Prius thoroughly! Perfect? No, there are compromises and some poor choices on Toyotas part. In order to save weight and cut costs they went with hard, light plastics for the interior. This does cause some noises, but not serious!

Performance is more than adequate, if you really need to feel some zip, leave it in power mode, but play with the settings to see what combination of perfomance and economy you're comfortable with!

I think it looks sweet, specially in blue! Washed n waxed, the dark blue really shows off the contours and curves!

One month and counting since my last fill-up!:cheer2:

PS. If you can wait till the 2011's come out, mebe they'll have addressed some of these issues?

 

I didn't hook the stereo controls up to my steering wheel. You can, and you can hook the mode button up to be 'talk'. The prius II does not have the normal blue tooth button on the steering wheel, though. Everything else hooks up works the same way. Well that's not true, I can use voice command to pick songs, artists, etc. When I buy the new maps I'll be able to navigate pandora from the screen through my phone, etc. The dash kit is the same color but does not have the same texture as the dash. There are not big outside buttons but with a touch screen you don't need them, and it is a cleaner look. Depending on what is important to you, there are lots of different head unit choices, but it isn't the factory look.

I did put 17" rims on the car. I doubt it will enhance your sex appeal. My triathlon bike is much more sexy. I had one girl I know give me a look like what happened to you, and asked if I was doing so badly that I had to get a prius. But it's alright, she still likes me in spite of the car I'm probably going to get a puppy soon, and it will be a girl so that she won't randomly start humping things.

 

On the nyc marathon, in the morning it was warmer than expected, so I wore a different shirt, without my name on it. We ran into a convenience store and borrowed a sharpie to label ourselves. At around mile 20 people stopped yelling my name, you guessed, I had sweated the label off.

 

I basically agree with what everybody has already said. But just a couple of issues:

1. We've all heard that the Prius is unsafe during a crash. So, this is actually a true statement. Whether it's actually unsafe is a different question, and is probably subject to, "compared to what"? That is something the OP must research (some examples are stated here) and decide. If he believes it's unsafe, then onto the negative side. If false, then not an issue. And come to think of it, it might be an opinion.

2. The batteries will die out. True statement. As already stated, it will take a rather long time to die out, it has a long warranty and probably isn't very expensive to replace. So, does this remove the OP's worries? I hope so. If no, that's on the negative side.

Everything else is opinion and I let everybody have their opinion. You might not like the way it was said, but is still, nonetheless, opinion. So, the OP must determine whether he agrees with the opinion. If not, done. If so, that's something on the negative side.

This shouldn't be a discussion on being politically correct. I have to admit calling the new VW Beetle (as opposed to the Beetle from the 60's) a chick car, so I'll try not to talk out of both sides of my mouth.

I have 3 negatives on the Prius: 1. The center console with the stick is a little high so it can feel slightly claustrophobic. It isn't bad for me because I'm pretty small. But I can see it being an issue for larger people. If it isn't for you, then no problem. 2. I don't think the upholstery is very good. I'll find out later whether it can withstand the wear and tear of this body. 3. I like sitting higher while driving, like in my old Explorer (but can't live with the bad MPG).

Otherwise, I love my Prius.

Dumb Mike

 

Well, people can say whatever they want, but their opinions are not substantiated in actual crash tests of the Prius. The Prius is just as safe, based on those tests, as any other mid-sized sedan. Maybe more so.

The battery, in fact every battery, will slowly loose it's capacity to hold a charge...but they don't "die" as per the meaning of the word, "die"....at least in normal use, etc They just become less affective.

That said...even after 200K miles, and the capacity is only a 1/3rd of what it was when it was new...the car will still function. However, what you most likely will expereince is lower MPGs than when first new.

NOTE: Diminished battery capacity is less of an issue with hybrid cars because the car will still function. However, in all electric cars, a greatly diminished battery could be a big problem.

Fact is, it is a "chick car". Just look at the demographics of who buys the new beetle.

I'm 6'3" and 250#...and I have no issues with either the seats or the console.

 

If you want to purchase a Prius you have received some valuable advice here about going out to test drive and possibly rent one for several days to see if you really like it. Having had a 1989 All - Track Corolla coming out of college, I have been through a 1997 Toyota Camry, a 2000 BMW 528I (purchased in 2003). Well that BMW was fun to drive but when it came down to what I really needed in a car she didn't have it and she got traded in for the 2010 Prius III that I am driving today. People around me thought I was crazy but then when you look at your display and see 60.2 mpg you learn to let it go. Is it a gay person's car, no it is someone who feels this is the right car for their situation at this point in time. I don't have a need Monday thru Friday for my SUV and she is parked except when the weather is inclement or I need to haul a lot of stuff and the Prius doesn't make the cut (hasn't happened yet). For those folks out there that only spout off at the mouth about what they have heard and not taken the time to research the Prius shame on them because they are missing out on a fabulous little car (oops....). I chose a color that most people didn't want and added some tint to give it a little flavor...now when I pull into gas stations the first thing that most people want to know is it true about the gas mileage? You better believe it and then they tell me it is too small and I pop the hatchback and the doors so they can see how spacious the interior is. Did I need the navigation system no and I didn't get it but I did ask for them to install leather seats aftermarket and they look fabulous. I am sure this car will be around for some time with me and I am hopeful that the American public will realize that bigger isn't always better and that the time for hybrids has come...it's nice to see more of them on the roads during my commute and in the parking garage.

 

I only read the first two pages of responses since most of the information seemed to be repeated over and over. But I have also experienced conversations with people, particularly young people, who believe that there is a link between driving a prius and being a homosexual... Now, I have to say that I absolutely love the Prius, I think it is the best car on the road (although mine is due to be replaced with a Nissan Leaf shortly.) And I can also say that I'm as straight as a man can be. At some point I'd like to interview some of these kids and try to track down why they believe this, and figure out where this is coming from. I highly suspect there is a conspiracy out there to destroy the reputation of the car, but it doesn't seem to be working that well. I say that mostly because the Prius is out of the reach of most teenager's pocket books anyway. By the time they get into their late 20's they will probably have grown up enough (mentally) to think for themselves.

 

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Tom

 

Adolescent boys tend to homophobia while their own sexuality is still somewhat in question. I saw it in my son for a couple of years, even though our family is sexually and sexuality liberal.

Which brings up the other point that paints the Prius as a "gay" car: It would be unusual to find a straight Prius owner who is anti-gay marriage, let alone rights. Homophobia would be downright odd.

 

I think that would depend entirely on the area. Around here, plenty of card-carrying right-wingers drive Prius.

Of course, I do have a marriage equality sticker on my Prius

 

you sound like what i have been thru.... I just bought a 2010 prius ii, black..... I am old enough to remember in the 1953-55 era when volkswagen was first introduced to this country...what an ugly bug..but
the rest is history... I test drove a new prius at a dealer, i rented one from hertz,,, and found this one from a private party.... Toyota would not have sold a million prius cars in 10 years if it wasn't a good car.
Personally, i think it is one of the few cars on the market that is actually an investment..... I have read a lot of negative bullying from
people who are probably jealous that they didn't have enough brains to
get out of their gas hogs and be sensible about fuel usage... When gas or diesel reaches $5 per gallon,,,guess who will be laughing..