Damn Hybrid Drivers!
Discussion
Tell me something: Do all hybrids come with a manual with instructions to the drivers "how to drive your hybrid slow in the left lane and p
s off other drivers"
Every day I am driving I encounter a bout of congestion on the road, and when the morons finally figure out that the pedal on the right side, when depressed an inch makes the vehicle they are in go faster, and I finally get to the source of the congestion, it is always a toyota prius in the left lane with some jack-off putting along at a dangerously slow speed. I dont know what it is with people and thinking in general the left lane is the slow lane. (in the U.S.) that is. Its almost as if they failed to see that rule in the drivers handbook. I seriously want to make a sign that at the hit of a button will spring up over my rear window that says 'MOVE TO THE RIGHT LANE YOU PIG!"
If I were a policeman, I would crack down hard on those driving half the speed limit, especially in the wrong lane. I believe that those who drive significantly slower than the posted speed limit cause a greater risk than those who speed. Agree?
s off other drivers"Every day I am driving I encounter a bout of congestion on the road, and when the morons finally figure out that the pedal on the right side, when depressed an inch makes the vehicle they are in go faster, and I finally get to the source of the congestion, it is always a toyota prius in the left lane with some jack-off putting along at a dangerously slow speed. I dont know what it is with people and thinking in general the left lane is the slow lane. (in the U.S.) that is. Its almost as if they failed to see that rule in the drivers handbook. I seriously want to make a sign that at the hit of a button will spring up over my rear window that says 'MOVE TO THE RIGHT LANE YOU PIG!"
If I were a policeman, I would crack down hard on those driving half the speed limit, especially in the wrong lane. I believe that those who drive significantly slower than the posted speed limit cause a greater risk than those who speed. Agree?
Perhaps they are seeking gratuities, you know as in an expected payment from passing strangers in recognition of them doing their current task not that proficiently.
Notices thread already not going as OP intended.
Waits for von-clones with "a limit is a limit not a target."
Notices thread already not going as OP intended.
Waits for von-clones with "a limit is a limit not a target."
Edited by F i F on Friday 18th February 06:36
ESOG said:
If I were a policeman, I would crack down hard on those driving half the speed limit, especially in the wrong lane. I believe that those who drive significantly slower than the posted speed limit cause a greater risk than those who speed. Agree?
No, I think those impatient people who react badly to people who drive significantly slower than the posted speed limit cause a greater risk than those who speed. Overtaking in stupid places is dangerous, driving slowly is, in itself, not (except maybe in the extremes, I wouldn't recommend doing 20mph on an unlit motorway). ESOG said:
Tell me something: Do all hybrids come with a manual with instructions to the drivers "how to drive your hybrid slow in the left lane"...
No, but they probably should. You know, to keep them away from the right lane.Interstingly (or probably not) I see a good few Priuses's bombing about in the right lane like their batteries are on fire these days. Probably rep cars given to salespeople who are more used to their 3 series.
Hybrids driving slow? Phah, what I see is Toyota and Honda hybrids driving down the motorway at 90+MPH. Now I would defend the right for someone to drive what they want, but I do think that it somewhat defeats the whole damn idea of a lean, clean and high MPG car in the first place!!! Drive it like you stole it and you get no advantages over a better, nicer and smoother car! I still remember the test of a Prius against an M3 - the M3 turned in better MPG when it was following the Prius at full chat.
Bloody misguided fools.
Bloody misguided fools.
off_again said:
Hybrids driving slow? Phah, what I see is Toyota and Honda hybrids driving down the motorway at 90+MPH. Now I would defend the right for someone to drive what they want, but I do think that it somewhat defeats the whole damn idea of a lean, clean and high MPG car in the first place!!! Drive it like you stole it and you get no advantages over a better, nicer and smoother car! I still remember the test of a Prius against an M3 - the M3 turned in better MPG when it was following the Prius at full chat.
Bloody misguided fools.
It has a huge advantage over other cars. You pay less company car tax.Bloody misguided fools.
And to be fair, I think the test you mention was on Top Gear, who are well known to simply lie about such things (no idea if that was the case in this test, though).
kambites said:
It has a huge advantage over other cars. You pay less company car tax.
And to be fair, I think the test you mention was on Top Gear, who are well known to simply lie about such things (no idea if that was the case in this test, though).
Each to their own I suppose, but for the cost of my dignity, any form of enjoyment of driving and a few quid a year - I would hate to have a Prius as a company car! And if there are two reasons for getting a Prius - low car tax and better fuel economy, driving like you stole it eliminates the fuel economy! So IF car tax is the prime reason to get a Prius it doesnt stack up.... And to be fair, I think the test you mention was on Top Gear, who are well known to simply lie about such things (no idea if that was the case in this test, though).
off_again said:
Each to their own I suppose, but for the cost of my dignity, any form of enjoyment of driving and a few quid a year - I would hate to have a Prius as a company car! And if there are two reasons for getting a Prius - low car tax and better fuel economy, driving like you stole it eliminates the fuel economy! So IF car tax is the prime reason to get a Prius it doesnt stack up....
And you'd get how much enjoyment out of its conventionally powered competition? Is it really any worse to drive than an Insignia, for example? And anyway, you're not talking about a small amount of tax. The difference to company car drivers can be many hundreds of pounds a year.In my experience most drivers don't enjoy driving and wouldn't notice that an M3 handled better than a Prius, let alone that a Mondeo does.
kambites said:
off_again said:
Hybrids driving slow? Phah, what I see is Toyota and Honda hybrids driving down the motorway at 90+MPH. Now I would defend the right for someone to drive what they want, but I do think that it somewhat defeats the whole damn idea of a lean, clean and high MPG car in the first place!!! Drive it like you stole it and you get no advantages over a better, nicer and smoother car! I still remember the test of a Prius against an M3 - the M3 turned in better MPG when it was following the Prius at full chat.
Bloody misguided fools.
It has a huge advantage over other cars. You pay less company car tax.Bloody misguided fools.
And to be fair, I think the test you mention was on Top Gear, who are well known to simply lie about such things (no idea if that was the case in this test, though).
kambites said:
And you'd get how much enjoyment out of its conventionally powered competition? Is it really any worse to drive than an Insignia, for example? And anyway, you're not talking about a small amount of tax. The difference to company car drivers can be many hundreds of pounds a year.
In my experience most drivers don't enjoy driving and wouldn't notice that an M3 handled better than a Prius, let alone that a Mondeo does.
Errr, :cough: not quite.In my experience most drivers don't enjoy driving and wouldn't notice that an M3 handled better than a Prius, let alone that a Mondeo does.
Ford Focus 1.6 TDCI is a 13% BIK hit and about £940 a year (40% tax payer)
BMW 318d ES is a 13% BIK hit and about £1,320 a year (40% tax payer)
Ford Mondeo 1.6 TDCI EcoBoost Zetec S is about £1,100 a year (40% tax payer)
VW Golf 2.0 TDI Bluemotion (140BHP) is about £1,200 a year (40% tax payer)
And as a comparison:
Skoda Octavia 2.0TDI 170 VRs is about £1,600 a year (40% tax payer)
Yet a Prius is:
Toyota Prius T-3 (not the top of the range!) is a 10% BIK hit and is about £830 a year (40% tax payer)
Or to put that into perspective - between £110 and £770 a year different (or around £65 a month for the most expensive, to £9 a month for the Focus).
Big difference in BIK tax? Hardly. If you need to save £50 a month on tax, I can think a number of different things you can do before you need to start resorting to using a Prius! And you cannot argue that any of the cars above are dull. And all are SIGNIFICANTLY better to drive than the Prius. In fact, the Prius is singled out as being particularly dull and nasty to drive in the first place.
Well yes, but then you'd have to drive a diesel. 
Obviously I wouldn't buy the Prius, bit I can fully understand why someone would.
I must admit I don't understand the venom towards the way the Prius drives. It's not going to set the world alight with its handling, but it's no worse than is typical for a Toyota hatchback.
Obviously I wouldn't buy the Prius, bit I can fully understand why someone would.
I must admit I don't understand the venom towards the way the Prius drives. It's not going to set the world alight with its handling, but it's no worse than is typical for a Toyota hatchback.
Edited by kambites on Friday 18th February 10:15
kambites said:
Well yes, but then you'd have to drive a diesel.
Obviously I wouldn't buy the Prius, bit I can fully understand why someone would.
I must admit I don't understand the venom towards the way the Prius drives. It's not going to set the world alight with its handling, but it's no worse than is typical for a Toyota hatchback.
Sorry, in a pedantic mood today - damn customers.... Obviously I wouldn't buy the Prius, bit I can fully understand why someone would.
I must admit I don't understand the venom towards the way the Prius drives. It's not going to set the world alight with its handling, but it's no worse than is typical for a Toyota hatchback.
Edited by kambites on Friday 18th February 10:15
As a utensil, I am sure the Prius makes sense. And for those drivers who can make the best use of it, great. I am all up for choice too, but at the moment I am still not sold on them. I DO like the technology (sad techy geeky way), but I just dont see the overall benefits. If you need to save fuel and cost, I dont see that spending £22k on a new car is the way forward. How about £7k on one of those Aygo/C1 things which still get 50 to the gallon and trouser the spare cash? Or, how about cutting down on the amount you drive around?
Its something that I am struggling with at the moment - the washing machine is up for 3 years and the ich needs scratching. But then the fear of fuel prices in a few years hits and I find myself drifting to the more economical end of the car market. At which point, I question the reasoning for spanking £20k on a new car. I might as well pocket the £20k instead.
off_again said:
Toyota Prius T-3 (not the top of the range!) is a 10% BIK hit and is about £830 a year (40% tax payer)
Or to put that into perspective - between £110 and £770 a year different (or around £65 a month for the most expensive, to £9 a month for the Focus).
Big difference in BIK tax? Hardly. If you need to save £50 a month on tax, I can think a number of different things you can do before you need to start resorting to using a Prius! And you cannot argue that any of the cars above are dull. And all are SIGNIFICANTLY better to drive than the Prius. In fact, the Prius is singled out as being particularly dull and nasty to drive in the first place.
Have you driven a Focus 1.6TDCI Econetic? - I have, they're slow, and incredibly badly equipped.Or to put that into perspective - between £110 and £770 a year different (or around £65 a month for the most expensive, to £9 a month for the Focus).
Big difference in BIK tax? Hardly. If you need to save £50 a month on tax, I can think a number of different things you can do before you need to start resorting to using a Prius! And you cannot argue that any of the cars above are dull. And all are SIGNIFICANTLY better to drive than the Prius. In fact, the Prius is singled out as being particularly dull and nasty to drive in the first place.
In fact, you quote the T3 spec. Prius - well compare that to the Focus spec, the BMW ES spec etc - I think you get the picture - T3 is much better specced than the spec. you get from the competition in their lower spec. cars. I'd pitch T3 at around what you get from BMW in SE spec., without any options.
Anyway - £50 or more per month is a big contribution towards running a weekend toy - and why would anyone pay more tax to the government just to have a fancy badge on their company hack?
My company car is a tool to do the job - and I'm seriously considering an 'eco' option in October when it's replaced.
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