Saturday, September 26th, 2009...11:41 am
#157: Don’t Drive A Prius
Before I get warmed up here, let me run outside and take a picture of my car:
Yep, that’s a Prius, the kind of car you think is really cool if you’re Larry David, or Ellen DeGeneres, or Ted Danson — if you are, in other words, someone old.
Even my 26-year-old daughter thinks Priuses are pretty cool. But my 16-year-old son, not so much — I mean not so very much.
He’s not alone, either. Among the kind of young kids who are automobile tastemakers, driving a Prius is tantamount to driving a Buick or an Oldsmobile. Yes, it’s really that bad. The Prius stands for good sense, and eco-consciousness, and responsible citizenship, all those things that are synonymous with sedate middle age.
I was at the local high school one rainy day and saw my friend’s son Ajani standing there, hood over his head, looking fearfully at the sky. I asked him whether he wanted a ride home and he said yes, but then he disappeared. He disappeared for so long I nearly left without him.
But finally he emerged from a knot of kids and climbed dripping into my front seat. “I’m sorry that took so long,” he said. “All my friends were teasing me about taking a ride in a Prius and I had a lot of explaining to do.”
What kind of car do you drive? What’s its image? And do you give a shit?
6 Comments
September 26th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
My husband and I each drive a Prius. (What’s the plural of Prius? Prii?) I like getting mid-40s in gas mileage and not polluting the air (as much). I don’t care whether there is anything to global warming or not, I still think it’s a good thing to not be a wasteful polluter. Oh, and the “stealth mode” in the grocery store parking lots makes it fun to sneak up behind idiots walking in the middle of the road! hehehehehehe
September 27th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Hilarious, Pam. Have been loving the book, too. Cheers to you and your Prius (and to sexy old Bruce, too).
L
September 29th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
well, I know a lot of 22-27 year olds who drive a Prius or really want to. and frankly, I’d rather be that age than 16 anyway. while I can sort of get behind the idea in the blogs title, is 16 really the age you should act to be not old? Did you like being 16 that much? really? Cuz I’m kinda loving the 20s so much more. if that makes me old, I guess I have to go with the don’t really give a shit.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
In the words (or word) of many twentysomethings, Yay! I love the don’t give a shit option.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Wow, just checked the car comments over on the HNTAO facebook group — very opinionated — check it out! http://www.facebook.com/pages/How-Not-To-Act-Old/95595538366?v=wall&viewas=516499913
October 9th, 2009 at 9:34 am
I’m surprised, as I thought the new young generation was supposed to be so eco-conscious. Of course, you have to remember that for a 16-year old it doesn’t matter WHAT you do or drive, somehow it will embarrass him or her.
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