Manual Rant

FL_Prius_Driver · 07-17-2007, 06:57 PM

Betcha a whole lot of those complaining about various posters not reading the Prius owners manual.....don't read a manual when getting a rental car. Really good design should allow you to drive a car safely without reading a manual. When it comes to aspects outside of safe driving (like setting up the Bluetooth system, etc.) then good design should allow ......not having to read a manual.

That said, I have read my Prius owner's manual cover to cover. This is unusually painful since:
a) I must go to the dealer for all unusual events. No help figuring out why. None, Nada, Zip.

Cut and paste run amuck. You can read the same thing over and over.
c) Strange terminology in a lot of cases that is more confusing than informative.
d) It takes HOURS to read. I realize it's not Lady Chatterley's Lover, but it gets bad after the first four pages.
e) Going to Prius Chat is so much quicker and (horrors!) some responders give excellent answers in clear language.

I like helping people that have simple and hard questions. I certainly do not want to be derogatory to anyone coming online for help. Good way to have the forums all to yourself. I agree that a lot of question could be answered by RTFM, but the manual is far from usable in many, many ways.

9G-man · 07-17-2007, 07:27 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FL_Prius_Driver @ Jul 17 2007, 06:57 PM) [snapback]480548[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

.....don't read a manual when getting a rental car. [/b]

Most of the time a manual isn't even in a rental car. Besides, a rental is an extremely limited short term relationship. Why would one want to know the in's and out's of something you are borrowing short term and has no impact on ownership experience.

Quote:

Going to Prius Chat is so much quicker and (horrors!) some responders give excellent answers in clear language.[/b]

Where do you suppose the respondants get alot of their wealth of knowledge?

Presto · 07-17-2007, 08:00 PM

The manual is a good read when you're on the throne. I think I got through half the manual this way. It's always cool to find something new in the manual and then immediately try it out (wipe and flush first!).

9G-man · 07-17-2007, 08:22 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jul 17 2007, 08:00 PM) [snapback]480580[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The manual is a good read when you're on the throne. I think I got through half the manual this way. It's always cool to find something new in the manual and then immediately try it out (wipe and flush first!).
[/b]

And wash you hands!!!!!!!

seasalsa · 07-17-2007, 08:31 PM

"Manual Rant, It's a car, not a spaceship"

Maybe not; but the Prius is a lot closer to a spaceship than most cars on the road today!

Doc Willie · 07-17-2007, 10:04 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(seasalsa @ Jul 17 2007, 08:31 PM) [snapback]480595[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

"Manual Rant, It's a car, not a spaceship"

[/b]

You sure about that?

[attachmentid=9830]

qbee42 · 07-17-2007, 11:19 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Presto @ Jul 17 2007, 08:00 PM) [snapback]480580[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

The manual is a good read when you're on the throne. I think I got through half the manual this way. It's always cool to find something new in the manual and then immediately try it out (wipe and flush first!).
[/b]

True, but the paper is too shiny to work really well. :P

Tom

kimgh · 07-18-2007, 01:22 AM

Some funny remarks, but:

OP is right! The manual is an execrable mess, IMHO. As OP said, repetitious, poor phrasing and terminology, and it's really difficult to locate information in a "random access" manner. Not only is there little logic to the order and placement of some of the info, but the index in so incomplete as to be useless.

des101 · 07-18-2007, 03:40 AM

Not a spaceship?? Dang I guess I am on the wrong forum?
Where is the Star Trek next generation car-rocket thingie??

--des

catgic · 07-18-2007, 07:29 AM

HTTP 404 Not Found

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07-17-2007, 06:57 PM	#1
FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,845 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 4 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts Friends: 2	Betcha a whole lot of those complaining about various posters not reading the Prius owners manual.....don't read a manual when getting a rental car. Really good design should allow you to drive a car safely without reading a manual. When it comes to aspects outside of safe driving (like setting up the Bluetooth system, etc.) then good design should allow ......not having to read a manual. That said, I have read my Prius owner's manual cover to cover. This is unusually painful since: a) I must go to the dealer for all unusual events. No help figuring out why. None, Nada, Zip. Cut and paste run amuck. You can read the same thing over and over. c) Strange terminology in a lot of cases that is more confusing than informative. d) It takes HOURS to read. I realize it's not Lady Chatterley's Lover, but it gets bad after the first four pages. e) Going to Prius Chat is so much quicker and (horrors!) some responders give excellent answers in clear language. I like helping people that have simple and hard questions. I certainly do not want to be derogatory to anyone coming online for help. Good way to have the forums all to yourself. I agree that a lot of question could be answered by RTFM, but the manual is far from usable in many, many ways.

07-17-2007, 08:00 PM	#3
Presto Has his homepage set to PC Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,257 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Friends: 3	The manual is a good read when you're on the throne. I think I got through half the manual this way. It's always cool to find something new in the manual and then immediately try it out (wipe and flush first!).

07-17-2007, 08:31 PM	#5
seasalsa Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 1,202 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	"Manual Rant, It's a car, not a spaceship" Maybe not; but the Prius is a lot closer to a spaceship than most cars on the road today!

07-18-2007, 01:22 AM	#8
kimgh Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 265 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Some funny remarks, but: OP is right! The manual is an execrable mess, IMHO. As OP said, repetitious, poor phrasing and terminology, and it's really difficult to locate information in a "random access" manner. Not only is there little logic to the order and placement of some of the info, but the index in so incomplete as to be useless.

07-18-2007, 03:40 AM	#9
des101 Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 54 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Not a spaceship?? Dang I guess I am on the wrong forum? Where is the Star Trek next generation car-rocket thingie?? --des

07-18-2007, 07:29 AM	#10
catgic Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: HTTP 404 Not Found Posts: 230 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: N/A Package: #2 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	HTTP 404 Not Found