jmckinley Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 Ever since I bought this car, I've been plagued by Hybrid Haters riding my bumper. This is somewhat perplexing because I don't hypermile and generally stay at or above the speed limit and do not hog the left lane. Just for kicks on several occasions, I have demonstrated the excellent acceleration of the CMax and walked away from them, but usually they come back anyway. I assume this is carry over from other aggravating experiences the Haters have had with other Hybrid drivers hypermiling and holding up traffic. They therefore assume that all Hybrids will be driven in an obnoxious manner and feel the need to help them along by tailgating. Most of the time it is either a pickup or a big SUV. Apparently they want to convince me that they can afford to not worry about fuel consumption and that I am somehow an inferior person because I chose not to drive something that only gets 12 mpg. Anyway, yesterday I removed the H-Y-B-R-I-D letters from the rear hatch. Then, on a 200 mile drive, I did not have a single Hater incident! The letters, by the way, were extremely easy to remove. Just warmed them up slightly with a heat gun (hair dryer would have worked) and slipped a plastic scraper under them. They popped right off. Glue residue wiped off easily with some car wax. Wish I had of done this a year ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HPRifleman Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 I'm sorry you had these experiences but, with all due respect, I have been reading these kinds of posts on the Prius forum for years. Hybrid driver gets tailgated / cut off / flipped off / etc. and assumes it is because the other driver is anti-hybrid. Before assuming anything I would like to see some real evidence that these other people don't like hybrid cars from some reason. In my experience there are a lot of jerks on the highway and they would still be jerks regardless of the car you are driving. Many hybrid drivers are enthusiastic about their cars, as am I. But some tend to place a lot of importance on their choice of transportation and then potentially feel victimized when they run across some these aforementioned jerks. Please note that I am talking generally and not you personally, jmckinley. ptjones, fotomoto and hybridbear 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisl Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 I haven't really noticed it in SoCal. I did see a Cmax yesterday that had all the badges except the Ford oval removed from the back, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 I see this problem whether I'm driving the CMAX or Explorer, two many people are tailgaters They don't seam to realize what they are doing or their always in a big hurry and that is the way they drive. It will be interesting what your long term results are. :) Paul wab 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmckinley Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 No way of quantifying it, of course and as someone mentioned, there is no shortage of dumb/bad/inconsiderate drivers. That was my first drive incognito, so I'll be watching for a while to see if the improvement is just wishful thinking. ptjones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fbov Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 You have attributed conditions to villainy that simply result from stupidity. (Heinlein) A truly inpatient person will not notice the type of car they're rear-ending, just that it was "in the way." Frank hybridbear and ptjones 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmckinley Posted March 21, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 You have attributed conditions to villainy that simply result from stupidity. (Heinlein) Oddly enough, I am a Heinlein fan and have been for 60 years. I think I've read most of his books, but don't remember this quote. Where did it come from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wab Posted March 21, 2014 Report Share Posted March 21, 2014 (edited) You have attributed conditions to villainy that simply result from stupidity. (Heinlein) Oddly enough, I am a Heinlein fan and have been for 60 years. I think I've read most of his books, but don't remember this quote. Where did it come from? You've got a couple of yrs on me.First book I ever read "Red Planet" in 1957. My mother gave me a copy in the 1980's, still have it most of his others.Sometimes I wonder how many teen and pre teen lives he changed :jump_earth:. Edited March 21, 2014 by wab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmckinley Posted March 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 You've got a couple of yrs on me. First book I ever read "Red Planet" in 1957. I think that was my first one too. It was published in 1949. It is actually kind of the basis for "Stranger in a Strange Land". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ponypower Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 I have been involved in three rear end accidents in the last two years. Each time I was stopped but the person behind me was so close they couldn't stop in time and hit me. One time the guy took off but I caught up to him at the next light. In my personal opinon I don't think it has anything to do with what your driving..Its the people in a hurry or on their phones. The bigger problem I see is some of the truckers on the highway. Just don't pull in front of them or you will get run over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wab Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 I have been involved in three rear end accidents in the last two years. Each time I was stopped but the person behind me was so close they couldn't stop in time and hit me. One time the guy took off but I caught up to him at the next light. In my personal opinon I don't think it has anything to do with what your driving..Its the people in a hurry or on their phones. The bigger problem I see is some of the truckers on the highway. Just don't pull in front of them or you will get run over. "I see is some of the truckers on the highway. Just don't pull in front of them or you will get run over" Or motor homes, especially gas powered motor homes.You've seen 18 wheelers smoking their tires when someone pulls in front of them and slams on their brakes.NOT GOING TO HAPPEN with a gasser MH, these things WILL NOT STOP!!! :runaway: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaDadMiami Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Since switching to a Hybrid, I see the road in a whole new way. I never realized just how aggressive so many drivers become on the roadways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hybridbear Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Since switching to a Hybrid, I see the road in a whole new way. I never realized just how aggressive so many drivers become on the roadways.Mineeapolis isn't too bad for tailgating. We were in Miami 2 weeks ago and we couldn't believe how ppl drive there!! They all tailgate! And they wait until the last second to brake and then they slam on their brakes. We couldn't believe how many accidents we saw on sunny days with dry roads! It was insane! Coming back from that trip made me appreciate MN drivers more and made me realize that the tailgating and other issues here aren't that bad in comparison with Miami and potentially other places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScubaDadMiami Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 Mineeapolis isn't too bad for tailgating. We were in Miami 2 weeks ago and we couldn't believe how ppl drive there!! They all tailgate! And they wait until the last second to brake and then they slam on their brakes. We couldn't believe how many accidents we saw on sunny days with dry roads! It was insane! Coming back from that trip made me appreciate MN drivers more and made me realize that the tailgating and other issues here aren't that bad in comparison with Miami and potentially other places.It is an adventure to drive around here, for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe Posted March 22, 2014 Report Share Posted March 22, 2014 When a driver is tailgating me, I slow down to or slightly below the speed limit. Within a few seconds, the tailgater will whip into the left lane and pass me. I never look at them as they pass me. I'm sure they are giving me the finger or staring in anger, but I never acknowledge them - which probably drives them even crazier. ptjones and robertiv 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptjones Posted March 23, 2014 Report Share Posted March 23, 2014 When a driver is tailgating me, I slow down to or slightly below the speed limit. Within a few seconds, the tailgater will whip into the left lane and pass me. I never look at them as they pass me. I'm sure they are giving me the finger or staring in anger, but I never acknowledge them - which probably drives them even crazier.On two lane road you can turn your turn signal on and they back off or go around you after a few times. LOL :)Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fbov Posted March 24, 2014 Report Share Posted March 24, 2014 You have attributed conditions to villainy that simply result from stupidity. (Heinlein) Oddly enough, I am a Heinlein fan and have been for 60 years. I think I've read most of his books, but don't remember this quote. Where did it come from?I did a search for "quote: never attribute to malice" as I'm more familiar with Hanlon's version than Heinlein's. Per Wiki:In 1996, the Jargon File entry on Hanlon's Razor noted the existence of a similar quotation in Robert A. Heinlein's 1941 short story "Logic of Empire"[2] ("You have attributed conditions to villainy that simply result from stupidity"), with speculation that Hanlon's Razor might be a corruption of "Heinlein's Razor".[ Since switching to a Hybrid, I see the road in a whole new way. I never realized just how aggressive so many drivers become on the roadways.Amen, Brother! This car's been a real look in the mirror... it's why I tend toward low-powered cars; a 1.8L 8V BMW is enough to get me in trouble... Have fun,Frank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAZ Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 Since this has gone viral, many of you may have seen it already. For those who haven't: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3XqZoaWKv2k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.