The Genius of Prius

     The Prius is genius.

     I am not basing this conclusion on the car's revolutionary Hybrid Synergy Drive®, or its super clean Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle rating, or its designation by the EPA as a SmartWay Elite Green Vehicle.  No, I am basing this conclusion on the car's status as the only Cheap Acceptable Car®.

     Let me explain.  I live in a community.  As in any community, a set of common customs, folkways and mores bind us together.  Some of these are mandatory, such as those emanating from the CC&Rs embedded in our deeds, but most are optional.  We nevertheless tend to conform our behavior to these customs, folkways and mores because it affirms our commitment to our community. 

     For instance, when we moved into our community, my wife drove a minivan.  We quickly learned that, according to the customs of our community, minivans are driven by nannies and maids.  Wives drive big luxury SUVs or Mercedes wagons.  After a few months of answering questions such as "¿Habla inglés?" and "How much do they pay you?" my wife broke down and bought a Mercedes wagon. 

     At that time, I drove a Toyota sedan.  I happen to like Toyotas, what with their rock-solid quality and Spartan design, and though sports cars certainly appeal to me, I am realistic enough to appreciate that with my commute -- bumper-to-bumper traffic at speeds ranging from 0 to 20 miles per hour -- driving a Toyota or a Porsche is pretty much the same thing.  Or, even if the Porsche is marginally nicer to sit in and fume, it certainly isn't $50,000 nicer. 

     I was perfectly satisfied with my Toyota sedan until I started to get the looks.  People would stare at me as I drove by.  Lots of double-takes.  It is customary in my community to wave as one's neighbors drive by.  Few, if any, bothered to wave to me, certain, no doubt, that a community resident couldn't possible drive a Toyota sedan.  Some asked if it was a loaner.  At best, they concluded I was an eccentric cheapskate.  At worst, they talked of organizing a canned food drive for my benefit. 

     So I broke down and leased a BMW, quadrupling my monthly car costs.  It was either that or a Mercedes or a Porsche, the only acceptable car choices for men in my community at that time.  The sense of relief, for me and for my neighbors, was palpable.  They waved.  I waved back.

     Unfortunately, I'm not that happy with the BMW.  It's really complicated.  Perhaps for that reason, things break.  The rims are always covered in brake dust.  No interior storage.  One measly cupholder.  No iPod adapter.  People assume I'm an asshole.  Snooty service people at the dealer.  And, sitting in traffic, day in and day out, I feel guilty that I've reduced this Ultimate Driving Machine, designed for the freedom of winding mountain roads and the Autobahn, to the Ultimate Urban Stop-and-Go Crawler, a cruel fate indeed.  And a complete waste of its potential.  My BMW deserves better than me. 

     I don't need this.  And I'm pretty sure I don't need a Mercedes or a Porsche either.  So I'd like to downsize, but I don't want to draw the looks again.  This is where the Prius comes in. 

     Over the last year or so, I've noticed some of the richest members of my community driving the Prius.  They don't drive it because it's cheap, or sensible, no, they drive it because it confers a special sense of sanctimonious superiority.  "Look at the hardships I endure, driving this cheap-ass piece of crap Toyota, just to save your environment," they seem to be saying as they putter on by powered by a potent mixture of pious rectitude and reverse snobbery.  Behold the genius of the Prius -- the modern equivalent of sack cloth and ashes. 

     This is why the Prius is now an acceptable car in my community.  The only Cheap Acceptable Car®.

     Consumer Reports recently analyzed the economics of acquiring a Prius, concluding that the tax break and the gas savings weren't sufficient to compensate for the $5,000 difference between a Prius and a mere Corolla.  What Consumer Reports failed to account for is the $50,000 separating a Prius from a BMW or Mercedes or a Porsche.

     That difference doesn't matter to my richer neighbors, but it matters to me.  A lot.  I'd like nothing more than to spend less on my next car.  And now, thanks to the special status of the Prius, I can.

     And it's like they throw in the holier-than-thou halo for free.  What a deal!

     See also "Car Talk" (Oct. 6, 2004) and "The Bug" (Oct. 28, 2005).

Comments

[DarkoV]

Is the acceptability of the Prius in your my-rules-or-the highway community a possible result of the Larry David syndrome? You know, annoyance at one's fellow resident, but an environmentally-sound annoyance?
Personally, I would've invested in a pimped out low-riding, iPod equipped, 6 cup-holder equipped, neon purple Corolla.
Heavy-duty hydraulics, of course, to bounce around the neighborhood keeping the kiddies entertained and blowing the hairpieces off of the community's Automotive Superior Standard board.
But, that's just me, inventing how I'd be living your admirable life.

[robert]

Now there's a fine piece of social observation that will also save you some cash - a two-base hit for the frugal introvert. Grab a Prius ASAP. You've probably got two good years, maybe three, before they start making high-end hybrids and the boys in the wine club start looking down their noses at you again.

[R J Keefe]

California!

[communicatrix]

Dude, get out of that contract. Go back to the Corolla and outright ownership. Be the freak. Your kids will have a rough year or two; just consider it your "boy named 'Sue'" gift to them.

If you must drive high-end, get a Saab. Unless you live in Silver Lake, no one will be able to figure you out. And keeping 'em guessing more personally gratifying than recycling!

[MindSpin]

I'm a devoted mere Corolla owner, myself. Of course, I'd like to be a virtuous Prius owner, but $5K is $5K, and, after all, the Corolla doesn't look half bad in the high school staff parking lot. Really. I park it beside the Echo.

[Neil]

My wife just bought a Prius. Before that she drove an SUV (which she still has). To be honest, she bought the Prius less for environmental reasons than because you can use it to go in the carpool lane in California.

But it's funny how much "nicer" the neighbors have been to Sophia since driving her car -- of course, they don't know she's really a Republican! Drivers stop to let her through. People wave at her. That never happened in her SUV. There were always more honks than waves.

[Jen]

We got a Prius because we loved the geek factor (hangs head). It just seems more practical to idle on battery power than gas.

I hadn't thought about it, but yes, in the higher-middle-class suburb I live in, a Prius has cachet. That said, in the lower-income areas I hang out in, a Prius is Cool - despite announcing that "Yes, I have money for a new car".

And we still have hubby's old pickup for driving home remodeling debris to the dump.

[shank]

Don't suppose anyone caught that South Park epsidoe last night? Heh.

[Michael]

What are the *advantages* of this community that would recommend it in spite of this outrageous and ugly class consciousness?

I would have run screaming.