Is smugness a bad thing?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Dec 14 2004, 09:01 AM) [snapback]57293[/snapback]</div>

the hummer isn't every bit of a hummer, earlier gen. hummers a long with the military humvee had/have front and rear independent suspension, the new hummer does not. so it's off road capabilities are no better than any other suv since that was the advantage they had over most, with the previous generations of the hummer.

 

This smugness thing that has been out since the South Park episode is largely projection by the real poseur drivers.

I would not discount some hybrid drivers feeling self-rightous, but this accusation seems to come most from drivers that tend to be narcassastic.

I get into my hybrid to go to work, back home, etc.

It's enjoyable, and yes checking out the dash to go a little farther on a gallon of gas is fun.

I have fun, but that should not be confused with feeling like God's Gift or somehow feeling better than anyone else.

I do observe drivers on a daily basis that are on an ego trip, or drive like dominace might be more important than simply arriving at a destination.

I also observe commercials that appeal to ego, and "Restore Your Manhood", but none of them were for Prius or any other hybrids.

This smugness thing is the kettle calling the coffee black.

 

Hello all, I'm kinda new here! I've been following this thread, and others for some time as and unreg. guest. But, I feel the time is right, with the current discussion, for me to chime in.

I have owned several SUV's. Some great for the road some great for off road. They have thier place. However, don't get all over the owners of these things for driving them. Its not really thier fault. The car companies haven't really given the US car buyer much of a choice. They, Toyota included, have shoved these things down out thoats for 2 decades.

I currently own a 2006 Base Prius, a 2001 BMW 740I (LEV FWIW), a 2006 Hummer H2 and a 1988 Ferrari 328 GTB. Yup, I can say Prius and H2 in the same breath. Each car has it's own value. I do not think of one being better than the other in every situation. I will try to explain why I have each of these cars.

Quite simply, I bought the Pri to putt around town. I only drive it when I am alone. It works well enough for me to go get food, go to the post office and the like. Sure it get great gas mileage but it is not a distance or family car. I would hardly call it a family sedan. My family sure wouldn't fit in it. I average about 38 mpg with it.

Ah the dreaded H2 that everyone seems to hate. I bought this with 2 things in mind. 1) Safety for my family. Yup, safety. I'm sure that people can and do get hurt in these things in accidents. However, The odds are in my favor that when my kids, wife and dogs are in the car and if we were involved in an accident, we would come out better than the Honda driving idiot that ran the red light while listening to his/her booming stereo. (I doubt that my Berner and my Pyr would even fit in a Prius!!!) 2) Off road ability. Unlike what has been written here, I am very pleased with the off road abilities of the H2. I do wish it was offered in a deisel variant however. Oh yeah, it is not a knock off of the Tahoe. Yes, some of the same parts are use, the frame and some suspension parts, but it has a completely different design. I hunt and it gets me where I need to go. I average around 14 -15 mpg on the road with it. Better that the Durango I traded for it. If you want to bash SUV's the bash the Durango. Unlike what the sticke says, they get about 12 mpg in the city and 15 on the open road.

The 740. Now there is a car. It is a LEV BTW. I and my family use it for long trips. I average about 27 mpg with it if I keep my right foot light. Lots of room for the kids and thier stuff. Very quite and safe, though even it would have a tough time dealing with the H2 in an accident situation. Its used only for long trips and for times when the wife is meeting with a client. Truely one of the finest autos I have ever owned.

Now the Ferrari. Yep, I have one. Sunday driver. Looks sweet, handles like its on rails and did I mention, it looks sweet! To be honest, I could care less what kind of mileage I get out of it. Its ment to be driven and driven hard. The only time I checked the mileage on it was when I drove it from Denver to Chicago the day I bought it. I got 21 mpg and much of that was very...ummm...spirited driving to say the least.

I feel more smugg (its that right?) driving the BMW than driving the Pri. Atleast people pay attention to it. The Pri just gets lost in the crowd. Has anyone driven one in the snow yet? I use my 4x4's in the snow here in the past and have driven the BMW once or twice. Both take the snow well. I wonder how the Prius will hold up during the winter.

 

My biggest problem or question is what will be the impact of the Prius and others like it at the end of thier life cycle? Sure, the people driving them might give a crap about the enviorment but chances are they will just be crushed. They are not worth keeping and I doubt there will be much call for recycled parts from them. In the end, my Ferrari will have less of an impact on the enviroment simple becausy it will likely be restored, or recycled if you like, over and over and over.

Hey, I am lucky, I can afford the fuel to power my "monsters" and have never really cared much about fuel mileage. The only reason I got the Pri was to see what all the hype was about. I'm not really that impressed so far. Heck, even my HIGHLY modified 1995 Impala got 25 mpg on long trips. 17 around town. 38 that I am averaging isn't that great IMO. I guess its all down to choice and what you can afford.

Anyone ever been in a crash with one of these? How did it hold up?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoH2 @ Nov 16 2006, 09:15 AM) [snapback]350112[/snapback]</div>

That report six months ago about batteries make a Prius less green than a Hummer has since been disproven from a source that seems to be as receptive to hybrids as you are.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SUVMoparSVTBurnOutsV8RaceIdleGas @ Nov 16 2006, 08:39 AM) [snapback]350069[/snapback]</div>

I fixed your quote for you.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Nov 16 2006, 10:23 AM) [snapback]350117[/snapback]</div>

I wasn't aware of any report. I am giving the Prius a fair shot. I wouldn't have bought one just to beat it on some silly forum. My point was not directed at batteries. It is simply this, they will have zero salvage value. Many, dare I say, MOST cars today are like this including the H2. (Are YOU an H2 hater? You ever drive one? Need one? ) My point was that the LEAST "green" of my current stable, the Ferrari, will do far less damage to the enviroment over it's life time that the Prius. Hey, I am open to better fuel mileage. I would love to see the MYT engine find a place in the forefront of the auto industy. I would love to see someone come up with a fuel, that is envio friendly and easily substituted for Gasoline.

I'm not here to bash anyone or anything. I'm just offering my pov just like you. BE NICE.

***EDIT***

In case you don't know what the MYT engine is..... here is a link. http://www.angellabsllc.com/

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NoH2 @ Nov 16 2006, 10:37 AM) [snapback]350128[/snapback]</div>

You'll learn that some people on this board are so impressed with themselves that they are incapable of being nice or entertaining anybody's point of view that differs from theirs. The poster you quote is one such individual.

You will find however that MOST people here are not that way at all. The ones that are sure like to read themselves post though...

 

Oh, come on......you have to find some humor in that! I would laugh if he did that tho a new FXX, then I would cry, but still, I would laugh. He does have a few valid points. There is no way, according to my G-Tech, that this one of mine is ever going to go 0-60 in 10 seconds. 14 maybe. Top speed 106? I would never take this this up to 90 much less 106. No, I'm no stranger to speed. (153.684 mph Bonneville salt flats 1996 street modified Impala SS (150 mph club).) Its just not safe judging from its road manners. I'd feel safer in the H2 at 100 than in my Pri.

Lighten up a bit. Motoring is fun. Well, it should be anyway.

 

Why is this thread attracting so many trolls? Maybe it's only one person with multiple PC names? I mean, just look at the total number of posts so far by these people. Late last night several of the posts were rude and obscene and were deleted by the moderator. Thank you moderator(s)!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dancekat59 @ Nov 16 2006, 12:27 PM) [snapback]350196[/snapback]</div>

Actually, the trolls went looking for it. Until last night it had been dormant since 12/04.

Evan or Tony, think this this thread is a candidate for locking? It's only serving as a troll breeding ground. And you know they breed like rats.

Until then, I encourage everyone ...

[attachmentid=5682]

 

There is a thin line between feeling good about your car purchase and smugness...loving my car does not translate into a superiority complex for me.

 

we know the source, let's not have a flame war at your end.
now quit the organized attacks. our mods don't take kindly and i'm sure your mods feel the same way.

 

Oh, come on. That's not trolling. THIS is trolling.

 

[Deleted by JimboK-- irrelevant now that today's trolls and their posts apparently are gone.]

 

Nothing wrong with being smug when you are transporting yourself in the most fuel efficient vehicle available. For instance, I often look down my nose at SUV, Sports cars, and Prius drivers, as I pedal past them while they sit in traffic.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smug_Alert!

We're famous

 

Can you take a girl on a date in that thing?

 

Yes, it's a tandem.