Don't Believe Prius Owners Get Respect On Road

I usually stay out of the left lane to avoid this.

 

It's because most Prius drivers feel self entitlement to block the flow of traffic by driving to slow in the left
lane and never getting out of it. Or they drive to slow in the #2 lane and impede traffic flow. Now that
they've become more main stream, Prius drivers are subjected to astigmatism perceived by the motoring public.
It's called asshats. Most early Prius drivers and most current Prius drives can't figure out how to get out of the way and stay out of the passing lane. The left lane was designed for passing only. In CA, it's totally ignored and all the self empowered Prius drivers hang in the left lane until they reach their exit. Then they try to dive off at the last minute.
If you're not going with the flow of traffic, get your nice person over to the slow lane. You'll never worry about who's passing you too close or swinging back in in front of you again. They do those types of moves to try and let you know, you're in the way. MOVE ASSHATS

 

is there a video somewhere of this?

but OT : your right
i drove a sportscar before the same "slow" way i drive my prius now but in th eprius they see the car and already want to pass at a stoplight ( not even moving yet ) just to get past "that prius"

 

The asshat thing is not brand-specific. You see poseurs asshatting in the left lane just to be seen, while being unwittingly outperformed by Prii passing like Q-ships in the center and right lanes.

Drive it like you stole it. Or not. Enjoy the ride.

 

I drive home in L.A. traffic everyday. The other day I was a dude in a Dodge Ram was high beaming me because I left too much space in front of me and the car in front of me. I thought it was hilarious. Not like he was gonna able to go anywhere in that bumper to bumper traffic.

SPH-L900 ? 2

 

I think coffee plays a major role in all this ignorant driving and bad habits.
They can't wait to get to the light and jamb on the brakes So if you're not
tailgating the person in front of you, your not doing it right

 

People ride my butt regardless of my lane or speed. Whether 5mph under or 10mph over, people are desperate to be just in front of me.

 

People that tailgate will tailgate other people for no reason at all. Going home the other day in my Acura (while driving the speed limit on the right lane), I watched 4 idiots tailgating (one car length) the car in front of them (not a Prius). In all instances, the car in front was going with the "flow" (even though there is not such thing) and the lanes at either side where wide open. I get tailgated once in a while regarless of which car I drive. They eventually give up and pass me. Such tools!!!

 

People just drive funny if they do not drive like me.

 

I can see your concern. There's always a chance someone can clip your bumper when pulling around to pass.

Sometimes drivers pass me up when accelerating from a stop. Give it some time with your new Prius v.

Does it have Power Mode? Give that a try also.

 

I was referring to the drivers that drive in the left lane and never move out of it. Even when traffic
is passing them on the right. I live in CA and see it all the time. I drove a Prius until last week.
Now I drive a Ford C-Max Energi. I drove a an 08 Prius for 2 years, but never considered myself
an asshat because I use common sense and stay out of the left lane. I'm originally from Det.
and know some CheeseHeads Yes, I drive a nice Dodge diesel pickup too

 

Depends where you live I guess. I live in a Prius dense area. I don't notice prius drivers driving or being treated any different than everyone else on the road. Then again traffic doesn't move too fast around here so aggressive driving to get past a slow prius doesn't get you very far. I drive my prius v to work and back and occasionally drive the Ford F450 work truck to job sites and other than the fact of other vehicles giving you a little more room in a truck i don't notice being treated any differently.
That said, depending on my mood i find it is easier to drive slowly in my prius than in any other vehicle owing to the "lazy throttle", but if you want to move it is quite capable. I've put the pedal down a few times to make a left turn at an intersection and the michelin energy savers have a bit of trouble gripping the road.
That said i believe the average driver of a prius will generally drive slower owing to the nature of the HSD and feel of the gas pedal relative to a traditional ICE automobile.

 

I have had my Prius 3 for about 15 months now. I had to learn to deal with the road bullies.
I do keep up with the posted speed limits except on hills because it is just a waste of gas in my opinion to accelerate on a hill with a hybrid. I occasionally step on the brake on 'tail-gaters', use the slow lane as a courtesy to other drivers. I know they envy me when we meet at the pump because generally I need 4-5 gallons for for my weekly 250 mile commute.

 

Why slow down on a hill? Keep your speed up. And no one at the gas pump cares how much gas you put in the Prius.

SCH-I535 ? 2

 

You think you get no respect in your Prius? I have a Prius with a handicapped license plate. That is 2 strikes against me in the mind of most drivers. People who come up behind me feel certain I'll be driving 5-10 mph under the speed limit. Actually, I'm usually 5 OVER the limit. Since my mpg is about double what I was getting with the SUV I traded, I'm happy with the 44 mpg I'm getting.

 

Never step on the brake to deter "tail-gaters". Are you suicidal? Drive your Prius like a normal car - do not slow down on hills - and you won't piss off other drivers. Consider using the cruise control. Nobody I know "envies" the fuel economy of a Prius. You are way overestimating how much other people care.

 

The Prius v cruise control tracks speed as if on rails (like the v tracks the road).

 

I live in a very hilly and mountainous state, where people simply cannot drive uphill, but they're great at flat straightaways

There's too many weirdos out there to be intentionally PO'ing other drivers. I'll never understand those that speed up behind you on a 2-lane highway, and slow once they get on your bumper, finally passing you as if you've been deterring them. Quite an amazing feat of human psych to complete that study!

I know my driving habits have changed somewhat since I got the Prius V three months ago. But I'm still a 70/75 mph highway driver, but will never be the crazy one in the left lane zooming along in a snow storm. I'm patient with others, to a point. The left lane drivers that never pull over are always a treat, as are those that speed up when you try to pass them. But these are all just tiny moments in a lifetime, why stress?

I think over time, Prius owners have become a much more mainstream and diverse populace. I've noticed the past three years or so it's become hard to stereotype Prius drivers as it was some time before. There are crazies, aggressive, and slowpokes, just as there are in many segments of the roadways. Going out of your way to annoy others not only makes you appear aggressive and confrontational, it could just get you in trouble. Just enjoy what you have, and who cares who thinks what about you? I don't spend any time at all deriding others for what they drive, I could care less.

 

Good points. Especially agree with "much more mainstream and diverse populace". Perhaps the early gen 1 prius made less sense financially and was seen as more of an image thing to buy one, meaning "not mainstream". Nowadays with rising fuel prices and "mainstream pricing" on the Prius lineup, the only advantages the competition can come up with the downgrade the Prius is more sports car like handling and faster 0-60 times.
And with headlines like this: Top 10 most expensive cities to buy gas in North America are all in B.C. | Globalnews.ca
It makes sense why so many people drive a Prius in my neighborhood, if anywhere in North America, this place makes the most sense to drive one!
Perhaps in a few more years when gas prices rise enough where people can see the obvious financial advantage of driving a Prius, any real or perceived disrespect will subside.