[wmuldowney]

I like the .45 with high capacity mags and HydroShocks.

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[rhudeboye]

<!--quoteo(post=73305:date=Jun 5 2009, 10:46 AM:name=ds968)-->QUOTE (ds968 @ Jun 5 2009, 10:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->picking up on the Prius comment though ; I feel the same about hybrid cars drivers out there - not all, but most are smug, I'm helping the planet, so I'm holier than thou a**holes<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


<!--quoteo(post=73315:date=Jun 5 2009, 01:38 PM:name=Chris Vais)-->QUOTE (Chris Vais @ Jun 5 2009, 01:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You must be speaking of the two Prius P#$%s that held us up on the 46 headed over from the Coast to Paso Robles. I'm guessing that I wasn't the only one who gave them the finger when we finally got around.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


<!--quoteo(post=73332:date=Jun 5 2009, 06:33 PM:name=rxter)-->QUOTE (rxter @ Jun 5 2009, 06:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Been mine for a while now. If I am using 3 times the gas the least I can do is provide them with some of that lovely exhaust. I do love passing them. And there are enough of them now that it makes for some interesting driving on the way to work.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Is this hatred a West coast thing?

The hybrid drivers out here don't seem to come off like that. I did once have one try and take me off the line though, high torque in them little things. He failed!
But all and all most hybrid drivers out here are just trying to save a buck.

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[wmuldowney]

<!--quoteo(post=73340:date=Jun 6 2009, 04:54 AM:name=rhudeboye)-->QUOTE (rhudeboye @ Jun 6 2009, 04:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Is this hatred a West coast thing?

The hybrid drivers out here don't seem to come off like that. I did once have one try and take me off the line though, high torque in them little things. He failed!
But all and all most hybrid drivers out here are just trying to save a buck.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Most Prius drivers have this "holyer than thou" attitude, from some misguided thinking they are making a difference. It kind of commical.
To qualify not all of them like that but a lot are.
Why can't they just drive on the shoulder or on the bike lane where they belong.

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[xrad]

2nd, that Pinball!!

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[flash]

they did a great marketing job on that car - they sold something for a HUGE price tag that doesn't do nearly as well per dollar of purchase and operation as an 84 eldorado

on top of that it causes more damage in production than it saves

it isn't even the best mileage car out there - as an example, the new fiat 500 gets 56mpg (over the 50 of the prius), and will likely be made here now that they are tied to chrysler

there should be a law on the commuter lane that says you must travel at least as fast as the fast lane - the whole idea is to make better time than the rest of traffic - i am so sick and tired of getting stuck there behind some yahoo doing 65 when the fast lane is doing 80 - i can't get out without crossing the double yellow and this guy won't budge - then when an opening comes up, they speed up to shut the door - what are they doing there anyway? just because you can, doesn't mean you should

i like what they did in the bay area with those lanes - they are normal lanes in off-traffic hours

thinking about another big steel bumper in the interim

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[PorscheDude]

88 honda CRX
80hp or so 1700lbs.
40/48 mpg.

No batterys for the dump.

My rant on the Prius drivers actully goes towards all these new "hyper milers".
They go for mpg like some try for 1/4 mile times.

And yes when i have a chance, i pull up on a hybird at 60 or and drop to 3rd gear, muffler by their window.
Just my way of saying thanks for saving gas so i can burn it up.
Hopefully the screming noise get on their nerves enough to make the push to quiet pedal a little farther down.

Anybody see the new Jetta TDI comercial? With the guy washing his hybird?
Too funny!

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[ds968]

http://priuschat.com/forums/groups/


a one member forum ?!


[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

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[sbdrivingdotcom]

I drive a hybrid, own a driving school and drive the speed limit. I have been flipped off, cursed, tailgated, cut off and passed OVER double yellow lines while teaching lessons and here is the kicker -- driving the speed limit. I've even been passed and flipped off by people I know who then sport a look of shock when they see that it is me. Quite funny but sad in another sense.

A lot of people are in a hurry and drive faster than the speed limit and while I<b><i> occasionally</i></b> do so in the Porsche I'm careful not to be to harsh to others who are going the speed limit.

Here are the laws for California:

1. A driver is obligated to use a paved turnout area whenever five or more vehicles are trailing her/him in a 2 lane highway.
2. Drivers should allow a three-second cushion of space between themselves and the vehicle in front of them. This is often not possible in the merge lane of freeways or on congested highways.
3. Drivers should signal their intention to change lanes for five seconds at freeway speeds.
4. It is NEVER legal to drive faster than the posted speed limit OR than is safe given the current conditions. For example, if traffic is heavy or there are a lot of pedestrians on the edge of the road you can be cited for driving faster than is safe for conditions even if you are traveling at the speed limit.

While I understand everyone's frustration with others not driving courteously, that does not -- as Flash said -- give anyone the right to react angrily or get back at the other driver.

Hybrids, electric vehicles, scooters and bicyclists all have a right to share the road with us. I might also add that these vehicles will become increasingly more common on our roadways in the near future. The idea that if you weigh more you can cut people off because they should fear a collision with you, is selfish and dangerous.

Remember that driving a few miles per hour faster on the highway will only save you a few minutes in each hour's driving. In the city, it will save you less time with signals and congestion.

I've actually see this happen on a daily basis when a vehicle passes me only to end up next to me at the next light.

Flash may sound old but I probably sound older! This is my two cents and after losing my mother in an automobile accident and watching other's drive dangerously for the past nine years that I've been a professional instructor, I felt compelled to respond to this thread.

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[Kim]

Well said. An a-hole is still an a-hole, Prius or 968.

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[PorscheDude]

By doing 55 when the "flow" of traffic is 70, is just as, if not more dangerous.

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[flash]

i think there is room for those who want to drive fast and those who don't - speed doesn't kill - poor driving skill and inattention does

i don't believe in arbitrary speed limits, but i am still a proponent of graduated licenses with inherent speed limits, and dedicated lanes for those who have the better license - i also think it should cost a LOT of money to be allowed to drive and we should have much more and tighter minimum requirements to allow someone to drive - peripheral vision and reflex tests should be an absolute minimum

having better and more qualified drivers on the road would alleviate a lot of the problems we have

but heck, i think we should be allowed to carry firearms and settle things out in the street too

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[gryphon]

I feel your pain, guys. Sometimes I think Phoenix has more aggressive, aggravating, inconsiderate drivers, than anywhere else I go. But I suppose that they are everywhere.

I am probably not a good candidate for a concealed weapon permit. I can get pretty darn angry.

FYI, I also drive a Lexus RX400h hybrid, but I drive it for pleasure not to squeeze out every last mpg, and I don't block faster drivers.

Tom

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[ds968]

as frustrated as I get with the inept , the clueless, the smug, or the clinically insane drivers, I always manage to keep my calm, step aside and let them do whatever they need to do .. with one exception: red light runners. i really need to carry a bb gun in my car so I can go after them and just
pop their rear winow as a mild reminder not to ever do that again. man, if I only had a dime for every time i debated if I should chase them down and just beat the crap out of the driver... maybe when they change aggravated assault from a felony to a misdemeanor in this state ... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img]

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[Chris Vais]

I believe that local law and state law enforcement will eventually take car of the red light runners. I have noticed a huge increase in the number of red light enforcement cameras. They are popping up all over and seems at a greater rate since the State's budget crisis has reached epic proportions. If you think about it, its got to be the money maker of the century. They take your picture and send you a citation for $200 - $300, how hard can it be, and you don't have to have a patrol officer present.

With respect to hybrid vehicles I agree with Flash. A lot of marketing hype makes for good sales but the things are no more environmentally sound than any other vehicle, particularly so because the storage batteries are not recyclable. I also wonder sort of fuel consumption they get at 70+ miles per hour. On my trip back up from Morro Bay on Thursday this past week, I had one pass me going 80+ miles an hour. One of the 20 somethings that works for me and owns a hybrid says that she pays more attention to the fuel consumption readout than the speedometer when she is driving, which is why I expect we see as many hybrids as we do running under the speed limit in the fast lane or running under the speed limit on Hwy. 46.

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[flash]

the fuel consumption is horrible at anything beyond the snails pace - i saw an episode of top gear where they ran a prius against an M3 on the track - the prius was going as fast as it could - the M3 just hung back and paced it

the prius got 17mpg
the M3 got 19 mpg

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[rhudeboye]

<!--quoteo(post=73365:date=Jun 6 2009, 11:12 AM:name=sbdrivingdotcom)-->QUOTE (sbdrivingdotcom @ Jun 6 2009, 11:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I drive a hybrid, own a driving school and drive the speed limit. I have been flipped off, cursed, tailgated, cut off and passed OVER double yellow lines while teaching lessons and here is the kicker -- driving the speed limit. I've even been passed and flipped off by people I know who then sport a look of shock when they see that it is me. Quite funny but sad in another sense.

While I understand everyone's frustration with others not driving courteously, that does not -- as Flash said -- give anyone the right to react angrily or get back at the other driver.

Hybrids, electric vehicles, scooters and bicyclists all have a right to share the road with us. I might also add that these vehicles will become increasingly more common on our roadways in the near future. The idea that if you weigh more you can cut people off because they should fear a collision with you, is selfish and dangerous.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Appears that your not the type of driver that frustrates me. my rant isn't about safe drivers but selfish ones.

I share the road with everyone and have no problem letting another car in or pass. Even when a car is driving rather slow, it doesn't bother me. I surely wouldn't flip them off for it. Actually, quite often I discovered as I passed them that they are young, like new driver young, and I go Oh, that explains it. Or there very old and a bit nervous. Either way no sweat. But when I come across someone who speeds up just to inconvenience me, thats when I want to fire off a WMD.

I actually dont witness many red light runners, but I have a strong hatred for people who throw trash out the window.

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[ds968]

a safe way ( see gun in car notation from Chris ) of flipping people off is just holding your hand and finger extended below window level. you'd be surprised how much steam you let off doing that and without any risk.. very calming effect. seriously, give it a try and you'll see [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img] !

btw, i saw that top gear episode also - i sat in complete disbelief of the results, yet amazingly true - an M3 getting better MPG than a friggin' hybrid at NORMAL highway speeds ( hardly anyone one drives below 70 in this region )

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[rhudeboye]

<!--quoteo(post=73407:date=Jun 6 2009, 07:04 PM:name=ds968)-->QUOTE (ds968 @ Jun 6 2009, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->btw, i saw that top gear episode also - i sat in complete disbelief of the results, yet amazingly true - an M3 getting better MPG than a friggin' hybrid at NORMAL highway speeds ( hardly anyone one drives below 70 in this region )<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I saw that also. The results would have been different if the hybrid was driven normally. That car was driven at full throttle. Drive each in the same manner and the M3 will obviously drink more. I've driven a hybrid and what I liked about it was that if your on E you can keep the RPMs low and use almost no gas at all, even at highway speeds you can keep the RPMs low. That test held the hybrid up in the 5000+ RPM range while the M3 was coasting along in the low RPM range.

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[S_Cal968]

Just to add... I see many of the same drivers everyday and I've noticed that many hybrid owners are hypocrites. As mentioned, instead of doing 65 or less to get the best possible mpg, they're out there driving with the 75+mph traffic[??].

Re; on-ramps; My biggest frustration are those that feel it's safe to merge into 65mph traffic at 30-40mph[?!]. Meanwhile those behind him have no other choice, but to drive the same speed. Mix this with drivers that don't want to move over and it can get messy.
I know this isn't recommended, but I'll gladly race someone that purposely speeds up while I'm ahead trying to merge. If I'm behind the other car, I'll merge in behind.

Re: Fast lane [#1 lane]; it's safe to assume that there are many that are frustrated with slow/self-centered drivers. It's very common to come up on a large profile vehicle that's doing less than the speed limit with a wide open road ahead and they won't move over! I wonder if it's a feeling of control or power when a driver regulates the speed of others behind them[?]. I've been driving for 30+ years and have yet to see a driver get a ticket for impeding traffic - it's a law that's not enforced for some reason[??!!].
I stopped using sign language back when it the number of drivers carrying guns went up. If someone comes up quickly behind me and there's no traffic ahead, Ill gladly move over - it's not a big deal. I'm not sure why, but after driving across the US, I quickly came to the conclusion that California has the most careless drivers. I found most drivers in other states were much more courteous.

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[sbdrivingdotcom]

I'm not trying to generalize and state that all drivers of vehicle x drive in a certain manner. What I'm saying is simple: we ALL have a right to drive on the road.

I get well over 45 mpg in the city in my HCH that is rated at 41 mpg. Do I hypermile? Yes I do. I accelerate less briskly than most and it doesn't take me any more time on short trips around town. Cars pass me doing over 10 mpg over the speed limit and end up at the next stoplight right alongside me. In a 5-10 mile trip, traveling 10-15 mph over the speed limit saves less than a minute. The risk is just not worth it. Also, I've noticed I'm much more calm as a driver now and much more likely to be considerate of other drivers and their mistakes.

The comment that driving 55 mph is just as dangerous as driving too fast ignores the simple fact that it is illegal to drive faster than the speed limit. The act of speeding and going to slow are not equivalent. Yes there are times when it is illegal to drive below the speed limit and it is certainly not safe in the fast lane. However, it is legal for construction vehicles to travel on the roadway even though they often can't exceed 25 mph. You should expect a slow moving vehicle at any time. It is not illegal to drive 55 mph in the slow lane on the freeway or highway, even if the speed limit is 65 mph. Like I said, I don't do that, and I still can achieve nearly 50 mpg. In fact, I averaged 52.5 mpg to San Diego and back while traveling 65 mph. It took me 3.5 hours to get there as opposed to 3 hrs and 10 mins normally.

What gets me is all the anger exhibited when someone doesn't drive how you want them to. I expect other drivers to make mistakes. We all pay taxes and have a right to use the road legally. A simple rule I follow is this: if I wouldn't do it with my mother or a child in the car, I shouldn't be doing it. I certainly hope that those of you who are blowing by others, badmouthing hybrid drivers, etc. are not out there doing this in front of your children. Your example is much more powerful than your word.

Dan, running a red light is illegal and dangerous and it is understandable why you would get upset. However, if you always scan intersections before you get to them, you can limit your risk of being hit by a red light driver. Anger doesn't solve the problem and I'd rather be part of the solution than part of the problem.

Flash, driving fast is more dangerous, even if you have a car more capable of doing so. Braking distance quadruples when speed doubles. I'll be the majority of people on this forum don't understand that. Kinetic energy is proportional to velocity squared. All you need to do to double your braking distance is increase your speed by a factor of the square root of 2, or about 40%. That makes driving fast extremely dangerous compared to driving at the speed limit. When a hazard appears in the road ahead of you, you have MUCH less room for error when you speed. Oh and if you crash, doubling your speed results in FOUR times the force of impact.

55 to 75 mph results in almost a doubling of your braking distance. So the next time you blow by a "slow driver" doing 80 mph keep that it mind. I've lost my mother in an accident and I don't wish that on anyone. I enjoy spirited driving, yes. But I don't become enraged when an elderly person in a Camry is driving slowly or the town tree hugger is plugging along in her/his biodiesel Mercedes. We all deserve respect when we drive as long as we aren't egregiously putting others at risk and are respecting the laws.

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