Would you drive a Hybrid if it didn't have the sticker on the back?

Question

You know the sticker - the one that identifies the car as a Hybrid. How important is this sticker to you?

Would you buy a hybrid without this sticker? Is it important to you to show your friends you 'care' about the environment, or do you drive a hybrid because it's doing what you think is right?

What if someone stole this sticker from your car? What would you do?

Answer 1

This is a great question, Doc.

Perfect timing, too. Ford just released a commercial featuring an eco-conscious little twerp directing her dad to drop her off a block from her final destination because it's a tremendously enlightened part of town.

Ultimately, Dad wins her over by assuring her that his new ride was indeed a Hybrid. Alas - she could be seen with Dad after all.

I personally just bought a 4-cylinder Honda. Although it gets great mileage, I'm going to have to look into one of those decals to maintain my children's love.

Answer 2

Yes, I would drive and buy a hybrid without the sticker, but the question is irrelevant. Hybrids are the new kids on the block, therefore auto manufactures advertise the fact that they are more efficient and environmentally friendly than other cars (even though some are not, i.e. performance hybrids). Having said that, I like my Hybrid Synergy Drive decal. It's my anti V-8 logo.

In the end, I know I'm doing what I can to be responsible not only to the environment, but also to my fellow human being (even though some of them don't return the favor).

BTW...my Prius is rated at 295 lb-ft of torque on the electric motor alone (as much as some V-8 engines alone). Electric is the future.

Answer 3

Doc,
You're getting a lot of 'mileage' out of this question (six questions in all). Yes, I would drive a hybrid without the sticker, and it is not at all important to me personally. I had never had the experience of driving a hybrid until receiving one for work, a little Escape. I found it a nice ride, a little tight, but I've grown to like it.
Would I buy it without the sticker? Sure. Stickers are mere decorative fittings, the same as logos and pinstripes and chrome. I have long found it annoying that people have such fixations on such things. I haven't seen a brand of car that has produced a little good or a little bad in their line ups, so to buy solely on make is blind response to marketing hype.
If the sticker price comes down enough, I would make my next purchase a hybrid because I believe we should be careful with all our resources, and my life reflects my beliefs. We all share this world together so we should have an attitude of responsibility toward it. At the same time, I have needs of other sorts that I must consider when budgeting so my car purchases have to reflect my personal reality.
If someone were to steal the hybrid sticker off of a car that I had purchased, I would be disapointed in them for the lack of principle, and I would have the piece restored to preserve the retail value of the vehicle prior to selling it when it came time to upgrade (hopefully) to an electric car, because I take care of what I have. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

The sticker is not to show it is a hybrid...it is to allow people to drive in the carpool lane with only the driver. Actually the stickers are gone...it was only a time limited promotional incentive to get people to buy them...anyone buying a hybrid now does not get a sticker, but they are still selling like crazy. Can't believe all the misinformed people here that think the sticker is some sort of "symbol"! This sticker also allows you not to have to pay meters in some cities.

Answer 5

Not sure what sticker you're talking about. Toyotas have a 'hybrid synergy drive' indicator. Some cars also get the sticker to allow them in the carpool lane, but the DMV ran out of those before I got my Prius.

I don't really pay attention to the markings on the car, and yes I would still drive my car without any markings whatsoever. I do think it's good for people to be able to see that cars are hybrids (for example, the hybrid version of the Civic has a metal 'hybrid' label), because some people are more influenced by popularity than anything else. The more people are driving hybrids, the better for the environment and human health (and not just because of greenhouse gas emissions).

Answer 6

I couldn't care less about the sticker. I'll buy a hybrid (or electric car) when they have at least 800 foot-pounds of torque at the rear wheels (and, even then, people driving behind me will spend more time looking at my wheelie bars than any hybrid sticker).

Answer 7

My first car was a 69 chevy short bed step-side. When me and my brother painted it we took off all the markings, bondo-ed the holes and painted the whole thing seamless glossy black. Wheels, bumpers, everything. Cool.

Would you drive your hummer if someone stole the logo? Or would you drive straight to the dealership in a rage and have it replaced?

And if I had money to burn I'd buy a telsa, which at 200 ft/lbs is good enough for me.

edit:
Today I drive a toy car gokart that gets 38 mpg on a bad day.

My work van is a 20 year old white trash pos with mismatched body parts and a rusted roof, but, it has a rebuilt engine and drive train, always has new tires and brakes and runs like a top. And if I ever break down and decide to get it painted, send me to the funny farm. That answer your question?

Answer 8

I don't care about the sticker. I am saving $400 a month. That's because I commute 55 miles to work and 55 miles back. The SUV I sold cost me $550 a month in gas. Now I pay $150 a month. Its a Pruis. I laugh at the idiots who have to fill up at $80 or $90 each time. I now have money for more important things then to show the world how macho I am by driving a tank. The environment was not the reason for my purchase.

Answer 9

Hmm... Love your question. Had to think about it but my answer is still NO, NO and NO. Why would I want to drive a car that looks like a p.o.s. if no one knew it was a hybrid? (I mean of course besides to save the environment *staring at the floor in shame* Also, I do think most people could still recognize some of the hybrids without any sticker.) Then again, if the cars I normally drove were lame then no, what would I would care.

Answer 10

You gave me an idea. I will sell stickers that say 'Hybrid'.

It will be like putting security system signs around your house instead of buying a security system.

I'll get on for my '86 Mercury and '62 Buick.

Neil, you may laugh at the guys who pay $80 to fill up, but I laugh at you for having to commute over 100 miles per day.

How is THAT helping the environment?? How much could you EARN in that two hour commute??

Answer 11

I'd buy a hybrid car if I could afford it - with or without the sticker.