Is it just me?

[spotty4]

Is it just me, or are there others out there that feel a social stigma associated w/ driving hybrid vehicles? Outside of its "green" nature, I feel like the Toyota Prius is a social icon, one that owners tend to hold over the heads of drivers of legacy vehicles.

I feel like Honda has less of this stigma associated w/ their hybrid campaign b/c they've simply created hybrid versions of their tried and true best sellers.

Ford has even done the same thing, for the most part, w/ their inconspicuous hybrid symbol above the rear bumper. However, Ford has been on their marketing high horse lately w/ their tag lines "Most fuel efficient SUV on the planet."

In any event, I saw a Ford hybrid commercial this morning that I just LOVE! It really addresses all that I've just laid out in the preceding paragraphs. Driving a hybrid vehicle should not be recognized as a social stigma. It should simply be viewed as a good steward of the earth.

YouTube - Father daughter Ford Escape Hybrid Ad

[Hokuspocus]

I have a prius and the only thing people say (if they say anything at all) is to ask what kind of gas milage we get and if we like it. I heard (not positive) that if you have a hybrid in Albuquerque you can park downtown for free, and if you buy one in NM you don't have to pay sales tax!

[AnneCaitlin]

Personally, I've always thought of hybrid SUVs to be somewhat of an oxymoron. The Ford escape hybrid gets comparable mileage to my corolla.

As for the Prius being a status symbol, I personally see it not so much as a symbol of status, but as a symbol for the new green movement. If people want to buy a hybrid car and show their environmental awareness, many might choose to purchase a car that embodies that movement (as a result of popular culture), not one that looks like every other car.

[AnneCaitlin]

oh! here's an article from the NYTimes that discusses consumer's purchasing decisions regarding hybrids...(from 7/4/07)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/bu.../04hybrid.html

[Hokuspocus]

I'm with you...any suv hybrid is an oxymoron (or truck for that matter I think chevy has one) Really the only reason I bought the pruis is because it wasn't that much more than the civic (which is what I used to have) and its really good on gas...so I spent a little more on the car and less on gas..I guess it probably evens out....

[madlibs]

Whenever I see a Prius I think, "That lucky punk!" I never really think of them as treehuggers, UNLESS they have bumper stickers making snide comments about other cars on the back of their's. The other day I saw a personalized plate that read GRN CAR. DH and I both made fun of that driver.

I'd love to have a Prius... but for reasons other than saving the Earth: I'm cheap! I love saving money on anything I can, especially gas. DH and I bought a new car this last year. We looked at some used Priuses (Prii? ), and didn't buy it because of its unknown longterm reliability. We went with a VW turbo diesel instead. Still gets 50+ mpg on the highway, but obviously not as good for the environment as a hybrid.

[SeatClutcher]

Originally Posted by AnneCaitlin

Personally, I've always thought of hybrid SUVs to be somewhat of an oxymoron. The Ford escape hybrid gets comparable mileage to my corolla.

Agreed.


The SUV craze started sometime in the 90's with the ugly-as-sin Chevy Blazer and hasn't stopped, when stopping it would probably be a better way to combat the car part of the problem than would pretending SUVs can actually be "environmentally friendly."

(People who get SUVs don't use them right, anyway - I can't tell you how many SUVs I've seen slow to a near stop to go over bumps in the road, and this when commercials advertise them as all terrain! I think SUVs are to non-adventurers what sports cars are to men with small pe... personalities. [/suv rant])

As to the social stigma in the first post - never noticed. Hm. But maybe because I'm not part of the clique...? I'll let you know when I get a hybrid.

[flygirl813126]

We have a turbo diesel as well. We love it becasue of the mileage. My DH looked into lots of cars and knew that the VW had good long term reliability I drive a civic (non-hybrid) and still like the mileage. That is why we drive what we do, to save on gas.

[jr_lenz]

Originally Posted by SeatClutcher

Agreed.


The SUV craze started sometime in the 90's with the ugly-as-sin Chevy Blazer and hasn't stopped, when stopping it would probably be a better way to combat the car part of the problem than would pretending SUVs can actually be "environmentally friendly."

(People who get SUVs don't use them right, anyway - I can't tell you how many SUVs I've seen slow to a near stop to go over bumps in the road, and this when commercials advertise them as all terrain! I think SUVs are to non-adventurers what sports cars are to men with small pe... personalities. [/suv rant])

As to the social stigma in the first post - never noticed. Hm. But maybe because I'm not part of the clique...? I'll let you know when I get a hybrid.

hey there!...I am an SUV driving momma. and that IS ONE BIG STERO TYPE and a little mean, I will leave it at that. But I will tell you that we have driven the wheels off of ours, and yes we use it off road, to haul/pull, carry large dog, the whole teams gear and 6 sets of golf clubs.

[SeatClutcher]

Originally Posted by jr_lenz

hey there!...I am an SUV driving momma. and that IS ONE BIG STERO TYPE and a little mean, I will leave it at that. But I will tell you that we have driven the wheels off of ours, and yes we use it off road, to haul/pull, carry large dog, the whole teams gear and 6 sets of golf clubs.

Some get them and use them.

Many just want an SUV because it's the "thing" to have, for whatever reason. My mother, for example. She doesn't need it for anything an SUV would ideally be used for. No kids to haul around, she doesn't go camping, or go off-road, etc.

I can bust on my momma.

And, you're right. My comment sounded meaner than I meant it (I was a cab driver and love to drive - most of my gripes are about various drivers of various types of vehicles - don't even get me started on Buicks), and I apologize. No offense meant, and I certainly didn't mean to make an absolute statement about SUV drivers.

(Hey, I'm sure plenty of stuff is said about people over 30 who still drive beaters from the 90's. *shrug* Bring it on! )