The dumbest questions you were ever asked about your Prius

While backing out of a friend's driveway, he asked, "How did you move your car without starting it? Was it in neutral?"

Stopping at a red light, my friend asked if I turned the car off.

 

While backing out of a friend's driveway, he asked, "How did you move your car without starting it? Was it in neutral?"

Stopping at a red light, my friend asked if I turned the car off.

 

Is it really more environmentally damaging than a Hummer?

 

Is it really more environmentally damaging than a Hummer?

 

A dear family member : "Can you go over 60 MPH in it?"

A good friend, who's also an engineer : "Since you have two engines, the weight of the second engine completely offsets any fuel savings."

What irks me most are the discussions of paying back the mythical hybrid premium or how to dispose of the battery some day. People don't stop to think about all the environmental hazards already present in their cars - what happens to their 12V battery when the old one inevitably dies? Or how are they ever going to recoup the $3000 they spent on gas shocks and allow wheels for their F150? A car is not an investment no matter how you slice it, it's a money pit.

 

A dear family member : "Can you go over 60 MPH in it?"

A good friend, who's also an engineer : "Since you have two engines, the weight of the second engine completely offsets any fuel savings."

What irks me most are the discussions of paying back the mythical hybrid premium or how to dispose of the battery some day. People don't stop to think about all the environmental hazards already present in their cars - what happens to their 12V battery when the old one inevitably dies? Or how are they ever going to recoup the $3000 they spent on gas shocks and allow wheels for their F150? A car is not an investment no matter how you slice it, it's a money pit.

 

Same question asked three different times by three different strangers, each while staring at the hybrid badge on the front fender, "Is that a hybrid?"

 

Same question asked three different times by three different strangers, each while staring at the hybrid badge on the front fender, "Is that a hybrid?"

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Sep 12 2007, 06:40 AM) [snapback]511214[/snapback]</div>

"They can fly!"; Would be my answer

One way is to have a full sized GMC utility van smack your 05 broadside when they are full throttle . I believe the landing was fine, but the takeoff made enough noise for people 2 blocks away to come out of their houses to investigate. I do not recommend this method, although it eliminated the need for an extended warranty.

My 08 "is not on the ground yet";according to my salesmen. So, I guess I know two ways they "fly" first hand. B)

Then there is the third in the article on this site "My Prius Jumped Off the Road"

Perhaps, you were on a solid foundation when you said there are no dumb questions, or just maybe "I do dumb real good."

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priapus the second @ Nov 16 2007, 11:02 AM) [snapback]540557[/snapback]</div>

Given the "light" tone of your post, I am assuming no one was injured in this accident. Please say that is the case.

 

Do you have to add gas?

 

My neighbor to my wife in a shocked and condescending tone: "Why would you buy a Prius? Is your husband's business not doing very well?"

Apparently the hybrid gods were listening... her husband lost his job a few months later and they had to sell their house and move in with the in-laws.

 

I too have heard most of these. The most common is "How often do you plug it in" and "Why didn't you just buy a similar non-hybrid car and save the extra $$" and "Have you replaced the batteries yet". I don't understand people comparing the Prius to a compact or economy car. Why did you buy a Lexus when you could have bought a Camry? Why would you buy a Cadillac when you could buy a Chevy? The Prius isn't a more expensive Corolla!!! AGGGHHHHHHHH..... LOL I had a previous co-worker say I was stupid to buy a Prius- she continued with "We just bought our son a 1980's Honda Civic and he gets about 35-40 mpg and the car only cost $1000. Why would you pay so much for a Prius?" :blink: You're right, cars haven't changed in 20 years- I made a mistake by buying a Prius :lol:

My grandfather still can't be convinced that the Prius does any good- now it has worn off on my grandma. Every time I see her now she asks me if I have had to replace the batteries- my grandpa follows up with "Yea those are like $10k right? And they just fill up the landfills". :huh:

Funny thing is I also have a Toyota Yaris- everyone thinks it too is a hybrid! My aunt actually got in an argument with someone trying to describe it- she said it was a "little Prius" HAHAHA I tell them, "Nope, it is just a regular car" and they respond with "Oh".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoDosch @ Sep 13 2007, 01:39 PM) [snapback]512008[/snapback]</div>

One of my neighbors thinks so. She has a f250 that has a huge tank she asked me how far I go on a tank of gas and I told her about 500 miles or so. Her reply was “you mean we get the same MPG how are u saving gas?â€. I tried to explain that I go 500 mile on around 10 gallons of gas and that her tank was much larger. No good. Then I tired to explain that she spends over $100 to fill her tank and I spend like $20. She argued with me saying I was wrong lmao. I wonder if I could get 4 quarters for a 50 cent piece after all the 50 cent piece is bigger and must be worth more than 4 small things.

 

um double post sorry

 

Then there is the third in the article on this site "My Prius Jumped Off the Road"



Jumped, not flew........

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priapus the second @ Nov 16 2007, 11:02 AM) [snapback]540557[/snapback]</div>

Jumped, not flew......

 

"But, but... why doesn't it have height-adjustable seats?"

 

Most of those "dumb questions" posted were most likely asked out of naivety rather than stupidity.

A dumb question would be:

Can you drive it in the rain, or will it short out?
If you lick it, do you get shocked?
I hear that if you drive it into the ocean just once, it's ruined...is that true?
Does driving backward yield better mpg on the highway?

Stuff like that.

 

I was told (seriously) by an intelligent gentleman on my mail route that the brakes wouldn't work if the battery went dead.
Had to reply " Wonder what that brake fluid reservoir is for ?"

 

The dumbest question I got was, "What do you do if you need to haul something?" So I replied I guess I would borrow or rent a truck, but I've been driving for nearly 15 years and can only ever remember a hand full of times where I needed to haul anything.