2010 Prius V with Tech Pkg, The Perfect Lush Mobile?

Okay, so continuing to debate what Prius configuration I want. It changes everyday. I have "fears" about the solar panel. I have issues with The Prius V. I think the 17in wheels would be nice, and improve stability and driving feel. But here's my problem with a V with Tech Package.

Dynamic Radar Cruise Control-Seems like it would be nice, especially on long drives.

Pre-Collision System- Also "nice" but admittedly the type of addition you hope you NEVER have to use. If your using it, your not having a good day. But like airbags and seatbelts and all safety devices it could save your life or others. Just hard to get too excited about an option that you really hope you never even use.

Lane Keep Assist-Quite frankly, makes me nervous. I don't want a car, or computer that can input anything like steering torque for me. I honestly just don't like this option at all.

Intelligent Parking Assist-I'd probably like this. I'm a notoriously bad parallel parker. I end up doing it safely, but sometimes feel like Austin Powers trying to turn the electric cart around in the hall way.

So then in my musings about a Prius V, I'm wondering about the options. Did Toyota just inadvertently create the perfect automobile for the alcoholic driver? Think about it. An Auto that you can set to maintain speed and distance and also warn you if you swerve too much? Could these extra's easily be used to mask an over .08 driver?

Should someone notify M.A.D.D.? I'm 1/2 kidding about a serious topic, but when it comes to this particular package of options it seems to fit the scenario so perfectly. Geesh, if I make it home, I can even sneak in on EV mode, then have the car parallel park itself. 2010 Prius V with Tech Package, The Alcoholics Dream?

I don't mean to offend. I know drunk driving is a serious issue. My brother was hit and seriously injured by a intoxicated driver, so I don't mean to make too much light of the situation. Just was thinking about the options and this popped in my head.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned - yeah, certainly I am, but I have to say that the tech pkg just feels decadent - there's no other word for it. Lots of high tech gee gaws to do things competent drivers either should be able to do or should learn to do. I've long felt, for instance, that the roads have become considerably less safe with the widespread use of cruise (I'm as addicted as anyone.) and I have a hard time believing that radar or any of the other features in that pkg will really do wonders to reduce the current levels of driver distraction out there. (But then, WTF do I know? I still prefer the map and compass to the GPS, and I mostly use my iphone for reading email and the Times.)

Anybody familiar with the case of the two aircraft that collided over the Amazon a few years back? There's reason to believe that it was due in part to unintended consequences of the newest & best instrumentation (along with some arbitrary assumptions on the part of pilots).

I wonder how Ralph Nader feels about this stuff.

So just get a V w/Nav and no ATP ... save yourself $2700.

Right, actually stepping down is what I'm considering. LOL! Just bothers me that the more I think about it, the more my options and choices seem to be expanding. Now I'm torn between top of the line Solar/Sunroof-NAV, Top of The Line PKG 5 with tech, or really just getting a pkg 2-3 and adding an aftermarket Navigation.

I am waiting on a II with added bluetooth. Nothing else. And I just ordered a portable Garmin 265WT GPS. For about $200. I'll have a GREAT car for thousands less. It's worth pondering how much you need all the "extras." Unless $$$ isn't an issue. Then go for it!

But this is good. A car that has built in intelligence to help drunk drivers arrive home safely is a good thing. One day we'll tell the Nav "Go Home" and the car will drive itself back. The drunk driver could pass out safely. Another option is that the car takes over is the driver is DUI, falls asleep or has a medical emergency.

This already exists


Smart Car? This One Knows When You’ve Had a Stroke | Autopia | Wired.com

Sorry Bruno, I just disagree. It is NOT good. Currently the only technology good enough to help drunk drivers arrive home safely, is a TAXI.

The Prius even with all it's wonder is only at best going to mask a driver that might not really be that alert, but it's not going to make it safe for him/her to be behind the wheel.

Like I said, my brother was injured by a drunk driver. Could of lost his life. IMO nobody drunk should be behind the wheel of ANY vehicle, Prius V with tech package or otherwise. My only fear is that the technology as it exists would make it more tempting or possible for "drunks" to try and get home without getting caught....not a good thing. If they are drunk and behind the wheel, I'd rather maybe they swerve and their speed is erratic. That way I can see they are drunk and also hopefully the Police.

If they are just as intoxicated but the computer is making it seem like they are capable of driving, IMO that is just dangerous.

I've had my V w/AT since Memorial Day, and I think I have had enough experience with it to address some of your issues.

Got that right! I've never been a big fan of cruise control, and I particularly didn't like it (or use it) in my '07 Prius. I knew I could get better mileage on my own!

The radar systems changes all. I've used it on several trips, and it adds greatly to the comfort and safety of long drives. Here is a quick story about my use of the cruise control with the other features of the AT package:

I was following a tractor-trailer rig as we approached a construction zone. The truck slowed down, and so did I. No problem. We had a merge coming up, but there were no other vehicles merging, so we kept a decent pace. Out of nowhere, a car zooms in ahead of the truck. The truck almost nails this idiot, and in the process locks up his brakes. We're now in a one-lane construction zone with nowhere to go. By the time I saw the smoke billowing from his brakes and tires, the car already had pre-tensioned the seat belts. As things got a bit nastier, and I decided I needed to brake, the seat belt pulled me back into the seat. I reached for the brakes, but I couldn't even keep up with the brake pedal as it descended: the car already had started heavy braking. It was pretty intense! I was paying attention the whole time. The amazing thing was that the car sensed and reacted faster than I could. There was no accident, and I just kept on going. In fact, I hit "resume" and off I went.

I've had it engage twice on road trips. Perhaps it didn't save my live (a bit overdramatic), but it prevented an accident once and likely saved tire damage, if not worse, another time.

I was rather dubious, myself. I have to tell you, now, that I find it to be a very helpful tool.

This one never really interested me, and I haven't even tried it out yet. I'm sure I will, someday.

I'm sorry to say I had a good chuckle over this one. I've really experimented with the LKA (with and without the dynamic cruise control). Attempting to use the lightest possible touch on the steering wheel (after 15 seconds without hands on the wheel, the system sends a warning and disengages), I found that the car would slowly oscillate from wide side of the lane to the other. This wasn't unsafe, but it would look much like a drunk driver from the outside looking in.

I don't see this as an issue. Drunks are not going to get much further using this AT package.

I confess that I am interested in the dynamic cruise control and the precolision feature. And I wish those two were available without the other two features.

It seems like the dynamic cruise control finally makes it usable in areas with varying road congestion (e.g. along I5 from the Bay Area to LA) where I've never really used cruise control before.

The only accident I've had in the last 20+ years was a (thankfully minor) rear end collision in urban stop-and-go traffic. I took my eyes off the car in front of me for 2 seconds when he braked hard. It was all at low speed (my Sienna had $0 damage), I believe there's a chance that the PCS braking could have prevented the accident.

So, I ordered a Package V with AT yesterday.

We'll see...

"I don't see this as an issue. Drunks are not going to get much further using this AT package."

First of all thanks for all the input concerning the features of the Tech Package.

But I do have to ask, why do you think it's not an issue? I mean, I don't think Toyota purposely set out to design features to aid intoxicated drivers, I think it's a case of the often mercurial nature of technology that benefit can have unforeseen consequence. But by my logic, especially if we are talking Highway driving, the features could aid an intoxicated driver. What does an intoxicated driver have trouble controling? Speed and ability to drive straight. What does Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist do? They help control Speed and try to keep the car driving straight. For a drunk driver, a beep and a tug from the wheel if they start to drift could be the difference between being pulled over or just continuing to drive on. LKA seems like the DUI's avoiders best friend.

Again, I'm not blaming Toyota, it's just technology. But I also don't think it's so ridiculous to think these features could mask an impaired driver.

I believe I understand your premise, but perhaps I'm just talking as though I'm telling an inside joke to strangers.

The ACC and LKA pair well together, but they do not takeover control of the car. The driver still must continue to steer the car.

The LKA WILL keep your car inside the lane boundaries, but there are a couple of conditions and a warning to make. The conditions are that the driver have hold of the steering wheel and that the road lane markers be visible to the camera. The second is subject to rain, lighting and road conditions, so the LKA can turn off at a moment's notice. Also, I should warn folks that the LKA does not offered automated stopping. You'd be relying on a vehicle in front of you to stop and stay stopped.

The "inside joke" part of the comparison is that the look of someone relying completely on LKA would look out of control or even not in control of a sitiation. The look would be much like that of a drunk driver weaving through traffic -- an especially ironic joke.

Priori, I completely agree with your assessment of the LKA. When I tried it, it would slowly creep to the right, then correct itself. The problem was that it would correct itself too much. Then it had to turn back to the left after I got to the other side of the lane. And again, correct itself too much. If a drunk driver tried to use that as a method to get home, he would certainly call MORE attention to himself.

I found this problem as well.. mostly at slower speeds and windier roads..

Just for purposes of clarification: I don't see this LKA characteristic as a "problem" in any way. (I doubt you two folks are really reporting this as a problemmatic issue, but you can speak for yourselves.)

The LKA is only supposed to keep you from crossing from you lane into another (or onto the shoulder), it is not intended as a crutch to allow the car to drive itself. This very "problem" is what makes it so useful and valuable. It is much too dangerous to have a car simply drive itself. The warning sound and correction are enough to grab your attention and move you back into a safe position. It remains your responsibility to drive the car at all times.

In no way did I mean to say the LKA is faulty. It does exactly what it was meant to do. If it didn't over compensate, I can imagine someone thinking they could hop in the back seat and go make a sandwich or something crazy.

Just to clarify, throughout my postings within this thread I have used the adjectives "Mask, Aid, and Assist" in my references to LKA and The Tech PKG. I am not, nor have I, suggested that I thought the Tech PKG allowed the car to "Drive Itself". My hypothetical premise has always been that LKA and Radar Cruise Control could be used by an alcoholicly impaired driver on the highway to "mask" some of the usual signs of being a drunk driver. You may imagine or imply whatever degree of impairment but yes, I know the Tech PKG Prius is incapable of driving itself. That was never my point or contention.

I understand that you may be sensitive to the issue of drunk drivers... But from what I have been reading, it seems that a drunk driver using the AT features would be weaving all over the lane and hopefully pulled over earlier than otherwise (or at least be obvious to those around). I also think the AT package could decrease the chances of an accident because the car would have a better chance of not crossing over the center line (or leaving any lane) and at least braking hard before any impact to reduce the severity of injuries.

Even if you don't care what happens to the impaired driver, it sounds to me that all cars should have those features to protect others.

The AT package seems really helpful for those long drives when your reflexes are a little sluggish. I think that was Toyota's motivation and that's why I've ordered it.

I don't mean to offend those that have the Tech Pkg, or are ordering it. Like I said, I think it's a potential unforeseen consequence of the technology, I to don't think it was Toyota's intention to create a "Drunk Pkg".

I'm still debating what I want, but I could just go the whole 9 yards and get the V. I think the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control would be very nice, The IPA would also be helpful to me and of course the emergency breaking assist could be a life saver. Hey, I could even find I like the LKA. Even though the idea of any computer input to my steering wheel makes me nervous.

But again to clarify, I also did not mean to imply anyone getting the Tech Pkg had a drinking problem, and/or that the Tech Pkg wasn't a very nice upgrade to consider.

As more owners have more experience I'd like to hear what they think about each feature. So far the consensus feedback is very positive.

I kind of wish Toyota could break out individual options. I'd love the Radar Cruise Control on a IV with a sunroof. Weight issues be damned!

Post deleted, wrong thread.