Not sure if others have experienced this strange phenomenon, but I find that many Prius drivers really seem to have something to prove in the presence of a Mini. They often tailgate me on the highway, and attempt to "accelerate" past me, often at supra-legal speeds. Wierd stuff. I've felt the need to downshift into 4th, drop the pedal and let the jcw howl on a few occassions, just to clarify things.

 

Nobody? Wow, I guess it must be the density of Priae around these parts. Seems like 1 in 10 cars here in the Peoples Republic.

 

Few Prius here in liberal Santa Cruz, and those that are don't exhibit the same behavior. Then again, on Hwy1 we're lucky to get to sub-legal speeds, much less supra-legal speeds...

 

Here in Miami we have a few Pruises (Old and new model) roaming around. I am happy to report that we both seems to have a peaceful coexistence.

The driver agresiveness phenomena you describe, has been duly noted on Porsche 911 owners, who have this compelling desire to frequently prove to us MINI drivers that thier cars are "it"

Yesterday I was driving up on I-95 in our '02 MC CVT and this idiot in a seemingly new Porsche 911 wanted me to race him . Anyway, thanks to the agile handling of the MINI and the Steptronic mode, I manage to keep him in my rearview mirror until he got really, really mad and floored the Porsche probably passing me at Hypersonic speeds.

In my honest opinion, Porsche and Corvette owners use to cars as thier official extension of their male organ.

 

Down here in LA LA land it is the VW drivers I find to be the most agressive. If I cruise by one on the freeway, and it is being driven by a recently post pubescent male, he seems to come down with a serious case of Rightum Leadus Footivae. Extra testosterone must be an available option at L.A. area VW dealers.

 

So far I've noticed it with guys in pickup trucks, Civics with coffee can exhausts, and Monte Carlo drivers who seem to think they're channeling Dale Earnhardt. Yahoos and/or kids, in other words. I have yet to encounter an aggressive Prius driver.

Mark

 

I wish there were aggressive Prius drivers in here in LA. My experience is that they drive as if pressing the go pedal would somehow add to their daily carb intake.

Besides, if they wanted to drive as if they were awake, they'd be driving a MINI.

 

So I guess it must be you!

Anyway, in the south bay, this doesn't seem to be the problem. It's more numb commuters making the left lanes crowded and slow.....

That being said, most of the Prius buyers get them because the DON"T want to race. They must all be he buyers kids out in the cars.

My mom had an EV-1, has a first generation Prius, and will have a 2nd generation in a week or two. Watch out for the onslought of the hybrids! Electric motors make full torque at 0 RPM. There's something to be said for that!

The EV-1, although all electric, did 0-60 in 7.0 sec, all while sounding like a Jetsons flyer!

Matt

 

Daily carb intake! Bwahahahahaha!!! Oh, this post made my day! Too funny! Now, excuse me whilst I go eat more bacon!


Clover

 

We don't have many Prius about here only one that I see in the parking lot at work. A super ugly car, has anyone else noticed that they look like an Aztek sedan.

 

It must be the "Prius Sux" bumper sticker on your Mini.....

 

In the D.C. area we have many prius owners and rather than go fast I find them all rather slow. I have a good friend who is a prius owner and he is always trying to hit hybrid nirvana (sp?) whereby he attains the magical 60mpg.

 

Face it, you just have weird friends!

And before you say it.... I long ago accepted and became proud of my weirdness!

 

This is a great thread because I have an '05 MCS and my wife has an '04 Prius. She never drives my car, (she took he sister out once in it and said it was too quick for her). I often have to drive the kids to school in the Prius, (3 kids and the neighbor's kid).

While I prefer my MCS over the Prius, the Prius will scoot if pushed. The handeling is like the '95 ThunderChicken we had, (289ci V8 LX).

When we go out on the road, (to Atlanta or a Sunday drive or the "Tail of the Lizard", (Pine Mountian GA)) we always take Sting.
When puttering around town, we take ET, (Electric Turtle).

 

I have a friend who just bought a Prius. He had to wait about eight months to get it, had to pay a lot over sticker, and couldn't get the options he wanted. He likes it, though, which I suppose is the important thing.

Mark

 

Not to many Prius around here,but the VW owners seem to love to pass me on the highway,then slow down so they get to be in front.I let them unless they slow me up,they might as well clear the deer and other critters out of my way

 

There is a reason Click and Clack had "Jetta Mail"....

 

I actually never realized the extent to which I associate and befriend REALLY weird people until I met you

But I have always said, a weird friend is better than no friend at all :smile:

 

Likewise!

 

A great notion (and slogan)! Imagine drivers trying to average 60 mpg instead of mph. If improved fuel economy would require driving with greater distances between cars (to reduce having to brake and accelerate) then there would be a lot more room in between for rushing MINIs to weave in, out and around.

As for the unrushing MINIs they could be driven as if in the hybrid nirvana mode. I love it. Hybrid nirvana and 60 mpg vs. 60 mph. NAM is awesome.

 

Around here Prius seems friendly. Anyone who is conserving is good in my book. Anyhow, the real @ssholes around here are the ricers and Hummer 2 drivers. Talk about compensation.

 

I had that problem with somebody driving a Camaro last night. So I don't think it's the car. Just some people out there with low self-esteem and have something to prove to themselves.

 

Hmmm, libertine political frustration perhaps?

 

Here in Guatemala the great majority drive agressively. The worst are bus and truck drivers who normally have sub-standard equipment which makes life interesting.

No Prius here and no market for them. The good thing about the MINI is while people really like its looks, it is basically non-threating! And, of course, with about eight or ten new MINIs in the country, most people haven't seen them.

Saludos