Dragged, kicking and screaming, and now own a Pruis

His attitude is fine , your's suck
:welcome:

 

I like the idea of viewing the Prius as a performance car. Efficiency and fuel economy performance, that is. Good luck, OP!

 

That's fine. If you are going to dish it out, you have to be willing to take it.

And I do think the OP's attitude seems to be changing...

But I mean really, look at the title..."Dragged, kicking and screaming? REALLY?......

I say, drive what you want....if The Prius is REALLY your wifes car...then let it be your wifes car...and if you really think it's that ugly and you hate it so much...then keep a 300 hp gas guzzler...

But don't come into an enthusiasts web site, describe your purchase of a Prius as a forced experience, not your idea, but blame it all on "The Wife"...then describe the car as ugly...but then in the final stanza say...but I'd like help saving gas...

Okay, maybe I was hard on the OP or my reaction wasn't entirely fair. On one level, the OP represents exactly what I think is needed for evolution. We need more people that have never driven a Hybrid, thought they never would drive a hybrid...but then discover the advantages and reality of driving a hybrid...

And of course...it's all about freedom. The OP is who the OP is...he has edited the original post since I originally commented.

I personally don't like people who seem defensive about Prius Ownership or come in with the "It's The Little Womans Car" But.....

But who am I to apply my personal feelings?

I really do hope The OP learns to love the Prius...and it's a start. If this is the first non-300 HP vehicle he has ever driven, I think he chose a good one....

I suck..okay...maybe I do....but I sucked in defense of The Prius...

 

^^ Curious how we invest our egos into our cars.
Personally, I try to avoid the habit. The Prius is a wonderful machine, but truth be told my penis stays the same size no matter what car I drive.

 

Trying all those cars with no positive results must have been a frustrating experience.

 

Yes we do. But it's how so many things are sold to us. We are sold an attached image...realistic, fair or unrealistic and unfair...

But that's perhaps why I get a little defensive when people IMO cop out with the "I wouldn't of bought The Prius, it's the wifes idea"...

I mean why? It is an automobile. Are you so insecure that you can't admit to liking it? Or can't even admit that you bought it? Why do you need to default to assigning it's purchase to the significant other?

I really do think for everyone life is too short. If the OP IS really being forced by the wife into purchases he'd rather not make, or driving a automobile he'd rather not drive? Then I think some marriage counseling is in order.

 

Not frustrating at all, but I give credit to my partner and not the car. I'm pretty sure she would take offense if viewed any other way.

 

I think just because someone is an enthusiast and this is an "enthusiast" forum (which really it isn't, its open to everyone) still doesn't justify the manner in which many of us respond callously to other people. Personally, I don't believe that it creates a positive atmosphere nor does it shine brightly on the Prius community. Perhaps it is true that giving in to peer pressure is adolescent, but it doesn't mean we should be quick to judge. Plus, I believe the OP was trying to be creative in writing that.

 

Certainly...I agree. Plus I've written posts trying to be creative and had people take something seriously, that I really intended sarcastically...or simply to be taken much less serious...

I don't KNOW the poster personally....In general, I'm glad to see anyone...enter the fold and expand their horizons.

 

Welcome to Prius Chat.

In the interest of factuality though, you did edit your first post an hour and 33 minutes after you made it, not that I give a rats arse.

 

I feel where The Electric Me is coming from. I felt the same way when I read the original post. Having spent the last 20yrs drag racing high HP domestics, I am familiar with the mentality. I used to present the same kind of attitude to all imports. Almost as if they were beneath me and somehow I was better because I drove a 700+hp truck or Trans Am and their little Integra just didn't rate. I'm glad the OP stuck around because we can now see he is much cooler than the OP would have indicated.

mgrant8163, from one horespower freak to another let me welcome you to the hybrid world. It is comprised of a different kind of performance world. One which rates MPG and efficiency higher than speed and exhibition. The overall feeling of topping your best MPG tank is fairly close to the feeling you get when you top your best laptime, ET or MPH at the track. I ran an LS1/LT1 car club for a number of years and some of my friends still give me crap about selling my cars to get the Prius but I've saved over $17,000 in fuel since I bought this lil car and even they can respect that. Though they still think I left my nuts at the Toyota dealership.

As others have stated, don't sweat modding the Prius. The best mod is experience and learning how to drive efficiently. Ohh and stay away from 17's and sticky tires unless you want an instant 4-6mpg drop in MPG. I have a set of 17" Centerline wheels shod with 215/45/17 Kumhos and they drop my MPG pretty drastically. In the grand scheme of things though, it only costs about $100/yr in fuel to leave the 17's on and look good but replacing a 17" tire is about 2.5x the cost of the stock 15" tires. As such, I generally run around with my stock 15"s and LRR tires. I get more enjoyment out of the 50+mpg tanks than I do trying to look cool.

We're not so different. See this thread to learn about what Prius owners used to drive.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/77232-what-your-previous-car-4.html

 

No problem man.

Nice list of vehicles there! Except for that at 84' Vette. Crossfire Injection. EEK! lol

I hear you on the costs associated with racing. It's really pricey and a big waste of money at times. Thankfully the Prius cannot be modded too far and other than appearance mods there is not much you can do. This will save you money and the headaches that often accompany modifications.

Welcome to the forum and if you ever need help hit me up.

 

Congrats on your new Prius.

Check out your owner's manual to learn about "Hill Assist". You're sure to benefit from this feature there in San Francisco.

Happy Motoring,

Tom

 

Well as pointed out....someone edited your post.

But listen, I don't care.

In the world of anonymous posting, sometimes perceived tone can be misread. If I misread yours? Then I do appologize.

But..and this is important...newbie thread or not, I would assume anyone posting within a website called "Prius Chat", would be able to make the logical jump that it would be filled primarily with Prius Enthusiats.

In my interaction here I have found that Prius Enthusiasts themselves are a diverse group. To pigeon hole them as Tree Huggers or Extreme Enviromentalists would be a mistake. Not saying you are...just sharing an observation and opinion.

I suppose my tone was combative and became more combative within individual response to yourself and others.

I'm not afraid to tell people what I think, and I thought your attitude, for many of the reasons I already presented was, or at least initially could be perceived as poor. Your original post was pretty much a declaration that The Prius was NOT your choice, was being forced on you, and was not the type of vehicle you would normally drive or want to drive...

So I responded that I thought you need to modify your attitude.

Things de-evolved from that point.

Well it's probably too late for us to be friends. But let me say, I am glad you are here. I think someone who admits to coming from a POV that is not your typical hybrid owner, or even someone who would of probably never of been a hybrid owner, would be an opinon I would be interested in hearing long term.

I was being sincere when I said, I hope you learn to like The Prius for all that it is, as opposed to dislike it for all that it isn't.

Anyway, I don't make my communication decisions based on whether I'm making friends. Sometimes I make those decisions poorly based on odd combinations of caffeine and lack of sleep. But I'll always say what I think.

I hope you do keep posting...I'd be curious if The Prius grows on you...how you feel about it 6 months from now....

Welcome to Prius Chat.- I go now to vacuume my carpet made of recycled trash bags...

 

lol!

Man, I hate carpet.
It is al natural for me: tile, brick and wood. Let nobody dare to remind me that the wood flooring has a urethane coating, or I might have to leave their nuts at the dealership where F8L's live.

 

Did you ever remove the plastic wheel covers?

 

I removed mine the first week I had the car. If you take yours off, there are 3 common ways to plug the apx 2 inch holes that remain.

There is a standard electrical box hole plug that will cost about $4 to do the car. There are also two different Toyota center caps that fit. Basically, one is shiny with a Toyota emblem and the other is a textured finish with a Toyota emblem. I got the shiney but wish I had known about the textured. You can find the part numbers by searching older threads.

The Toyota plastic parts cost roughly $15 each. I sold my original hubcaps for $60 total, so my cheezy but good looking little center capos were "free".

You can pull the caps off without any tools. Take hold of approximately opposite plastic spokes and pull sharply away from the wheel.