Anti-Prius Motorists

Howdy mondie. Enjoy your Prius... it is indeed a 'wonderful piece of machinery.'

In Dallas TX, I experience tailgating and 'cut offs' just the same as I had in my previous cars... no change for the Prius. I've been a Prius owner/driver for about 2½ years. Perhaps you notice it more having a new car.

CIAO

 

If there is an emotional thing going on about the Prius, it must be because the car is special - and already become part of automobile history - a legend in its own time...


When I was a kid 40 - 50 years ago people used to make jokes about the VW "Beetle" because it had the engine in the rear, and was not like any other car. Do we see a pattern here...?


Speaking of today, I have never felt so comfortable - and safe/secure - in any car as in my Prius. Beyond that, I think most other motorists do not even notice anything special about it. Before I have been driving a wide range of different cars, among them a Morris Mini Van, a Volvo Amazon Estate, a couple of VW buses, and before my Prius I had a Toyota Corolla. With all of them I happened to experience aggressive behaviour from other drivers once in a while, but not really very often.


Driving your car should be (responsible) fun. Do not make other people's sub standard traffic behaviour your problem....!

 

I got tailgated in my old "sporty" car the same as I get tailgated in my Prius. I drove that car for maximum efficiency, too, and if anything I'm better behaved in the Prius. Toggling between battery and engine at the appropriate times on my back-roads commute allows me to keep a near perfect steady pace without sacrificing fuel. Honestly they have nothing to complain about...these people get frustrated and tailgate simply because other drivers exist. It irritates me but appears to be a simple fact of life in Connecticut and elsewhere. Some want to do 50 through child-invested subdivisions and I don't happen to be one of them.

Ever been passed on a double yellow while the school bus ahead takes on kids? I have, and it had jack to do with my car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Feb 27 2007, 05:48 PM) [snapback]397517[/snapback]</div>

Also in Dallas, the only thing different than my previous car (Mazda 6) is that people now assume that I will not be going very fast. A lot more people zoom around me in traffic (and end up getting right in front of me and braking because it's heavy traffic) than they did when I had my sportier Mazda.

 

Another Dallas driver (I sense a pattern) and I think I get tailgated more in the Prius than I did in my previous car, which was a Celica GT-S, but I'll admit to driving much more conservatively in the Prius.
The other thing is, I have people pull out in front of me much more in the Prius...I swear it happened at least 6 times on the drive to and from work today. I found myself wondering if I accidentally engaged the secret 'cloaking device' mode on the car.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mondie @ Feb 27 2007, 04:08 PM) [snapback]397496[/snapback]</div>

I think I can say this somewhat objectively since we have an SUV and a Prius.

Yes I have experienced it, particularly from "fast" cars, and "large" vehicles (monster trucks and SUVs).
I'm in Denver. Ironically, I drive rather aggressively and frequently pass large vehicles, and nothing seems to piss off a F-350 driver with erectile dysfunction more than being passed by a hybrid.

I have nothing against SUVs and trucks unlike many here, if you need a vehicle like that, you should get it. On the other hand, if you don't need it, and buy it anyway, what can I say?

I should mention, I make a point of not tailgating anyone in an SUV because of the larger stopping distance.

 

I seem to notice more tailgating since I've had my Prius. Of course, I readily admit to being a tailgater myself but was on my way to becoming less of a "rush" driver before I got the Prius.

I have "gas electric hybrid" decals on the rear as well as the sides. I just assume they're trying to see through the rear window in an attempt to see the sparks or arcing....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brick @ Feb 27 2007, 09:32 PM) [snapback]397585[/snapback]</div>

Worse -- just last week a guy driving a fire department SUV did it to me while the kids were getting off the bus -- and crossing the street. And he wasn't running lights and sirens either. :angry:

Mind you, I hate kids, but he had some nerve passing my Prius! B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Feb 27 2007, 05:48 PM) [snapback]397517[/snapback]</div>

In many cases I agree - some don't give themselves enough time to commute, speed as a habit, are driving under the influence of something, on the phone, just beat up their wife.....

In some cases it's very likely some drivers are targeting hybrids - I'm convinced of it. The closest tailgater I've had was an H2 - is that random? Actually I have lots more problems with large pickups than SUV's. It's probably because there are a lot of younger, less educated males that are trying to "proof themselves", or buy into the neo-con myth all hybrid drivers are "enviro wackos" (An article in the last year identified a slight majority of Republicans buying hybrids. No reports of chad. ).

If you see some of the non-hybrid automotive forums, you will see some members venting and it's reasonable to figure some take it out on the roads. Heard about a 2nd diesel forum that got into some bashing on this. Some just asked if a VW GTI turbo-diesel-hybrid would be cool? Some reacted like anything with a hybrid attached to is is tantamount to changing your politics or religion. It's kind of like when many assumed all bikers were hoodlums.

I even know of someone considering removing their hybrid badge because they feel some drivers target them. (forgot if it was a Ford Escape or HyHy)

 

I like it when someone in an F250 pulls up behind me at a light.

Then he can get a good read of my license plate frame:

"Life begins at



50 (mpg)"

Does it tick them off? Well, it gives them something to think about. It's up to them whether they take offense or not.

Once in a while I'll floor at when the light goes green, just to inform the motoring public that the Prius is not slow.

Harry

 

Another Dallas Prius driver here. I haven't noticed any real difference in my almost 2 years of driving a Prius. Then again, there are a LOT of poor drivers here in the Metromess. I'll admit that I drive conservatively (sanely) and I don't spend much time in the left lane. My car is Salsa Red, which may make some difference. I once owned a charcoal gray Volvo years ago and I think those sorts of colors do tend to cloak a car on cloudy days. I was hit twice in that car by other drivers.

Anyway, I haven't experienced any problems, but I have resisted the temptation to put any inflammatory stickers or license plate frames on my car That is just asking for trouble down here in the land of SUVs covered with W04 stickers being driven by cell phone talking, Rush Limbaugh listening good old boys
Maybe that is why my car hasn't been keyed, yet.

 

I think it's more of a driving style thing than a Prius thing. I will often go around people that are going the exact speed limit on the road when no one is in front of them - in my Prius! But really, the *only* slow drivers I will give respect to are the Prius drivers, because I know they are most likely drifting to charge their battery or coasting to max out their mileage.

What gets me is when people go under the limit. :angry: Especially if they are going, say, 15 in a 25 or 30. That grates on my nerves like nothing else. It is fun to pass people in the Prius though - kinda breaks the stereotype. Don't get me wrong though, when I pass people I make sure to give plenty of space - unless they give me absolutely no choice.

 

The driving style of other Chicago drivers has not changed in regard to our Prius (switching from a Subaru outback). Which is to say they're just as aggressive and stupid and as ever.

 

More tailgating, definitely. No respect when we're in our prius...especially from the larger trucks/SUV's.

The response is the same. I drive more conservatively & allow more room in front. I may even coast more. It's ok, they just think I'm a typical Prius driver.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cobra9 @ Feb 28 2007, 10:48 AM) [snapback]397857[/snapback]</div>

I think this has become a cultural war.

In my instance - it does not help that I have a Texas animal friendly licence plate.

 

I live on SoCal and I don't get tailgated or cut off all that often in my Prius. I drive very conservatively, doing 55 even in 65 mph zones. The reason, I suspect, is because I stick to the far right lane as much as possible. There's nothing worse than a slowpoke in the left passing lane. That's just rude and those people deserve to be tailgated or cut off until it finally gets through to them that they should switch lanes. I also take pains to get out of people's way when I see them zooming up on me from behind in my rearview mirror. It isn't hard to then switch one lane to the right if there's space. I even get a raised hand in thanks every now and then.

This isn't to say I can't or don't drive aggressively at times. I'll drive 80 in the left lane if I'm late for an appointment, which happens every now and then. But I just hate what that does to my gas economy.

Anyway, my point is, if you're being tailgated or cut off, perhaps you're in the wrong lane and you're pissing everyone off, dare I say, rightfully so?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(quagmire0 @ Feb 28 2007, 08:20 AM) [snapback]397838[/snapback]</div>

Quagmire, fun avatar!

 

Most definitely! It extends beyond road rage. Yesterday on talk radio, the host was yacking about hybrid car owners, specifically Prius owners. He said something to the effect of "all Prius owners have this mightier than thou attitude. They think they are so special because they save a few bucks at the pump and think they are helping the evironment". He then went on to have callers who say that disposal of the Prius batteries is an environmental issue, and all cars run clean, just some get better mileage than others. Personally, I chose the Prius because it feels right to do all I can for the environment and to reduce dependency on foreign oil. I can't believe that my battery is any worse in the land fill than any other batteries. The only car owners I have an attitude about are the Hummer owners. There is no rationale in my mind for those.

 

There was another thread about this a while back.

I have had my '06 since the beginning of last June. Around the time when I first got the car, I experienced an instance where an SUV was behind me and honked his/her horn. The also seemed to act as if they wanted to pass me on a double-yellow, two-lane road. At that time, I thought that it might have been a "Prius Predator," however, that is the only instance that I have noticed since I have had the car of what might be called Prius Envy. :lol: Certainly, the SUV driver could have passed me if they were truly a Prius Predator, since a double yellow is only a line on pavement, but they did not.

IMHO, rude drivers are rude drivers and will likely be rude to other drivers no matter what the other driver is driving.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(catsbox @ Feb 28 2007, 12:18 PM) [snapback]397878[/snapback]</div>

What was that quote from "Spies Like Us", "we mock what we don't understand"?

Rather than investigate the issue for themselves, they spew what they have heard out of ignorance. I think it highly unfortunate that many talk show hosts/opinion page writers are this way.

IMHO, it would be interesting to know who the host was.

Rest easy. A Prius battery, once its useful life has passed, will almost certainly be recycled.

All the best,
Matthew