[Jeff Hail]

Buddy of mine has a Prius as a spare car, the mini van version also. Someone once told him when he first purchased the Prius that they were a "gay car". Growing up in the 1960's era of The Flintsones he always thought it was like "having a gay old time".

After a period of time passed some insecurity set in so he replaced all the Toyota emblems and logos with Honda emblems and logos. The original Toyo marques were actually stolen. He also has a license plate frame that states" My other car is a Toyota". The rolling joke plays on except for the wheel center caps as the only giveaway.

Now he says he gets more respect and people ask what model Honda it is? They also tell him how rude and poor drivers Prius owners are with impeding traffic by slowing down an entire freeway to see how great they have gotten at practicing regenerative braking technique. It has been published and noted "Prius drivers are the worst and least aware drivers on the road. Worse than Volvo drivers. People want to walk instead of drive a Prius!" Its like wearing Crocs to a formal wedding.

Good fortune has set in also as he has not had to pay for single parking ticket in five years for the parking enforcement mis-identifying his vehicle as a Honda on every invitation to make a donation. No kidding here.

The moral of the story is the majority of the public cant tell one model car from one manufacturer or another. Personally without the emblems it looks like a British Mazda whatever the hell that might be.

I have the most respect for my friend because he hot rods this Prius around town in an unerving manner. I recommended he install exotic car emblems at some time. He liked that idea.