Sometimes I feel ashamed of my Prius

Point taken, but you do also have to take repatriation of profits into account.

In any case, the point stands that for regular cars at least, the export of the cost of manufacturing will far outweigh any fuel savings.

 

Yes, but if US consumers always picked the best vehicle for the trade deficit they'd still end up rewarding improvements in fuel economy and improvements in economy would still lead to cleaner-burning engines.

Maybe, just maybe, it'll happen in a few years, even with the domestic pressures and the Japanese economy being what it is. The USA really needs to get its rare earth mining going again. The weakened dollar combined with an available supply of materials restricted by China could help persuade them to put hybrid and EV manufacturing here.

 

Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS)

The Mississippi plant is getting back on track, this time as a Corolla assembly plant. More domestic production, just not Prius.

 

That's replacing NUMMI, I guess.

Japanese companies will want to keep the higher-priced vehicles in Japan and the pleb cars can be built everywhere else. Only the Asian markets get the Prius built in Thailand.

Toyota have started importing the Avensis into Japan from the UK, but that's a small market so isn't politically sensitive.

If the USA can provide access to key rare earths for the US-assembled cars it could persuade companies to manufacture in the USA.

 

my "billyjoe jimbob" redneck pickup driving coworker always gives me grief about driving a foreign car, then he crabs about dumping over $100 in gas to drive to San Antonio (380 mile round trip). I shake my head and say "I understand where you are coming from. It me took 6.5 gallons of gas to drive there and back" I add with a bit of a sneer. He has no retort for that. The other coworkers laugh at him and me although for different reasons.

 

Depending on the truck he drives he may not be as "Amerkin" as he thinks. Most modern trucks are only about 50%-65% American.

Made in America: Top Cars with Most North American Parts Content - WOT on Motor Trend

Top Trucks, SUVs, Vans with Most North American Parts Content - WOT on Motor Trend

 

True, and the domestic content percentages are so convoluted that you can't trust them, either. Corporate twins like Corolla/Prism or Ranger/B-series had different numbers even though they rolled off the same line.

I had a first-year Saturn sedan and I was pretty confident it had a very high domestic content, as they made an effort to have as much of the supply chain as possible in Tennessee and the USA, at least for first gen compact cars. After that, even assembled in America was no guarantee. Heck, even lots of Chryslers are assembled outside the USA these days and it's now essentially a foreign company. If we knew the real amount of money returned to North America, I suspect Ford and GM are still the best choices in general, but specific models certainly lag competitors.

Back in the 80s and 90s, Japan was taking a lot of our jobs. I was very pro-American, as the job market for engineers was tough at the time for that reason. Japan is hardly our biggest concern today. Their labor cost and regulatory environment is about the same as ours, if not worse. When we start having to compete with quality vehicles primarily manufactured and assembled in low cost of living countries, then it will be a big problem.

I bought my Japan-made Highlander Hybrid not long after the earthquake. I had absolutely no problem with that, though of course, if I could have found a similar vehicle of high domestic content, that would have been great. For example, the Chevy Traverse is built in the old Saturn plant now and has a relatively high domestic content. On the other hand, it sucks basically twice the gas around town as mine. Most gas is an import and has a lot more consequences with national security and the environment than a car made in Japan does, in my opinion.

As for the original poster's comment on safety. Prius is one of the small number of 2011 models that gets an IIHS Top Safety Pick AND an NHTSA overall 5-star rating. It's also bigger and heavier than sub-compact cars and some compact cars, too. People have a perception that Prius is a tiny Geo Metro sized car, but that is just ignorance. Other than perhaps the Chevy Cruze or Volt, I'd select the Prius [if safety was the top concern] over any sub-compact or compact vehicle and over many midsize cars, too.

 

Most folks think it's a sub-compact car. If someone you know thinks this, invite him to sit in the rear, and see how fast he changes his mind.

 

It feels wrong to post on a thread without answering the OP

Yes, you are too sensitive. You bought it because you wanted it and you still want it.

1. 
   
   Why do you own it? Tell them.
   
   What is wrong with their statements? Tell them.
   
   
   Is the Prius safe? Is their car safe? Tell them.
   
   
   Is the Prius reliable? Are hybrids reliable? Are EVs reliable? Tell them.
   
   
   Did you enjoy the power of the BMW? Would you want one? Why not? Why did you buy a Prius? Was it to save money? What do you do with the money you save by having a Prius? Tell them.
   
   I'm thinking that the power doesn't float your boat and you'd rather spend the money on something else. Tell them.
   
   

It's possible it's just your insecurity talking, but given the overall ignorance related to the Prius it's also possible that there is some reaction to you when you drive at the speed limit.

Just don't be smug or mocking about it. Different strokes.

"It means I only spend $100/month for gas. I'd rather spend the money on [whatever you like to spend it on] instead[ of giving it to oil companies/other countries]."

It's not surprising. It can be hard to remain confident in your decisions when many other people are telling you otherwise, especially if you don't have much confidence in your decision.

I haven't had anybody criticizing, but I'm in a place where Priuses are quite common (although not at my workplace, mine's the only one).

It is an abnormal car. It's just not subnormal.

 

Texas is known as a state that does everything big, and we have lots of trucks and SUVs. It extends to Houston, even though it's quite metropolitan. Today, when I went out to my car, my neighbor, who's never talked to me, was out dealing with his truck (f-150?), and he said, "hey, you got a new car! It's nice!" I got the same at a drive-thru I've been to several times. Maybe it helps that it has leather and all the toys, I don't know.

I know the car's reputation as well as anyone and would never see it as powerful or "macho" because it isn't, at least if one defines macho as a fast, loud muscle car. I have fun with irony with it, though, like joking about getting flames down the sides or being "gangsta." There's a middle ground somewhere between being ashamed of it and being smug, and that's what you need to find. Why let other people get to you? It cuts both ways, anyway. When muscle cars go vrooming by, nearly taking out windows with their bass, I think the person's a jerk and trying to make up for "inadequacy." so you could go that route and have your friends think you're a man and everyone else think you're compensating and a huge a-hole. Or drive what makes you happy and tell those who disagree to bugger off.

 

If I were made fun of or asked why I drove one.. I think the best response I could possibly give without sounding smug would be "it's just a good daily driver."

I don't think anyone can fault someone for being practical. Unless they are just crazy.

 

Why are you so worried about what othere think? If you like it, isn't thta all that should matter?

 

I drive this thing on to muddy construction sites every day, and I may be sick but I LOVE it when some jack-off with a lifted F-350 flips me crap about my car.

Just ask them if their huge stupid truck has the "Penile Overcompensation Package" and give them the bird as you walk away. Ask the guy with the 5 series how he likes knowing his car is going to fall apart after 100,000 miles, then tell him to go **** himself. They may not like you car but they will respect YOU. My car has been a source of many a joke on a jobsites but at the end of the day, who gives a crap? Unless you are insecure in your manhood you really have nothing to worry about.

I even have a few converts. Two co-workers have picked up used Priuses after asking me about them.

This thread and others like it leave me scratching my head.. If you like a car, buy it, and tell everyone who doesn't that unless they are paying your payment, insurance, and gas, to go get a broom stick and ride it. Girls don't like you because of your car, but it seems real important to dudes.... That being said its nice having the trump card of a 146hp motorcycle in my garage if anyone really feels like getting froggy.

 

Why ashamed? I'm not. For points 2 and 3, that's the type of crazy garbage that unfortunately still lives on. You can add that crap to http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...information-anti-hybrid-anti-prius-folks.html.

I got so tired of hearing the myths and misinformation that I educated myself on them and the "truth" behind them so that I have a reply.

 

During the days of the brakes FUD, a fellow physician joked that the Prius is a good car until you want to stop. I told him the car is specially made so the driver can put a foot on the road. He was happily smug that he had found another basher, until he saw my car in the lot and realized I was mocking him. No more comments after that.

 

It doesn't matter how intelligent your argument is. Any points you make that praise the Prius will always come out as being smug.

I've explained to my coworkers that people modify their cars to go fast, ride high and eye catching all have feelings of natural high when they're driving in their cars. People spend thousands on big nice person rims not because they like the ride quality. They did it so that they can say "yeah, look at me, I'm rolling in 32"s I shit out Benjamins" Meanwhile, I as a pedestrian, say "Damn, that's about the ugliest piece of shit Hummer I've ever seen. What a waste of money. Poor hummer, that's vehicle abuse. I should report him to the DMV"

I get the same kind of high when I got 175mpg on a 12 mile trip home from work. There's a high that this car give when you're driving it that other people won't get. Since they don't get it, they talk shit about it.

There's a guy at my work with a Mustang that runs low 11's. I park next to him whenever I get the chance to. It just seem ironic the 2 are parked next to each other.

To the OP

2 friends at my work have been making fun of my Prius because of various attributes of the car. One says it is only for the Sierra club environmental wackos, and the other says that I lose a few man-points for owning it

1 - What the hell is Sierra Club? And is it a club only wackos who can join?
2 - I may loose some man points but least I'm not trying to make them up with a vehicle that symbolizes "Look everybody I got a small weenie"

Another co-worker said the other day: "You ride to work in that little thing? You could get killed in a wreck..."

It has 7 airbags to protect me and it knows when I'm about to crash and brakes for me if I failed to, can your car do that?

When I was entering the building at work one morning a girl said "Oh, those battery-cars are so unreliable. I would hate to be stuck somewhere when the battery died."

Ask if she has any experience with battery cars. What she kept in her night dresser doesn't count. Tell her that battery dies because she didn't plug it in to charge it. Whose fault is that? It goes to show how little she knows about the Prius. It's not a battery car. It uses gas like her hummer. Ask her if she knowingly drive her car on empty without putting gas. Tell her that you put gas once a month for half the cost of her gas.

My friend with the BMW 5 series is very smug about how much more power he has. I went to lunch with him and he showed off the power of his BMW.

Tell him if it's not M5 then it's junk. keep using the word "Junk"..... this junk gets how many miles per gallon? This didn't come with launch control? What a POS and you paid how much?

I also get the constant "monster truck" or sports car that tailgates me at a light and then zooms ahead. I usually see them later at the same place in line at a light.

Have a sign ready that says "Out of gas. At least I'm not pushing it" handy

 

Blimey, with friends like that who needs enemies.

What a bunch of shallow losers. Perhaps you should return the favour and poke fun at their hair, or their clothing next time you see them? Though I wouldn't lower myself to doing so. Sure the Prius isn't for everybody but neither is a BMW.

I wouldn't even bother trying to sell them the positives of Prius ownership other than maybe a knowing grin next time they complain about the cost of gas?

 

As others have pointed out, you have broken the cardinal rule of not letting anyone know they can pull your chain by making such dumb comments. "Never let them see you sweat"

I have a neighbor that keeps asking me if I have all of my recalls completed on my Prius, more than a year after the media frenzy. He aslo asked me if my Prius had a larger engine than my riding lawnmower

He is a good friend and I was a little puzzled as to his continued comments until I walked past his driveway and realized he had a Honda Pilot and an Accura. He was just playing the Honda versus Toyota game with me.

You just need to figure out what their motives are and then come back at them with something better.

 

Anyone who uses the term "environmental wackos" cannot be trusted nor are they worth listening to. Their heads are filled with so much political propaganda I don't think they could accurately separate truth from fiction. You can thank Newt Gingrich for this.

cproaudio summed it up for me.

People think I'm nuts because I sold the Corvette and 800 hp truck for the Prius. I just smile and laugh. They will never understand.

 

This thread reminds me of this one, http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii-2010-prius-main-forum/92961-how-make-prius-less-girls-car.html