Revenge of the Prius driver

Used to be, when you pulled up to the light next to one of those big, brawny, incredibly massive SUVs, you felt inadequate in your puttering little sedan.

[u gotta be kidding]

prius??? is that what i rolled over the other day? i'd like to apologize to the other driver, i thought it was just a speed bump.

[Ted]

It's high time we did something about high gas prices or we risk global recession. Copy and paste the web address below into your browser address bar and tell your government representative that you want the loopholes in oil commodities trading plugged up (ie: THE SWAPS LOOPHOLE and THE ENRON LOOPHOLE) This is serious and needs to be addressed immediately. The link directly to the government site is

http://answers.usa.gov/cgi-bin/gsa_ict.cfg/ph...

also consumer affairs

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/06...

[DLC]

I've own my Prius for a year now, get only 43 mpg because i drive over the speed limit, if you drive like a UPS driver, u could get over 50 mpg BUT i'm only paying $39 a month to fill it up! So i'm not stressing about my low mpg. It's an exceptional vehicle, for now i look at non-hybrids as dinosaurs. I think all new cars made should have monitors in the dash to watch the gas mileage as The Prius has. ciao!

[Doug]

I drive a Prius and I'm getting over 50 MPG this summer. I purposely drive slow to get higher MPG and to slow down the SUV behind me.

[Steamroller]

Doug wrote:

I drive a Prius and I'm getting over 50 MPG this summer. I purposely drive slow to get higher MPG and to slow down the SUV behind me.

Hope you like yours squashed thin, road hog.

[RCM]

I have to admit, as a Prius driver, I look at SUV drivers at the gas pump not with pity but smug satisfaction. These inconsiderate, wasteful, short-sighted, egotistical jerks are finally getting their due. The vast majority of people with SUV's had no reason to get one other than to feel superior on the road.

[Steamroller]

RCM wrote:

The vast majority of people with SUV's had no reason to get one other than to feel superior on the road.

Well, the vast majority of people with Prius' hadve no reason to get one other than to be smug on the road.

From a total cost of ownership perspective, most are now paying more, even if feeling better about it.

[RCM]

Steamroller wrote:

<quoted text>
Well, the vast majority of people with Prius' hadve no reason to get one other than to be smug on the road.
From a total cost of ownership perspective, most are now paying more, even if feeling better about it.

On what basis are you making these assertions (other than the CNW claims, which were refuted and revised by themselves)? This is just a story SUV drivers tell themselves to feel better.

[Kathy]

I think it's terrific that Priuses are so green. I've often thought about buying one, but I just can't seem to pull the trigger on the purchase. They're just so unattractive. Since I tend to keep my cars for 6-8 years, I don't think I can handle driving a car year after year that I find so aesthetically unappealing. I'm thinking about buying a Mini or a Civic Hybrid -- I might only get 30 to 37 mpg with one of those, but at least I could live with the looks of the car.

[Fred Garvin]

RCM wrote:

<quoted text>
On what basis are you making these assertions (other than the CNW claims, which were refuted and revised by themselves)? This is just a story SUV drivers tell themselves to feel better.

I have a V8 BMW that I picked up used. It has 4.4 Litres, has 290 hp and 324lb/ft of torque. Last night I was driving on the highway and I was getting 32mpg. Sure, I have slightly worse mpg in the city, but I more than made up the $$$ in the cost of purchasing the vehicle. Additionally, I do not look like a total douchebag driving such an ugly car. I will also survive in an accident on the highway with most over vehicles on the road. I will gladly pay a little more at the pump to see all of you smug douches sucking on my smog as a cruise past.

[ByronMoreno]

Doug wrote:

I drive a Prius and I'm getting over 50 MPG this summer. I purposely drive slow to get higher MPG and to slow down the SUV behind me.

Let's do the math, sparky.

Let's say you're toodling around at 50 mph and getting 50 mpg. Now speed up to 60 mph and get 45 mpg. Yes, driving slower saves you money, but it costs you time. In fact, it adds up to $2.40 per hour. Congratulations, you value your time at less than minimum wage.

[Sock Ray Blue]

Envious of a Hummer? I think not! Wishful for a hummer? Yup!

[ByronMoreno]

RCM wrote:

<quoted text>
On what basis are you making these assertions (other than the CNW claims, which were refuted and revised by themselves)? This is just a story SUV drivers tell themselves to feel better.

Let's do the math.

A Prius, assuming you can get one, lists for $21,500. A similar Camry lists for $14,400. That's a difference of $7100.

Going on mixed EPA numbers, the Prius gets 48 mpg, and the Camry gets 32 mpg.

Assuming an average of about 10,000 miles per year, the Prius will use 208 gallons of gas, whereas the Camry will use 312. That's about a hundred gallons extra, or $450. That means you have about a 16 year payback.

[Sock Ray Blue]

ByronMoreno wrote:

<quoted text>
Let's do the math, sparky.
Let's say you're toodling around at 50 mph and getting 50 mpg. Now speed up to 60 mph and get 45 mpg. Yes, driving slower saves you money, but it costs you time. In fact, it adds up to $2.40 per hour. Congratulations, you value your time at less than minimum wage.

Add this to your adding machine. I have a 2000 Kia Sportage that gets 20-25 mpg. It has been paid for since 2003 and since it is 8 years old the registration fee is around 35 bucks. I gotta hunch I'm driving quite cheap.

[LP Trixie]

ByronMoreno wrote:

<quoted text>

Going on mixed EPA numbers, the Prius gets 48 mpg, and the Camry gets 32 mpg.

I just checked, The Camry hybrid gets 32, but the regular engined Camry gets a little over 21.

Anyway, you are helping the environment with less emissions Byron.

[Zing]

If I need a gas sipper, I'll go out and find a late 80s/early 90s Honda CRX. It looks a million times better than a Prius and gets 40+mpg on a full ICE drivetrain.

Or I'd consider the Honda Insight from a few years ago, another hybrid that looks a LOT better than a Prius, and gets much better mileage than a Prius. Heck, even the Geo Metro was available in a convertible.

But today at least, I'll just be glad that nobody sees ME behind the wheel of a Prius.

[Zing]

LP Trixie wrote:

<quoted text>
I just checked, The Camry hybrid gets 32, but the regular engined Camry gets a little over 21.
Anyway, you are helping the environment with less emissions Byron.

Not if you're like that Doug guy above, slowing other people down so you can create a false sense of superiority in your own mind.

Anyway, any good I do for the environment is irrelevant when a smoke-belching truck drives by, or when the state eliminated emissions testing for cars made prior to 1996 and diluted the testing standards for cars made after 1996.

Frankly, I don't believe anything that comes from our politicians' mouths when they claim its "for your health" or "for the environment." If they cared about either, they wouldn't have eliminated emissions testing for the worst-offending vehicles and implemented a lower standard for cars that are tested just so they could "update" their testing equipment to cheaper stuff.

[LP Trixie]

Meh! to each their own I guess... My first car was a 92 Chevy Corsica and it was the best car Ive ever had, It has like 150,000+ miles in it and it still runs, left it at home in AZ. The corsica looked like a cheese wedge compared to the Honda CRX and Toyota Corolla but I just wanted to get from point A to point B. It really wasn't about looks growing up in a town of 17,000. Now I drive a 2007 Jetta, A lot more sexier but doesn't ride as good as the chevy....lol. Well it's summer and I'm riding my bike to work. That way, I don't contribute to traffic or polution and keeps me in great shape. I sleep better at night knowing im doing my part.

[ByronMoreno]

LP Trixie wrote:

<quoted text>
I just checked, The Camry hybrid gets 32, but the regular engined Camry gets a little over 21.

My mistake. I meant to say Corolla.

LP Trixie wrote:

Anyway, you are helping the environment with less emissions Byron.

And you are hurting the environment with all the toxic metals and manufacturing energy involved in making a hybrid.

[A Better Idea]

Doug wrote:

I drive a Prius and I'm getting over 50 MPG this summer. I purposely drive slow to get higher MPG and to slow down the SUV behind me.

I drive an '08 Malibu LTZ. Best car in the world? Nope. But it's a good one and gets roughly 28MPG so far on the highway. If we each drive 12,000 miles per year, I will spend $1700 +/-and you will spend $960 +/- for a difference of $740. When you consider both cars cost about the same, though the Malibu has MUCH better handling and performance and more features, as well as OnStar, your 50MPG isn't such a big deal. And should we ever need emergency help, God forbid, they won't be afraid to use the special tools on the Malibu. And the 4Cyl with 6-Speed automatic due any day will be well over 30MPG. And I supported American Workers and an American economy.