Well, it's now official...

[RedBarchetta]

...From my viewpoint, Prius drivers have officially taken over the number one spot of "most annoying drivers to get stuck behind in traffic."

#2 is still the all-familiar van driver.

On the heals of #2 would be the blue hair driving the '66 Dodge Dart (or the ones that have upgraded to an early 90's Ford Tempo).

Let's hope Congress doesn't assess a carbon tax on gas burners...we Cobra owners will surely get screwed on that one.

-Dean

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

...From my viewpoint, Prius drivers have officially taken over the number one spot of "most annoying drivers to get stuck behind in traffic."
-Dean

Dean,

We seem to have two classes of Prius drivers in Santa Cruz County. The first are the classic "road boulders."

The second category is the fearless Prius owners who let it all hang out on Hwy 17 (windy four lane hwy that connects Santa Cruz with Silicon Valley). The posted speed limit is 50 mph, but these nuts think they're on a slalom course.

I've been cruising along in the Cobra at 60 mph and have been passed by a Prius like I was standing still. Pretty certain it's one of those super commuters (people with the car pool tag) that commute 200 miles a day, but insist that they're being green and want to live in Santa Cruz.

[trularin]

I will point out that this is only in CA.

Detroit has a fair number of "challenged drivers" and it does not matter what they drive.

[turnpike boy]

Originally Posted by trularin

I will point out that this is only in CA.

Detroit has a fair number of "challenged drivers" and it does not matter what they drive.

Much the same here on the right coast. Truth be told, not too many Prius' that are saving gas out here....most in left lane but with the pedal to the water pump. And Smart (?) cars - whoof. Eight Wonder of the World to see these shopping carts surrounded tight with 18 wheelers, trying to maintain 85 mph.

I used to think REAL courage - or stoopidity - was hauling a$$ in the Cobra on a narrow twisty road with drainage ditches at each shoulder.

I realize now that I'm deeply mistaken.

[Wes Tausend]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

...From my viewpoint, Prius drivers have officially taken over the number one spot of "most annoying drivers to get stuck behind in traffic."

#2 is still the all-familiar van driver.

On the heals of #2 would be the blue hair driving the '66 Dodge Dart (or the ones that have upgraded to an early 90's Ford Tempo).

Let's hope Congress doesn't assess a carbon tax on gas burners...we Cobra owners will surely get screwed on that one.

-Dean

...

Sir! You have struck a nerve. I AM A PRIUS DRIVER! Sometimes.

I believe my wife bought one of these cars because they are easy to load groceries and they have a shift lever like her original '64 Corvair.

But, yes, what you say is true: "Prius drivers have officially taken over the number one spot of "most annoying drivers to get stuck behind in traffic."

Recently we made a trip from Bismarck, ND to Rochester, Minn to a wedding. The little zipper reached 51 MPG over it's last 1400 miles! There was no wind on I-94 and some of the trip was made on 2 lane 55-65 MPH roads. Unfortunately for other drivers, I drove the speed limit or exactly 1 mph under. Well, I couldn't help it. I had to cheat a little. I knew I was driving the most high performance car on the road, with the exception of other Prius's. Ha Ha, nobody could beat me and I knew it. There is an unbelievable smugness that just overcomes one when they know who is king.

Of course, these super high performance cars don't have a tach ...but they do have an instant economy meter readout second to none. I watched the little eco needle bars intently for hours on end. Trying to avoid the classic new Prius driver mistake of being distracted from the actual road. My wife shuts this gauge down except when she is backing up (camera).

This is a far cry from my previously annoying habit where I purposely zoomed and slowed right up behind a slower driver ...and then dropped down a couple of gears so I could blow his doors off in proper V8 fashion with maybe even a little scratch.

The worst part of all this? With these new high performance habits, I found out I can get 14 mpg with my thirsty Ford Excursion instead of only 12 mpg. I'm desperately trying to reach 15. All I gotta do is block traffic. Muhahahaha....

Just having some fun, Dean. Please pardon.

Wes

...

[trularin]

There will be no living with Wes for at least...24 hours.

[Tommy]

I made one of my occasional trips through Atlanta a few days ago. After easing through the 29 miles of road construction south of Atlanta where the speed limit is 50 and the traffic goes 65, I hit the big time Atlanta traffic. I long ago decided it is safest to go about the same speed as the traffic around you so I was soon scooting along with everyone else at about 75. During my entire trip to the north side of Atlanta and back, I didn't see a single vehicle going below the posted speed limit. And I saw only one car pulled over with a police car behind it. It was a Prius. I broke into spontaneous laughter when I saw it. I can't help but wonder if the driver was stopped for going too fast or too slow.

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by Wes Tausend

...
The worst part of all this? With these new high performance habits, I found out I can get 14 mpg with my thirsty Ford Excursion instead of only 12 mpg. I'm desperately trying to reach 15....

You remind me that buying the highest MPG car is not always the best way to save fuel and money. Consider this hypothetical example. A husband and wife each drive 12,000 miles per year, he in his 8 MPG Cobra and she in her 30 MPG Honda. Together they use 1,500 + 400 = 1,900 gallons of fuel per year. She wants to trade in her Honda for a 50 MPG Prius which would reduce their combined annual fuel usage to 1,500 + 240 = 1,740 gallons. He counters that he will stop warming up his engine before driving off, short shift when possible, reduce the number of times he burns out to impress his buddies and coast into the driveway with the engine shut off to improve his MPG to 10. With her in the old Honda and he with his improved driving technique their combined annual fuel usage would be 1,200 + 400 = 1,600 gallons. So adding a few MPG to a big time fuel user is more environmentally friendly and cost effective than jumping from a moderately fuel efficient vehicle to one that is very fuel efficient.

[RedBarchetta]

Wes, you live in North Dakota, for God's sake. All is forgiven.

-Dean

[Jamo]

My wife wants one of these damn things.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by Jamo

My wife wants one of these damn things.

Mine wants a CLS550. Wanna trade?

[Jamo]

Hehehe...

BTW, the CLS is assolutely beautiful, but the backseat is like a Camaro's. I got an E550 for work...a new 2009, which they are slashing prices on to make room for the reskinned 2010.

My wife intends on getting the most asspensive Prius ever built...checking off every damn option. Those little basturds are not cheap by the time the dealers mark them up. This is a woman who cried when we sold her 96 Impala that she used to do burnouts in.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by Jamo

Hehehe... BTW, the CLS is assolutely beautiful, but the backseat is like a Camaro's. I got an E550 for work...a new 2009, which they are slashing prices on to make room for the reskinned 2010.

Yep, we stole our E350 Sport, which we love (though I miss not having the V-8). But that CLS gives me morning wood. To have that AND a Cobra in the garage would really make me a spoiled biatch.

[Jamo]

That's sorta how I felt for the past five years with a C6 Vette work car parked next to the Cobra...but the long drives were starting to take a toll on my ancient ass.

What do you think of the E-Coupe? Pretty sweet IMO.

I damn near bought an S5, but it was way low on power for a V8 in this range.

[Jamo]

Cracks me up when I visit some of the M-B forums so I can figure out how to use some of the electronic stuff (the owner's manual reads worse than some of my law books). You end up talking to folks from all over the place, but asspecially the Middle East.

Abdul helped me figure out how to download songs into the memory.

[elmariachi]

Originally Posted by Jamo

What do you think of the E-Coupe? Pretty sweet IMO.

I looked at it last week. I love the exterior lines, but not keen on the headrest design. Have you driven it?

[Jamo]

Yeah...very nice and certainly better than the C-Coupe ever was, but a few quirks. The new E-Sedan's interior is even funkier.

[vspeeds]

Well I'm not a tree hugger but I do own a prius as my roundtrip commute to and from work is 220 miles. I set my cruise control at around 80 mph and I get about 43 mpg. This is a lot better than my Suburban which just kills me on gas.
On the other hand I know how you feel because when I'm in the HOV/carpool lane the car that is usually traveling slower than regular traffic is a Prius...and it is usually around the Berkeley CA area.
I'm gonna purchase a new SPF as soon as I figure out what color I want. I can't wait.

[Wes Tausend]

Originally Posted by trularin

There will be no living with Wes for at least...24 hours.

It's OK, Tru. It was a couple weeks back and the thrill is wearing off slightly already.

Originally Posted by Tommy

I made one of my occasional trips through Atlanta a few days ago. After easing...

You remind me that buying the highest MPG car is not always the best way...

Tommy,

In reality, I usually drive traffic speed too, if traffic is moderate or heavy. But, shucks, that wouldn't have made as good as "Iconic Prius driver" story.

Weekday highways in the midwest have very little traffic, allowing faster vehicles to easily get around poky cars or farm machinery. Amazingly enough, 5 mph farm machinery is often found on I-94 in this area. Posted interstate speeds are 75 in ND and 70 in Minn. Impacts usually result in a lot of straw or BS flying, depending.

I would have to wonder about the "arrested" Prius owner too. I haven't tested top speed in the slippery li'l bugger yet but I know it will do 85 with ease. Heard they'll do about 110 with the battery flat and 76 horses WFO.

As for saving more fuel with a improved guzzler, it's true. Some of the Hi Po Mercedes discussed in this thread will soon be even more efficient as Daimler won't allow anybody to get ahead of them for very long.

I suppose it won't be too long and, just for the H of it, somebody will build a hybrid Cobra, perhaps using the Tahoe/Durango/Benz/BMW developed hybrid/auto tranny. The potential combined gas/electric torque off the line would be astounding ...all the while posting maybe 36+ average mpg in such a light sportscar.

In our case (wife and I), she can drive the huge 4X4 Excursion @ 8 mpg/city half the time, and the Prius @ 44 mpg/city half the time. And still average 26 mpg. Although, the thing is, we drive the Prius the vast majority of the time. But, the Prius is absolutely worthless in over 6 inches of fresh snow. When we need the 3/4 ton truck for towing or load capacity, there would be no sense in anything smaller. A curse on the tree-huggers that made Ford discontinue it. Dummies.

Originally Posted by Dean

Wes, you live in North Dakota, for God's sake. All is forgiven.

-Dean

Dean,

Thanks. We need kindness. We're headed for Buffalo Commons.
First they hugged the trees ...and now the damn grass.
Rats. Doomed by a swarm of grasshuggers.

Wes

...

[BeanCounter]

I'm still driving the c6 as my daily driver but it's not my ancient ass that's bothering me. It's my fookin knees that are killing me.