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Everyone behind me hates me

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by frame2finishny, Sep 6, 2007.

  1. frame2finishny

    frame2finishny New Member

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    Ever since i got my prius i been curst at giving the middle finger had my car spit on and ect.. Why are people in such a rush to get to the red light frist. Has this happend to anyone else.
     
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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  3. Sonny Jim

    Sonny Jim New Member

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  4. abq sfr

    abq sfr New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(frame2finishny @ Sep 6 2007, 09:06 PM) [snapback]508319[/snapback]</div>
    Me neither.
     
  5. jwe8f

    jwe8f New Member

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    Not me either... Not once. I have had people pass me if I go the speed limit, but that's about it!
     
  6. a priori

    a priori Canonus Curiosus

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    I've seen some big bumpers rather filling the rear-view mirror, and I've received a couple of nasty glances, but I don't think it has been any more than when I was driving my gas-only car. I've always been kind of a speed limit driver and one who tries to anticipate lights and move with (not through) traffic. I try to wave back using two or more fingers. B)
     
  7. arolf

    arolf New Member

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    hmmm... haven't had any fingers either =)
     
  8. samiam

    samiam Antipodean Prius Poster

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    None shown here either.
    In fact lots of smiles, probably 'cause they don't have as many bad fumes to breathe
     
  9. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    Nope never. I coast as far as I can to red lights but I don't hold up traffic, most learn if they stay behind me they get a smooth run without stopping. I drove like this when I was driving the Camry.
     
  10. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    When there are cars behind me such as rush hour, I tend to stop doing the hypermiling techniques and go with traffic. When I really want to try for mileage, I will pull all the way over as far as possible and the car(s) behind will pass when clear. I have pulled off the road completely to allow cars to pass. So far, no one to whom I have shown this consideration has been rude about it.
     
  11. PriusOwner004

    PriusOwner004 New Member

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    Never.

    Note, the guy is from New York... I think that explains the other drivers' attitudes. I used to live in NY and if you don't drive exactly like everyone else, you will be subjected to lots of harassment, including being shot at.

    Now, I realize why this New Yorker I met a few months ago is averaging 38 mpg. You just have to drive it like it's a race car over there, otherwise.. well read what the OP says...
     
  12. priusFTW

    priusFTW Gen III JBL non Nav

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  13. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    Not any more than with any other car I've owned. Once in a blue moon I'll get someone who is going crazy because the traffic is driving the speed limit, but it's a rare thing.

    Tom
     
  14. judymcfarland

    judymcfarland Queen of Moral Indignation

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    I'm with Tony on this one - don't try hypermiling in heavy traffic. Never had a negative reaction.
    But where in NY? It's a big state & drivers/attitudes vary widely.
     
  15. gazz

    gazz Member

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    No problem where I live.
     
  16. Ichabod

    Ichabod Artist In Residence

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    I've also never felt hate from other drivers that I wouldn't have gotten if I were driving a different car.

    I've gotten waves from a few, and I've been approached in parking lots by people with questions about the car. They're usually still friendly half an hour later, after I finish my rant about how much I love driving it! :D
     
  17. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(frame2finishny @ Sep 6 2007, 08:06 PM) [snapback]508319[/snapback]</div>
    Your comment about other drivers being "in such a rush to get to the red light" makes me suspect that you are "gliding" a lot. There is a saying, that "everyone who drives faster than me is a maniac and everyone who drives slower than me is an idiot." If you are driving pulse-and-glide or doing long slow coasting in traffic, you will make some people angry.

    The MFD gets a lot of Prius drivers going to extreme lengths to post high mpg numbers. This is odd, because in terms of actual gallons of gas saved, extremely conservative driving saves less gas in a Prius than it would in a conventional car. For some reason, driving a car that burns half as much gas as any other makes some people want to burn even less yet. But what's worth noting, is that coasting in traffic saves you gas, but causes the cars behind you to burn more gas.

    And one final note: While most of the time driving slowly will get you where you're going at the same time, there will be a small but finite percentage of the times when it causes you (or the car behind you!) to miss a green light and be held back. You may not care, but when this happens, you (and the car behind you!) loose a minute or two. Small, yes, but this kind of driving does cost cars behind you time.

    Be courteous: If there are cars behind you, drive with the flow of traffic where safe. Use your P&G and/or coasting to lights when there's nobody behind you.

    And to answer your question, I've never had negative or angry signals from other drivers. Most people see the Prius as just another car. Now, when I drive my Xebra (which is almost always) I get tons of positive reactions, and it's a lot slower than my Prius is. The Xebra will not work for everyone, but if 40 mph and a 40-mile range (with added batteries) will work for you, consider switching. Then you'll really see happy faces looking at you. (And curious ones as well.)
     
  18. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    How long have you had your Prius? Interesting 1st post. What part of NY are you driving in. If down town, why not take the subway, and see if the folks in the car behind you are doing it. It may be unrelated to the Prius :p
     
  19. MegansPrius

    MegansPrius GoogleMeister, AKA bongokitty

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    I also have never had negative reactions from other drivers specific to the Prius. The same idiots in SUVs or beaters will still zoom up and tailgate just like they did when I drove a Subaru Outback; I don't even need to pulse and glide to elicit this behavior--evidently these sorts of tailgaters suffer from some kind of separation anxiety. ;)

    We have had friendly inquiries from people (a neighbor when parking and a cop who pulled alongside) regarding what kind of mileage we get and whether we like the car.
     
  20. Chuck.

    Chuck. Former Honda Enzyte Driver

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    I've had nasty tailgaters, but I've gotten rid of at least 95% of them by doing one thing:

    Turn on the emergency flashers as they approach.


    Then generally "get it" and pass - I'm happy - they are happy.