Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

You could have asked him if he thought you were smug per South Park.

Somehow I suspect the people that would ask you such a question may be having financial trouble themselves.

 

I know the feeling exactly. My wife just traded her Mercedes-Benz for the Prius and got a bit of good natured ribbing from the other partners at her law firm. But not much really, and there seems to be an awakening of real conservation among more educated people. As one author put it, more and more people are unhappy with the "moral calculus of gasoline," and that certainly seems to be the case here in California.

I think Toyota is not seen as a luxury brand, but buying a Prius is a choice about more than just yourself. Its a choice for a larger, more sustainable world we all have to share. Its amazing to me how often people want to know what they can do to help with global warming, with our foreign oil addiction, and to help reduce pollution...and when you give them a choice they say "oh, I can't do THAT."

We also traded our Land Rover for a small Honda Element (and as soon as the hybrid Element comes out, I'm jumping on it). I got a lot of the same comments about financial health with that one.

I once read the best definition of true wealth was the number of months you can live at your current lifestyle without any income from a job. For most people, its between 1 and 3. So the Prius contributes to double smug - its a very affordable, slow depreciating car that also happens to be the most socially responsible 4 door you can buy.

 

I was in financial distress when I got mine... :blink:

Not really... We weren't haveing trouble paying the bills, but mentally it was driving me nuts to pay well into the $500's closing in on $600 a month for diesel for that pickup just to run back and forth to my computer job while hauling absolutely nothing.

I guess the reason it was driving me nuts was because I was anticipating the arrival of our prius and was doing the math everytime I paid the fuel bill on how much I was wasting while waiting for delivery.

I don't think I've been over $150 a month for gas in the prius yet, averaging about 3500 miles a month.

No, the neighbors haven't said anything like that... they don't live close enough to be that nosey.

 

"Millionaire" is a must-read. It changed my life. I now run my household at a profit, and have done so ever since I read the book. Wealth is the money I've got in the bank, not the money I spent on a car.

Let's suppose household A makes $100,000 per year after taxes, but they live on $70,000. Household B makes $300,000 per year after taxes, but they live on $350,000. Who will be wealthy?

Nate

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(bigdaddy @ Nov 4 2006, 08:26 AM) [snapback]343717[/snapback]</div>

Its a little Toyota, you're absolutely going to get people thinking something has changed financially when you trade a $60k car in on a $30k car. Most people always buy a car a little bit more expensive than the one they had before.

Should you care? No. Whatever you say you DO care or you wouldn't have asked

 

alot of rich people drive Prius, esp as 2nd and 3rd cars...driving a Prius is not nearly as much of a sign of finacial distress as is driving a 3 year old car, no matter what the make or model.

 

I'm not saying thats not true, in fact I know many very rich people who have Priuses. I'm saying in the eyes of people around you, when you step from a $60,000 car into a $30,000 car they're going to wonder about your financial stability. When somebody who has always driven flashy cars buys something cheaper, people will assume they can no longer afford to drive what they've always driven.

As for driving a 3 year old car being a sign of financial distress, hasn't been my experience. If somebody always gets new cars every year or so perhaps all of a sudden keeping one for a long time might get a similar reaction, but most people keep their cars for 3 years or so at least. My Lexus is 3 years old and nobody's ever asked me if I couldn't afford a new one. Most people don't know enough about cars to realize a certain model is 3 or so years old, but they do know enough to realize a BMW is more expensive than a Toyota.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CEguru @ Nov 4 2006, 04:18 AM) [snapback]343702[/snapback]</div>

To quote Dr Richard Feinmann: "What do you care what other people think?"

I sure as heck don't. I certainly don't listen to stupid people obsessed with status symbols.

Godfrey

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CEguru @ Nov 4 2006, 05:18 AM) [snapback]343702[/snapback]</div>

CEguru,

Don't sweat it. Enjoy your PRIUS because you like it.

For the most part the general public is fairly ignorant (lack of knowledge) about the hybrid cars, in particular the PRIUS, because the lack of PRIUS advertisement / press in comparison to other vehicles. People just do not understand all the advanced technology that is packed into these little cars. We will not be mad at them for that.

I live in a neighborhood of professional who love to drive their luxury and large trucks. They all love the PRIUS because I showed them all the features when they came to look at it. A retired couple could not believe that I could "clearly" see 4 houses across the street when backing out. They sat in the PRIUS one dark evening and seeing is believing. They were impressed.

There was a couple (I randomly met at the mall) who traded their luxury car in for a PRIUS because of the environmental reasons. The dealer did a very poor job in closing the deal. The couple drove off the dealer lot knowing very little about the car. I noticed that they were using the smart key like a traditional remote to lock the doors. I approached them to ask them if they ever used the buttons on the outside to lock the door. One thing led to another and I was explaining all the neat things about the car. After this conversation they were fully impressed with the little car and even more gratified with their decision to buy the PRIUS. They drove off with the window down saying with enthusiasm, "I've got my keys is my pocket and we're driving!" SMILE

Just enjoy your new PRIUS!

 

Wow, my wife and I have tho opposite problem. Our co-workers (we work together) are wondering how we can AFFORD the Prius with our crappy little jobs! I didn't realize we were in league with such affluence!

 

LOL. Right. Because buying a new car is the first thing I'd do if I was in financial trouble.

 

In Northern Michigan, a sign of affluence is having TWO pickup trucks on blocks in your front yard.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 5 2006, 02:00 PM) [snapback]344132[/snapback]</div>

Ohhh !! I gota have that. That's worse than the worst story I heard. Lexus RX-400h owner HAS to have lumbar suport on both driver AND passenger side (it IS weird that both sides don't have it admittantly). So he orders the japanese driver's seat for the american passenger side. I feel so one-up'd.

 

My response to him would have gone something like this (being a big outdoors camping/hiking/backpacking/kayaking type person):

Well, the RR scared away all the wildlife - i wanted something that was actually QUIET!

 

Wow, all of my neighbors wanted to check out my Prius when I got it. They drive Excursions, Hummers, BMW's, etc and loved my little "eco-mobile" as one neigbor called it. Since some of them are in a car club, they wanted to look under the hood more than anything else. They all liked it and I had a steady stream of people in and out of it for a few days. Now 2 of my neighbors drive Prius's too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Bohous @ Nov 5 2006, 05:27 PM) [snapback]344238[/snapback]</div>

we're right there with ya, bohous...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CEguru @ Nov 4 2006, 06:18 AM) [snapback]343702[/snapback]</div>

"So are you guys doing ok financially?"

Proper response:

"Actually, no. Could you lend us a few thou till next month?"

That is the recommended method of getting rid of noisy neighbors in 2 seconds flat.