Do Prius Owners Hate People with Big Cars?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Aeron @ Sep 9 2007, 01:30 AM) [snapback]509427[/snapback]</div>

Aeron,

Your denounciation of the Toyota Prius is rather humorous, considering that your car looks like a family sedan.

Yes, I know you have it souped up and customized so it has 402 HP, but let's face it-- it looks nothing like a hot sports car either. A family sedan will NEVER look anything like a Ferrari, Porsche, or even a Mustang, no matter how many wings and spoilers you tack onto it.

Reminds me of a pot calling a kettle black, don't know why.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Aeron @ Sep 3 2007, 04:06 AM) [snapback]509427[/snapback]</div>

Saying that the Prius uses "a bit less fuel" is an understatement of absurd magnitude. I'm being generous if I estimate your 402 HP customized family sedan gets 20 USMPG under normal driving conditions. That's more than TWICE the fuel used by a Prius, which by the way can handle 70mph on the highway easily-- Plenty fast for normal driving conditions.

I never owned a Camry so I won't presume to judge those who do (not sure if you owned one or not). But by all accounts here in the U.S. at least, where the Camry is pretty much the best-selling family sedan for the past decade, it has been a reliable car that suits the needs of many people. Yeah, I don't care for the looks of the Camry either (or any "riced-up" family sedans for that matter, including yours), but if they sold a few million of those things with many happy repeat customers, I acknowledge that Toyota must have built something right.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Aeron @ Sep 9 2007, 10:53 PM) [snapback]509903[/snapback]</div>

I think the Camry looks better than your Holden/GTO.

I figured you'd enjoy these videos of my friends GTO.

1/4 mile run on spray

Heating up the tires

He autocrosses it too... Well when you get him to stop doing donuts. haha

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JustLurkin @ Sep 10 2007, 09:40 AM) [snapback]509795[/snapback]</div>

It may look like a family car, but it is one of the few cars to hold; rally, production and touring car championships. Not many Fezza's, Porsche's or Mustangs can boast the same. Off the factory line its a car which is capable of 650,000 miles in harsh conditions.

Also the 2010 Mustang will be built on the same platform as the car you call "A family sedan that will NEVER look like a mustang" :lol:

 

If you hate people simply because they drive large cars, then you are a fool.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Swanny1172 @ Sep 11 2007, 07:29 AM) [snapback]510528[/snapback]</div>

If Mr. Spock was to dissect the "logic" of this statement...

<blockquote>- Lots of people are driving vehicles considerably bigger than their needs (i.e. gratification)
- It depleates scarce supplies of energy
- It hurts the American trade balance
- It harms the enviroment</blockquote>
therefore, I (and other likeminded people) are fools to hate harmful actions, just like slavery, human rights violations, terrorism, etc.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Aeron @ Sep 9 2007, 10:53 PM) [snapback]509903[/snapback]</div>

I'm not Galaxee, to whom you are addressing this, but I'm highly offended at this.
This is a Prius chat board. You came onto OUR turf, and are picking squabbles over OUR choice of vehicles.
Now, you are being insulting to people that are well-known and -loved on this board.
Get over yourself.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Aeron @ Sep 12 2007, 03:22 AM) [snapback]511143[/snapback]</div>

Aeron,

Your response there was insulting. You are welcome to join in our discussion (and anyone here is welcoming to ignore you, as well), but I think you would be better received if you were willing to acknowledge that those of us posting responses here do not have the views and values you have assumed and assigned to us. We have not each bought a car simply to take us from one spot to the next at the lowest cost. If you understand and acknowledge that, then please say so and stop the references to wrong choices about economies.

Are you spoiled? How am I to know? I'll offer this observation: It doesn't take an excess of wealth to be spoiled. An excess of any other venality will do. Search yourself for the answer to that question. (I, for one, don't have to spend much time to find I'm spoiled because of the place and condition of my birth and the fact that I take pride in things I've not even created.)

Do you need to get over yourself? Well, I haven't met you, but from reading your posts, it appears you have been able to accumulate vast knowledge at a young age that allows you to determine which people make better cars, which people make worse drivers, what matters are worth considering in automotive appearance and "performance" . . . Well, I suppose you get my drift. If you are offended at this, I am sorry. I have a worldview that appears to differ from yours (well, at least as far as valuing cars, natural resources and conservation, that is ), and I am hoping you will take a moment to see things from my perspective.

The essense of your earlier posts was that many of us Prius owners should simply get over ourselves. Fine, you've had your say on that point. You've even entered into some good discussion with several people. Unfortunately, I do not get the impression you are willing to even acknowledge or give credence to an alternative way to value and evaluate the purchase and use of cars.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Aeron @ Sep 12 2007, 03:22 AM) [snapback]511143[/snapback]</div>

Aeron,

Your response there was insulting. You are welcome to join in our discussion (and anyone here is welcoming to ignore you, as well), but I think you would be better received if you were willing to acknowledge that those of us posting responses here do not have the views and values you have assumed and assigned to us. We have not each bought a car simply to take us from one spot to the next at the lowest cost. If you understand and acknowledge that, then please say so and stop the references to wrong choices about economies.

Are you spoiled? How am I to know? I'll offer this observation: It doesn't take an excess of wealth to be spoiled. An excess of any other venality will do. Search yourself for the answer to that question. (I, for one, don't have to spend much time to find I'm spoiled because of the place and condition of my birth and the fact that I take pride in things I've not even created.)

Do you need to get over yourself? Well, I haven't met you, but from reading your posts, it appears you have been able to accumulate vast knowledge at a young age that allows you to determine which people make better cars, which people make worse drivers, what matters are worth considering in automotive appearance and "performance" . . . Well, I suppose you get my drift. If you are offended at this, I am sorry. I have a worldview that appears to differ from yours (well, at least as far as valuing cars, natural resources and conservation, that is ), and I am hoping you will take a moment to see things from my perspective.

The essense of your earlier posts was that many of us Prius owners should simply get over ourselves. Fine, you've had your say on that point. You've even entered into some good discussion with several people. Unfortunately, I do not get the impression you are willing to even acknowledge or give credence to an alternative way to value and evaluate the purchase and use of cars.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Aeron @ Sep 10 2007, 12:53 AM) [snapback]509903[/snapback]</div>

Here's where I'm going with this, Aeron: Low running costs aren't my highest priority either. I put great value on conserving energy, cutting down on pollution, giving the people around me an opportunity to breathe cleaner air. All of this is informed by my values. Don't assume to know my priorities and values just because I own and drive a Prius. My value system and priorities may just as likely differ from those of other Prius drivers as they differ from yours. Still, many other Prius owners share the values I've just noted. So, to you, Aeron: What is your highest priority? Certainly in the choices you make, day-to-day, you give consideration to other people above yourself. No doubt you are, as am I, inclined to favor yourself over others. Under what conditions do you set that aside and act differently?

Am I preachy? Probably. Am I offensive? If I don't offend some, then I hold nothing dear and won't object to actions that offend and hurt others.

If you want to converse in this forum, please be willing to see things from a different perspective.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Aeron @ Sep 10 2007, 12:53 AM) [snapback]509903[/snapback]</div>

Here's where I'm going with this, Aeron: Low running costs aren't my highest priority either. I put great value on conserving energy, cutting down on pollution, giving the people around me an opportunity to breathe cleaner air. All of this is informed by my values. Don't assume to know my priorities and values just because I own and drive a Prius. My value system and priorities may just as likely differ from those of other Prius drivers as they differ from yours. Still, many other Prius owners share the values I've just noted. So, to you, Aeron: What is your highest priority? Certainly in the choices you make, day-to-day, you give consideration to other people above yourself. No doubt you are, as am I, inclined to favor yourself over others. Under what conditions do you set that aside and act differently?

Am I preachy? Probably. Am I offensive? If I don't offend some, then I hold nothing dear and won't object to actions that offend and hurt others.

If you want to converse in this forum, please be willing to see things from a different perspective.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Sep 11 2007, 04:13 PM) [snapback]510764[/snapback]</div>

How does the Kool-Aid taste?

Let me ask you this, do you hate people because of the color of their skin? Or their religion? These aren't any different that judging them by their car.

If you actually hate someone simply based on what kind of car they drive, you need serious psychological help!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Delta Flyer @ Sep 11 2007, 04:13 PM) [snapback]510764[/snapback]</div>

How does the Kool-Aid taste?

Let me ask you this, do you hate people because of the color of their skin? Or their religion? These aren't any different that judging them by their car.

If you actually hate someone simply based on what kind of car they drive, you need serious psychological help!

 

I think that rather than enter the argument some of us have been sucked into, I'd simply answer the question. I don't necessarily hate big cars. Few things bring a smile to my face than some of the big, old American cars that some of us (not all of us) decry as dinosaurs. The first model car my dad built for me was a '67 Impala SS427, and that has strongly influenced my tastes in automotive design.

I'm not surprised by some references to a Prius as a high performance car. First of all, compared to the Chrysler Sebring I drove previously, the suspension tuning of the Prius is actually rather firm. When I took my dad to pick up his Oldsmobile after I bought the Prius, he complained frequently about the ride. The handling is actually quite good considering the tires that this car has. With the electric motor, I've caught a surprising number of drivers of faster cars and beaten them across the intersection (after that, it's all over, alas). Still, fuel efficiency is a new performance frontier to be pursued. After all, how much faster can we make a street car? The best ones actually accelerate over 1g from a standing start.

As for transportation at the lowest cost, the Prius simply isn't it. I could have bought any number of cars that made more financial sense. I could have bought a Yaris, and the difference in the payment would have covered the cost of the extra fuel, or even something more likely given my usual tastes, a Pontiac G5 would be cheaper overall. The Prius is an indulgence of sorts for me. It would have been something high tech (the Prius), or something high performance in the traditional sense (I was looking at a modded GTO). Concern over fuel prices, abuser fees in Virginia (and applicable only to Virginian drivers), and the fact that I was already impatient over slower drivers in my Sebring and the GTO would only have added a ton of fuel to that fire sealed the deal on the Prius. The GTO was everything I thought it would be, and more, but my priorities lay elsewhere at the moment.

I don't judge what people need in the way of a car, because the Prius is actually larger than I need. If Toyota had put the HSD in a car like the Insight, or if Ford had decided to produce the Reflex concept car, that would have hit the nail on the head. So I have not a lot of space to judge on others needs.

I sometimes question the idea of those who buy big trucks to make up for other shortfalls. The first and perhaps largest reason is that my mom bought a pickup truck when I was nine (this was in '72), and don't associate big pickup trucks with masculinity. She bought hers when she became tired of hauling hay for our horses in a '63 Bel Air station wagon, filling up the car and stacking a layer or two of bales on the roof.

Aeron, you made a different decision than the one I made given a similar choice. At one time, I had a chance on a very sweet deal on a '72 Dodge Charger with a 440, and passed on it, because I didn't want to spend all my money on gas. Of course, your definition of not a lot of money and mine must be different, as I was working at a fast food restaurant at the time.

One thing, though. F8L, can your friend with the GTO spell Mississippi in tire rubber?

 

I think that rather than enter the argument some of us have been sucked into, I'd simply answer the question. I don't necessarily hate big cars. Few things bring a smile to my face than some of the big, old American cars that some of us (not all of us) decry as dinosaurs. The first model car my dad built for me was a '67 Impala SS427, and that has strongly influenced my tastes in automotive design.

I'm not surprised by some references to a Prius as a high performance car. First of all, compared to the Chrysler Sebring I drove previously, the suspension tuning of the Prius is actually rather firm. When I took my dad to pick up his Oldsmobile after I bought the Prius, he complained frequently about the ride. The handling is actually quite good considering the tires that this car has. With the electric motor, I've caught a surprising number of drivers of faster cars and beaten them across the intersection (after that, it's all over, alas). Still, fuel efficiency is a new performance frontier to be pursued. After all, how much faster can we make a street car? The best ones actually accelerate over 1g from a standing start.

As for transportation at the lowest cost, the Prius simply isn't it. I could have bought any number of cars that made more financial sense. I could have bought a Yaris, and the difference in the payment would have covered the cost of the extra fuel, or even something more likely given my usual tastes, a Pontiac G5 would be cheaper overall. The Prius is an indulgence of sorts for me. It would have been something high tech (the Prius), or something high performance in the traditional sense (I was looking at a modded GTO). Concern over fuel prices, abuser fees in Virginia (and applicable only to Virginian drivers), and the fact that I was already impatient over slower drivers in my Sebring and the GTO would only have added a ton of fuel to that fire sealed the deal on the Prius. The GTO was everything I thought it would be, and more, but my priorities lay elsewhere at the moment.

I don't judge what people need in the way of a car, because the Prius is actually larger than I need. If Toyota had put the HSD in a car like the Insight, or if Ford had decided to produce the Reflex concept car, that would have hit the nail on the head. So I have not a lot of space to judge on others needs.

I sometimes question the idea of those who buy big trucks to make up for other shortfalls. The first and perhaps largest reason is that my mom bought a pickup truck when I was nine (this was in '72), and don't associate big pickup trucks with masculinity. She bought hers when she became tired of hauling hay for our horses in a '63 Bel Air station wagon, filling up the car and stacking a layer or two of bales on the roof.

Aeron, you made a different decision than the one I made given a similar choice. At one time, I had a chance on a very sweet deal on a '72 Dodge Charger with a 440, and passed on it, because I didn't want to spend all my money on gas. Of course, your definition of not a lot of money and mine must be different, as I was working at a fast food restaurant at the time.

One thing, though. F8L, can your friend with the GTO spell Mississippi in tire rubber?