As opposed to reviews regarding hybrid cars, owning one is not that simple. For most drivers of hybrid vehicles, it is not easy being the center of attention. This is proven each time they get behind the wheel.

Driving a hybrid is a personal statement; something similar to crossing the urges to buy a diesel Rabbit and a Mercedes SLK. You always want good mileage in a car that turns heads.

But out on the highways and byways, the heads being turned seem to lose those smiles on their faces. Whether through envy or just plain old unpleasantness, hybrid owners are generating their share of ire from the gasoline only drivers, or mono-drivers.

Here are some of the reviews about hybrid cars and the reality behind them.
1: Driving slow
2: Pulse and Glide
3: Refusing to inch forward
4: Drafting life away
5. Smiling at the service station
6. Sense of Superiority

zone-car.com

Never had a problem and I drive one.

Nonsense, you must have us confused with:

http://cleanmpg.com/

I think you need to head over to CleanMPG for your lamentation. But to answer point-to-point:

1. Driving slow - The short-cut streets and access roads have slower speeds and I drove at or just under the speed limit. This is how I've always driven so I can enjoy the trip and think about other things.
2. Pulse and Glide - I don't use it and my studies indicate it is of marginal use. It is fine on a limited access track or traffic free areas but otherwise, nonsense for practical driving in traffic.
3. Refusing to inch forward - BULL! Our electric motors creep forward very efficiently, silently and without noise or vibration. Owners of hybrid electrics know this to be a fact.
4. Drafting life away - Go to CleanMPG.com to speak or lecture to the drafting advocates. Heck, one of them once claimed we'd driven them off . . . but then we don't always see eye-to-eye about efficient driving.
5. Smiling at the service station - Waste of time, nonsense.
6. Sense of Superiority - only because we know the truth about hybrids.

No my friend, you've come to the wrong place. Visit CleanMPG.com.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Someone has been reading too many poorly written stories about hybrid drivers. Odd, I bought my TCH for fuel economy, safety and low emissions.
You would have to tailgate me to know the TCH was a hybrid. It hardly stands out.
Rubbish. Sounds like you are in your own reality. I drive slower in my F150 than I do with my TCH. Try pulling an extra tall/wide 2 horse trailer with an F150 and see if you drive fast!

Relax guys, all he wanted to do was get his signature posted, and get some traffic to his web site.

Um, have to disagree with you, Bob, as I actually do refuse to inch forward. My car turns off when I stop, and if I want to inch forward, I have to lose my AS. I guess the newer HCHs have an electric mode I don't have, or something. And a thread I was just reading included a post from a guy who liked to make comments in front of SUV owners at service stations about how great his gas mileage was. So there can be a bit of smugness out there.

I'm not saying that the critical opinions are warranted- if I don't inch forward, who am I hurting? 90% of the time, maybe more, it doesn't matter ONE BIT to the person behind me, since I start a bit earlier after the light changes and make up the space anyway.

Point well taken!

I sometimes forget the IMA systems have a different architecture and it does make sense for them to leave the space and simply 'move forward in parallel' with the vehicle in front instead of the 'one by one' move forward typically seen. When I drove a gas Camry, that is what I would do . . . wait even if the car in front creeped forward and then I accelerated at the same time they did . . . formation takeoff so to speak. But I wasn't turning off my engine in the Camry . . . just being lazy . . . and wanting to keep out the other car's exhaust cloud.

Oh well, Vive la difference!

As for educating SUV or pickup truck owners, heck, that isn't my job. I'm only at the gas station every couple of weeks and since I switched to Shell, there aren't a whole lot of other drivers around . . . not like the old days of using discount gas stations which sometimes even had lines. . . . <Alors!> . . . now you've given me another thought for the longest thread.

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Leah,
The HCH2 CANNOT inch forward without starting the gas engine, either. This is the Toyota hybrid method.

Steve

STOP terrorism - Drive a HYBRID

Vehicles:
350 miles a week ------------ 2006 HCH II, Magnetic Pearl, w/NAVI (born on May 25, 2006)
350 miles a month ---------- 2003 Mazda Tribute ES-V6
350 miles a year (for now) - 1986 Mercedes 560SL

Hi all... if you had some information, please share with me ok.
thank you

Thanks for clarifying!

[quote=nicokpe;138811]As opposed to reviews regarding hybrid cars, owning one is not that simple. For most drivers of hybrid vehicles, it is not easy being the center of attention. This is proven each time they get behind the wheel.

Driving a hybrid is a personal statement...]

Personal statement? Not me. I bought one mostly because I'm a 'techie' (EE by trade) and I liked the technology. I've found the car to be fun to drive and have not run into anything negative from other drivers. I do very little hybrid driving (or whatever you want to call it) and still manage to get 38-39 mpg. This and other features like the stereo and Bluetooth have made the 2-2.5 hours I spend driving every day bearable. Life is good.