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eavesdropper
Participant[quote=flu]Navydoc, I’m so sorry you got injured, but I’m glad you’re alright….
I’m glad they found the driver who did the hit and run…But considering how slow a typical prius driver probably was going, I doubt it was that hard to spot his/her getaway…..har har har….
On the bright side, you did manage to take one prius out of commission and out of public roads for a few weeks at least.. Thanks for taking one for the team and doing your civic public duties. Although next time, just use an F-150 instead of a bicycle…. har har har….[/quote]
Okay, that’s it, flu! As a proud Prius owner, I’ve had enough abuse. It’s time for a Piggs smackdown: me in my Prius, you in your Pinto, on a 5-mile stretch of Federal government-maintained, pothole-ridden interstate highway.
Your choice of location. However, keep in mind that should you elect to accept my challenge on the West Coast, it will take me three weeks to drive there….
Participant[quote=Looking2buysoon] I pay $1,455 rent each month for a one bedroom apartment in Kearny Mesa….I only have arond 2k in savings. Bring home just under 4,500 a month after taxes, medical and 401k.
I feel like if I dont buy something now prices are going to go up and I wont be able to afford anything west of the 15 freeway.[/quote]
L2B, you will not have much in the way of monthly fiscal wiggle room if you buy a $300,000 property. You may well end up like many people in America with their real estate purchase feeling like an onerous burden instead of a home.
Your last line is very telling, but keep in mind that there have been millions of Americans who felt the same way at the height of the housing boom and who overextended themselves financially to achieve home ownership. A large percentage of these people found out who really owned their homes when they were unable to make the payments, and foreclosure proceedings were initiated against them.
As I mentioned earlier, prices have been falling since 2007, and no one is able to say for sure when they are going to start going in the other direction or whether they will keep going up once they do. Some experts are predicting several more years of declining prices; even the optimistic ones are being more cautious in making predictions than they did in 2009 or 2010.
However, when prices do begin to rise again, they will not rise at the same rate as they did in 2003, 2004, and 2005. So, as I mentioned, use this time to accumulate some money and educate yourself, so that when prices do start to go up, you’ll be in a position to make some well-thought-out moves.
Participant[quote=Looking2buysoon] I pay $1,455 rent each month for a one bedroom apartment in Kearny Mesa….I only have arond 2k in savings. Bring home just under 4,500 a month after taxes, medical and 401k.
I feel like if I dont buy something now prices are going to go up and I wont be able to afford anything west of the 15 freeway.[/quote]
L2B, you will not have much in the way of monthly fiscal wiggle room if you buy a $300,000 property. You may well end up like many people in America with their real estate purchase feeling like an onerous burden instead of a home.
Your last line is very telling, but keep in mind that there have been millions of Americans who felt the same way at the height of the housing boom and who overextended themselves financially to achieve home ownership. A large percentage of these people found out who really owned their homes when they were unable to make the payments, and foreclosure proceedings were initiated against them.
As I mentioned earlier, prices have been falling since 2007, and no one is able to say for sure when they are going to start going in the other direction or whether they will keep going up once they do. Some experts are predicting several more years of declining prices; even the optimistic ones are being more cautious in making predictions than they did in 2009 or 2010.
However, when prices do begin to rise again, they will not rise at the same rate as they did in 2003, 2004, and 2005. So, as I mentioned, use this time to accumulate some money and educate yourself, so that when prices do start to go up, you’ll be in a position to make some well-thought-out moves.
Participant[quote=Looking2buysoon] I pay $1,455 rent each month for a one bedroom apartment in Kearny Mesa….I only have arond 2k in savings. Bring home just under 4,500 a month after taxes, medical and 401k.
I feel like if I dont buy something now prices are going to go up and I wont be able to afford anything west of the 15 freeway.[/quote]
L2B, you will not have much in the way of monthly fiscal wiggle room if you buy a $300,000 property. You may well end up like many people in America with their real estate purchase feeling like an onerous burden instead of a home.
Your last line is very telling, but keep in mind that there have been millions of Americans who felt the same way at the height of the housing boom and who overextended themselves financially to achieve home ownership. A large percentage of these people found out who really owned their homes when they were unable to make the payments, and foreclosure proceedings were initiated against them.
As I mentioned earlier, prices have been falling since 2007, and no one is able to say for sure when they are going to start going in the other direction or whether they will keep going up once they do. Some experts are predicting several more years of declining prices; even the optimistic ones are being more cautious in making predictions than they did in 2009 or 2010.
However, when prices do begin to rise again, they will not rise at the same rate as they did in 2003, 2004, and 2005. So, as I mentioned, use this time to accumulate some money and educate yourself, so that when prices do start to go up, you’ll be in a position to make some well-thought-out moves.
Participant[quote=Looking2buysoon] I pay $1,455 rent each month for a one bedroom apartment in Kearny Mesa….I only have arond 2k in savings. Bring home just under 4,500 a month after taxes, medical and 401k.
I feel like if I dont buy something now prices are going to go up and I wont be able to afford anything west of the 15 freeway.[/quote]
L2B, you will not have much in the way of monthly fiscal wiggle room if you buy a $300,000 property. You may well end up like many people in America with their real estate purchase feeling like an onerous burden instead of a home.
Your last line is very telling, but keep in mind that there have been millions of Americans who felt the same way at the height of the housing boom and who overextended themselves financially to achieve home ownership. A large percentage of these people found out who really owned their homes when they were unable to make the payments, and foreclosure proceedings were initiated against them.
As I mentioned earlier, prices have been falling since 2007, and no one is able to say for sure when they are going to start going in the other direction or whether they will keep going up once they do. Some experts are predicting several more years of declining prices; even the optimistic ones are being more cautious in making predictions than they did in 2009 or 2010.
However, when prices do begin to rise again, they will not rise at the same rate as they did in 2003, 2004, and 2005. So, as I mentioned, use this time to accumulate some money and educate yourself, so that when prices do start to go up, you’ll be in a position to make some well-thought-out moves.
Participant[quote=Looking2buysoon] I pay $1,455 rent each month for a one bedroom apartment in Kearny Mesa….I only have arond 2k in savings. Bring home just under 4,500 a month after taxes, medical and 401k.
I feel like if I dont buy something now prices are going to go up and I wont be able to afford anything west of the 15 freeway.[/quote]
L2B, you will not have much in the way of monthly fiscal wiggle room if you buy a $300,000 property. You may well end up like many people in America with their real estate purchase feeling like an onerous burden instead of a home.
Your last line is very telling, but keep in mind that there have been millions of Americans who felt the same way at the height of the housing boom and who overextended themselves financially to achieve home ownership. A large percentage of these people found out who really owned their homes when they were unable to make the payments, and foreclosure proceedings were initiated against them.
As I mentioned earlier, prices have been falling since 2007, and no one is able to say for sure when they are going to start going in the other direction or whether they will keep going up once they do. Some experts are predicting several more years of declining prices; even the optimistic ones are being more cautious in making predictions than they did in 2009 or 2010.
However, when prices do begin to rise again, they will not rise at the same rate as they did in 2003, 2004, and 2005. So, as I mentioned, use this time to accumulate some money and educate yourself, so that when prices do start to go up, you’ll be in a position to make some well-thought-out moves.
Participant[quote=Looking2buysoon] I hate paying rent everymonth and feel desperate to try and buy something soon.[/quote]
There’s your answer. If you are “feel[ing] desperate”, you should absolutely not be engaging in any voluntary financial transaction of significance, including the purchase of a home.
I know many people in your age group (in fact, I have kids your age), and many of them also seem very anxious to buy, citing that same complaint about paying rent. Many of them, while aware of the real estate meltdown, seem to only see it from the view of a buyer. In this type of market, where a financial turndown can bring unforeseen opportunities for bargains, a buyer has to look at the transaction from the viewpoint of a seller.
I’m figuring that your mortgage payment (without taxes and insurance) will be around $1800 to $2K per month. Ask yourself this question: what will happen if I lose my job? Unemployment will barely cover food, utilities, and gas. Where will you get the mortgage payment?
Ask yourself how you will feel in 3 years if the house you buy today for $300K can be sold for no more than $230,000. Don’t let anyone tell you that won’t happen. Home prices have been dropping in all major metro areas since 2007, and have never risen during that time. Say you get a great job offer making 35% more. Too bad, you’ve got that house hanging around your neck (and don’t let anyone tell you that the new employer will buy your house. Those days are long gone!)
For many people in the past, there were two major financial reasons for taking the risk of buying a house. One was the mortgage interest tax deduction, the other was the value of the purchase as a financial investment. I don’t recommend that you use either of these as a justification. The tax advantage to you is not outweighed by the risk, and the uncertainty of the housing market does not bode well for its future value as an investment.
Aside from all of the above reasons, you shouldn’t buy a house now because the odds are against you still owning this house in five years. Whether you are making $4500 a month gross or net, you will have an extraordinarily difficult time keeping a $300,000 house. You have $5,000 in unsecured credit card debt (which, in light of your charge-off history, are probably incurring interest at a very rapid rate). Your monthly cell phone and car insurance bills will be joined by those for homeowners insurance, heat, electricity, water/sewer, cable TV/internet, and real estate taxes. And this is before you move in fully and things start to leak, or break down, or malfunction (oops! Can’t call the landlord.)
I do understand your desire for a home of your own (I can remember my own). But do yourself a favor and wait a few years. Pay off your debt and save some money. In the meantime, go to open houses (even ones in which you’re not particularly interested) to acquaint yourself with the differences between properties, and determine what makes a good value and what is really important to you in a home. Do regular searches on the MLS, and, again, spread your search into areas beyond your current interest to see what your money will buy you in one area over another. If you have the time and money, you may even want to take a course and get your real estate license. Take this time to accumulate wealth and to educate yourself about the complexities of real estate. I can guarantee that you will not regret it.
Participant[quote=Looking2buysoon] I hate paying rent everymonth and feel desperate to try and buy something soon.[/quote]
There’s your answer. If you are “feel[ing] desperate”, you should absolutely not be engaging in any voluntary financial transaction of significance, including the purchase of a home.
I know many people in your age group (in fact, I have kids your age), and many of them also seem very anxious to buy, citing that same complaint about paying rent. Many of them, while aware of the real estate meltdown, seem to only see it from the view of a buyer. In this type of market, where a financial turndown can bring unforeseen opportunities for bargains, a buyer has to look at the transaction from the viewpoint of a seller.
I’m figuring that your mortgage payment (without taxes and insurance) will be around $1800 to $2K per month. Ask yourself this question: what will happen if I lose my job? Unemployment will barely cover food, utilities, and gas. Where will you get the mortgage payment?
Ask yourself how you will feel in 3 years if the house you buy today for $300K can be sold for no more than $230,000. Don’t let anyone tell you that won’t happen. Home prices have been dropping in all major metro areas since 2007, and have never risen during that time. Say you get a great job offer making 35% more. Too bad, you’ve got that house hanging around your neck (and don’t let anyone tell you that the new employer will buy your house. Those days are long gone!)
For many people in the past, there were two major financial reasons for taking the risk of buying a house. One was the mortgage interest tax deduction, the other was the value of the purchase as a financial investment. I don’t recommend that you use either of these as a justification. The tax advantage to you is not outweighed by the risk, and the uncertainty of the housing market does not bode well for its future value as an investment.
Aside from all of the above reasons, you shouldn’t buy a house now because the odds are against you still owning this house in five years. Whether you are making $4500 a month gross or net, you will have an extraordinarily difficult time keeping a $300,000 house. You have $5,000 in unsecured credit card debt (which, in light of your charge-off history, are probably incurring interest at a very rapid rate). Your monthly cell phone and car insurance bills will be joined by those for homeowners insurance, heat, electricity, water/sewer, cable TV/internet, and real estate taxes. And this is before you move in fully and things start to leak, or break down, or malfunction (oops! Can’t call the landlord.)
I do understand your desire for a home of your own (I can remember my own). But do yourself a favor and wait a few years. Pay off your debt and save some money. In the meantime, go to open houses (even ones in which you’re not particularly interested) to acquaint yourself with the differences between properties, and determine what makes a good value and what is really important to you in a home. Do regular searches on the MLS, and, again, spread your search into areas beyond your current interest to see what your money will buy you in one area over another. If you have the time and money, you may even want to take a course and get your real estate license. Take this time to accumulate wealth and to educate yourself about the complexities of real estate. I can guarantee that you will not regret it.
Participant[quote=Looking2buysoon] I hate paying rent everymonth and feel desperate to try and buy something soon.[/quote]
There’s your answer. If you are “feel[ing] desperate”, you should absolutely not be engaging in any voluntary financial transaction of significance, including the purchase of a home.
I know many people in your age group (in fact, I have kids your age), and many of them also seem very anxious to buy, citing that same complaint about paying rent. Many of them, while aware of the real estate meltdown, seem to only see it from the view of a buyer. In this type of market, where a financial turndown can bring unforeseen opportunities for bargains, a buyer has to look at the transaction from the viewpoint of a seller.
I’m figuring that your mortgage payment (without taxes and insurance) will be around $1800 to $2K per month. Ask yourself this question: what will happen if I lose my job? Unemployment will barely cover food, utilities, and gas. Where will you get the mortgage payment?
Ask yourself how you will feel in 3 years if the house you buy today for $300K can be sold for no more than $230,000. Don’t let anyone tell you that won’t happen. Home prices have been dropping in all major metro areas since 2007, and have never risen during that time. Say you get a great job offer making 35% more. Too bad, you’ve got that house hanging around your neck (and don’t let anyone tell you that the new employer will buy your house. Those days are long gone!)
For many people in the past, there were two major financial reasons for taking the risk of buying a house. One was the mortgage interest tax deduction, the other was the value of the purchase as a financial investment. I don’t recommend that you use either of these as a justification. The tax advantage to you is not outweighed by the risk, and the uncertainty of the housing market does not bode well for its future value as an investment.
Aside from all of the above reasons, you shouldn’t buy a house now because the odds are against you still owning this house in five years. Whether you are making $4500 a month gross or net, you will have an extraordinarily difficult time keeping a $300,000 house. You have $5,000 in unsecured credit card debt (which, in light of your charge-off history, are probably incurring interest at a very rapid rate). Your monthly cell phone and car insurance bills will be joined by those for homeowners insurance, heat, electricity, water/sewer, cable TV/internet, and real estate taxes. And this is before you move in fully and things start to leak, or break down, or malfunction (oops! Can’t call the landlord.)
I do understand your desire for a home of your own (I can remember my own). But do yourself a favor and wait a few years. Pay off your debt and save some money. In the meantime, go to open houses (even ones in which you’re not particularly interested) to acquaint yourself with the differences between properties, and determine what makes a good value and what is really important to you in a home. Do regular searches on the MLS, and, again, spread your search into areas beyond your current interest to see what your money will buy you in one area over another. If you have the time and money, you may even want to take a course and get your real estate license. Take this time to accumulate wealth and to educate yourself about the complexities of real estate. I can guarantee that you will not regret it.
Participant[quote=Looking2buysoon] I hate paying rent everymonth and feel desperate to try and buy something soon.[/quote]
There’s your answer. If you are “feel[ing] desperate”, you should absolutely not be engaging in any voluntary financial transaction of significance, including the purchase of a home.
I know many people in your age group (in fact, I have kids your age), and many of them also seem very anxious to buy, citing that same complaint about paying rent. Many of them, while aware of the real estate meltdown, seem to only see it from the view of a buyer. In this type of market, where a financial turndown can bring unforeseen opportunities for bargains, a buyer has to look at the transaction from the viewpoint of a seller.
I’m figuring that your mortgage payment (without taxes and insurance) will be around $1800 to $2K per month. Ask yourself this question: what will happen if I lose my job? Unemployment will barely cover food, utilities, and gas. Where will you get the mortgage payment?
Ask yourself how you will feel in 3 years if the house you buy today for $300K can be sold for no more than $230,000. Don’t let anyone tell you that won’t happen. Home prices have been dropping in all major metro areas since 2007, and have never risen during that time. Say you get a great job offer making 35% more. Too bad, you’ve got that house hanging around your neck (and don’t let anyone tell you that the new employer will buy your house. Those days are long gone!)
For many people in the past, there were two major financial reasons for taking the risk of buying a house. One was the mortgage interest tax deduction, the other was the value of the purchase as a financial investment. I don’t recommend that you use either of these as a justification. The tax advantage to you is not outweighed by the risk, and the uncertainty of the housing market does not bode well for its future value as an investment.
Aside from all of the above reasons, you shouldn’t buy a house now because the odds are against you still owning this house in five years. Whether you are making $4500 a month gross or net, you will have an extraordinarily difficult time keeping a $300,000 house. You have $5,000 in unsecured credit card debt (which, in light of your charge-off history, are probably incurring interest at a very rapid rate). Your monthly cell phone and car insurance bills will be joined by those for homeowners insurance, heat, electricity, water/sewer, cable TV/internet, and real estate taxes. And this is before you move in fully and things start to leak, or break down, or malfunction (oops! Can’t call the landlord.)
I do understand your desire for a home of your own (I can remember my own). But do yourself a favor and wait a few years. Pay off your debt and save some money. In the meantime, go to open houses (even ones in which you’re not particularly interested) to acquaint yourself with the differences between properties, and determine what makes a good value and what is really important to you in a home. Do regular searches on the MLS, and, again, spread your search into areas beyond your current interest to see what your money will buy you in one area over another. If you have the time and money, you may even want to take a course and get your real estate license. Take this time to accumulate wealth and to educate yourself about the complexities of real estate. I can guarantee that you will not regret it.
Participant[quote=Looking2buysoon] I hate paying rent everymonth and feel desperate to try and buy something soon.[/quote]
There’s your answer. If you are “feel[ing] desperate”, you should absolutely not be engaging in any voluntary financial transaction of significance, including the purchase of a home.
I know many people in your age group (in fact, I have kids your age), and many of them also seem very anxious to buy, citing that same complaint about paying rent. Many of them, while aware of the real estate meltdown, seem to only see it from the view of a buyer. In this type of market, where a financial turndown can bring unforeseen opportunities for bargains, a buyer has to look at the transaction from the viewpoint of a seller.
I’m figuring that your mortgage payment (without taxes and insurance) will be around $1800 to $2K per month. Ask yourself this question: what will happen if I lose my job? Unemployment will barely cover food, utilities, and gas. Where will you get the mortgage payment?
Ask yourself how you will feel in 3 years if the house you buy today for $300K can be sold for no more than $230,000. Don’t let anyone tell you that won’t happen. Home prices have been dropping in all major metro areas since 2007, and have never risen during that time. Say you get a great job offer making 35% more. Too bad, you’ve got that house hanging around your neck (and don’t let anyone tell you that the new employer will buy your house. Those days are long gone!)
For many people in the past, there were two major financial reasons for taking the risk of buying a house. One was the mortgage interest tax deduction, the other was the value of the purchase as a financial investment. I don’t recommend that you use either of these as a justification. The tax advantage to you is not outweighed by the risk, and the uncertainty of the housing market does not bode well for its future value as an investment.
Aside from all of the above reasons, you shouldn’t buy a house now because the odds are against you still owning this house in five years. Whether you are making $4500 a month gross or net, you will have an extraordinarily difficult time keeping a $300,000 house. You have $5,000 in unsecured credit card debt (which, in light of your charge-off history, are probably incurring interest at a very rapid rate). Your monthly cell phone and car insurance bills will be joined by those for homeowners insurance, heat, electricity, water/sewer, cable TV/internet, and real estate taxes. And this is before you move in fully and things start to leak, or break down, or malfunction (oops! Can’t call the landlord.)
I do understand your desire for a home of your own (I can remember my own). But do yourself a favor and wait a few years. Pay off your debt and save some money. In the meantime, go to open houses (even ones in which you’re not particularly interested) to acquaint yourself with the differences between properties, and determine what makes a good value and what is really important to you in a home. Do regular searches on the MLS, and, again, spread your search into areas beyond your current interest to see what your money will buy you in one area over another. If you have the time and money, you may even want to take a course and get your real estate license. Take this time to accumulate wealth and to educate yourself about the complexities of real estate. I can guarantee that you will not regret it.
Participant[quote=svelte] Interesting phenomenon that you point out with Prius drivers, as has also been noted at this link I posted previously:
“Ever been cut off by a prius with an Obama sticker? It happens more often than it should. The tipping point for the One Less Prius sticker was nearly being hit by one such vehicle IN THE BIKE LANE on Sunset Blvd. The guy gave me the finger when I threw my hands up.” [/quote]
Okay, I’m not getting it. What does the Obama sticker have to do with the fact that the guy’s driving a Prius? I mean, the “One More Prius” blogger makes some very good points, but what the hell??!! The ownership of a Prius automatically confers the title of “environmentalist” on the driver, and the Obama endorsement amps him/her up to Executive Level membership in the Treehugger Club??
I’m not sure why most people buy Priuses. I’ve done no studies, nor am I planning on doing so in the future. However, I do know why I, and eleven people who happen to be friends or acquaintances have. All of us, without exception, made the purchase based on one thing only: We don’t want to have to pay any more for gas than we have to. Not a particularly altruistic motive, and glaring in its lack of environmental concern, but there you have it. I’ve had the car for two years, and I still smile when I see that little screen indicating that she’s getting an average of 50 mpg or more. If drivers of other vehicles ask me what kind of mileage I get, I tell them. If they don’t, I keep my trap shut.
I’m way overdue for a trip to Cali. Based on the anti-Prius comments that are left here on Piggs, I have to believe that California Prius drivers are a truly obnoxious breed. They’re everywhere. As I mentioned in an earlier post, people choose cars not as transportation, but as a way of communicating what they perceive as enviable personality traits to others. “I drive, therefore, I am.” Of course, we know that these people are, in actuality, achieving the opposite.
[quote=svelte] I don’t ever see this because I don’t ride a bicycle. I might if they had dedicated separate paths where I need to ride, but sharing the roadway with autos is too dangerous for my blood. [/quote]
Svelte, even if dedicated bike paths were created alongside highways, there’d be safety issues. Again, not because of the vehicles themselves, but because of the self-centered arrogance of a few. Several years ago, I and my bicycle were driven into the streets by the dangerous riding habits of some Lance Armstrong wannabes on some of Philly’s great dedicated bike trails (sluggish cerebral blood circulation caused by extremely tight bike shorts made them imagine they were at the Tour de France). However, chances are you’ll come out of a bike-on-bike collision better than you will from a Prius-on-bike incident.
[quote=svelte] But why you cyclists notice an increased danger from Prius owners is very interesting. Three possible reasons I can think of:
(1) Maybe they are generally less attentive drivers? I sometimes think that many Prius owners don’t like visiting gas stations because they just don’t like cars. Since they don’t like cars, I wonder if that gives them poorer than average driving skills – maybe they don’t take the time to hone those skills…
[/quote]No, that’s not it. They just have more things competing for their attention. All of those things that tempt drivers of other vehicles (cell phones, satellite radio, changing CDs, putting on makeup, reading the paper, picking their noses, etc.) into shifting their attention from the road, PLUS the incomparable Prius fuel management system. Some people really, REALLY get into this feature. In fact, if Navydoc’s assailant was following him on a downgrade, chances are strong he was focusing his attention on the “99 mpg” that was flashing on his screeen, or determining if coasting had boosted his battery life to 100 percent. If this sounds far-fetched, do a Google search on “better Prius gas mileage”.
BTW, I DO like cars. Very much. But visiting gas stations is not high on my list of places to visit, a sentiment that I am willing to bet is shared by many owners of a wide variety of vehicles. I think your logic may be a bit flawed on that one. But you could start a new thread to find out for sure.
[quote=svelte] (2) Maybe they are envious of someone greener than they are? [/quote]
I think this could be a winner. Seriously. In my own (admittedly limited) experience: When I first took up motorcycling in the mid-70s, there was a serious cultural bias against female bikers…at least in the eastern US. I was forced off the road so many times that I stopped riding alone to avoid being an unwilling participant in games of “Chicken”. Males were quite demonstrative in their views.
I gave up motorcycling for over 20 years. When I went back to riding, I was gratified to find that attitudes had changed, and no one seemed to have an issue with females on bikes. Then I bought a new bike: a 1500 cc cruiser with a longer wheelbase than my previous bike, with a raked out front end and straight pipes. My other bike had a very powerful engine, killer torque, great performance, but the fact that it had a smaller wheelbase, more conventional appearance, and standard exhaust made it appear more innocuous, I’m guessing.
All of a sudden, drivers started to get aggressive with me. What was really disturbing was that is seemed to be primarily petite females in 6000 lb. SUVs. I had no problem with males, aside from the occasional “race” where a guy would prove the mettle of his F-350. But I’d have these soccer/lacrosse moms riding my tail (unnecessarily), riding the lane markings, and cutting into my lane before they had passed me. This was not accidental; they were well aware of what they were doing. Here I am, just trying to get from Point A to Point B, and I’m having to deal with crazed suburban moms who were apparently getting testosterone injections instead of Botox. Because they were all driving Expeditions and Hummers and Sequoias and Tahoes, I had to wonder whether they were pissed that I was on something that they perceived to be more badass then their vehicles.
Whatever. I finally decided that I no longer wanted to take the risk of offending their sensibilities, and I sold the bike two years later. Hey, when I assumed the risks of motorcycling, that didn’t include ending up as the hood ornament/hunting trophy on a frustrated housewife’s Armada.
[quote=svelte] (3) (thought I had a third possibility but have forgotten)
[/quote]Because they’re dicks?
[quote=svelte] This would make an interesting case study…if one every gets done, let me know because I’d love to find out the psychology behind this behavior![/quote]
Chances are strong that research exists, svelte. Automobile manufacturers pay for huge amounts of market research, from the moment they even think about building a particular model until after they’ve discontinued selling it. One needs only to look back at the Edsel fiasco to understand why.
While I’m not aware of any specific studies on personality traits and driving habits of Prius drivers that are available to the general public, I can recommend other reading material on automotive market research. “High and Mighty” by Keith Bradsher is a fascinating look at the marketing of SUVs. Bradsher was the NYT’s Detroit bureau chief during the years of the SUV’s meteoric rise, and whether you’re a fan of SUVs or not, it can’t be argued that this was Ford’s greatest exhibition of ingenuity except, perhaps, for the Model T.
In the case of SUVs, what’s really striking is that the Ford conducted/ commissioned research allowed them to identify a potential target market and then create a marketing strategy that featured a lifestyle at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from their target market. This is an impressive accomplishment when a car company creates a new model, but, in this case, Ford was creating a market for an entire class of automobile. In fact, this marketing concept was so hugely successful that it is still being used today, virtually unchanged for the past 20 years. That it is being employed successfully today (as evidenced by what is, consistently, the best-selling vehicle) is even more incredible when you take into consideration that the price of gasoline has risen by over 300% in that time.
If, like me, you are compelled by tales of how companies persuade us to repeatedly buy their crap, you will not regret reading this book. I’m sure you can get it through your local public library system.
Participant[quote=svelte] Interesting phenomenon that you point out with Prius drivers, as has also been noted at this link I posted previously:
“Ever been cut off by a prius with an Obama sticker? It happens more often than it should. The tipping point for the One Less Prius sticker was nearly being hit by one such vehicle IN THE BIKE LANE on Sunset Blvd. The guy gave me the finger when I threw my hands up.” [/quote]
Okay, I’m not getting it. What does the Obama sticker have to do with the fact that the guy’s driving a Prius? I mean, the “One More Prius” blogger makes some very good points, but what the hell??!! The ownership of a Prius automatically confers the title of “environmentalist” on the driver, and the Obama endorsement amps him/her up to Executive Level membership in the Treehugger Club??
I’m not sure why most people buy Priuses. I’ve done no studies, nor am I planning on doing so in the future. However, I do know why I, and eleven people who happen to be friends or acquaintances have. All of us, without exception, made the purchase based on one thing only: We don’t want to have to pay any more for gas than we have to. Not a particularly altruistic motive, and glaring in its lack of environmental concern, but there you have it. I’ve had the car for two years, and I still smile when I see that little screen indicating that she’s getting an average of 50 mpg or more. If drivers of other vehicles ask me what kind of mileage I get, I tell them. If they don’t, I keep my trap shut.
I’m way overdue for a trip to Cali. Based on the anti-Prius comments that are left here on Piggs, I have to believe that California Prius drivers are a truly obnoxious breed. They’re everywhere. As I mentioned in an earlier post, people choose cars not as transportation, but as a way of communicating what they perceive as enviable personality traits to others. “I drive, therefore, I am.” Of course, we know that these people are, in actuality, achieving the opposite.
[quote=svelte] I don’t ever see this because I don’t ride a bicycle. I might if they had dedicated separate paths where I need to ride, but sharing the roadway with autos is too dangerous for my blood. [/quote]
Svelte, even if dedicated bike paths were created alongside highways, there’d be safety issues. Again, not because of the vehicles themselves, but because of the self-centered arrogance of a few. Several years ago, I and my bicycle were driven into the streets by the dangerous riding habits of some Lance Armstrong wannabes on some of Philly’s great dedicated bike trails (sluggish cerebral blood circulation caused by extremely tight bike shorts made them imagine they were at the Tour de France). However, chances are you’ll come out of a bike-on-bike collision better than you will from a Prius-on-bike incident.
[quote=svelte] But why you cyclists notice an increased danger from Prius owners is very interesting. Three possible reasons I can think of:
(1) Maybe they are generally less attentive drivers? I sometimes think that many Prius owners don’t like visiting gas stations because they just don’t like cars. Since they don’t like cars, I wonder if that gives them poorer than average driving skills – maybe they don’t take the time to hone those skills…
[/quote]No, that’s not it. They just have more things competing for their attention. All of those things that tempt drivers of other vehicles (cell phones, satellite radio, changing CDs, putting on makeup, reading the paper, picking their noses, etc.) into shifting their attention from the road, PLUS the incomparable Prius fuel management system. Some people really, REALLY get into this feature. In fact, if Navydoc’s assailant was following him on a downgrade, chances are strong he was focusing his attention on the “99 mpg” that was flashing on his screeen, or determining if coasting had boosted his battery life to 100 percent. If this sounds far-fetched, do a Google search on “better Prius gas mileage”.
BTW, I DO like cars. Very much. But visiting gas stations is not high on my list of places to visit, a sentiment that I am willing to bet is shared by many owners of a wide variety of vehicles. I think your logic may be a bit flawed on that one. But you could start a new thread to find out for sure.
[quote=svelte] (2) Maybe they are envious of someone greener than they are? [/quote]
I think this could be a winner. Seriously. In my own (admittedly limited) experience: When I first took up motorcycling in the mid-70s, there was a serious cultural bias against female bikers…at least in the eastern US. I was forced off the road so many times that I stopped riding alone to avoid being an unwilling participant in games of “Chicken”. Males were quite demonstrative in their views.
I gave up motorcycling for over 20 years. When I went back to riding, I was gratified to find that attitudes had changed, and no one seemed to have an issue with females on bikes. Then I bought a new bike: a 1500 cc cruiser with a longer wheelbase than my previous bike, with a raked out front end and straight pipes. My other bike had a very powerful engine, killer torque, great performance, but the fact that it had a smaller wheelbase, more conventional appearance, and standard exhaust made it appear more innocuous, I’m guessing.
All of a sudden, drivers started to get aggressive with me. What was really disturbing was that is seemed to be primarily petite females in 6000 lb. SUVs. I had no problem with males, aside from the occasional “race” where a guy would prove the mettle of his F-350. But I’d have these soccer/lacrosse moms riding my tail (unnecessarily), riding the lane markings, and cutting into my lane before they had passed me. This was not accidental; they were well aware of what they were doing. Here I am, just trying to get from Point A to Point B, and I’m having to deal with crazed suburban moms who were apparently getting testosterone injections instead of Botox. Because they were all driving Expeditions and Hummers and Sequoias and Tahoes, I had to wonder whether they were pissed that I was on something that they perceived to be more badass then their vehicles.
Whatever. I finally decided that I no longer wanted to take the risk of offending their sensibilities, and I sold the bike two years later. Hey, when I assumed the risks of motorcycling, that didn’t include ending up as the hood ornament/hunting trophy on a frustrated housewife’s Armada.
[quote=svelte] (3) (thought I had a third possibility but have forgotten)
[/quote]Because they’re dicks?
[quote=svelte] This would make an interesting case study…if one every gets done, let me know because I’d love to find out the psychology behind this behavior![/quote]
Chances are strong that research exists, svelte. Automobile manufacturers pay for huge amounts of market research, from the moment they even think about building a particular model until after they’ve discontinued selling it. One needs only to look back at the Edsel fiasco to understand why.
While I’m not aware of any specific studies on personality traits and driving habits of Prius drivers that are available to the general public, I can recommend other reading material on automotive market research. “High and Mighty” by Keith Bradsher is a fascinating look at the marketing of SUVs. Bradsher was the NYT’s Detroit bureau chief during the years of the SUV’s meteoric rise, and whether you’re a fan of SUVs or not, it can’t be argued that this was Ford’s greatest exhibition of ingenuity except, perhaps, for the Model T.
In the case of SUVs, what’s really striking is that the Ford conducted/ commissioned research allowed them to identify a potential target market and then create a marketing strategy that featured a lifestyle at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from their target market. This is an impressive accomplishment when a car company creates a new model, but, in this case, Ford was creating a market for an entire class of automobile. In fact, this marketing concept was so hugely successful that it is still being used today, virtually unchanged for the past 20 years. That it is being employed successfully today (as evidenced by what is, consistently, the best-selling vehicle) is even more incredible when you take into consideration that the price of gasoline has risen by over 300% in that time.
If, like me, you are compelled by tales of how companies persuade us to repeatedly buy their crap, you will not regret reading this book. I’m sure you can get it through your local public library system.
Participant[quote=svelte] Interesting phenomenon that you point out with Prius drivers, as has also been noted at this link I posted previously:
“Ever been cut off by a prius with an Obama sticker? It happens more often than it should. The tipping point for the One Less Prius sticker was nearly being hit by one such vehicle IN THE BIKE LANE on Sunset Blvd. The guy gave me the finger when I threw my hands up.” [/quote]
Okay, I’m not getting it. What does the Obama sticker have to do with the fact that the guy’s driving a Prius? I mean, the “One More Prius” blogger makes some very good points, but what the hell??!! The ownership of a Prius automatically confers the title of “environmentalist” on the driver, and the Obama endorsement amps him/her up to Executive Level membership in the Treehugger Club??
I’m not sure why most people buy Priuses. I’ve done no studies, nor am I planning on doing so in the future. However, I do know why I, and eleven people who happen to be friends or acquaintances have. All of us, without exception, made the purchase based on one thing only: We don’t want to have to pay any more for gas than we have to. Not a particularly altruistic motive, and glaring in its lack of environmental concern, but there you have it. I’ve had the car for two years, and I still smile when I see that little screen indicating that she’s getting an average of 50 mpg or more. If drivers of other vehicles ask me what kind of mileage I get, I tell them. If they don’t, I keep my trap shut.
I’m way overdue for a trip to Cali. Based on the anti-Prius comments that are left here on Piggs, I have to believe that California Prius drivers are a truly obnoxious breed. They’re everywhere. As I mentioned in an earlier post, people choose cars not as transportation, but as a way of communicating what they perceive as enviable personality traits to others. “I drive, therefore, I am.” Of course, we know that these people are, in actuality, achieving the opposite.
[quote=svelte] I don’t ever see this because I don’t ride a bicycle. I might if they had dedicated separate paths where I need to ride, but sharing the roadway with autos is too dangerous for my blood. [/quote]
Svelte, even if dedicated bike paths were created alongside highways, there’d be safety issues. Again, not because of the vehicles themselves, but because of the self-centered arrogance of a few. Several years ago, I and my bicycle were driven into the streets by the dangerous riding habits of some Lance Armstrong wannabes on some of Philly’s great dedicated bike trails (sluggish cerebral blood circulation caused by extremely tight bike shorts made them imagine they were at the Tour de France). However, chances are you’ll come out of a bike-on-bike collision better than you will from a Prius-on-bike incident.
[quote=svelte] But why you cyclists notice an increased danger from Prius owners is very interesting. Three possible reasons I can think of:
(1) Maybe they are generally less attentive drivers? I sometimes think that many Prius owners don’t like visiting gas stations because they just don’t like cars. Since they don’t like cars, I wonder if that gives them poorer than average driving skills – maybe they don’t take the time to hone those skills…
[/quote]No, that’s not it. They just have more things competing for their attention. All of those things that tempt drivers of other vehicles (cell phones, satellite radio, changing CDs, putting on makeup, reading the paper, picking their noses, etc.) into shifting their attention from the road, PLUS the incomparable Prius fuel management system. Some people really, REALLY get into this feature. In fact, if Navydoc’s assailant was following him on a downgrade, chances are strong he was focusing his attention on the “99 mpg” that was flashing on his screeen, or determining if coasting had boosted his battery life to 100 percent. If this sounds far-fetched, do a Google search on “better Prius gas mileage”.
BTW, I DO like cars. Very much. But visiting gas stations is not high on my list of places to visit, a sentiment that I am willing to bet is shared by many owners of a wide variety of vehicles. I think your logic may be a bit flawed on that one. But you could start a new thread to find out for sure.
[quote=svelte] (2) Maybe they are envious of someone greener than they are? [/quote]
I think this could be a winner. Seriously. In my own (admittedly limited) experience: When I first took up motorcycling in the mid-70s, there was a serious cultural bias against female bikers…at least in the eastern US. I was forced off the road so many times that I stopped riding alone to avoid being an unwilling participant in games of “Chicken”. Males were quite demonstrative in their views.
I gave up motorcycling for over 20 years. When I went back to riding, I was gratified to find that attitudes had changed, and no one seemed to have an issue with females on bikes. Then I bought a new bike: a 1500 cc cruiser with a longer wheelbase than my previous bike, with a raked out front end and straight pipes. My other bike had a very powerful engine, killer torque, great performance, but the fact that it had a smaller wheelbase, more conventional appearance, and standard exhaust made it appear more innocuous, I’m guessing.
All of a sudden, drivers started to get aggressive with me. What was really disturbing was that is seemed to be primarily petite females in 6000 lb. SUVs. I had no problem with males, aside from the occasional “race” where a guy would prove the mettle of his F-350. But I’d have these soccer/lacrosse moms riding my tail (unnecessarily), riding the lane markings, and cutting into my lane before they had passed me. This was not accidental; they were well aware of what they were doing. Here I am, just trying to get from Point A to Point B, and I’m having to deal with crazed suburban moms who were apparently getting testosterone injections instead of Botox. Because they were all driving Expeditions and Hummers and Sequoias and Tahoes, I had to wonder whether they were pissed that I was on something that they perceived to be more badass then their vehicles.
Whatever. I finally decided that I no longer wanted to take the risk of offending their sensibilities, and I sold the bike two years later. Hey, when I assumed the risks of motorcycling, that didn’t include ending up as the hood ornament/hunting trophy on a frustrated housewife’s Armada.
[quote=svelte] (3) (thought I had a third possibility but have forgotten)
[/quote]Because they’re dicks?
[quote=svelte] This would make an interesting case study…if one every gets done, let me know because I’d love to find out the psychology behind this behavior![/quote]
Chances are strong that research exists, svelte. Automobile manufacturers pay for huge amounts of market research, from the moment they even think about building a particular model until after they’ve discontinued selling it. One needs only to look back at the Edsel fiasco to understand why.
While I’m not aware of any specific studies on personality traits and driving habits of Prius drivers that are available to the general public, I can recommend other reading material on automotive market research. “High and Mighty” by Keith Bradsher is a fascinating look at the marketing of SUVs. Bradsher was the NYT’s Detroit bureau chief during the years of the SUV’s meteoric rise, and whether you’re a fan of SUVs or not, it can’t be argued that this was Ford’s greatest exhibition of ingenuity except, perhaps, for the Model T.
In the case of SUVs, what’s really striking is that the Ford conducted/ commissioned research allowed them to identify a potential target market and then create a marketing strategy that featured a lifestyle at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from their target market. This is an impressive accomplishment when a car company creates a new model, but, in this case, Ford was creating a market for an entire class of automobile. In fact, this marketing concept was so hugely successful that it is still being used today, virtually unchanged for the past 20 years. That it is being employed successfully today (as evidenced by what is, consistently, the best-selling vehicle) is even more incredible when you take into consideration that the price of gasoline has risen by over 300% in that time.
If, like me, you are compelled by tales of how companies persuade us to repeatedly buy their crap, you will not regret reading this book. I’m sure you can get it through your local public library system.
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