Prius and Insight question

Hi.

We have a number of Prius and Insights in the parking lot at work. Being
that this is Vermont, which is like Northampton but Not Gay, this is not
surprising.

There is an area of the parking lot near the smoking area for parking
"Alternative Fuel Vehicles" where they all park (interesting, I thought they
STILL run on Gasoline as the primary source of power...)

At any rate, there were four of them the other day; the two Prius parked
next to two Insights, and then I noticed the Pop Out.

On ALL the hybrid cars, in the exact same spot on the front bumper (below
and to the left of the Driver's side headlight) there is what looks to be a
pop-out cover in the bumper cover.
What comes to my mind is that there is some kind of safety device located
behind this cover, or perhaps a plug, or...???

Being that these are two different makes of pretty much the same car (Yeah,
I know the differences, let's not get into that...), it occurred to me that
this is something mandated by the Japanese Government?

Any ideas (or actual KNOWLEDGE is even better, of course)
I swear I won't post anymore "Rules Of Thumb"...

pop-out
it's where a cover can be removed to insert a threaded gizmo to tow the car
with.
the echo has the same thing as well as many other brands of car.
the gizmo is stashed with the spare tire and jack.

otherwise there is nothing hard enough to hook to on the front end of the
car.
'controlled crumple' is the term for the soft front ends.
that way, while the car is destroying itself, you are being somewhat
protected from
many Gs of deceleration.

another note: the prius uses the identical engine as the echo. i have one.
if you'd like a picture of the gizmo, i could send one.

sammmm

--
[email]zammy@pghmail.com[/email]
"hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.gts> wrote in message
news:b3eWf.2189$ui7.2084@trndny09...[color=blue]
> Hi.
>
> We have a number of Prius and Insights in the parking lot at work. Being
> that this is Vermont, which is like Northampton but Not Gay, this is not
> surprising.
>
> There is an area of the parking lot near the smoking area for parking
> "Alternative Fuel Vehicles" where they all park (interesting, I thought
> they STILL run on Gasoline as the primary source of power...)
>
> At any rate, there were four of them the other day; the two Prius parked
> next to two Insights, and then I noticed the Pop Out.
>
> On ALL the hybrid cars, in the exact same spot on the front bumper (below
> and to the left of the Driver's side headlight) there is what looks to be
> a pop-out cover in the bumper cover.
> What comes to my mind is that there is some kind of safety device located
> behind this cover, or perhaps a plug, or...???
>
> Being that these are two different makes of pretty much the same car
> (Yeah, I know the differences, let's not get into that...), it occurred to
> me that this is something mandated by the Japanese Government?
>
> Any ideas (or actual KNOWLEDGE is even better, of course)
> I swear I won't post anymore "Rules Of Thumb"...
>[/color]

That is the hook-up point for the salvage truck, when the $5,000 battery
pack needs to be replaced, I guess. ')

mike hunt


"hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.gts> wrote in message
news:b3eWf.2189$ui7.2084@trndny09...[color=blue]
> Hi.
>
> We have a number of Prius and Insights in the parking lot at work. Being
> that this is Vermont, which is like Northampton but Not Gay, this is not
> surprising.
>
> There is an area of the parking lot near the smoking area for parking
> "Alternative Fuel Vehicles" where they all park (interesting, I thought
> they STILL run on Gasoline as the primary source of power...)
>
> At any rate, there were four of them the other day; the two Prius parked
> next to two Insights, and then I noticed the Pop Out.
>
> On ALL the hybrid cars, in the exact same spot on the front bumper (below
> and to the left of the Driver's side headlight) there is what looks to be
> a pop-out cover in the bumper cover.
> What comes to my mind is that there is some kind of safety device located
> behind this cover, or perhaps a plug, or...???
>
> Being that these are two different makes of pretty much the same car
> (Yeah, I know the differences, let's not get into that...), it occurred to
> me that this is something mandated by the Japanese Government?
>
> Any ideas (or actual KNOWLEDGE is even better, of course)
> I swear I won't post anymore "Rules Of Thumb"...
>[/color]

"SAMMM" <zammy@pghmail.com> wrote in message
news:1fOdndVG18eDGLTZRVn-sQ@pghconnect.com...[color=blue]
> pop-out
> it's where a cover can be removed to insert a threaded gizmo to tow the
> car with.
> the echo has the same thing as well as many other brands of car.
> the gizmo is stashed with the spare tire and jack.
>
> otherwise there is nothing hard enough to hook to on the front end of the
> car.
> 'controlled crumple' is the term for the soft front ends.
> that way, while the car is destroying itself, you are being somewhat
> protected from
> many Gs of deceleration.
>
> another note: the prius uses the identical engine as the echo. i have one.
> if you'd like a picture of the gizmo, i could send one.
>
> sammmm[/color]

Yeah, I used to work at a Toy dealer, but never paid enough attention (too
freaking busy!)
I also had a Tercel, which used the same engine as the Prius/Echo.
Yeah, if you can send a picture, I'd like to see it.
[color=blue]
>
> --
> [email]zammy@pghmail.com[/email]
> "hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.gts> wrote in message
> news:b3eWf.2189$ui7.2084@trndny09...[color=green]
>> Hi.
>>
>> We have a number of Prius and Insights in the parking lot at work. Being
>> that this is Vermont, which is like Northampton but Not Gay, this is not
>> surprising.
>>
>> There is an area of the parking lot near the smoking area for parking
>> "Alternative Fuel Vehicles" where they all park (interesting, I thought
>> they STILL run on Gasoline as the primary source of power...)
>>
>> At any rate, there were four of them the other day; the two Prius parked
>> next to two Insights, and then I noticed the Pop Out.
>>
>> On ALL the hybrid cars, in the exact same spot on the front bumper (below
>> and to the left of the Driver's side headlight) there is what looks to be
>> a pop-out cover in the bumper cover.
>> What comes to my mind is that there is some kind of safety device located
>> behind this cover, or perhaps a plug, or...???
>>
>> Being that these are two different makes of pretty much the same car
>> (Yeah, I know the differences, let's not get into that...), it occurred
>> to me that this is something mandated by the Japanese Government?
>>
>> Any ideas (or actual KNOWLEDGE is even better, of course)
>> I swear I won't post anymore "Rules Of Thumb"...
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:EoydnfI4s87MDLTZUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
> That is the hook-up point for the salvage truck, when the $5,000 battery
> pack needs to be replaced, I guess. ')
>
> mike hunt[/color]

Usually I'd blast you for such a flip remark, but this time it's funny!
[color=blue]
>
>
> "hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.gts> wrote in message
> news:b3eWf.2189$ui7.2084@trndny09...[color=green]
>> Hi.
>>
>> We have a number of Prius and Insights in the parking lot at work. Being
>> that this is Vermont, which is like Northampton but Not Gay, this is not
>> surprising.
>>
>> There is an area of the parking lot near the smoking area for parking
>> "Alternative Fuel Vehicles" where they all park (interesting, I thought
>> they STILL run on Gasoline as the primary source of power...)
>>
>> At any rate, there were four of them the other day; the two Prius parked
>> next to two Insights, and then I noticed the Pop Out.
>>
>> On ALL the hybrid cars, in the exact same spot on the front bumper (below
>> and to the left of the Driver's side headlight) there is what looks to be
>> a pop-out cover in the bumper cover.
>> What comes to my mind is that there is some kind of safety device located
>> behind this cover, or perhaps a plug, or...???
>>
>> Being that these are two different makes of pretty much the same car
>> (Yeah, I know the differences, let's not get into that...), it occurred
>> to me that this is something mandated by the Japanese Government?
>>
>> Any ideas (or actual KNOWLEDGE is even better, of course)
>> I swear I won't post anymore "Rules Of Thumb"...
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

In article <b3eWf.2189$ui7.2084@trndny09> [email]Trueno@ae86.gts[/email]
"hachiroku" writes:
[color=blue]
> [...] On ALL the hybrid cars, in the exact same spot on the
> front bumper (below and to the left of the Driver's side
> headlight) there is what looks to be a pop-out cover in the
> bumper cover. [...][/color]

As others have said, it's the cover for the screw-in point for
the towing eye. My guess is, they cover the hole because they do
not expect it to be needed often, so try to (a) stop dirt getting
in and blocking the hole (on a dark and stormy night, to be sure
-- have you noticed how every car has a device which detects when
it will be a major b*gger to have a breakdown?) and (b) keep the
front looking neat.
--
Andrew Stephenson

On Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:41:02 -0500, "Mike Hunter"
<mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>That is the hook-up point for the salvage truck, when the $5,000 battery
>pack needs to be replaced, I guess. ')
>
>mike hunt[/color]

LOL....

'mike' are you stirin' the pot again?

[color=blue]
>
>
>"hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.gts> wrote in message
>news:b3eWf.2189$ui7.2084@trndny09...[color=green]
>> Hi.
>>
>> We have a number of Prius and Insights in the parking lot at work. Being
>> that this is Vermont, which is like Northampton but Not Gay, this is not
>> surprising.
>>
>> There is an area of the parking lot near the smoking area for parking
>> "Alternative Fuel Vehicles" where they all park (interesting, I thought
>> they STILL run on Gasoline as the primary source of power...)
>>
>> At any rate, there were four of them the other day; the two Prius parked
>> next to two Insights, and then I noticed the Pop Out.
>>
>> On ALL the hybrid cars, in the exact same spot on the front bumper (below
>> and to the left of the Driver's side headlight) there is what looks to be
>> a pop-out cover in the bumper cover.
>> What comes to my mind is that there is some kind of safety device located
>> behind this cover, or perhaps a plug, or...???
>>
>> Being that these are two different makes of pretty much the same car
>> (Yeah, I know the differences, let's not get into that...), it occurred to
>> me that this is something mandated by the Japanese Government?
>>
>> Any ideas (or actual KNOWLEDGE is even better, of course)
>> I swear I won't post anymore "Rules Of Thumb"...
>>[/color]
>[/color]
--

Scott in Florida

Why not? We need more that little richard and Dizzy to make our day do we
not? LOL

mike hunt


"Scott in Florida" <MoveOn@outa.here> wrote in message
news:auhj22tkp58vjj4uihm2prbhgblpcnl94c@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:41:02 -0500, "Mike Hunter"
> <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>That is the hook-up point for the salvage truck, when the $5,000 battery
>>pack needs to be replaced, I guess. ')
>>
>>mike hunt[/color]
>
> LOL....
>
> 'mike' are you stirin' the pot again?
>
>[color=green]
>>
>>
>>"hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.gts> wrote in message
>>news:b3eWf.2189$ui7.2084@trndny09...[color=darkred]
>>> Hi.
>>>
>>> We have a number of Prius and Insights in the parking lot at work. Being
>>> that this is Vermont, which is like Northampton but Not Gay, this is not
>>> surprising.
>>>
>>> There is an area of the parking lot near the smoking area for parking
>>> "Alternative Fuel Vehicles" where they all park (interesting, I thought
>>> they STILL run on Gasoline as the primary source of power...)
>>>
>>> At any rate, there were four of them the other day; the two Prius parked
>>> next to two Insights, and then I noticed the Pop Out.
>>>
>>> On ALL the hybrid cars, in the exact same spot on the front bumper
>>> (below
>>> and to the left of the Driver's side headlight) there is what looks to
>>> be
>>> a pop-out cover in the bumper cover.
>>> What comes to my mind is that there is some kind of safety device
>>> located
>>> behind this cover, or perhaps a plug, or...???
>>>
>>> Being that these are two different makes of pretty much the same car
>>> (Yeah, I know the differences, let's not get into that...), it occurred
>>> to
>>> me that this is something mandated by the Japanese Government?
>>>
>>> Any ideas (or actual KNOWLEDGE is even better, of course)
>>> I swear I won't post anymore "Rules Of Thumb"...
>>>[/color]
>>[/color]
> --
>
> Scott in Florida[/color]

Hard to believe, but true -- "hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.gts> typed:

[color=blue]
>On ALL the hybrid cars, in the exact same spot on the front bumper (below
>and to the left of the Driver's side headlight) there is what looks to be a
>pop-out cover in the bumper cover.
>What comes to my mind is that there is some kind of safety device located
>behind this cover, or perhaps a plug, or...???
>
>Being that these are two different makes of pretty much the same car (Yeah,
>I know the differences, let's not get into that...), it occurred to me that
>this is something mandated by the Japanese Government?
>
>Any ideas (or actual KNOWLEDGE is even better, of course)
>I swear I won't post anymore "Rules Of Thumb"...[/color]


I believe it's a cover for the towing thingie (doncha love those
technical terms ;^) -- at least, that's what's behind the leetle cover
on the bumper of my Scion . . . .

-D (no rules of thumb from me either)
--
"Ladies and gentlemen take my advice.
Pull down your pants and slide on the ice."

-- Sidney Freedman

On Tue, 28 Mar 2006 19:31:32 -0500, "Mike Hunter"
<mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Why not? We need more that little richard and Dizzy to make our day do we
>not? LOL
>
>mike hunt[/color]

or the super serious Prius drivers...


--

Scott in Florida

On Tue, 28 Mar 2006 18:42:04 -0600, Don Fearn wrote:
[color=blue]
> Hard to believe, but true -- "hachiroku" <Trueno@ae86.gts> typed:
>
>[color=green]
>>On ALL the hybrid cars, in the exact same spot on the front bumper (below
>>and to the left of the Driver's side headlight) there is what looks to be a
>>pop-out cover in the bumper cover.
>>What comes to my mind is that there is some kind of safety device located
>>behind this cover, or perhaps a plug, or...???
>>
>>Being that these are two different makes of pretty much the same car (Yeah,
>>I know the differences, let's not get into that...), it occurred to me that
>>this is something mandated by the Japanese Government?
>>
>>Any ideas (or actual KNOWLEDGE is even better, of course)
>>I swear I won't post anymore "Rules Of Thumb"...[/color]
>
>
> I believe it's a cover for the towing thingie (doncha love those
> technical terms ;^) -- at least, that's what's behind the leetle cover
> on the bumper of my Scion . . . .
>
> -D (no rules of thumb from me either)[/color]

Why, I believe you're right.

Um, you have a Scion?
Please say it's an xA.

--
In the grand scheme fo things...
What difference does it make?

Hachiroku <Trueno@ae86.GTS> wrote:
[color=blue][color=green]
>>
>> -D (no rules of thumb from me either)[/color]
>[/color]

Anyone know where that phrase comes from?...
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
news:o61k2295jqk9pl5l8c3gef4tggt1tes9uj@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> Hachiroku <Trueno@ae86.GTS> wrote:
>[color=green][color=darkred]
>>>
>>> -D (no rules of thumb from me either)[/color]
>>[/color]
>
> Anyone know where that phrase comes from?...
> --
>
> -Gord.
> (use gordon in email)[/color]

According to wikipedia.org: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thumb[/url]


--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

"Ray O" <rokigawa@tristarassociatesDOTcomn> wrote:
[color=blue]
>
>"Gord Beaman" <gord@islandtelecom.com> wrote in message
>news:o61k2295jqk9pl5l8c3gef4tggt1tes9uj@4ax.com...[color=green]
>> Hachiroku <Trueno@ae86.GTS> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>>>
>>>> -D (no rules of thumb from me either)
>>>[/color]
>>
>> Anyone know where that phrase comes from?...
>> --
>>
>> -Gord.
>> (use gordon in email)[/color]
>
>According to wikipedia.org: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thumb[/url][/color]


Well, 'sure'...go look it up!... :),

*I*, on the other hand, 'knew' the answer!...mentioned it ONCE to
my wife (years ago)...I still remember the snarl (and the "Bring
it on Mac") :)
--

-Gord.
(use gordon in email)

Come on, that is not fair, don't pick on the hybrid owners. Don't you
understand they are just trying to save the world? More importantly they
are saving gas for those of us that like to drive real cars. ;)


mike


"Scott in Florida" <MoveOn@outa.here> wrote in message
news:m3sj2257ppor6audcddspeemtee4ujm0fd@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> On Tue, 28 Mar 2006 19:31:32 -0500, "Mike Hunter"
> <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>>Why not? We need more that little richard and Dizzy to make our day do
>>we
>>not? LOL
>>
>>mike hunt[/color]
>
> or the super serious Prius drivers...
>
>
> --
>
> Scott in Florida[/color]