CMYK4Life
Well-known member
My area (Lansing/Mason Michigan) is full of republicans, conservatives, and 'country folk'. Almost everyone I know around here owns a hunting rifle or gun; 60% of the guys I work with are avid hunters & fishermen. Lots of pick-ups, mustangs, and suv's.
I got my 2013 SV tuesday and it has attracted alot of attention from everyone I come into contact with. People have felt the need to drop by my office all week and make comments like 'so I hear you bought a tree hugging mobile huh?' and 'what are you doing? isnt that un-american to buy a forigen car and not buy gas (sarcasim)?' Some people have also expressed how unfair they think it is that I get a 7500 tax credit to 'subsidize my car' and since I am not buying gas that I am not paying my fair share in taxes for the roads. I anticipated such comments; I just laugh at their jokes and listen to their concerns and not take them personally.
Once I let them tell their jokes or voice their concerns I remind them that I am the same guy that I was last week who drove a 2003 Ford Taurus. I dont really bother addressing thier comments directly; I really dont have to. I explain to them why I bought the car. I tell them I got it because A) I wanted a new car B) EV's cost less per mile to drive than ICE's. I tell them it was mostly an economic decision - the car almost pays for itself in fuel savings. I could have found 'normal' cars at the samy car paymet but I remind them I would also have at least $100 in gas a month to pay for
I tell everyone the story about how the dealership where I purchased my Leaf is 68 miles away. Because I was going to turn my old Taurus in I did not fill it up on Monday like I normally do; when it came time to drive to the dealership on tuesday my low fuel light turned on. So, knowing my car gets 20-25mpg highway I put 3 gallons of gas in costing me $10.80. I then inform them that I drove the Leaf 68miles home in less than 1 charge and to charge it back to full that it night it cost about $2.25.
Once I tell them that story I see them thinking... they usually smile and hit me with the same 20 questions 'how far can it go?' 'how long does it take to charge?' 'what kind of maintance does it have?' "what if you run out'?
Then, before I know it people want to go for a ride. One guy even bought me lunch when I drove him around. Once I give them a ride they are impressed and say its a really nice, cool, car. They all say the same thing 'this does not feel like an underpowerded cramped econobox at all'.
2 of the 'car guys' on my team admit it could compete with their 'sporty' ICE cars off the line. I think we will be lining up at a red light in the near future to make some direct comparisons. I also found several people keep coming back making more jokes, then asking more questions. Each time they leave I can tell they have been enlightened.
What I have found is that most people didnt even this car was available let alone for such a low price. I find myself turning into an EV embassader of sorts. My boss spends at least 1 hour a day in my office asking me about the pervious day's driving and charging experience. People are really paying attention to my facebook posts and what I have to say about the care; how far I drove that day and what my battery charge level is. People want me to keep posting; they keep asking questions.
So in one weeks time I feel like I have changed the minds of several people around me just through sharing my reasons for getting the car and sharing my experience. Showing them that yes, I can drive fast all day, chage up at night using a regular outlet, and do it all over again the next day.
My next 'trick' that I am going to show people around me is how I can do a 106mile round trip in 1 day. Taking my son to his grandfathers house for the afternoon (charging as we visit).
I got my 2013 SV tuesday and it has attracted alot of attention from everyone I come into contact with. People have felt the need to drop by my office all week and make comments like 'so I hear you bought a tree hugging mobile huh?' and 'what are you doing? isnt that un-american to buy a forigen car and not buy gas (sarcasim)?' Some people have also expressed how unfair they think it is that I get a 7500 tax credit to 'subsidize my car' and since I am not buying gas that I am not paying my fair share in taxes for the roads. I anticipated such comments; I just laugh at their jokes and listen to their concerns and not take them personally.
Once I let them tell their jokes or voice their concerns I remind them that I am the same guy that I was last week who drove a 2003 Ford Taurus. I dont really bother addressing thier comments directly; I really dont have to. I explain to them why I bought the car. I tell them I got it because A) I wanted a new car B) EV's cost less per mile to drive than ICE's. I tell them it was mostly an economic decision - the car almost pays for itself in fuel savings. I could have found 'normal' cars at the samy car paymet but I remind them I would also have at least $100 in gas a month to pay for
I tell everyone the story about how the dealership where I purchased my Leaf is 68 miles away. Because I was going to turn my old Taurus in I did not fill it up on Monday like I normally do; when it came time to drive to the dealership on tuesday my low fuel light turned on. So, knowing my car gets 20-25mpg highway I put 3 gallons of gas in costing me $10.80. I then inform them that I drove the Leaf 68miles home in less than 1 charge and to charge it back to full that it night it cost about $2.25.
Once I tell them that story I see them thinking... they usually smile and hit me with the same 20 questions 'how far can it go?' 'how long does it take to charge?' 'what kind of maintance does it have?' "what if you run out'?
Then, before I know it people want to go for a ride. One guy even bought me lunch when I drove him around. Once I give them a ride they are impressed and say its a really nice, cool, car. They all say the same thing 'this does not feel like an underpowerded cramped econobox at all'.
2 of the 'car guys' on my team admit it could compete with their 'sporty' ICE cars off the line. I think we will be lining up at a red light in the near future to make some direct comparisons. I also found several people keep coming back making more jokes, then asking more questions. Each time they leave I can tell they have been enlightened.
What I have found is that most people didnt even this car was available let alone for such a low price. I find myself turning into an EV embassader of sorts. My boss spends at least 1 hour a day in my office asking me about the pervious day's driving and charging experience. People are really paying attention to my facebook posts and what I have to say about the care; how far I drove that day and what my battery charge level is. People want me to keep posting; they keep asking questions.
So in one weeks time I feel like I have changed the minds of several people around me just through sharing my reasons for getting the car and sharing my experience. Showing them that yes, I can drive fast all day, chage up at night using a regular outlet, and do it all over again the next day.
My next 'trick' that I am going to show people around me is how I can do a 106mile round trip in 1 day. Taking my son to his grandfathers house for the afternoon (charging as we visit).
