I need your ideas, I am attracting every idiot on the frwy...

Same here on Long Island NY. These kids try to race me and when they realize it's a Prius they are scratching their heads. Some kids told me that they mistake it for a Honda because of the taillights. It's funny to see the faces of these kids when they realize I have a Prius. Then there are just the dumba$$'s that just like to drive up on your bumper or cut in front of you when there isn't a car in sight behind me. The point is there are jerks everywhere and you just have to learn to not let it bother you

 

I wish I had a rearward facing horn.

I imagine it would be easy to hook something up. Even better would be an LED sign that says "Grow up" everytime someone honked.

 

I'll put on the hazards if someone's really trying to molest the rear bumper. I try to make it look like I've no hand in it, as if some proximity sensor triggers it. It works, sometimes. I'm idly thinking too: if there's a ghost car in the crowd, it might get his attention.

 

I just bought a 2001 Prius, and rebuilt the battery pack. It is very fast when I step on it, the mileage is great, even driving it aggressively. Which I do all the time. I don't leave much of a gap, and don't watch the consumption gauge when in traffic. I have not been cut off, anymore than usual. I noticed that big trucks like to intimidate small cars of any kind, by getting too close to them. I'm getting 46 MPG driving it like a normal car. So I am fine with that. When I'm alone on the road I will go slower, and watch my consumption to get the best mileage.
I did put a Harley sticker on the back window, I think that made a difference also. The wings make it go faster!

 

Gen 1 Prius' look very similar to Toyota Echos of the same time period so may be another reason that Prius haters don't immediately lock on their aggression since many don't know it's a Prius unless they notice the badging. I like the Harley sticker idea.

 

Console yourself with the fact that the owner of the BMW is probably paying four times as much for fuel.

 

Dash cams are a good idea. I have one I paid $60 for and it's working fine after 6 months.

 

We used to call them "friendly games of merge and yield".

After the turn signal blinked 5 times and you began to creep into the lane next to you...
The 5 sets of tires hitting the road reflectors with a cacophony of sound...

The look on the driver's face=PRICELESS

 

That sort of rush-hour driving reminds me of hogs at feeding time.

 

I'm about to post the stupid incident yesterday. I was driving few miles above speed limits in local streets and a guy in an SUV on the "next left lane" horned me repeatedly: he wanted to change into my lane.

 

I've had them try that with me.
It doesn't work out so well for those guys when you're willing to swap paint with them.
Most 'professional' drivers have to fill out gobs of paperwork when their insurance company gets to replace sheet metal, and it wrecks their safety metrics and drives up their rates......

 

I hit a Corolla once in '93...

The only metal damaged on my Peterbuilt, was left on the front lug nuts from the Corolla. It didn't even remove the seal on the bearing reservoir on the front wheel and felt like a small bump in the asphalt. The Corolla went for a spin through the ice plant along I-80. I'm sure it was a ride the driver would never want to take again.

As to the "gobs of paperwork", I filled out a single form the next time I went through a company terminal, nothing more.


If you are willing to swap paint with a semi, in a Prius or any small car, may the force be with you.

 

It seems unrational to put ones life on the line. Over road rage emotions. Let others cut in. Let others slow you down. If others can so easily cause such anger, your perspective is off. Dont trade paint with other cars.

 

I've used it to my advantage. Some clown who can't stand being passed by a Prius, pulls ahead, and serves as my radar detector.

 

Had a C since early July. Living in southern California, I do drive with the flow of the traffic. I finally grew annoyed at the extreme city mileage I was getting with my old car, so I am happy to be get in the 40's while driving with the flow (although I frequently get much higher).

I'm not out to piss anyone off.

I'm used to having drivers assume they will pass me. The one irritant I get is when I start driving when the traffic light turns green. There are some drivers that just assume I'll drive real slow, and they start passing me while they're in my lane!

What is funny - some end up having to go back into my lane (and they're frequently behind me)! The lane they're going to may even be slower than the lane I'm in.

So - it is annoying, but I have to chuckle. I like debunking one's assumption (all the while driving safely, economically, and cheaply).

 

There isn't anything specifically wrong with the BMW's aside from an abysmal breakdown record. The problem is with the personality of anyone who would BUY one!

Bill the Engineer

 

Best thing they ever done was recently posting 25 mph rates of speed in Manhattan.
Growing up and learning how to drive in NYC has sharpened skills and senses beyond regular conditions.
Driving trucks then buses ( motor home type buses ) and trailers for a while , making certain stops in the Apple only made me more aware of how insane some drivers are.
So operating a Prius part time in the burbs and NYC sorroundings keeps me an ultra defensive driver.
No ego. An ego will cause you problems. It's very hard to move over for an idiot when you really want to surprise them with a nudge into the gaurd rail when they least expect it as they harass and pass dangerously close...
Not worth catching a case...
Be the defensive driver for all maniacs and if it means hitting the hazard blinkers and moving over so they can pass and give finger anyway , just let em go. You get good at it.
I had my years of driving Lincolns and caddy's alike and still I just let the idiots get as far away from me as quick and easy as possible.
Did it when seat belts were not a must and I do it when in a Prius now.

 

I cry whenever I see a Prius being smashed in a dash-cam video.