Ownership Breakdown: Toyota Prius Edition

"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt) 05/02/2016 at 15:47 • Filed to: None

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It’s the car we love to hate. There are many flavors of Prius driver, and they all taste like shit. All of the circumstances that lead to sitting behind the wheel of a Prius are unfortunate, from enthusiastically jumping on the bandwagon to begrudgingly driving your spouse’s environmental fashion statement while your car is in the shop.

1. The Prius Sheep. When it was time to buy a new car, it didn’t matter what his/her spouse wanted. Prius sheep don’t drive to maximize fuel economy because they don’t actually care, and they have no idea that it would have been possible to buy a hybrid that isn’t a Prius; maybe something discrete like a Honda Civic Hybrid or something interesting like a Volt. The neighbors bought a Prius, and now their family is more eco-chic, and that’s unacceptable. So the sheep traded in the Honda Pilot for a gross little sedan with a silhouette everyone recognizes.

2. Prius man. He just doesn’t get it. Maybe it’s his wife’s car, and he’s driving it because his A4 is in the shop (again). Perhaps he bought it because he wanted to save money on gas, in theory at least. Either way, he drives like a total dick. Did a Prius blast by you on the highway at V MAX, burning up all the juice its little powerplant possibly can? Are you being tailgated by a Prius because you’re only doing 5 over the limit? It’s Prius man. He is just too full of TESTOSTERONE to drive a hybrid as one should, with a light foot and an eye on the speedometer.

3. The eco freak. You’re sitting behind a Prius at a traffic light, rolling your eyes at the pretentious bumper sticker collection, and the light turns green. The Prius goes nowhere - the eco freak is waiting until her bastion of environmental elitism reaches 5 MPH on its own before she taps the throttle with her pinky toe. A few miles down the road, the line of vehicles behind her is dozens of cars long, but she doesn’t care. She hasn’t even noticed - indulging in the superiority of one’s double vegan mocha soy milk latte is just SO distracting. As is keeping her eye on the MPG readout - the eco freak NEEDS that number to be as high as possible, so she can tell everyone she knows about it.

4. The confused teenager. He wanted a V6 Mustang but his parents told him that the $2500 he saved up needed to go towards his car insurance, because they’re tightwads. The bank Dad just bought a brand new Escalade, adding to the debt issues his hideous in-ground pool created last year, so young Johnny is taking one for the team. They told him that he’s “learning a lesson about fiscal responsibility” (how ironic).

Anyway, the poor dude is doing the best he can, and as we all did with our first cars, he has convinced himself that his Prius is the hottest whip in his entire area code. He plasti-dipped the wheels black and lowered it a little, so now he enters the damn thing in ALL of your local car shows. He’s the one inquiring about the gas mileage of your buddy’s brand new Mustang GT, just so he can quote his car’s EPA rating. Yikes.

EL_ULY > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 15:53

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Takes a rad driver to make a Prius ANY car rad.

DOWN WITH STEREOTYPES! Hoon all the things! Who’s with me? Who’s up to the challenge? Who is Jalop enough?

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 15:55

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I’d drive a Prius. I don’t even care about the stereotypes.

dogisbadob > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 15:55

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Too bad the Prius V isn’t available with the third seat over here :(

Noah - Now with more boost. > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 15:55

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*removes battery pack*

“It’s a Prius SUPERLEGERRA”

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 15:57

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The very sight of that woman fills me with rage.

EL_ULY > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 05/02/2016 at 16:00

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The very sight of so called “enthusiasts” that think they’re Car Gods of the roads fills me with equal rage.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 16:00

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I was behind one like #3 the other day, covered in stickers and all. (The pic I took didn’t turn out.) She turned before I could get in front of her and launch it from the light.

EL_ULY > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 16:00

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i think that’s an important part lol. But gut it, cage it, Pilot Sport Cup it, and HOOOOOOOON!!!!!!

EL_ULY > dogisbadob 05/02/2016 at 16:02

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Prius V has a 3rd row in some markets? Did not know that, pretty rad!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:02

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Preach brother. A friend of mine now owns the jalop dream 2 car garage a GT86 (FRS) and a 2CV. Guess what he owned before that, yup an 06 Prius. He loved that car and only got rid when his GT86 arrived and he ran out of driveway.

Noah - Now with more boost. > interstate366, now In The Industry 05/02/2016 at 16:03

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This has only happened to me a few times, but there’s nothing else like watching a couple loud enthusiast cars simultaneously RIP IT past a #3 once a passing zone finally appears. So righteous.

Twism > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 16:03

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I’d drive that black Prius.

It looks nice!

dogisbadob > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:04

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Yup! Almost everywhere other than North America gets a Prius V with a third seat and a lithium ion battery pack.

Or two-seat version has a cheaper NIMH battery.

EL_ULY > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/02/2016 at 16:04

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The love is genuine. Whether it be a rad jalop like your friend or any of the people above. Who are we to judge. They love a car! Take that Alissa Walker!

EL_ULY > dogisbadob 05/02/2016 at 16:05

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Oh wow didn’t know that. Cool frijoles!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:05

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I would autocross a Prius.

Berang > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 16:06

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Post is like 19 years late.

Dru > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 16:06

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My boss got a used one. He didn't really want it, but he commutes about 150 miles a day. He needed the fuel mileage.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:07

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I’m happy to take the stand with you as saying that any vehicle CAN be fun even if it takes a demo derby to do it.

I refuse to back down, however, from the view that certain vehicles attract certain drivers. I have a particular dislike of the average Prius driver and of the Prius by extension.

I have to say, though... if it wasn’t for such utterly beige appliances like the Prius and Corolla, it would be a lot harder to pick the correct car to get behind at the stoplights.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Berang 05/02/2016 at 16:07

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meanie

razorbeamteam > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 16:07

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My girlfriend inherited an ‘07 Prius from her grandma and uses it daily for her catering job. A more perfect car could not have been created for her. It has tons of storage and can fit whatever she needs to bring to an event or take home afterwards. She’s in stop-and-go Chicago traffic all day, so the MPGs are a plus. It’s also extremely easy to drive and park.

Of course she can’t wait to trade it in for a new Tiguan or CR-V because she “freaks out in snow.”

I will say, it is the most underpowered car I’ve driven. It does have a fun amount of understeer that is accessible at low speeds. Decent sounds system too.

EL_ULY > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 05/02/2016 at 16:07

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Agreed, i’d hoon the tiny little balls out of one as well as DD. A new one with the right livery, wheels/tires, and tweaked suspension would be rather glorious.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 16:08

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The only thing that would have been funnier is if I’d had my 3rd gen Prelude, which is registered on antique plates and exempt from inspections and such. Every now and then it’ll fart a bit of smoke when taking off. I haven’t been around a Prius when that’s happened, but eventually it’ll happen and it’ll be funny.

Noah - Now with more boost. > Dru 05/02/2016 at 16:09

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He needed the fuel mileage. needs a new address

FTFY lol.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 05/02/2016 at 16:09

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I’d drive a Prius, but it would be for as short a time as possible, ie until I could break it.

I wouldn’t be bragging about high MPG though, I’d be trying to see how low I could get it

Mercedes Streeter > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:10

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Preach senior Cookie Monster! As someone who likes the Prius (with a girlfriend who also likes the Prius), this post just leaves a nasty taste in one’s mouth.

Noah - Now with more boost. > interstate366, now In The Industry 05/02/2016 at 16:10

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Someone at my school drove a 3rd gen prelude si!! It was awesome.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:10

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Exactly, people get attached to all kinds of cars. Another friend has a fairly standard Hyundai Getz and refuses to get rid. Then there’s me with my little Twingo.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:10

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As it sits, they would actually let me on an autocross in a Prius. 4Runner..... No. They’d be afraid it would fall over (which in all honesty, it might). The cornering is weird. It’s pretty flat and there’s not a lot of roll. But there’s always that thought that it’s going to fall over.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 05/02/2016 at 16:11

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I would track it.

EL_ULY > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 05/02/2016 at 16:12

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And I see ALL cars as appliances. All of them as just parts, fluids, nuts, and bolts. No car has or could ever have a soul. We could get attached to machines, nothing wrong with that. But appliances is what they all are in my eyes. As far as attracting owners, it’s all fun when picking on a certain car’s owners until a loved one says they’d like one. Rag on them to their face the same way. Drive Free or Die homies :]

EL_ULY > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/02/2016 at 16:14

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Dude your Twingo is the radness! If I see one parked at a store here i’d take a million pictures! I GIS’d the Getz... looks fun!

EL_ULY > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 05/02/2016 at 16:16

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My Moose seems to take corners way better than my mom’s 1st gen ML. Body on frame can get tricky. If I could get a hold of a Prius for cheap, i’d make it my goal to disprove the stereotype. All you honestly need is a good set of wheels and tires. Heck, a Nissan leaf pulled 1 G on a skip pad with the Yokohama Advans that came on the Exige.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:18

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You forgot “LS swap it”

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:18

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There’s an R trimmed XC90 of your generation in my neighborhood. I very badly want to drive it.

Dru > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 16:19

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Haha yeah. He would if he could. The company we work for moved one state over (consolidating operations). He had to stay in the former state because he has a special needs son who gets a CAP worker (I think that’s what it’s called), a small roster of people who come to their home to help out with daily stuff. They would lose that benefit if they moved from that state, so their hands were kind of tied.

EL_ULY > Mercedes Streeter 05/02/2016 at 16:21

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If I could, i’d hold a set of track days for Prius owners with a professional instructor then invite the “enthusiast elite” to compete with them on track. Give the Prius a fresh set of sticky Michelin and change minds via real competition!

At the end, both will forever continue to love automobiles. From Prius to racecars. Nothing wrong with that in my book.

DynamicWeight > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 16:23

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Who do you find in a prius? Just about anybody. It’s a practical (hatchback), affordable car that does what it’s supposed to do very well. All while actually returning impressive fuel economy for any car, especially considering it’s size. An ex girlfriend had one and we used to drive it all over the place. It was very pleasant to drive over long distances and we even took it on some light off road trails. It did fine.

So fine in fact, that when another now ex girlfriend asked me what car she should buy to replace her broken Lexus IS, I said Prius. She went with it and loves the damn thing. I recommend them to anyone who has to ask “What kind of car should I buy?”

EL_ULY > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 05/02/2016 at 16:23

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Oh man we had a red V8 R come in just this morning. I was at the point of dehydration from all the drool.

EL_ULY > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 05/02/2016 at 16:23

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If I could, i’d Duramax swap my stapler! lol :]

interstate366, now In The Industry > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 16:24

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I just got home from taking mine out for a spin in the country. I didn’t see any Priuses, but I did see another 3rd gen. He waved at me, I popped my lights up at him.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:24

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This one is red as well. I’ll have to try and grab a pic because it looks good. And I’ve seen a good number of the brand new XC90s and they look seriously amazing.

EL_ULY > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 05/02/2016 at 16:28

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We had a guy pick up his T8 R-Design in blue this weekend. He also purchased a bunch of accessory items. Wrote a check for it clean for about $87k

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:29

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Haha thanks. I’m guilty of judging people for their vehicles at times but its a habit I want to kick. Everyone has their reasons for owning what they do and we have to respect that.

EL_ULY > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 05/02/2016 at 16:30

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You have any pics of your Twingo in non plush form?

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:34

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Sentence 1-3. I cannot possibly disagree with this.

Sentence 4-5. I would contend that there’s the appliance (a generic, one-size-fits-all product like a microwave), and then there’s the custom machine (I realize cars are not actually custom products, even when you consider the options list, but bear with me) that is geared to one specific task. This isn’t exactly the best analogy, because on the surface cars are more similar to the microwave, but to my mind it’s more about how it feels than what it actually is. My truck is a run of the mill unit. It’s designed to do the job of a small truck. HOWEVER, when I drive it, it feels like it was designed specifically for me. Hence I come to love it, which is what gives a vehicle the FEEL of a soul. Of course this can happen to you no matter what you drive.

Sentence 6-7. Yes, that’s exactly what I would do. They can have one if they want, I really don’t give a damn. But they’re still going to hear from me regularly enough to keep them from fitting the stereotype (hopefully). Of course I have the habit of being a bit blunt... This isn’t idle talk, either. They are going to hear from me. (I’ve been quite open for quite a while about holding the view that in this region at least, it’s usually a person in a Toyota in the way. Usually a Prius or Corolla. Then my dad decided to get a Sienna. So far, I haven’t changed.)

Last sentence. Damn straight. In the end, if it makes you happy, it’s right for you. But you won’t get me to shut up about it, I’ve got too much Scottish blood for that :D

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 05/02/2016 at 16:35

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So would I.

Mercedes Streeter > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:37

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Kinda like smart spec racing!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:37

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The R design seats are fantastic.

Mercedes Streeter > EL_ULY 05/02/2016 at 16:46

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All you honestly need is a good set of wheels and tires.

This so much. Like literally, take ANY poor handling economy car/city car then do this to them...they instantly become machines of awesome. :)

EL_ULY > Mercedes Streeter 05/02/2016 at 16:57

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i was trying to find the video where they put the Yokohama Advan tires that we put on our Exige on a Nissan Leaf and it pulled 1 G on the skid pad

EL_ULY > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 05/02/2016 at 16:57

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da besss

EL_ULY > Mercedes Streeter 05/02/2016 at 16:58

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I watched this vid like 3 times the other day when you posted it. Soooo rad! Toyota Hybrid does do good, well, it’s 1,000HP version

EL_ULY > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 05/02/2016 at 17:00

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The radness! I like how your brain works sir

PatBateman > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 17:19

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The only good Prius is a dead Prius.

wkiernan > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 17:53

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I’d drive a Prius, if I could afford one. Having been a car nut for more than a half-century now, I absolutely love the technology. To me, what’s under the hood of a Prius is far more interesting than what’s under the hood of any Ferrari, except of course the “La”.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 18:16

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Until Toyota begins offering a Corolla Hybrid, the Prius will continue to have one major buyer demographic:

The non-statement buyer who just wants something Corolla-sized, with a convenient hatchback design, good interior space, Toyota reliability and a price within budget.

The Prius is so mainstream these days that normal non-statement buyers are the vast majority. The sticker-clad self-appointed Ministers of Righteousness and Superiority are often driving around in older rickety 90s compacts with faded paint and rusty bottoms.

TDogg > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/02/2016 at 23:07

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I... I think I might be Prius man... :(

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/03/2016 at 00:37

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but then you loose that low end torque

Yes I daily a Prius and I like it, hate me. > Noah - Now with more boost. 05/03/2016 at 12:21

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I drive a prius and i’m not sure which one I fit. The car is practical, it can fit all my RC planes or boats (boats are 5-6ft long) for a day of fun. And it’s stupid reliable. I bought mine with 140k miles and I now have 270k miles on it, nothing has gone wrong. I replace the oil every 5k, and replace the transaxle fluid.

Of course the car lacks any driving excitement whatsoever and that is to be expected. If i’m looking for an enjoyable drive and I need to be practical I hop in my E90 328i wagon. If I want fun and I don’t need to be practical I hop in my S2000 :D