If there are more of you out
If there are more of you out there like Dave and I, join us. We are the missing links that will bridge the gap between the so called car guys and tree huggers. There should be an understanding from car guys that there are people who's priority is too be efficient on their daily commutes and long road trips. If they choose the prius it's because it accomplishes that mission. Is it aesthetically pleasing? No. But it's functional. If cars were athletes you could consider it a marathon runner among sprinters. On the other hand, tree huggers and fuel sippers should understand that just like everything in life, people find a thing which they tie their emotions to. To many people a car is an extension of themselves and to insult their cars is to insult them. I've been fortunate to own a ranger, bmw, and Porsche, among other cars and they all have something unique to offer. Going fast and going through fuel doesn't make you a car guy. Being a car guy is someone who appreciates and finds beauty in an automobile. Whether your car has a sporty look, feels one with the road, sounds like a monster, or has some cool technology/drivetrain system, if you're into it, you're a car guy. Remember, horses and carburetors were replaced. At some point gas powered and hybrid cars will be replaced completely. Who knows maybe even electric cars will be replaced. So what are we arguing about here? I think there is place where we can understand each other. If you're sitting there with your arms crossed because I'm not acknowledging the fact that some cars (particularly car guy stereotype cars) emit more pollution in the air than the prius or other fuel efficient cars do. Relax. It's naive to think that all these people that have enjoyed the sound of a burbling V8 or the howl of a flat six will just want to jump into a serene and somewhat low hum sounding (when in electric mode) prius. It's like asking someone that is jamming to rock to stop mid song and start listening to your favorite classical music at low volume. There is a transition phase and that is called the government putting hard regulations on car manufactures so that they use their ingenuity and create cars that could potentially be good for the environment, efficient, and fun to drive. We are already seeing it but it will take some time for costs to come down for the ordinary American to be able to afford one. One day we will all be, in a way, tree hugging car guys. We just won't know it.