As Much As I Love My Car, I'm Starting To Hate It!!

[Midpack]

Prius drivers probably get more grief because there are more (not all!) smug Prius drivers than most models. All Prius drivers pay a price for the self-righteous owners...like it or not. And it wouldn't surprise me if it's more acute in SoCal, where cars are a big part of the identify of many owners.

[Zythryn]

I don't think you started seeing this more often because you drive a prius. I suspect you see more of it because you changed your driving habits.
Take a Cavelier out and drive it the same way you drive the Prius and I bet you will see close to the same behavior.
Yes, there will be the occasional jerk out there that wants to 'pick' on the prius, but on average, I bet it is the same.
When you say things like 'I gave him a dirty look' or 'I had to say something' it is an indication that it wasn't JUST the other guy. It will be better for your blood pressure if you don't get agrivated to the level of escalating the issue.

[RodJo]

I glad to say that I have not yet experienced anything like that with my Prius, although I've only had it for 9 days. Prius drivers in my area are hardly the slowest or clogging traffic. That honor belongs to the gardeners/landscapers.

The story does remind me of when I got a Mustang GT back in 1986. It was a hot car and the first one delivered in New England. For a while mine was the only one on the road and it was a constant target of Camero drivers (maybe more morons buy Chevy's?). It got to the point where guys would throw rocks and bricks at me as I drove by! It had nothing to do with driving style, but more with me having a better car. Fortunately, it cooled off after 6 months or so.

In the case of the Prius, I know the "foreign" car thing can be a hot button for some people. But it's just too difficult trying to figure out what's going on between the ears of those idiots, so I wouldn't waste too much time on it. Just be careful, they can be dangerous!!!

[adamace1]

Originally Posted by Eoin

Tailgating? It means you drive too slowly. Try moving to the right lane. I always drive in the left lane and wish the slower drivers would keep to the right. I have to move fast since I commute long distances.

I have had my car over 96mph with someone chasing me I'm not being tailgated I'm having someone who doesn't like our cars messing with me. There was a car in front of me so i had no where to go but they still were tailgating me at that speed.

[qbee42]

I also think the smallish size of the Prius makes people more likely to tailgate. When you can see over or around a car, it isn't as intimidating to ride right behind it.

Tom

[cycledrum]

I don't have other drivers reacting to me and my Prius differently than other cars.

There are so many Pri's here in the SF Bay Area, one would go nuts trying to diss every Prius out there.

There's the occasional idiot driver out there, but all one can do is avoid AMAP.

Experience in street motorcycling helps with defensive driving.

[cycledrum]

post deleted.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Oh, I had always assumed that aggressive drivers were chest cutters on their way to emergency operations. Sure are a lot of them ;->.

[shawnb2]

Well, let me defend my dirty look comment as it seems to have given the wrong impression. The fact of the matter is and I was trying to keep the story short was he damn near ran me into the curb and what would have been parked cars if I would have gone over the curb. With the horn going, mind you it is an air horn so it was plenty loud and the fact that this idiot kept coming my way, he knew exactly what he was doing was what warranted the dirty look. If you can just continue driving without something like that affecting you especially with a new car to top it all off and not react in the slightest bit then more power to you. I will certainly continue to try and just blow it off.

[shawnb2]

Originally Posted by bigchris1313

This reminds me of the time a friend of mine almost got a girl pregnant or the Cuban Missile Crisis almost resulted in nuclear Armageddon.

No one wants to hear about your almost-fight with the perpetual strawman SUV/pickup driver.

Thanks for getting the point. You certainly didn't have to read it much less reply to it if it didn't have the storybook ending you were hoping for.