But ignoring those vehicles, the Prius can whip the rest of the SUVs out there.

My timing could be bad, but I think this is a legit issue.

bee13 posted this at PriusChat...

First of all, I hope she somehow turns around....

New variation of an old problem: parents try hard to set a good example. In this case it's being green - driving a Prius, but daughter decides to ignore it.

If she was 46 and married with children, the "I need to haul people and things" arguement could hold water. Well, she is 26 and presumably single - not a soccer mom.

When the new generation is brainwashed by Detroit and peer pressure that a Honda Civic is underpowered and taboo for achievers - that's disturbing. I know - people will always do things to be "cool", but why can't it be redirected to something else? Smoking is not as chic as it was - a good thing.

Inconvienent Truth - many people don't actually "need" an SUV...it's very obvious in this example, but others have fig leaves - that's all.

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

Delta,

Gotta ask.......When, where and how is DETROIT doing this brainwashing? As you consider your answer, let me tell you why I phrase my question that way.....

"Detroit" automakers produce a full line of products, from sub-compacts to full sized utilities and commercial trucks and vans. Typically advertising is managed on a market segment by market segment basis. In other words, if GM, Ford, or DCX are looking to compete with a Honda Civic, the conversation will be driven by a comparison to a Chevy Cobalt, Saturn ION, Ford Focus, or Dodge Caliber, NOT a Tahoe, Expedition, or Durango.

Since all the Detroit automakers are full line manufacturers (as is Toyota, but not Honda), for them to disparage one segment of the market in favor of another would be self-defeating. It is true that Detroit automakers make more profit per vehicle from SUVs than from sub-compacts. The same is true for Toyota. Does that make Toyota equally guilty of "brainwashing"?

I do agree with you that the 26 year old in question is displaying a ridiculous response to societal imaging and pressure, but I think that pressure is coming more from the MTV genre and pop-culture status setting than from the automakers.

Peace,

Martin

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

martinjlm,

I'm aware that Chevy Cobalt, Saturn ION, Ford Focus, or Dodge Caliber exists, but the promotion seems to be for the bigger wheels. I am also aware of Toyota's latest big truck

By no means am I giving the consumer's choices a pass. You have corrrectly pointed out that popular culture is promoting the most gas-thirsty vehicles. I see it in the toy stores, MTV, the pro jocks....

Each successive generation has things better (we hope). Maybe it's getting older on my part, but it seems like the standard of "geting by" gets higher and higher.

Even with the "humble" Honda Civic, it went from a 40+mpg 1500lbs car to a 40+mpg 3000lbs car that goes 0 to 60 much faster - probably half the 1976 version. Make that 50mpg for the hybrid Civic.

One item that has not been discussed much on HOV lanes is people carpool less. Hope someone can get the stats but thought at least 80% drive to work alone. Families are getting smaller, but they have more cars. Roads have not kept up with increased traffic and seem to deal with it by choosing faster and/or bigger vehicles. Bigger vehicles exhasperates rush hour and road wear.

Movement has been made in Congress on requireing 35mpg fleetwide by 2020. Im aware that politics can work slow and awkwardly. Some of the true heavy haulers may get whacked on FE standards. I see this as a abrupt adjustment to address no progress on the 27.5mpg CAFE standards over the past couple of decades. Many could blame government for letting the light truck loophole stay open for many of today's problems. We it not for that, I predict Detroit would have protected it's share of the car market better and suffered less contraction.

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

Okay, I'm following everything you say here and pretty much agree withyour pov. I'm just still missing where the Detroit brainwashing thing is coming in. The Civic is an excellent car, and I don't think you'll find any instance where any of the domestic automakers try to disparage the car. The domestics do still make a lot of trucks and SUVs. That's because consumers are buying them, not because there's any brainwashing or subterfuge going on.

Peace,

Martin

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

That word "brainwashing" got Gov George Romney in trouble when he ran for President in 1968.

I'll rephrase and say I've noticed a lot more truck than car commericials from the domestic automakers. I've mentioned many consumers have been obsessed with supersizing their vehicles, and the light truck loophole that has not been remedied. Think that is three players mentioned and it has led to an average of 22mpg - not 35mpg vehicles in America as one bill seeks by 2020.

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

Thanks for that. I appreciate the clarification.

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues

I am NOT the official voice of GM with respect to Hybrid issues