Woz Caught Doing 104mph in Prius
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 08.23.07
First Al Gore III was caught doing over 100mph in his Prius, and now Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak, has too. The hybrid fan, who has owned eight Prii since their launch, was pulled over for doing 104mph on the I-5 in California. I certainly wouldn’t recommend buying a second hand one from him after this news. I'm torn between criticising them both for reckless driving, and congratulating them for showing that driving a Prius doesn't necessarily mean trundling around at 30mph.
Woz made a good effort with the judge to get off, but only succeeded in amusing him as he handed down a $700 fine. "I pleaded guilty, with an explanation. I said that I was really scientific, and in the last year had been in Athens, Moscow, Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich (twice), Zurich, Canada (three times), Columbia, Singapore, Japan, London, etc., and had gotten used to kilometer speeds."
One thing that should be remembered is that the Prius is only economical if you drive it economically, and at 104mph you won't be getting very good mileage. Woz admitted that at those speeds he sees 31-38mpg rather than the 55mpg it can get during freeway driving. ::San Jose Mercury News
But it's I-5! One does not 'Trundle around at 30mph' on I-5! You get squished if you try that.
30 mpg at 100 mph? That's incredibly good milage. Of course my 20 year old turbo gets that same milage at 100 mph, but only 34 mpg at the sped limit...
BTW, what's Woz's time worth? Maybe he burns an extra gallon to save 1/2 an hour getting to a meeting. I bet his billings can absorb that differential.
Slow food is great. Slow transportation isn't.
Ha!! Used to KPH...what a laugh. Judge should have given him a dumbass exuse surcharge. :)
But hey, 31-38mpg while doing 100+ is still nothing to sneeze at, 'cept he should not have been glancing at the display while maintaining that kind of speed. Shame on you Woz.
Woz should do a PHEV kit and hit those speeds on all electric, albeit for only a minute or two.
Knowing Woz he probably paid in sheets of $2 bills.
people laugh but his excuse is completely plausible. When Canada went metric I was driving an old porsche 914 with only miles per hour on the spedometer, and got a huge ticket for going 60 mph in a 60 kmph zone because I didn't get that the signs had changed.
It is easy to do.
too bad it's the ugliest car ever made.
too bad it's the ugliest car ever made.
Wow, searing critique. Care to post a picture of yourself for us to judge you?
In my city, the teens and college kids tell me the Prius is just sooo cute!!!
I love mine!!!
i own a 2007 green prius and i love it...!
please drive it responsibly.... =)
While not wanting to feed the trolls, I have to go ahead and state the obvious "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder...."
The interior is horrid... I like the outside ok...
Let's just hope next year's, or whenver they get the model ready for LIthium Power, has a FAR better interior.... The current model is just uninhabitable, unless of course you enjoy driving a Lil' Tyke Plasti-mobile because you had one when you were 4.
Thats ok too.
I am CONSTANTLY jealous of the Prius and its mileage, and I hate the fact that I despise the interior enough to keep driving a gas hog =0(
I get so mad knowing that at 80mph, the guy/girl in a Prius beside me is getting 2xs the fuel mileage I am. UGGH!
C3
The inside of the Prius is far more impressive to me than the outside styling, and certainly as good a selling point as the milage and performance. After owning so many cars with cramped leg room in the back seat, passengers are still comfortable even with the front seats adjusted all the way back. When the back seats are folded down, and the front seats moved 4 inches forward, there is six and a half feet of open space, enough for two people to sleep comfortably when no motels are available. (We use a 4 inch thick mattress that is 3 X 6 feet in size, and a 3 X 3 foot piece of quarter inch plywood under the mattress to cover the floor well and support our pillows.) With a rubber mat protecting the level area and sides, our Prius has now replaced our van for most hauling needs, even for carrying lumber, skies, lawn trimmers, etc. (I still wish we could add a lightweight trailer hitch, but that is not recommended.) Nevertheless, the interior layout of the Prius is a pragmatic wonder!