When you see a hybrid car, what are your thoughts/opinions of the driver?

Question

I hate to generalize, but for the sake of this discussion, let's hear people's generalizations...I am interested in how people view those who drive hybrids (e.g. Honda Civic Hybrid, Toyota Prius).

How would you "stereotype" the average Hybrid driver?

Answer 1

A cool person who cares about the environment. A smart consumer willing to try a new product and lead others to a trend.

Answer 2

I view them as someone concerned about the environment who drives increadibly slow. Also, someone who is liberal.

That is what I used to believe because it is not just those type of people. As global warming becomes a concern, people across the political spectrum, and all walks of life, are buying them. Sales keep on increasing each year from this source: http://www.hybridcars.com/market-dashboard/dec06-us-sales.html.

Here are the great things of them while people can help the environment.
1. It has lower emmissions higher fuel economy than a conventional car, the most obvious.
2. They are the most reliable cars according to Consumer Reports. The oil changes are less frequent. The brakes don't wear out as much due to regenerative breaking which leads to more power for driving. I'm told that a hybrid may be more expensive by a few grand but the maintainence SAVINGS will be much larger, assumming it will be kept longer than a conventional one.
3. They don't have to be as small as the European compacts while helping the environment. The Prius is just as roomy as a Camry hybrid, and there is an Escalade hybrid along the way. The two-seater Honda Insight, one of the first cars, is out of production.
4. The can not only be gentler in the environment but muscular in performance than conventional ones. For example, eventhough the Lexus GS 450h is heavier, it has a faster acceleration 0-60 time of 5.2 secs compared to the GS 430, equally equiped, of 5.7. You can have both performance and do less environmental harm compared to the conventional version.
5. It can make construction easier. I know the Chevy Silverado hybrid can do it. Think of it, if there is a blackout, workers can use the extra power from the truck to continue building. Also, because that power source (truck) is mobile unlike an outlet from the wall, the workers don't have to carry an excessively long extention cord decreasing the number of trippings.

For me, personally, I like these hybrids a lot and I want the great fuel economy and lower emmissions WITHOUT sacrificing space, luxury, performance, and most importantly, reliability. This is now being done already.

Answer 3

Well... ecologically considerate, creative, non-conformist.
Also practical and forward-looking.
='?
Why? Hybrids are supposed to be environmentally safer and they're uncommon or maybe unpopular.(I'm not sure -- I'm in the Philippines). And, I don't know, probably pricier so those with extra money to spend get to buy the cars?
Practical: because they save on non-renewable energy source.
Forward-looking: because I reckon the technology is more advanced and is a prelude to coming techs.

They don't care much about performance I guess; it's more important for them to get to places safely and "properly".
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Anyway, I'm in the Philippines, and as far as I know, I haven't seen hybrids here on sale or in the streets... But if I go looking for a car, I'd probably be choosing among hybrids.
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This is one man's opinion. I wanna see more. That's an interesting question, btw... :')

Answer 4

Ahhh yes,
the quiet, yet social Prius is often found in small herds and often gathers with civics, but never anything with a scoop or fin or sound system that rattles their loose plastic interiors.
They are found surrounding cafes and campus lectures and beach clean-ups, but never near enough to the water to get sand in the muted gray-toned interior.
Their favorite watering holes are centralized in liberal college campuses and Teavana huts near, but never actually attached to, a strip mall or other civilized polluting mass-produced organsim. They transport creatures that attempt to sip white tea or all-natural energy shakes and tend to grow their hair a little too long and pull it back as if they don't put TOO much thought into their looks. The average hybrid avoids mud, rain, dirt, or tar flecks and tends to always choose the smoothest city pavement it can hunt down.
Generally, its pigment varies from Malibu Barbie baby blue to any creamy or faux-matallic hue. the metallics tend to pose as tougher creatures among the species and can occasionally be found lurking behind the fences of brown bag concerts, earthy pizza joints, and its inhabitants often smoke joints that are completely unrelated to pizza.

Over all, the hybrid is a gentle, even-tempered animal, never fights for the lead at a stoplight or battles for a close parking spot, but tends to settle for whatever it can find and be mellow and happy about its sad little life.

Answer 5

perhaps you should end reproducing. i'm drained of married those with 2, 3, 4, 5 youthful ones complaining about how they could't manage to pay for gas for the guzzlers, nutrients for his or her clutter of children, electrical energy, clothing, leisure, and so on. it is what takes position once you over-reproduce. i will admit, although, that i have self belief this type about those with "help the Troops" ribbons on their massive SUVs. i'd truly want to slap some reason into them. in case you want to help the troops, journey your bicycle or force a cheap vehicle. The conflict is about oil and money and ability, clone of your SUV, which enables create the project, no longer ascertain it.

Answer 6

I think "there is someone who has just paid $5,000 more (estimate) on a car for the hybrid model just to make them self feel like they are saving the environment that much more." I think it's dumb because the more mpgs your car gets (which means the money you save) doesn't equal the premium you paid for the hybrid until 5-7 years after you have bought the car.

Answer 7

I think they are obviously either worried about the enviornment, or the gas prices. Even though a lot of standard production cars out there have good miles to the gallon. I would say there are more old people or women driving them then men.

Answer 8

that they are "trying to prove something"...that is not necassarily bad, but I would wait till the more hip models came out myself. The one's buying now are buying first/second generation vehicles that will be the worst vehicles of the bunch..in hindsight. The next generation will get better and be more efficient so the ones buying now are only to show their support without concern for the mechanical efficiencies

Answer 9

People who drive hybrids have more dollars than sense.

Answer 10

I wonder what they look like naked.