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Do you look for slower vehicles and follow them on the highway?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Fuel Economy' started by burritos, Jan 7, 2010.

  1. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    yes terrible
    there really needs to be some bigscreen with a live entertianmet channel on the back of those trucks. to entertain prius drivers:D
     
  2. icarus

    icarus Senior Member

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    Indeed a hazard. Gotta watch the gravel. Like I said, not for the faint of heart. Much easier to be 20' behind 105,000lbs from the seat of another tractor!
     
  3. sdleo726

    sdleo726 New Member

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    To some, driving (and to some speeding as well) is an emotional experience, to be one with the car and the road, music playing, wind in your hair, etc. And I for one don't want to spoil it following a bunch of tortoises.
     
  4. Fstr911

    Fstr911 Member

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    I prefer passing anything driving slow including the Prius.

    My Prius feels comfortable to drive and prefers the left lane on the highway.
    Of course, my valentine one radar detector is used only as a reminder that we have well equipped highway troopers and I would never attempt to exceed the legal speed limit.

    Driving this way I still get incredible MPG compared to my other cars.
     
  5. sdleo726

    sdleo726 New Member

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    real men don't drive with radar detectors :p
    (jk)
     
  6. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    I was thinking more along the lines of a dashboard mounted projector in my car. That way, I can decide what to watch.
     
  7. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    It's not just flying gravel you need to worry about. My Uncle tells the harrowing story of following a large truck on a twisty mountain road (which most of them are, around here) and seeing a moose suddenly emerge from under the rear wheels of the truck. There was no chance to swerve around it, or even nail the brakes. Whether he had to change his pants right then, or after his little truck landed, he didn't say.
     
  8. Randall Rash

    Randall Rash Member

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    Mythbusters determined that a chunk of rubber from a truck tire is very heavy and can come through the windshield at only 40 MPH, and we have all seen the hunks of rubber beside the road. I also sometimes follow big rigs but get bored because they block a big chunk of the forward view.
     
  9. Flying White Dutchman

    Flying White Dutchman Senior Member

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    maybe thats what toyota was thinking about with the gen 3 prius and the HUD...
    :D you can project your MPG on the truck for all to see:cool:
     
  10. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    After so much time out in the fresh air on two wheels, sitting behind a windshield already feels like sitting in front of the TV. Damn, where's that remote? Summer channel, please. :cool:
     
  11. Chuck.

    Chuck. Former Honda Enzyte Driver

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    This past week, a good friend of mine was riding with his daughter, who is just learning to drive....even has the "STUDENT DRIVER" sticker on it. He was annoyed about the way some passed his daughter, then realized that could have been him. :eek:

    I not only see fast drivers, but those that also turn it into an epitet.

    Think about the message you send to others on the road.
     
  12. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    I'm one of those annoying drivers that likes to drive the speed limit. When highway speed is 60 mph, my cruise is set to 62 or 63 (% differential due to tire size difference - DH did the timer thing with mile markers to figure it out for me), and I try to not have to turn off the cruise for most of the way.

    I pass a few cars on the way, and I'm passed by more cars. I figure if more cars are passing me than I'm passing, I'm doing okay.
     
  13. icarus

    icarus Senior Member

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    I saw a softball sized stone that was wedged between the duals of a dump truck get thrown through the windshield of the car behind. 1' to the left and it would have killed the driver, 2' to the right and it would have killed the passenger!

    In fact, it really isn't safe to draft that close, but it is hard to resist the temptation.
     
  14. KK6PD

    KK6PD _ . _ . / _ _ . _

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    Well a little off topic, but my wife, Ya gotta love her, as adapted the "Maverick Lock On Target Mode" school of driving.
    There could be only 1 other car in front of her, on a 5 lane Freeway, and she will invariably pull in behind the other car, truck, UFO, whatever, stay behind about 20 car legnths or so and that's it she's LOCKED ON TARGET.
    I have given up trying to figure it out.. I just keep saying, when it's night, why are shining your lights into that poor fools mirror. During the day, I casually mention, hey pull over 1 lane, the scenery is better over here...

    Go figure. If any of you see a Silver Toyota Solara behind you, and you diving LA Freeways, and your the only 2 cars on that section of Freeway, it's probably my wife...
     
  15. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Way back when truckers were the safest drivers on the road, and their rigs were impeccably maintained, I'd trust them with my life. If they signalled that is was safe to pass on a winding two lane road, I'd twist the throttle and go. These days, when the truckers are forced to work dangerously long hours and maintenance is seen as a cost instead of an investment, I try to stay away from them.
     
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