First HUMMER, now Prius: Hybrids targeted by vandals, too
Vandals who mess with other people's cars are scum -- bottom-feeders who are beneath contempt. It doesn't matter what the vehicle being damaged is. Cars are a major purchase, there's often an emotional connection to them, and most importantly, they generally represent the owner's primary source of mobility -- getting him or her to work, to the store, to pick up the kids, and so on. SUV owners know the deal, and it sucks. Stories of drivers (and dealers) finding trucks partially or completely trashed in the name of saving Mother Earth are nothing new, and now it seems that Prius owners are getting their own taste of this nonsense. Inside Line reports that a recent Los Angeles case in which one of the Toyotas was burned to the ground has been determined to be the result of arson. In Petaluma, CA, meanwhile, seven Priuses were vandalized over a two-week period in April. One poor woman had her car attacked twice, and then when it was in for repairs, the Prius rental she had also got worked over. The conventional wisdom suggests that the Prius is a juicy target because it's a poster child for the environmental movement. And seriously, is this at all surprising? Some sort of anti-eco blowback like this was probably inevitable. People get fed up, so just as the HUMMER and other SUVs are targeted by greens looking to send a message, it was only a matter of time before the anti-HUMMER started getting the same kind of attention from the other direction.
What's it all prove? Nothing, except that asshats are readily found on both sides of every issue. If you don't like a particular car or truck, feel free to talk as much trash as you want (it's practically a sport in the comments section around here). Think the HUMMER represents some sort of rolling apocalypse? Fine. Ditto if you feel that the Prius is nothing but a snob capsule for tree huggers. Just don't turn those thoughts in to actions, because when you willfully screw with another person's car or truck, you're just another stupid criminal, and whatever message you think you're advancing just falls on deaf (and angry) ears.
[Sources: Inside Line, Prius Owners Group]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Torrent 12:50PM (9/07/2008)
If I were to ever get a Hybrid, I'd get something that didn't look anything like a Hybrid. Like a Malibu, Aura or Highlander.
Those Tahoe and Yukon Hybrids are going to get vandalized, too with H-Y-B-R-I-D scrawled across the bottom of their doors....
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mike 1:05PM (9/07/2008)
You may or may not have noticed that Neither of the Vehicles you'd get get a good MPG.
Torrent 1:37PM (9/07/2008)
Well 27 MPG for a 7 seater is pretty good, and a 3500 lb. sedan boasting almost 34 MPG is great, also.
KeatMP 2:55PM (9/07/2008)
@ vintage
You would....
VP 3:45PM (9/07/2008)
@ Vintage,
I am surprised mommy let you get on the internet during your nap time. What exactly are you proud of?
Vintage 5:24PM (9/07/2008)
You know, I've almost been killed by SUVs so many times, not even mentioning their horrible environment impact, that I definitely feel justified pooping on the hood of what has become the symbol of American excess.
Do H2s ever offroad? Sure, a small percentage of them do. The vast majority spend their lives as minivans, and considering how many times stupid SUV owners don't use signals, hog the left lane, park like idiots, and act like jackasses in general, they definitely deserve more excrement on their hoods. Screw H2s.
Ian 5:58PM (9/07/2008)
OMG so lets destroy them! PERFECT IDEA! Lets WASTE all the materials, energy and man power put into building them because someone has a different way of thinking than I do! PERFECT IDEA!
Marq 7:40PM (9/07/2008)
@Vintage...
Maybe it isn't the SUV's fault...maybe it's you. If you almost were killed several times by different SUVs...maybe you should think about that.
Torrent 10:08PM (9/07/2008)
Vintage. You get on my nerves. This is why I told you to never comment on a post again. People just give you thumbs down by default. They don't even read your posts anymore.
howard 12:47AM (9/08/2008)
The answer i will suggest to the problem of car bashers is 12 gage in the face! That should end it!
Tagg 1:04AM (9/08/2008)
Vintage:
I am sure glad it's only SUV's that cause problems on the road. Could you imagine if people driving WRX's drove like idiots?
They would probably look like the ass who passed me Friday comming home from work only to rear end another car! Yup, a person driving a sports car (that is hardly and enviromental daisy) mananged to pass me at over 100 mph and just a few miles later misjudged his speed and plowed an innocent driver. All in an effort to get his rocks off and say "I'm cool as poop on a H2"!
John 12:20PM (9/08/2008)
Vintage needs a diaper for his rear end in addition to his mouth.
David 12:57PM (9/07/2008)
Wow, i knew it was going to be only a matter of time before something like this was going to happen, In the words of Rodney King " Can't we all just get along?"
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Gstill 12:57PM (9/07/2008)
I can't imagine a burning lithium ion battery is too good for the environment.
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Mike 1:07PM (9/07/2008)
Its got to be almost as bad for the enviroment as the mercury and the mining for the Nickel in the batteries... ha!
Takeo 11:34AM (9/08/2008)
You're a moron Mike, how much nickel is there in a Li-Ion battery?
fixitfixitstop 1:51PM (9/08/2008)
Takeo, you should fact-check before you call anybody a moron.
The Prius uses NiMH batteries, not Li-Ion.
Mike 1:07PM (9/07/2008)
Is it an attack on the Smug Greenies or is it an economic based attack on the ultra foreign green cars versus the blue blooded American gas guzzlers?
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Kumail891 1:06PM (9/07/2008)
making a hybrid car hurts the environment more than using a car that uses petrol. and suv's are more likely to kill people.
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mike 9:21AM (9/08/2008)
I bet you will change your tune some time around 2025...........When GM Volt will go for sale.