Fun with SUV's - GreenHybrid

Earthling · #1 (**permalink**) 05-05-2007, 03:31 PM

I like to get side-by-side with an SUV at a red light with my Prius. I can't rev my engine, but when the light goes green, I leave the SUV in the dust!

It's great fun. The SUV driver is obligated to go past you, whatever the speed limit is. Of course, you have already slowed to a reasonable speed, and he still needs a while to catch up and go by you.

Macho man in his SUV can't stand to let a Prius go by him, but sorry, I'm faster than you!

Harry

spud · #2 (**permalink**) 05-05-2007, 04:06 PM

If I was in my F150 (a pickup) and you did this to me I would think you were trying to make up for something lacking. Excitement, fun...whatever....

I don't get it Earthling. Sorry!

Delta Flyer · #3 (**permalink**) 05-05-2007, 07:57 PM

I did a lot of that in 2001-2003 when 20-something guys in their F150s, Dodge Rams, etc. saw my Insight as "the 98-pound weakling" - they "lost" 80% of the time. These types are not known for thinking or understanding the lesson that at low speeds, electric torque is both stronger and instant.

I've pretty much moved on....besides gas is twice as expensive so fewer of them are racing.

I will admit to an idea all hybrids racing land barges until they go bankrupt - along the lines of Reagan's plan of bankrupting the Soviets in an arms race.

martinjlm · #4 (**permalink**) 05-06-2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

I like to get side-by-side with an SUV at a red light with my Prius. I can't rev my engine, but when the light goes green, I leave the SUV in the dust!

It's great fun. The SUV driver is obligated to go past you, whatever the speed limit is. Of course, you have already slowed to a reasonable speed, and he still needs a while to catch up and go by you.

Macho man in his SUV can't stand to let a Prius go by him, but sorry, I'm faster than you!

Harry

Interesting. Other than the 1995 -6 GMC Typhoon, the 2006 - 7 Chevy Trailblazer SS, and the 1st generation Dodge Durango V8 (pre-Hemi) I have not known of any SUVs built specifically for speed. I could "take" most SUVs off the line with a Saturn sedan. My guess is they probably didn't realize they were racing.

A lot of SUVs are built with a lot of horsepower, but they are tuned more for mid-range and high speed acceleration (for merging and passing), not off-the-line performance. My wife's Trailblazer has 270 some-odd horses. That's more than the 245 my '87 Corvette had. I probably don't need to tell you who'd win any stop light square-off.

Kinda reminds me of all the times guys in Ford Mustang V8's would do burnouts from the light if they were next to me and my Corvette. They apparently thought they had blown my doors off. I usually didn't really know (or care) that we were racing. But I'm sure sometime, somewhere, they were off telling their friends how they totally smoked a Corvette.

Peace,

Martin

wvujeb · #5 (**permalink**) 05-06-2007, 06:45 PM

People don't buy SUVs to race, so I'm not sure why you think this bothers people. Now if you burnt them off the line while towing a boat or something, that might be impressive and might make them mad. But, I don't see that happening in your Prius.

worthywads · #6 (**permalink**) 05-06-2007, 07:29 PM

^^^

I agree with what the last 2 posters said.

It's not a race if people that don't realize you're there.

Delta Flyer · #7 (**permalink**) 05-06-2007, 07:57 PM

Many of the problems on the road are ultimately behavior, and a lot of that is so many of us see driving as more than going from Point A to Point B. Too many drive competitely to be "top dog" - but aren't we supposed to be civilzed humans? - I wonder about that at times. There is also some that get carried away with the bling-bling...that often gets into excessive size and gas guzzeling. Again, I see people on the highways acting a lot like wild animals - seriously (dominance, posturing, bravado...)

I've gone thru stages. I let the racers get to me, then I had a time of taking pictures of poseurs obviously too full of themselves.

Today I try to put distance with the crazier drivers when I can. I avoid rush hour and Saturday evenings when possible, avoid the left side of the highway. Some still get on my nerves, probably always will.

I will likely speak in July on hybrids and fuel economy in my town. Like some members at a forum I currently help moderate, some of them are SUV and truck drivers. At least they are interested in starting to address fuel economy - eventually they may get a trimmer vehicle in the future (and if many were candid, it would be painless). For instance, I got a lift at the Live Green Expo in Plano, Texas from a Prius driver. She found out it was still roomy enough, even though she had a Lincoln Town Car.

Earthling · #8 (**permalink**) 05-07-2007, 05:43 AM

SUV drivers have for the most part bought in to Detroit's marketing schemes. Remember, SUV's are a fairly recent development. There was a time when SUV's didn't exist, and we all got by just fine without them!

Look at the adverstisements for SUV's: "Comfortably in Command," and the latest crop of ads from Daimler-Chrysler, which look like they are aimed at second-graders.

Beating SUV's and other testosterone-substitute vehicles with a Prius is a subtle joy, perhaps too subtle for many of you.

SUV's aren't designed for speed. Okay, what exactly are they designed for? To maximize profits of the Big Three, that's what. Most are never used to tow anything, and are basically extravagant examples of conspicuous over-consumption, supposedly symbols of prestige and performance. The reality is that they can't handle for crap, a Prius is faster and they do nothing but waste gasoline.

Harry

Delta Flyer · #9 (**permalink**) 05-07-2007, 06:13 AM

I essentially agree with Harry's assertion that SUV's were a insignifant part of US sales until the early or mid 1980s to exploit the CAFE loophole for light trucks.

Although rare, SUVs have been around for a long time. The Chevy Suburban came out in 1936, Internationals have been out for decades. Jeep's SUV in the 1980's basically kicked off the surge of these vehicles. The way most of them are used, they are overpowered. You don't need 4WD, big tires, and off roading capabilities for a station wagon.

spud · #10 (**permalink**) 05-07-2007, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

<snip>
SUV's...<snip>...Most are never used to tow anything, and are basically extravagant examples of conspicuous over-consumption, supposedly symbols of prestige and performance. The reality is that they can't handle for crap, a Prius is faster and they do nothing but waste gasoline. Harry

Earthling:

Couldn't the Prius be perceived as a symbol of extravagant prestige and performance? Especialy when stop light racing an SUV?

I guess I just drive my FEH because it does everything I need it to do plus conserves fuel and saves me $$$. That's sufficient. I just don't feel the need to prove I'm faster, better, smarter than someone else to validate my choices. Does that make sense?