I really enjoyed reading this in the July Reader's Digest (page 186):

WILL THE REAL HYBRID OWNER PLEASE STAND UP?

Think you've got them pegged? The facts:
* 40% are Republicans, and 36% are Democrats.
* 21% live in the Midwest, and 31% in the Northeast. Just 16% live on the West Coast.
* 57% are over age 45.
* 49% don't have a college degree, and 35% make less than $40,00 a year.


It was fun to see where I fit in these statistics, because I too fit outside of the standard mindset of who own hybrids. Has anyone ever polled the visitors to this forum?

You could be the one to set up the same criteria as a poll. !

As a person that lives in Los Angeles, frequently travels to the East Coast, has relatives in the midwest, and has a personal "thing" for attractive female hybrid drivers, I can say the ONLY statistic above I agree with is that 57% may be over 45. It seems to me like the rest of the stats are completely made up. You don't happen to have a reference to where they came up with those numbers, do you???


e.g., 21% + 31% + 16% = 68%. Where are the remaining drivers? 32% live in the South?

Yes, this kind of poll has been done on this site in the past. But this site wouldn't be most representative of all the hybrid drivers.

I don't remember the source (other than the fact that the newspaper in question was a Brit-rag that had a vulture for an emblem), but it made a pretty cool observation: gays and lesbians were twice as likely to buy hybrids as straights.

I know that in baltimore, I see a huge percentage of the hybrids also displaying the rainbow stripe on the back (mine included, of course!)

The giant SUVs usually have bumper stickers extoling the virtues of endless war, gun-toting! Hunting, and other macho clap-trap.

I'm from Oklahoma, born in Stillwater and raised in Oklahoma City and Atoka. Where do you come from?

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.

There is a surprising, to me anyway, large number of drivers of Prius', Civic's and Escape's in this triangle from SE Virginia to Raleigh-
Durham to the Outer Banks. None of them has anywhere near the congestion of NY or LA or DC but in a 100 mi trip I bet I pass or see 3-6 hybrids.

Older with more disposable income was a definite demographic profile. Although now with discounts and a greater availability of basic models young marrieds are much much more frequently going toward hybrids. A $22000 family car that has gobs of room for 'family stuff' and only uses $50-$60 a month in fuel is a great decision.

Atoka? Only thing I ever got in Atoka was a speeding ticket!
I grew up in Chesapeake, VA.

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

Before hybrid?

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.

Yes, in 1988 or so, in a rented Lincoln Continental (smmooooth ride!). 4 in the car, I was driving at the time. (I had the first leg out of Dallas. Lucky me ) Cruising to Minnesota, on a tight time frame. 17-18 hours straight. Stopped for gas and bathroom breaks only.

I was doing 84 in a 55. Ouch!
We got 18 MPG for the trip, as I recall.

I can't say that I don't speed today, but it's certainly not of that high a caliber! I used to drive quite fast, back in the day (my 20s).

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

I am a proud hybrid owner and also a loyal supporter of our brave men and women in arms, own guns, hunt, fish, and like the good burp now and then. I am also an active supporter of the 1st amendment, and for that matter all the amendments especially the 2nd, 9th, and 10th.

Intollerance, encouragement of sterotypes and close mindedness are worse evils than being "macho" and as such are not limited to owners of SUV's.

R. Mark Owens - Casper Desert Mist