I guess the image of a Prius represents future, change, leading technology that challenges the status quo, and may also present an image of foreign, strange looking, and even alien, that challenges the "conservative"(not in the political sense)/traditional minded people.
Indeed. The Prius has no political viewpoint, or at least mine wont talk to me long enough to let me know what it thinks... If you want a good read, dig up the thread about "who drives a prius" or something like that. You will find there are the "stereotypical" older people, gay people, hippies, and South-Park-ian smug sniffers. But also mixed in just as much are staunch republicans, geeks that could care less about who's in office, and anyone who just wants a good car. The stereotypes do not really exist anymore since the car is so popular, but they live on the minds of the uneducated. Someone on here (cant remember the user name???) always says something to the effect of "al gore didn't tell me to buy a prius, g.w. bush did". Buy a great car and help lay to rest these stereotypes. I do think there is more prius hate on the right than on the left, so your friends might egg you a bit for your choice... Same as if I told my friends I was buying a Hummer. Only difference is the Prius is a good car, my friends would be right about not needing a Hummer lol.
I perfer Goerge Carlin's phrasing ( Wackaloon ). A cross between a wacko and a lunatic. Either way, that's a hell of alot of Wackaloons!
I don't know if you guys watch the NFL but for the last 2 weeks, NFL has been promoting commercials where they show fans vandalizing property of another fan. Example: They had a Jets fan waitress pour iced tea from a dish wash cloth for a Patriots fan. Also, you got idiots writing articles about "Prius smugness" so they can get their ad revenue (ex motortrend article).
That's one reason I love this forum - you get all sorts and types of people from all over the world, joined together over the love of a great car. Hmmm, do I sound like an old hippie there? I did say the word love twice
You will find there are the "stereotypical" older people, gay people, hippies, and South-Park-ian smug sniffers. But also mixed in just as much are staunch republicans, geeks that could care less about who's in office, and anyone who just wants a good car. Good thread that took a bit of a turn from the specific topic. Personally I believe that "Prius Haters" are ... SO yesterday, actually 2005 or so. I'd guess there are still pockets of them around, but few in number. I'm a Middle-of-the-Road type of guy, not especially "Green" but do my part, and like to go with the latest technology and the primary reason I'm in a Prius. Not a hyper-miler, drive mine in 'Normal' mode almost all the time, no Pulse&Glide, and operate it as a "normal car". 11K miles over the first year and 48.7MPG overall. Happy guy here. In my geo area, the Prius is extremely popular and certainly not considered exteme or 'Leftie'. Matter of fact a neighbor down the road is as 'Right' as one can be (John Birch Society - gun owner, etc). They bought a '10 Prius after I brought mine home. I'd guess that stigma of Prius owners being Liberal and Green is old news. There are all types of Bigots and Nuts everywhere; I'd have to think the Prius Haters have dwindled in number. Just hope that NutJob Pastor Terry Jones doesn't decide to drive up to NYC....in a Prius.
Just this morning I got Prius hate from a Toyota FJ no less. I was on the way to the park at 5:30am (ie no traffic) to run. I was at a redlight and the FJ is almost in my hatch and honks his horn at me. The light goes green but after going under the highway there is another red light after 300 yards or so and I stop with said FJ still in my hatch. The second light goes green and we turn left onto the service road and he goes around me so hard you can see the body roll, he honks his horn and then goes through the next light which is 100% red. Did I mention this was at 5:30am in the morning. Oh well the run was awesome.
You would not believe how bad smart car hate is, too. Good thing there is just as much love as there is hate, in general - it just may not be as obvious. I remember when the GenI cars started showing up - I'd always wave and smile at them... -Iain
Ya, somebody blew their entire nasal cavity onto the side of mine a couple months ago. In a reasonably empty parking lot I took up 2 parking spots in the corner hoping to maintain the paint job one more day. Some on this forum accused me of being entitled, or for other reasons that the spit was my fault brought on by the parking job. Now I suppose to some this may be rationalized into fuel for the "Haters". To me it's mere indecency which is becoming a 21st century characteristic it seems.
A couple of years ago we had a lead engineer who was 'immature' and someone threw an egg on his BMW in the parking lot. Bob Wilson
No Prius hate yet. FWIW I freaking hate it when people park like that, I really do. It seems 99% of the time it's a corvette, although they are at the back of the parking lot so I don't care that much.
You're lucky they didn't key your car instead. Park as far away as possible but normally if you want to save your paint job.
I always park near a wall (so close to the wall that I can barely open the door). This way, the idiot on the other side can't bang their door or dent while reversing. At my work place, I had 3 separate dents caused by a poorly designed parking garage + idiot drivers.
Funny, last time I saw someone do that, it was a Vette - but he was parked right in front of the restaurant! I guess he thought he was that much better than everyone else that he deserved 2 parking spots. When I see that happen, I am aways tempted to try to squeeze into the space on the left anyway! If you're going to take up two spots - do it far away from anyone else - but at that point you might as well take up only one spot since no-one will be parking out there anyway! It seems counter-productive to me anyway - either way you are bringing undue attention upon yourself and making yourself a bigger target.
Why is it people in expensive cars so often park like morons? I see this enough to know there really is something to it. I frequently see luxury cars parked in the most idiotic spots that are clearly not parking spots as if they are trying to say "I'm so rich I don't care if I get a ticket".
Not wanting to further hijack this thread. From the responses since my last post **I rest my case**...:focus:
Just...wow. This is just horrible. I suppose all I can say is that, yeah, people are jerks. After reading your experience, I consider myself lucky; clearly, it could've been a lot worse. Regarding the incident in which someone kicked your passenger door while you were in the car--I'm shocked that someone would be that brazen!