No Respect On The Freeway

I live in the greater Los Angeles area and I've had my Prius just over a month. I can say that Prius hate is real, whether you drive slow or fast. I don't drive slow but other drivers will generally tailgate me until they have the chance to change lanes and pass (so they can show off their much "superior" car). What I do though is when they change lanes I just speed up until I catch up to the car on the next lane, leaving the jackhole unable to pass (only works on a 2-lane street). It's a nice subtle way to piss off the tailgaters.

 

They'll hate you even more in about 10 years, when gas goes to $5 plus a gallon.

 

Some prefer to stay behind us and remain angry rather than pass on the left. Gives their lives meaning for the moment.

 

Well, everyone has that stereotype of a Prius owner. Either an earth-friendly hippie, or just a homosexual. So, especially in this day, everyone is against those types of people, and wants to make their life a living hell. So, whenever they see a Prius, they go out of their way to make sure our day is the worst, and just laugh about it.


But, with that being said, is it bad that sometimes IM the one tailgating people? Especially those big V8 / V12 trucks, they always get out of the way for Penny

 

Which is ironic because I'm a straight, conservative, gun owning Prius driver who also drives an 8,000lb diesel truck.

 

Wow- now there's a money-maker!
If that could be instituted and strictly enforced here we could do away with sales tax, property tax and probably income tax too! The states and counties would be rich beyond their dreams!
It might even make the roads a bit safer too

 

I find that baiting cars who are road raging doesn't help the situation. If I notice a tailgater, I'll slow down so that I put more distance between myself and the car in front of me just in case the tailgater manages to rear end me. If the tailgater takes that as a deliberate prod at him, then that's not my problem.

I will say that the majority of drivers are good, attentive people but it's always those few that end up causing trouble. I used to tailgate back in my college years before I realized that I was creating a more dangerous situation for myself rather than helping traffic move as fast as I wanted.

 

We have tailgating laws here too, but doesn't help, the cops would have to get off their cell phones to pull someone over to give them a ticket.

 

Only $5/gallon by then?

 

Hey,

I love it when I calmly sit in heavy "stop and go traffic" when those with the 10-12mpg SUV's and pickup trucks are getting close to ZERO mpg.

My Prius has gone into EV mode and burning almost no gas at all.


Try to do that in a VW TDI diesel.


These jerks are just envious. They'd accelerate when the light turns yellow or even run read lights when they know that they will be burning expensive fuel at idle.

It's nice to be in no hurry.

 

I could never imagine why a person that drives a nice new car would ever want to grab ahold of a diesel slimy fuel pump handle to fuel up their car. That stuff doesn't wash off easy. Why diesel pump handles are all slimed up when gas handles stay somewhat clean is a mystery to me. It's easy to gas up or fuel up something and not spill the gas or fuel.

Mike

 

Ever change oil drained from a diesel engine?

If NOT, you'll have a real adventure in cleaning your hands.

 

It's true, but it's also true with some other cars, especially small ones. In my 20 years of owning Corollas, I was always amazed how much better I was suddenly treated on the road whenever I rented a minivan or SUV! But of course there are other factors - Mazda3 got a wee bit more courtesy too....

Now I'm one month into Prius ownership, and thinking a) OMG, this car is way faster than my li'l Corolla was... no reason people should ever cut me off now! b) Eep! *Some* people are even worse toward it on the road! These are the ones who do extra weird or seemingly directed antagonistic stuff. Fortunately, there only seem to be a few of these.

So my hypotheses thus far:
* Many people are disrespectful to any car they regard as slow, inferior, small, or whatever it is that wrankles their personal insecurities. Prius is one of them.
* A few creepy people just have a gripe about Prius in particular.

 

I told my wife the other day people drive different around me when I'm in the Prius and when I'm in the Camaro or my Suburban. But truth be told I don't really drive them the same either. LOL

 

Those tailgaters are in need of multiple therapy sessions - How to recognize and control your anger issues" The sessions include the following:

1. Admit you tailgate out of anger.

2. Dealing with and controlling your anger.

3. Visiting your local Toyota dealer for Prius information gathering.

4. Test drive a Prius.

5. Decide which Prius model is best suited for you.

6. Negotiate a fair trade in deal on your existing gas eating monster.

7. Consumate the deal.

8. Drive new Prius home.

9. Review what has transpired during the day.

10. Drive the Prius knowing you did a very positive thing - that you are sane and everyone around you is completely NUTS!


DBCassidy

 

I've never seen much difference in the behavior of other drivers in my Prius, but my wife and I have generally favored little putt-putt cars. If i do get tailgated in a truly obnoxious fashion, I just slow down until they move on. On occasion, if it is safe, I just pull over. I'm not interested in their nonsense.

 

We are way past that here in the UK already with the equivalent price here being $8.00 for a US gallon

 

Petrol evaporates leaving little residue whereas diesel is more oily and leaves behind greasy deposits on evaporation.
Here in Europe diesel cars have been popular for many years and as such the pumps, whilst sometimes a little oily, are mostly ok to use. In addition the fuel stations provide disposable gloves.

 

Jealousy , it's jealousy , just wave at them as you drive past the gas station they stopped at
With gas almost 4.00 a gal in west Michigan , finally I'm getting a little more respect

 

It's fun driving a Prius around Detroit with all the big tanks hauling nice person down the roads.

Mike