People target prius (I Think)

If it were only so simple. In an effort to avoid dings and such, we routinely park our vehicles well clear of others but often find they must have magnetic personalities as we'll find the grubbiest crate in the lot rubbing next to them when we return.

On a humorous note, I recently received this somewhat pertinent joke in my email... no offense intended:

His name was Bubba, he was from Mississippi ... And he needed a loan, So ... he walked into a bank in New York City and asked for the loan Officer. He told the loan officer that he was going to Paris for an International Redneck Festival for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000; and that he was not a depositor of the bank.

The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan, so the Redneck handed over the keys to a new Ferrari. The car was parked on the street in front of the bank. The Redneck produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for having to charge 12% interest.

Later, the bank's president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the Redneck from the South for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank's private underground garage and parked it.

Two weeks later, the Redneck returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest of $23.07. The loan officer said, "Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out on Dunn & Bradstreet and found that you are a Distinguished Alumni from Ole Miss University, a highly sophisticated investor and Multi-Millionaire with real estate and financial interests all over the world. Your investments include a large number of wind turbines around Sweetwater, Texas.

What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?"

The good 'ole boy replied, "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $23.07 and expect it to be there when I return?"

 

This may be due to the fact that the sheet metal on this car is paper thin. A strong wind would likely put a dent in it.

 

I'm glad to hear you have experienced no unusual prejudice driving a Prius in that part of the country. Possibly the out-of-state license plate was a factor, and of course I can't prove that the damage to my car was intentional.

I''m pretty sure the motel was a Super 8, although it was more than a year ago, so I can't be positive, and I didn't actually get to Council Bluffs. I would have come down I-29 and turned east on I-680, so it would have to have been either the Super 8 in Onawa or Walnut, IA. In any event, it could have happened anywhere. Having been born in the fly-over part of Canada (close to Winnipeg), I should hardly be looking down my nose at anyone in any part of the continent.

 

Get a Hummer bumper sticker. That will fool them.

 

They're picking on me. Life is
so unfair.

Everyone feels like their vehicle has a target on it...including those that Prius owners hate.

Enough with the pity party.

 

I got coal rolled today. Was in Lincoln, NE. Two lane both ways. I was in the right (slow) lane. A black dodge Ram pick up came up fast in the left lane and passed me. About a mile further up he was driving slow in my lane. Then blew black smoke on me as he accelerated. No big deal then about two miles further up he did it again. That time it pissed me off but I kept driving at a reasonable speed. So they are out there.

 

So they won...because "you let them" piss you off.

 

Yes, they are. Sometimes I think it's just a small car thing, but I can tell you I had many more experiences like that in my 2010 than I've had in my Prime. The Aholes have not seemed to recognize the Primes yet as being a Prius.

 

I have no idea whether the color is a factor, but I was afraid it might be; it was one of the things I considered when deciding to go with a light and neutral color. Not as fun to key a car when your artwork is barely noticeable.

 

....and that might be the most fun he had all decade.

I know it's not nice to make fun of somebody for having a good time but honestly the last time it happened to me I was so surprised all I could do was point and laugh.

 

I do believe Prius get some negative mojo. I had some weird, negative interactions with the public when I had my Prius.
The most audacious, was when someone just ahead of me at a stop, opened his door and spit directly on my Prius.

You would hope people would be wiser, mature, and respect others property.
Unfortunately not always the case.

 

You have far more restraint than I could muster. My wife would have to hold me back to prevent me from leaping onto his hood and taking a whiz on his windshield (okay, maybe just a mirthful thought).

 

Yes! We were on a road trip and were in Moab on Kane Creek Road ( near Moonflower Canyon ) deciding what to do next. Some idiot pulls up and rolls coal on us while we were parked...and then stopped about 50 yards ahead. I just waved at him. Pretty comical stuff ( but pretty disgusting at the same time ).

I have also heard of these same type of idiots coal rolling bicyclists...which is MUCH worse.

BTW - I did 'debadge' our 2012 Prius v (wagon). No problems whatsoever. First of all, the shape of the v (wagon) doesn't seem to be as well known..and debadging it seems to help even more.

I think all of this is becoming a moot point though as non-Prius hybrids are becoming more and more popular. I like the idea of the hybrid Corolla as a 'stealth hybrid'.

 

Generally, I have found that people have tried to be less racist and sexist but they enjoy being "carists." Yes, while judging someone by the color of their skin or their sexual orientation is no longer accepted, it is totally acceptable and maybe even encouraged to judge someone based solely on the car they drive. Hopefully, this too will change over time.

 

Whatever. That sounds like something a Prius owner would say.

 

Well, since I judge people based on solo driving urban assault vehicles, I guess it's only fair they can do the same for my Prius. Though, I do draw the line at any physical damage and lung damage from coal rolling.

 

I would also add this.
And I don't think it's my imagination.
But as far as speed goes? There isn't a lot of difference in how I drive on the road in my Honda Fit, vs. How I drove my Prius.

With my Prius, it really did seem people would aggressively pass, cutting back in front of me, a little too close, or with an angry flourish.
Even though I can be driving the same speed, same way with the Honda Fit, I just don't notice it happening.

I can't prove it. But I really just think it comes down to the name badge some idiots see on the back, and a lot of preconceived prejudice they might attach.
Which is too bad.

Keep in mind, that BEFORE I bought a Prius? I read threads about the perceived "Prius Prejudice Negatiity" that Prius Owners would proclaim, and I didn't really believe it. But after a few years driving a Prius? I sadly had to admit...it's real, and it exists.

 

If you drive the Prime in Eco mode like I do, the accelerator pedal is so desensitized that I always take much longer to accelerate and I cruise at lower speeds, particularly when driving uphill. I find that people are frequently passing me, but they never do in any other car I drive. I consider it a badge of honor because I am getting unbelievable MPG by driving this car always at the speed limit or lower.

 

How are you not asking these people "what are you? f-ing 12? It's a f-ing car"

Same protocol as with our sports cars: 1. park as far away from business entrances as possible 2. preferably next to a curb so you only have the chances of a single car next to you, 3. park as close to the curb as possible.

The smug stereotype is now shared by Tesla owners as a large number of the more affluent (and irritating) Prius owners switched to those.

These are two prime examples of why running both front and rear dashcams is important. I would 100% immediately call the police if I was coal-rolled.

If it makes you feel any better, you get much of the same behavior from people when driving many sports cars. We have something mid-engined and mildly exotic, and the amount of aggressive driving we see operating it is truly remarkable. The moment they see you, there are lots of suddenly frustrated SUV drivers and guys with (what we assume is) their girlfriend in the car whose most exigent life priority is being in front of you.

 

As annoying as that is, it is probably not illegal.