Smug, breaking the stereotype

[KIAman]

$20k is expensive?

For an econo-car, yup.

 

[jlee]

$23k is expensive?

The $20k cars are basically the cheapest cars I would consider. The under $20k is just plastic junk boxes. Unless you're living on welfare, stretching another $2 or $3k across a few payments should be peanuts.

You missed my post, I take it?

 

[MJinZ]

For an econo-car, yup.

The Prius is definitely not an econo-car.

 

[MJinZ]

You missed my post, I take it?

Yup, not sure why? It has a low base price of $23k.

 

[Perknose]

I know a bunch of people who own either the Civic sedan based Honda hybrid or a Prius. I've ridden in four of them -- two Civics and a Prius owned by women and one Prius owned by a guy.

My experiences:

Prius owned by female: Went with her to NYC to a concert. She heedlessly drove like a fucking banshee, Hitting 85 on I-95, and repeatedly punching that accelerator with mad glee.

Civics owned by females (2) -- Ridden in locally. For would be saviors of the planet, both are terrible, terrible drivers, by my lights -- up and down on the gas pedal with zero rhyme or reason, accelerating up to stop signs and red lights, that sort of mindless stupidity.

Prius owned by a guy -- Local trip. Unostentatiously drove like a guy with a clue.

Sigh. It takes all kinds. That said, I think the hate for the Prius here is all out of proportion. There is a TON of cool tech in that machine, and hypermiling CAN be a manly pursuit, guys.

You all who would drop an extra $3,000 in a heartbeat for the nav/leather/sunroof option whining endlessly that a purchaser may or may not earn back THEIR price differential on a hybrid in 'X' number of years just seem transparently foolish to me.

 

[KIAman]

The Prius is definitely not an econo-car.

What is it? Definately not a sport sedan. Not a family sedan. Not a compact sedan. Not a truck, not a SUV, not a luxury sedan, not a crossover, not a ricer. It is a car with a hybrid powertrain that sells MPG.

 

[MJinZ]

What is it? Definately not a sport sedan. Not a family sedan. Not a compact sedan. Not a truck, not a SUV, not a luxury sedan, not a crossover, not a ricer. It is a car with a hybrid powertrain that sells MPG.

It's a decently equipped mid-range hybrid hatchback. Like you can not call a Subaru an econo-car or econo-wagon, the Prius isn't either.

 

[MJinZ]

I know a bunch of people who own either the Civic sedan based Honda hybrid or a Prius. I've ridden in four of them -- two Civics and a Prius owned by women and one Prius owned by a guy.

My experiences:

Prius owned by female: Went with her to NYC to a concert. She heedlessly drove like a fucking banshee, Hitting 85 on I-95, and repeatedly punching that accelerator with mad glee.

Civics owned by females (2) -- Ridden in locally. For would be saviors of the planet, both are terrible, terrible drivers, by my lights -- up and down on the gas pedal with zero rhyme or reason, accelerating up to stop signs and red lights, that sort of mindless stupidity.

Prius owned by a guy -- Local trip. Unostentatiously drove like a guy with a clue.

Sigh. It takes all kinds. That said, I think the hate for the Prius here is all out of proportion. There is a TON of cool tech in that machine, and hypermiling CAN be a manly pursuit, guys.

You all who would drop an extra $3,000 in a heartbeat for the nav/leather/sunroof option whining endlessly that a purchaser may or may not earn back THEIR price differential on a hybrid in 'X' number of years just seem transparently foolish to me.

I really don't mind the Prius. I've driven plenty of CVT hybrids in Zipcars and I can see their appeal. I imagine that it feels pretty good when $ $ is not leaking out the exhaust when I'm stuck in traffic.

The Prius is way too ugly though to realistically consider.

 

[TraumaRN]

I really don't mind the Prius. I've driven plenty of CVT hybrids in Zipcars and I can see their appeal. I imagine that it feels pretty good when $ $ is not leaking out the exhaust when I'm stuck in traffic.

The Prius is way too ugly though to realistically consider.

Definitely agree with you on that.

 

[Perknose]

It's funny too, because they get their nose up in the air and act all smug and try to out accelerate you, completely defeating their own cause and tripping over their e-peen at the same time.

Their e-peen?

YOU are going so far out of you way to be a donkey butt to complete strangers you HAVE to be compensating for a dick so small even Lady GaGa and her gender-non-specific protrusion has you completely outmanned and outsized -- leaving you alone and slumped by the still-bleching fartcan on your riced yet rusty Canyonero, crying carbon-stained tears of bitter regret while clutching that tragically useless bottle of extenze you so hopefully ordered, giblet balls boy!

I keed, I keed, but seriously, Do0d, if you truly act that way IRL, you're an ass, plain and simple, and like any asshole, nothing comes out of you but fecal matter and foul smells.

 

[KIAman]

It's a decently equipped mid-range hybrid hatchback. Like you can not call a Subaru an econo-car or econo-wagon, the Prius isn't either.

Then it's in a class all of its own. Further the smug factor. Subaru is an entire manufacturer, just like you can't call toyota an econo-car. Fail.


Wife - "Honey, what kind of car should we buy?"
Hubby - "Umm... I'm looking for a decently equipped mid-range hybrid hatchback."
Wife - "So... you want the Prius?"
Hubby - "No, I didn't say that, not something that ugly."
Wife - "Mmmmkay..."

 

[MJinZ]

Then it's in a class all of its own. Further the smug factor. Subaru is an entire manufacturer, just like you can't call toyota an econo-car. Fail.


Wife - "Honey, what kind of car should we buy?"
Hubby - "Umm... I'm looking for a decently equipped mid-range hybrid hatchback."
Wife - "So... you want the Prius?"
Hubby - "No, I didn't say that, not something that ugly."
Wife - "Mmmmkay..."

There are other hybrid hatches. And if you don't want the hatch, you can get other four doors in the same price range, Fusion Hybrid, Altima Hybrid, Camry Hybrid etc etc.

It's really not a specialized niche anymore, though it very much used to be a "Prius" category.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Then it's in a class all of its own. Further the smug factor. Subaru is an entire manufacturer, just like you can't call toyota an econo-car. Fail.

Toyota makes an economy car. It is called the Yaris. The Prius is pretty much in its own class IMO. The only other car in that category is the new Honda Insight and the Civic Hybrid.

The reason the Prius doesn't fit the econo-car definition is because economy cars are generally very small no frills cars with very few options. The Prius can seat 5 adults comfortably, has a decent size trunk, it comes standard with power windows, door locks, and air conditioner, and can be had with NAV and leather interior.

The Yaris has a power option package but can be had with hand crank windows and manual lock doors. Leather is not an option nor is a NAV system. That is the definition of an econo-car. Throw the sport package and power package on a Yaris and you're up over $18,000. That's only $4k away from the base model Prius.

 

[jlee]

Toyota makes an economy car. It is called the Yaris. The Prius is pretty much in its own class IMO. The only other car in that category is the new Honda Insight and the Civic Hybrid.

The reason the Prius doesn't fit the econo-car definition is because economy cars are generally very small no frills cars with very few options. The Prius can seat 5 adults comfortably, has a decent size trunk, it comes standard with power windows, door locks, and air conditioner, and can be had with NAV and leather interior.

The Yaris has a power option package but can be had with hand crank windows and manual lock doors. Leather is not an option nor is a NAV system. That is the definition of an econo-car. Throw the sport package and power package on a Yaris and you're up over $18,000. That's only $4k away from the base model Prius.

"Yaris" and "sport" in the same sentence makes me want to lol.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

"Yaris" and "sport" in the same sentence makes me want to lol.

I think theres someone on here that has a yaris hatch thats lowered with an exhaust

 

[KIAman]

Toyota makes an economy car. It is called the Yaris. The Prius is pretty much in its own class IMO. The only other car in that category is the new Honda Insight and the Civic Hybrid.

The reason the Prius doesn't fit the econo-car definition is because economy cars are generally very small no frills cars with very few options. The Prius can seat 5 adults comfortably, has a decent size trunk, it comes standard with power windows, door locks, and air conditioner, and can be had with NAV and leather interior.

The Yaris has a power option package but can be had with hand crank windows and manual lock doors. Leather is not an option nor is a NAV system. That is the definition of an econo-car. Throw the sport package and power package on a Yaris and you're up over $18,000. That's only $4k away from the base model Prius.

And a fully optioned out Prius comes to around $30k. So like I was ranting earlier... doesn't make sense other than it's in a class all of its own and thus further the smug.

 

[JulesMaximus]

And a fully optioned out Prius comes to around $30k. So like I was ranting earlier... doesn't make sense other than it's in a class all of its own and thus further the smug.

And isn't everyone kind of smug when it comes to their cars? I honestly can't say that Prius owners are more smug than any other car owner. If you want my opinion, BMW and Audi owners are probably the most smug motherfuckers on the planet...annoyingly so. Way more smug than Prius owners.

 

[KIAman]

And isn't everyone kind of smug when it comes to their cars? I honestly can't say that Prius owners are more smug than any other car owner. If you want my opinion, BMW and Audi owners are probably the most smug motherfuckers on the planet...annoyingly so. Way more smug than Prius owners.

True, but they don't pretend to care about the environment or mpg, they only care about the "joneses" image.

The OP is like a Audi/BMW trying to hypermile.

 

[Perknose]

I know a bunch of people who own either the Civic sedan based Honda hybrid or a Prius. I've ridden in four of them -- two Civics and a Prius owned by women and one Prius owned by a guy.

My experiences:

Prius owned by female: Went with her to NYC to a concert. She heedlessly drove like a fucking banshee, Hitting 85 on I-95, and repeatedly punching that accelerator with mad glee.

Civics owned by females (2) -- Ridden in locally. For would be saviors of the planet, both are terrible, terrible drivers, by my lights -- up and down on the gas pedal with zero rhyme or reason, accelerating up to stop signs and red lights, that sort of mindless stupidity.

Prius owned by a guy -- Local trip. Unostentatiously drove like a guy with a clue.

Sigh. It takes all kinds. That said, I think the hate for the Prius here is all out of proportion. There is a TON of cool tech in that machine, and hypermiling CAN be a manly pursuit, guys.

You all who would drop an extra $3,000 in a heartbeat for the nav/leather/sunroof option whining endlessly that a purchaser may or may not earn back THEIR price differential on a hybrid in 'X' number of years just seem transparently foolish to me.

Damn, forgot yet another woman with a Prius in whose car I've ridden. She drives swiftly but intelligently, so she otay with me.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

Damn, forgot yet another woman with a Prius in whose car I've ridden. She drives swiftly but intelligently, so she otay with me.

This girl I work with (5'3 Asian) has a blue prius with a license plate frame that says "Warning: short Asian woman driving"

 

[JulesMaximus]

True, but they don't pretend to care about the environment or mpg, they only care about the "joneses" image.

The OP is like a Audi/BMW trying to hypermile.

No, they just pretend they're better than everyone else.

Some people buy them for other reasons...namely the ability to use the carpool lanes during rush hour traffic even with only one person in their car. Come to think of it, I'd be pretty smug about that right there regardless of the mileage of the car.

 

[MJinZ]

No, they just pretend they're better than everyone else.

Some people buy them for other reasons...namely the ability to use the carpool lanes during rush hour traffic even with only one person in their car. Come to think of it, I'd be pretty smug about that right there regardless of the mileage of the car.

I'd buy a Lexus GSh/LSh or a Mercedes S Hybrid or to use the HOV lanes. Assuming I could afford those lol.

 

[hanoverphist]

No, they just pretend they're better than everyone else.

Some people buy them for other reasons...namely the ability to use the carpool lanes during rush hour traffic even with only one person in their car. Come to think of it, I'd be pretty smug about that right there regardless of the mileage of the car.

motorcycles can ride in that lane as well. and look a hell of a lot better doing it.

 

[hans007]

the prius is a pretty expensive car for what it is as cost wise, it doesnt make up for the difference in cost in gas. the first prius was based on the echo platform whcih was like a $11k car at the time, when a prius started at 20k. I am not sure if it still shares a platform with say a yaris or corolla but i'd assume some of the design is shared.

So that said, the prius isn't very large, it has horrible performance compared to even a corolla in all normal handling and acceleration or braking tests, and it has maybe the same amount of room as a 2010 corolla (the corolla is pretty big now). Now if a prius driver claims "oh its a hatchback so its space efficient blah blah blah" then well you could get a matrix, which is also a hatchback.

A matrix with no options other than an automatic costs about $16800 on carsdirect, the cheapest prius is $23100. Granted a matrix gets 26 city and 32 fwy for a 1.8 L one, but it probably already drives better and is faster . They are similarly large and the matrix actually have 4-5 more cubic feet of storage space.

See the thing I never get is how when people compare a prius to some other car, they just assume, better performance, braking, handling have a value of $0.

I could see if say a prius was just as fast as a matrix, had similar stopping distances and grip and drove as well, and got better milage it'd be clearly superior but it would still cost a lot more so maybe then the value would be debateable. But as it is now, its basically a terrible car that gets better gas milage and costs a lot more. If you dont care about the usual reasons for thinking a car is "good" then its just a car that costs a lot more than gets good gas milage.

So yes it is not cheap in any sense of the word. I believe what people are paying for is what they want though. Some people pay for speed/handling/normal car based metrics, other people fork out money to feel good about themselves no matter how misplaced feeling good about driving a car that looks like a star trek shuttle craft and drives like crap is.

Also I generally don't mind priuses , but I tend to think of most toyota drivers are probably the worst drivers on the road. I mean people swho do not care about driving tend to be bad at it, and people who buy camry's corolla's , priuses do not care about driving. Its just an appliance to them and toyota until recently had the best reputation regarding the metric of "good reliable appliance". So toyota drivers and prius drivers tend to just be horrible at driving cars. Sure its a generalization but I think I have some basis for it.

 

[exdeath]

And isn't everyone kind of smug when it comes to their cars? I honestly can't say that Prius owners are more smug than any other car owner. If you want my opinion, BMW and Audi owners are probably the most smug motherfuckers on the planet...annoyingly so. Way more smug than Prius owners.

Yeah, everyone is smug in their own car.

But it's not because they care or are bothered by what someone else is driving, unlike Prius drivers who will give you dirty looks and and stick their nose at you if your car isn't 100% utilitarian, sounds remotely fast (or faster than their Prius because nobody neeeeeeeeeds a car that fast), and doesn't shit flower pedals out it's exhaust. God forbid anyone have a nicer or faster or better sounding car than a Prius at the cost of 3 or 4 MPG, those irresponsible baby eating oil hungry planet killers.

But yea, BMW drivers are much worse.... esp the financed used low end 1 and 3 series who think they are ballin in a $ million dollar car. I mean give me a break Mr. Baller, you couldn't spend $20-25k for an M3? There are people in $30k Nissan sedans ballin more than you if that's what it takes to be ballin.

Prius drivers are just pissed because they want the eco image but hate that everyone else has a better and faster car. Help us all if there is an affordable high performance hybrid with an eco image for these hypocrites. And we are all 100x DOOMED if it has a BMW/Mercedes/Lexus emblem on the trunk lid.... smug will be redefined.