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svelte.
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March 8, 2012 at 9:10 AM #739556March 8, 2012 at 12:34 PM #739578
briansd1
Guest[quote=temeculaguy]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lMIOE5pQTo
Emasculation on wheels, what’s next? Sitting down to pee?[/quote]
It depends where you live, TG. I think in Temecula you might get derided for driving a Prius; but in La Jolla, you get more credit for driving one.
Granted the Prius is more of an innovative transportation appliance, and people buy it for efficient transportation.
On the opposite side, jacked-up trucks aren’t exactly ultimate driving machines. Not sure what those jacked-up trucks are, but they sure look bad-ass and masculine.
March 8, 2012 at 1:52 PM #739584Ren
Participant[quote=AN]WRT to traction, is it because your car is a FWD? If it’s RWD, traction can easily be solved by wider and stickier tires.
A baby Boxter would be freakin’ sweet. 2500lb and a 2.5L I-4 turbo would be my ideal weekend/track car. Now, if only BMW can slim down the M3 to be around 3000lb with a I-6 turbo from the 335i and I’d be a happy man.[/quote]
2011 Mazdaspeed 3, wrong wheel drive. This is the kit as priced by the manfacturer:
http://www.atpturbo.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ATP-MS3-005&Category_Code=MS3
You can get it for several hundred cheaper elsewhere. I don’t have immediate plans to take it that far – the goal is to have a separate daily driver and project car in 5 years, so I don’t want to bother putting a bunch of money into this one. I’ve thought about buying an ’88 or ’89 944 turbo and gutting it. A very old, very modified 911 recently won a hill climb competition somewhere, which surprised me, and I do love the slant noses. The new Miata sounds intriguing, if it looks less “cute” than the previous versions.
Speaking of gas mileage, with the right tune and somewhat careful driving, it’s common to get 30mpg combined city/hwy in the MS3 (I average 25). The record is something like 40mpg hwy, but you’re slower than a Prius at that point.
March 8, 2012 at 6:26 PM #739596svelteParticipant[quote=briansd1]
It depends where you live, TG. I think in Temecula you might get derided for driving a Prius; but in La Jolla, you get more credit for driving one.
…
On the opposite side, jacked-up trucks aren’t exactly ultimate driving machines. Not sure what those jacked-up trucks are, but they sure look bad-ass and masculine.[/quote]Oh, I doubt you would get credit driving a $25K econobox in La Jolla. Fisker, Ferrari, Rolls, Lambo, maybe even Bentley. But not a Toyota.
Prius may get more respect around libraries, college campuses, and anyplace geeks hang out.
Jacked trucks only get respect in high school parking lots and the southeast.
March 8, 2012 at 6:43 PM #739598bubble_contagion
Participant[quote=svelte][quote=briansd1]
Oh, I doubt you would get credit driving a $25K econobox in La Jolla. Fisker, Ferrari, Rolls, Lambo, maybe even Bentley. But not a Toyota.
[/quote]This is what makes the Prius so special. It is not viewed as an econobox by affluent people. Politicians and celebrities drive the Prius. It has become the acceptable car to use when the Ferrari will not do. Toyota now recognizes this and will split the Prius brand from Toyota (as it did with the Scion). I live in La Jolla and see many Prius. I also drive one.
You will not get “credit” for driving a Prius but you can pull up to the valet of any restaurant or hotel in La Jolla and people will not think you work there as when you arrive in a Corolla or pick-up truck.
March 9, 2012 at 6:44 AM #739618svelteParticipant[quote=bubble_contagion]
This is what makes the Prius so special. It is not viewed as an econobox by affluent people. Politicians and celebrities drive the Prius. It has become the acceptable car to use when the Ferrari will not do. Toyota now recognizes this and will split the Prius brand from Toyota (as it did with the Scion). I live in La Jolla and see many Prius. I also drive one.You will not get “credit” for driving a Prius but you can pull up to the valet of any restaurant or hotel in La Jolla and people will not think you work there as when you arrive in a Corolla or pick-up truck.[/quote]
You see many Prius in all areas of the city! Just because you see them in LJ too doesn’t mean you get more “credit” there than anywhere else.
When I drive around LJ, the thought that crosses my mind isn’t “wow, I’m suddenly seeing a lot more Prius”. It is usually “wow, there’s a Rolls. There went a Ferrari.” Those are the things I see in LJ that I don’t see as often in other parts of the city.
And it most definitely is an econobox! It is bought because it gets great gas economy and has no frills.
March 10, 2012 at 1:42 AM #739671temeculaguy
Participantokay this even better
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/155193/thanks
I couldn’t get the whole episode to play, but if you select “related clips” you can watch it in chunks.
But many of you have seen that episode, so this is the best, an interview with the creators about that episode. epic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef-YWyG5TXw&feature=related
cars cause smog, hybrids cause smug.
I just couldn’t help but think of this south park episode after seeing brian’s comment about not getting “credit” in my backwards little town for being better than everyone else, but in more progressive places I could drive a prius and people might think I’m cool ( I know those aren’t your words, but that’s how they read). I also liked the commentary clip where they mentioned that the early honda hybrids didn’t sell as well as the prius because they looked like regular cars and not hybrids. Now it’s well known from the car threads that I recently bought a BMW, mostly for my own personal pleasure since a few posters here somewhat talked me into it after sharing their experiences, but I will readily admit it, part of it was because it’s an ass magnet. I personally think my selfish motivations are more pure, because I admit them. If someone told me they drive a prius because it’s an ass magnet for young eco chicks and they like women who don’t wear a lot of make up and use that shower razor a little more sparingly, I’d give them a high five. I’d say that I like a different type, I’m good with a couple of tattoos, a more liberal use of the shower razor and implants don’t bother me, therefore my sled is different but the same. Then I’d raise my glass to them for their ingenuity. We bait the hook based on our tastes, fortunately my sled is more fun to actually drive, but to each their own. But when someone gets all condescending about it, I think of that south park episode. I’m not alone. I’m not saying all prius owners are being smug, it’s likely the prius piggington folks are just doing what’s more frugal, that’s our nature. It’s just you are the minority, the rest are doing it for reasons that kinda bug the rest of us. Maybe that’s why I loved the tesla and was excited about the new foucus hybrid, because they looked sexy and fun, yet the hybrid part was just a bonus, driving a hybrid because it’s a hybrid it irritating. But then again you know what they say is the difference between a bmw and a porcupine? With a porcupine, the prick is on the outside.
March 10, 2012 at 7:23 AM #739672Bubblesitter
ParticipantMy amigo says that Nissan Leaf is a chick magnet! He has gotten a couple dates from hot enviro chicks that struck up conversations in the parking lots. (probably whole foods, and farmers markets)
He seems to be loving life paying only a fraction month what he used to pay for on gas.
Some of the electric car sports cars like Tesla are ferrari beating, Seems to combine the best aspects of enviro and regular chick magnet, performance, saving-the-earth smuggification, and, F the Mideast, F oil, and street cred. I want one.
March 10, 2012 at 7:43 AM #739673Participantlocal San Diegan did this video on Tesla
March 10, 2012 at 8:20 AM #739677Participant[quote=Bubblesitter]Some of the electric car sports cars like Tesla are ferrari beating…[/quote]
Not quite, and they only come close for about 20 minutes until your charge is gone. Driving at 9/10ths in those things won’t get you far. BUT, it’s a great start.
I like the attitude of the high-end manufacturers, who think of “green” as adding power, not replacing fossil fuel.
March 10, 2012 at 8:21 AM #739678svelteParticipantFrom the small sample size of Prius owners I know, a fair percentage of them buy the Prius simply because they hate stopping at a gas station.
Another chunk wants to be more green.
Neither is a bad thing, if that’s what makes them happy in life more power to them…
As I’ve said before, I see them all the time on the road and really never have a problem with them. They drive fast enough to stay with traffic and stay out of my way for the most part. That’s something I can’t say for white Corollas and white Camrys…those drivers drive me nuts! Someone on here said that really applies to all white cars and I agree, but seems to be more pronounced with Corollas and Camrys.
As for BMWs, they certainly perform to my tastes but the styling has always been close but no cigar for me, except for the Z8 and this newest 5 series. Love’em both!
March 10, 2012 at 8:23 AM #739676GuestI’m with bubblesitter on the branding, image and desirability of the Prius and Leaf.
I picked up my niece at few times at Torrey Pines elementary and there are plenty of Prius there. La jolla is a diverse area. Only a tiny portion is about Bentleys and Ferraris. There are luxury cars in South Florida IMO.My SIL drives a German car and now she wants a Prius.
In certain groups you get more credit for driving an environmentally conscious car. In some other groups it’s the reverse.Btw I’ve never owned a hybrid.
March 10, 2012 at 3:09 PM #739705EconProf
ParticipantI drove a Prius for about a year and really liked it, except for the tail-gating drivers of monster pickup trucks.
Two observations: The Prius may have the most uncomfortable seats ever. I resolved the newer Prius would be my next car until it came out and I sat in it–a deal-killer for us tall guys.
Second, the feasibility of the Prius gets better the higher gasoline prices go. Studies of the “payback period” for paying extra for a Prius are obsolete if they are relying on last year’s gasoline prices.March 11, 2012 at 12:44 AM #739726ParticipantI should probably retract all my comments, I was looking at it from an egocentric position. If that car or any other car makes you happy, have at it. Just because it doesn’t make me smile seeing it in the driveway, doesn’t mean it doesn’t light your fire. Music, movies, food, sexual orientation, sports teams, politics, religion, cars and houses are such personal choices that I should take the same approach with cars that I do with the other categories and just respect the fact that my eyes and brain are just that, mine. There is no wrong answer. Except motorcycles, I really hate motorcycles, but I digress. If you love your prius, then love it, who am I to disagree.
March 11, 2012 at 9:44 AM #739727scaredyclassic
ParticipantI like motorbikes. I rode a Vespa et-4 for 10,000 miles 2002-2005. That’s a lit of scooter miles. Et4 was the “big” one 150 cc. Tiny bike. Even rode it on the freeway sometimes. That was dumb.
60 mph top speed very short wheelbase, light weight. Feels like a rocket!!
Motorbiking is very invigorating.
Some people are way more likely to crash in cars, priiuses, harleys, scooters. Alertness and caution matter.
I still have a Honda ruckus. For the middle aged dude the motorcycle can really wake you up.
Although I am a scaredycat I still do stupid things sometimes. However I always suited up in fullface helmet motogloves, padded jacket w spine protection, padded pants and giant boot. Even on my tiny scooter. Looked crazy.
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