1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Radar Cruise Control Default Distance

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by 155, Feb 7, 2016.

  1. 155

    155 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2007
    56
    30
    0
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Is there a way to change the default difference on the dynamic radar cruise control from 3 bars to 1 bar?

    I think it's annoying to have to change it everytime that I start the vehicle and activate cruise control.
     
  2. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    1,740
    444
    4
    Location:
    New Mexico, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    Nope, but it remembers that setting till you turn off the system.
     
    155 likes this.
  3. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    That's an annoyance. How much money did Toyota save by removing that ability from the Gen3?
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    What are 3 bars and 1? Which is the greater distance?
     
  5. rdgrimes

    rdgrimes Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 7, 2013
    1,740
    444
    4
    Location:
    New Mexico, USA
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    N/A
    The distances are relative, and change with speed.
     
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    3 bars is greater.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Thanks.

    That's what I suspected, but wasn't clear about. I can see Toyota's point-of-view on this: err on the side of caution.
     
  8. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,668
    6,485
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    More than you may think.

    Blame the lawyers.
     
  9. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

    Joined:
    Nov 26, 2006
    7,028
    1,116
    0
    Location:
    South Jersey
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    I believe there is enough blame to spread around. Lawyers, accountants & cheap software contractors come to mind.
     
  10. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    642
    560
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    I am not familiar with the old 1-bar default option, but find it rather natural to start off at 3 bars, then reduce the distance with a click or two of the thumb while driving-- the button to do that is in a good spot.

    Agreed that it is always better to have programming options, though.
     
  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Yup. Makes sense to me. I usually use 2 bars unless I'm travelling at higher speeds (say 112km/h) or lower speeds (say 50km/h). I use 3 bars at higher speeds and 2 or 1 bars at city speeds.
     
  12. 155

    155 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2007
    56
    30
    0
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Someone's probably going to correct me on this, but I believe that the distances are as follows:

    1 bar = roughly a 3 second following distance
    2 bars = roughly a 4 second following distance
    3 bars = roughly a 5 second following distance

    The following distance is clearly adaptive as it's a much bigger gap at highway speeds than at city speeds.

    According to Toyota's manual, the car will always physically stop the car at the same distance away from the vehicle in front of you regardless of which bar you are on, so the distance setting doesn't change the distance when stopped.
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  13. ATHiker

    ATHiker Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2010
    642
    560
    0
    Location:
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four Touring
    Prossibly not on the icy roads I face this morning :).

    On thing I wonder about is when the Radar Cruise is slowing me down, are my brake lights always on?
     
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    It depends on how hard DRCC is braking.
     
  15. I'mJp

    I'mJp Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    628
    552
    0
    Location:
    Ma, USA
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    Three

    My experience with my gen 3, is that temperature and humidity have a huge effect on the distance.
    Use 2 bars, that way you have +- 1 bar to adjust