Typecast for driving a Prius?

I think it's sad that the environment has become a partisan issue. I just don't get it. It really underscores just how divided this country is. It's almost as if a large portion of the right has decided that since librulz is pro-environment they must be deny the problem and, in some cases, make a point to show they don't care by proudly driving their land yachts and coming to this board and troll, etc. I see a large number of conservatives on this board. I personally find it encouraging. I hope to start seeing some Prius with McCain stickers patrolling the streets soon just to show other GOPers it's OK to be conservative and environmentally conscious.

 

I guess I'm a political anamoly all around. I currently drive a Ford Explorer, but I'm 99% sure I'll be driving a hybrid (Civic or Prius, still researching) within a year. Registered Republican, but staunch union member.

If you had told me one year ago that in one year I would be seriously considering the purchase of a hybrid, I would have told you that you were nuts. I have to admit-the fuel economy was what first piqued my interest. After researching more, though, I've become intrigued by the technology. I am also interested in becoming more green-I would love to be able to live off the grid (typed as my central air conditioner kicks on). Once again, I'm not totally altruistic in this endeavor-I think that the green technology will become more and more financially feasible as energy prices continue upward.

As for the next presidential election, I'm thinking "none of the above".

 

People always think I am a liberal too. Just Because I care about the enviroment, eat healthy, like tofu, reuse bags, and all the rest of the things people should do. Oh well!

 

How's this for typecasting:

Fox News is a voice of the liberal left.

Proof: The newscasters have Apple computers sitting in front of them with that big Apple logo in plain sight.

[what's that I hear? A collective groan of many Apple users realizing not all Apple comrades are comrades?] out:

 

I agree with fcc. A conservative is "least cost, end use" or long-term. I enjoy being type cast as a conservative driving a Prius and getting a consistent 53+ mpg (30k mi). A "liberal" (least cost, first use) only thinks and acts short term. Our home has an Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) of ≤1.0. Type cast? I hope so. You model what you teach.

 

Oh I do not feel like you are taking pot shots at me. This is a good thread
and I enjoy the discussion.

Actually you remind me of myself. When I put "green" in quotes it simply
meant that some of the choices we make like CF bulbs is considered being
"green" but we did it for obvious wise reasons. I was also tired of the old
bulb's filaments breaking in my 100 year old house and CF was a no brainer.
I have yet to replace a single one!

I agree with your sentiments.

 

You have really hit on some telling points. It is becoming rather annoying for me to listen to conservative talk radio anymore as it seems they tend to go out of their way to dismiss any possible environmental issues. Even to the point of labeling someone who is concerned about our impact on the environment as an Al Gore groupie, global warming religion nut.

I plan on getting a McCain sticker whenever a running mate is chosen and I really need to replace my stewardship bumper sticker soon.

 

Hehe... That's one stereotype I didn't adhere to. My last car was a flying banana. No kidding

Haha... Listened to Synder... Pure Gold

So if I'm one of those people who is giving all prius drivers a bad name then who is giving us a good name?

Or maybe I'm just a sheep :flock::flock::flock::flock:
​

 

Only if the two fingers are on different hands, preferably yours. I have done as high as three fingers on each hand, then retired and I'm lucky if I can type letters in the proper order.

 

So, you're moving more mainstream, not less. I've never seen one of those before. Can you tell us more?

 

Sure. It's called a City El. Mine was nicknamed the flying banana. They are Danish by design and have been in production for about 20 years. In the mid 90s production moved to Germany and are still made today.

Willkommen bei CityEL is the current official website. It's in German.

These little things are great fun to drive if you only need to do city driving in a European city with slow traffic. Max speed in a stock one was about 35mph with a range of 30 miles if you were lucky. I modified mine to do 45/50 and have a range of 50 miles by upgrading the battery technology into the 21st Century with some lithium ion batteries.

Unlike the fantastic Rav4EV which I had the pleasure of driving a few years back the City El is about as basic as you can get. Think single-seat enclosed motorbike trike with very little suspension and no creature comforts and you get the idea. (Daryl, I'm incredibly jealous of your EV garage and wish I was able to own either of your EVs!)

The best bits were the cost of running and the fact I could use HOV lanes and motorcycle parking as legally it was a motorbike. Here in the UK I didn't have to wear a helmet as it's a trike.

I'm really a very big EV-angelist so I was really gutted when I sold it - but my business has taken off and I need a vehicle which is capable of driving out of town without the risk of total annihilation on a small hill pass road.

I did try buying several EVs first, but as I'm 130 miles from London none of the big London EV firms would sell to someone so far out. After that it was a choice between converting my own EV, (something that I've helped other people do but which I have limited time and budget for) or become a two-prius household. (Kate, my partner, has one).

And while I'm going to be doing the PHEV modification it has the distinct practical advantage over an EV conversion in that I can continue to use the Prius while I'm doing the conversion (fabricating battery boxes and installing canview, charge ports, charger box etc.) without loosing my only real form of transport.

So there you go

Now, where were we... Stereotypical prius drivers?

 

I type with one finger on each hand so that must make me a stereo-typist.
Well I'm picking up two fingers on each hand and my thumb on the space bar, Dolby 4.1

Well from the comments you see me putting around the forums you all know I'm a dill.
I'm the 6th child of 8 children born into the family of a truck driver and his home maker wife. I was educated in public schools in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. Left school at year 11 to start an apprenticeship with the state government to become a diesel mechanic. I have worked as a mechanic for about 20 year with some time as a school assistant in the middle then changed to a career in enforcement 8 years ago. Apart from my trade papers I have a certificate 4 in statutory compliance and transport compliance and studying for a certificate 4 in investigation. I've just been promoted because of the study.

Politically I'm not really that motivated but I did assist with the campaign of a Labor candidate in a neighbouring electorate, this seat was in the bag. I'm not a member of a political party but I am a union member.

I have compact fluro lights, insulation, gas heat and hot water. Solar hot water and maybe electric are in the near future plan. I still live comfortably and am not a radical environmentalist but I want to influence the world to a more sustainable future. I'm a believer in balanced environmental concerns with costs and will buy "green" when the overall cost isn't too much more than dirty tech. I think living on the fringe is too far away from the crowd to drag any with me, pull people to the light a little at a time. What is radical today is main stream tomorrow.

I drive a Prius because I can have a stand out car which cost me not much more to buy but will cost no extra in the long run. I also want to slow the rate of carbon emissions as I have a son who may one day have children.

 

Nikki, thanks for the description of the Yellow Banana and the personal notes. I'm always impressed with the people on PC when you learn more about them.

I also can't help noticing the names of your Prii. I watched Scooby Doo as a kid when it first came out and my daughters are now watching the same shows I watched! My 6 year old currently daydreams about Freddy even though she knows he is just a cartoon.

Have a great day!

Jack

 

My husband and I are independent. We sometimes lean to the liberal side, sometimes to the conservative side.

There are lots of reasons to drive a Prius. Environmental ones are just part of the draw. For us, we saw which was the oil was flowing - we saw a huge spike in prices in Phoenix after a pipeline burst and people panicked. Prices went to $3.26, which is now just a happy memory! So we wanted something efficient and reliable that could hold 2 adults and 3 kids (and sometimes a dog) comfortably.

We have CFC lights in our house, because they are cheaper in the long term. We're pretty frugal. We don't buy things to be green, we buy them because they are cheaper in the long term.

We're also looking to put in a solar PV system in our back yard. It should supply 10,000 kWh/year, which will be the bulk of our usage. Again, we see which way the wind is blowing...higher electricity prices in the future. So we're doing what we can to provide for ourselves. It's going to be $30K up front (the utility co is picking up $18K of it) but I figure if it lasts all 25 years of the warranty it's not going to be any more expensive than paying the electric bill each month and I'll have somethign to show for it at the end. And if the cost of electricty goes up, we'll be money ahead.

 

I'm just very happy to see support for the environment from people of all political flavors. I think we do all breathe the same air. Well, most of us.

 

Why bother! We won't see any benefit for what, 18, 20, 25 years? [An argument used against drilling for more oil or building more nuclear power plants to help with our looming energy shortages.]

-Of course I am being facetious. Drilling this information into the heads of your nuclear family will have its benefits.