genuine curiosity: why do all you like the Prius so much (i promise, not a troll thread.)

I'm shocked, SHOCKED!!!

 

Iraqiswhack,

I'd be that guy in the right lane on the highway, driving 55 mph in a 65 mph zone (please wave as you zoom by). I drive that slow to maximize my mpg's in my car (not a prius). The reason for doing this is a) financial (I've increased my mpgs by 20%, thus decreased my fuel bills by 20%) and b) social/political.

Addressing the social/political aspect of it. I have a friend and former college roommate who is a Lt. Colonel in the Army. He has done 2 tours of duty in Iraq. He does not want to do a third. The best thing I can do as "John Q Public" is to minimize my fuel consumption, thus minimizing the impact that oil producing nations that don't like the US have on the world stage. I realize it is a drop in the bucket, but you have to start somewhere, and I can't control what other people do.

Think of it this way. By driving to get a thrill, instead of driving to minimize fuel consumption, every gallon of gas you waste is another 5 minutes one of your buddies has to spend in Iraq. What can happen in that 5 minutes? Anything from your buddy being bitten by a sand flea to your buddy having one of his legs blown off by an improvised explosive device. And more of your friends will be going over there to replace the dead and injured.

As you mature, you realize it is no longer about you, it is about others (be them friends or family). You went to Iraq to represent American interests. You have friends still over there. Your decisions here affect whether they stay there or come home.

So, when you see that guy in the slow lane driving 55 mph, it isn't because he lacks testosterone, isn't capable of driving fast, or the car isn't capable of driving fast. Maybe they are trying to minimize their impact on the planet and save loved ones the trip to an oil rich, foreign country that doesn't appreciate American culture.

 

From what I have seen, Iraqiswhack is too smart to be a troll and probably will do smart things in the future. He came to PriusChat and was quite fun to have here. Hopefully he will encourage others to come and visit.

 

I agree, he came looking to see what his future held for him.
I wouldn't go on a Prius forum if I wasn't considering buying one in the future.

 

I bought my prius after letting my ego go! I like bad nice person cars and the Prius is one. Just not in terms of hp and cornering. I also got tired of watching all my money fly out the window for gas and such. Filling up now every week and a half for less then $10 bucks is my stimulus package. I promised myself that any money I didn't spend on gas by buying the prius would go into a CD at the end of the year. I figure I am close to saving myself $1500.00 bucks this year and yes, I will add some more money and reward myself with the CD. At first it was to save money. Now it is because I really don't like driving anything else except my big nice person truck which I use to take the family wakeboarding. The truck is really my favorite as it is jacked up, big nice person stereo, and I just plain love the look. Just don't want to spend the money on it as much as I used to. So now the Prius is #1. I can't see myself buying anything else right now.
I do have to say that sometimes on this forum people attack people for what they drive, used to drive, etc.... That get's old. I have read many posts on how ignorant and small people are that drive big nice person trucks and how some have even takin swings at people in some wierd nice person road rage thing prius against big nice person trucks thing that they got going on. I just wonder why people get so amped up when driving or get so pissed off what others drive. I like the fact that the OP came here to ask questions. Obviously the OP is curious. If you don't like the OP posts then don't respond. Troll or not. If it is an argument you want, or just to tell how cool and tuff you are, please spare the post. JMHO

 

Ok, I'll play along, from the top ...

* I really like the Smart Key system, pretty much every Prius has this. Just reach for the handle, door unlocks. No fumbling for key fob.

* I really like the push button start. I power up, flip it in reverse, brake(s) off. I can always count on the car moving a little with electric power before the gas engine starts (coming out of garage). I like that. No turning a key to hear engine crank, hopefully start up, to wait a bit before moving.

* The gas engine is very quiet. The car is very easy to drive. I do a little leaning here and there to see things some times, being almost 6ft3in. No big deal.

* I always look forward to the gas engine shutting off. It usually shuts off at the first stop, about 3/4 mile away from house. Comes on again when accelerating.

* I don't miss multiple speed transmissions (4,5,etc..) in a car. Prius is a 1-speed car.

* I find myself driving a little slower than I would in a more powerful car. I'm encouraged to try for better economy oftentimes. Helps that the car tells me how it's doing on economy.

* But, if I need to take off quicker from a stop light (like today with an SUV approaching from behind on highway), Prius has adequate acceleration.

* I've had this car doing 40 mph, all-electric, for sometimes a mile or so. Like that.

* I get to sneak up on people .. just kidding.

* I just love to cruise though a parking lot on battery with someone glancing 'there's one of those hybrid thingies'. I get morbidly depressed if the gas motor happens to be running during these moments.

* I get to pull into the garage everytime on electric power, not a sound to be heard, nada, not a fume to be smelled. Good stuff.

* I get out of the car, push the little button on handle, all locked up. I've always got a thought like 'that went really well' or 'what a nice little car'.

that's that...

 

Sorry about your accident Iraqiswhack, does your car have ABS? Do they still have cars without it?

 

Sounds like a lucky escape, if you had to hit something to stop I'm glad you hit the tree rather than the lake. (I'm assuming that if the lake was frozen over, the ice may not have been thick enough to support a car?)

 

One caution if you have collision. You're insurance company may declare the car a total loss and take the title. I lost my commuting, '91 Camry because I'd failed to cancel the collision coverage. The car was paid off, I'd just forgotten about it.

The estimate to repair the car was $3k. The insurance company valued it at $1,700 and I got a check for $1,200. I would have paid the $3k and saved a bunch. Just a caution to check out your options. That $1,200 helped pay for my used Prius.

GOOD LUCK!
Bob Wilson

 

I have studded winter tires on my Prius. That would not have happened to me. On glare ice, my Prius easily leaves behind 4wd's and awd's

 

As a visitor to your fair state, I can use them

https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/getpub.php?pubtype=STAT_CHAP_SEC&year=2006&section=169.72

BWAA HAAA HAAAA HAAAA!

I keep a copy of that in my car, just in case I get flak crossing the International border. Only happened once, when I tried crossing at Warroad.

Border guy: "You can't cross"

Me: "Why not?"

Border guy: "Your car has studded tires. I heard them as you pulled up"

Me: whips out revised Minnesota legislation paper

Border guy: "Um .... ok, proceed"

Me: "Okey pokey!"

 

And as you found, it only takes one time.

 

At least the border guy laughed when I said "okey pokey." Up to that point, he had been a real sour puss

Just like forbidden low hanging fruit, the local Kal Tire has on display the new factory studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 Sport Utility

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 5 SUV

Their display tires are some oddball 17 inch I've never heard of. No, they do not fit my FJ as they would be almost 1.5 inches too short, my FJ needs tires with an OD of 31.7 inches or the speedo and auto shift are out of whack

Thanks to the mandatory winter tire law in Quebec, I was SOL trying to find studded suv tires this winter. Kal Tire was able to find only two of them in the entire freakin country, in the correct size

I'm on the wait list for next winter, rah rah.

However, oddly enough, Kal Tire has six factory studded Nokian winter tires for a one ton Chevy truck with dual rear wheels. They ordered them in for a guy, he managed to hit an icy spot on his "all season" tires, rolled the truck, and it's a write off

What I *should* do is buy a new one ton Chevy, they're like $20,000 discount right now. Put on those factory studded tires, throw 5,500 lbs of cinder blocks in the box, and drive down to the twin cities. Just to chew up your roads *real* good

 

Oh boy, that applies to a LOT of things in life

A guy I knew from my Army days, was quite a player in his day. I guess I was too, but this guy made me look like a Monk.

Anyhoo, he became happily married, had a couple of kids, everything was just dandy for about 13 years. One morning, the doorbell rings, and he answers it

Standing there is this 14 year old boy, kinda scruffy looking like most 14 year old boys are, but at the same time looking *very* familiar. The boy looks up at him and says

"Um, Dad?"

:doh:

Same thing is possible with me. Since I got my vasectomy, in theory there could be a son or daughter out there, ranging in age from 15-28. Just what I need, the sky to fall

:ballchain:

 

I have the car one year now and i drive it like the other car i had, but the gas mileage is awsome even if i am drag racing at the lights i could not get more than 8.5 l/100km of lpg(dirt cheap where i'm from), but on a regular use i get 6.5 l/100 km. And it only takes me 60 lei (15 $) to fill up and i can go up to 500 km on a full tank of lpg.
That is why i like my Prius!

 

nice digging!