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This may have happened to several of you as well.

I meet a hybrid driver in the parking lot, many even know them.

Complement them on their Prius or whatever.

Get into a friendly chat on what it can do.

It often ends with that person saying: "I just drive it" or similar comment in a somewhat defensive manner.

Need to emphasis I was NOT trying to put them on the defensive but reaching out to them.

Still, it's often as if I asked their weight, age, religion, or politics, etc.

Why?

Because they want it to be eaaaasssy :rolleyes:, they don't want to earn/work for their MPG, they just want to buy it ... but at least they didn't buy a FSP!

Isn't that the American way to solve a problem, throw money at it?

Happens with a lot of TDI owners I talk to. "Why would you want to add half an hour to your commute to save a few cents on fuel? Just drive it and actually have some fun with it." I don't think they totally understand the principles of hypermiling and think it's too much work.

With my commute I am probably not adding any time to my commute as there are several traffic lights. I see the other people speed past me only to stomp the brake and catch up with them at the light. I have pissed some people off by going slow, but there is a reson for the other lane.

I think there's some kind of "owners club" comradery going on between hybrid owners, but it's just an owners club, the members don't necessarily share the same philosophy of driving, they only share a love of the vehicle.

The comradery happens with all cars, I think. How often have you come out of the supermarket to find a car with identical make, model & generation parked right next to you? Came out of work the other day to find my gen 8 civic joined by three others, all in a row, EX-LX-EX-Si. I don't even know these people. There's plenty of parking closer to the building, it's a decent sized lot. But apparently they feel compelled group. There are these two Lexus LS's, the only ones in the lot, that are pretty much always parked right next to each other. Definitely something sociological going on.

I think there's some kind of "owners club" comradery going on between hybrid owners, but it's just an owners club, the members don't necessarily share the same philosophy of driving, they only share a love of the vehicle.

The comradery happens with all cars, I think. How often have you come out of the supermarket to find a car with identical make, model & generation parked right next to you? Came out of work the other day to find my gen 8 civic joined by three others, all in a row, EX-LX-EX-Si. I don't even know these people. There's plenty of parking closer to the building, it's a decent sized lot. But apparently they feel compelled group. There are these two Lexus LS's, the only ones in the lot, that are pretty much always parked right next to each other. Definitely something sociological going on.

Hah, happens with the wrx all the time. Yes I do it to other people too. Not too sure how often it happens with normal cars, but I guess it does.

Anyways, hybrids, I think before the expensive gas prices most hybrid drivers were probably genuinely interested in the technology and saving fuel part of it. I'm guessing after gas got expensive hybrid drivers just wanted a cheap to fuel car.

This may have happened to several of you as well.

I meet a hybrid driver in the parking lot, many even know them.

Complement them on their Prius or whatever.

Get into a friendly chat on what it can do.

It often ends with that person saying: "I just drive it" or similar comment in a somewhat defensive manner.

Need to emphasis I was NOT trying to put them on the defensive but reaching out to them.

Still, it's often as if I asked their weight, age, religion, or politics, etc.

Why?

I think it's because of the ignorant anti-hybrid people who think that hybrids are worse the environment than regular cars (usually FSPs) or let other people tell them what to think. These people put pressure on the hybrid owners, and some may resort to an instant defence, when asked about the car.

The amount of people that still think Hummers > Prius for the environment is enough....well it's not a good feeling.