Prius Backlash

[1BadPig]

Found this story today...

In Carpool Lanes, Hybrids Find Cold Shoulders
Other motorists gripe that drivers of the fuel-efficient vehicles are slowing the HOV flow.
By Amanda Covarrubias, Times Staff Writer
April 10, 2006


When California allowed solo occupants of hybrid cars to use carpool lanes last year, many thought they were merging onto a narrow strip of car culture heaven.

But increasingly, hybrid owners say they feel like the victims of road rage.

Carpoolers accuse them of driving too slowly in order to maximize their fuel efficiency, and of clogging diamond lanes that were once clear.

Hybrid motorists even have a term for the ill will: "Prius backlash."

"There's a mentality out there that we're a bunch of liberal hippies or we're trying to make some statement on the environment," said Travis Ruff, a real estate agent from Newbury Park who drives a Toyota Prius. "People are a lot less friendly than when I drove a Mercedes."

More here: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...home-headlines

[1BadPig]

I thought the advantage of hybrids are stop-n-go traffic, not highway cruising, i.e., HOV lanes?

[drew630]

hahahaha, stupid Prius drivers

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by 1BadPig

I thought the advantage of hybrids are stop-n-go traffic, not highway cruising, i.e., HOV lanes?

True. Especially if you are driving in the HOV lane in the summer running your A/C. No wonder they are slowing down to increase their fuel economy.

A Corvette can run at 60 with the A/C on and still get between 28-30 MPG. Who needs hybrids cloging the HOV lanes?

[SaabKing]

Has anyone seen one of these things get crash tested yet? I have always wondered... if it has or if it hasn't why not..

[Quickening]

Blame the local governments with that brilliant idea..

[8>4]

I dont feel sorry for them. If you act like your smarter than everyone while driving your hybrid in the carpool lane then expect some backlash.

[saturnsteve]

Screw those stupid tree huggers

[Whirling_Dervish]

Originally Posted by 8&gt

I dont feel sorry for them. If you act like your smarter than everyone while driving your hybrid in the carpool lane then expect some backlash.

How does one "act like your smarter than everyone while [b]driving your hybrid in the carpool lane"?

As a LA denizen I can tell you that if you don't haul @s$ in the HOV lanes you will get a lot of hate aimed at you.

[Whirling_Dervish]

Originally Posted by saturnsteve

Screw those stupid tree huggers

Wow.....what did a Prius driver ever do to you? Why the hate?

[8>4]

Acting like your smarter than everyone=driving a prius
Driving slow in the carpool lane=stupid

EDIT: One time at a red light an old woman in a prius shook her head at me in my dad's escalade esv. So I rolled down the window, waved, and revved the 6.0L goodness a few times. It rocked.

[Geotpf]

Originally Posted by Whirling_Dervish

How does one "act like your smarter than everyone while [b]driving your hybrid in the carpool lane"?

As a LA denizen I can tell you that if you don't haul @s$ in the HOV lanes you will get a lot of hate aimed at you.

That's probably it. They are doing sixty and people behind them want to do ninety.

In any case, I don't think HOV lanes work anyways. The only way they would work is if thier presence alone convinces people to carpool. I don't think that happens.

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by drew630

hahahaha, stupid Prius drivers

futurelistic jetsons.. It looks soo silly.. I prefer GM and Honda approach...
Just hop into an SUV like hybrid Escape or Vue and sit on the car pool lane.. instead of driving that silly futuristic buble

Originally Posted by Whirling_Dervish

Wow.....what did a Prius driver ever do to you? Why the hate?

They bought a car from the enemy.. thats a crime... Why did they not buy an escape? Why have they not traded it in yet?

"There's a mentality out there that we're a bunch of liberal hippies or we're trying to make some statement on the environment," said Travis Ruff, a real estate agent from Newbury Park who drives a Toyota Prius. "People are a lot less friendly than when I drove a Mercedes."

Hint, buy a Cadillac or a MB.. and people will not hate you.. I have seen like 90% of all prius's have a John Kerry or dean banner on the bumper.. Its not an accident.. I live in So Cal too

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by saturnsteve

Screw those stupid tree huggers

Name calling because somebody happens to be intrigued enough in the technololgy to buy one? Or because, even if it doesn't match EPA estimates, it still gets better mileage than most cars, or because they like the looks? Is it better to be someone who'd rather use more gas than anyone else and/or spend most of their income on that gas? What a stupid thing to say, treehugger. As if that's a bad thing. What's so bad about caring about the environment and/or people other than yourself?

[kenman923]

They are an explosion waiting to happen.