Safety Info to convince reluctant spouse, please

Prius tinkerer and all around smart guy Hobbit has written up a monograph on the story. If this does not convince her, trade her in. (j/k)

 

Did the OP lose interest?

Bob Wilson

 

Maybe the spouse convinced him.

 

NEED IMMEDIATE ANSWER:
Has anyone heard anything about a high degree of radiation given out by the Gen.III?The Prius owner's manual includes a warning for people with pacemakers not to ride in them? Is this true or an urban myth???

 

It's because the Smart Key System emits electromagnetic waves (don't know what range) for communication. These can interfere with pacemakers.

For people with pacemakers the Smart Key can be disabled. The manual says how this is done.

 

There is no comment regaring the "high degree" of radiiation in the manual. The comment is in regards to the Smart Key system, which uses several low power transmitters - much less power than a cell phone.

Many non hybrid cars use the Smart Key system. Its even available in the Corrola...

 

OMG - you...can't...be...serious! People, get a hold of yourselves!! Sometimes you just have to laugh at the hilarity of it all.

 

What this forum needs is a good sarcasm font...

Since the OP only posted once, and that was in August....I'd say he/she lost the argument, otherwise there would have been a "Wooo-WHOO" post with info on the new Prius.
Toyota needs to quit bribing NASA to cover up software glitches, and bribe the NTSB to bump up the crash test ratings.

...just remember what I said about the font...

 

Okay, this is the second reference you've made (that I've read) about Toyota bribing NASA, etc. I first thought you stated it in jest - did you or are you serious? If in jest - I'll laugh with you. If you're serious - I'll laugh at you.

 

The Prius has the Smart Key System, and optionally Bluetooth. Both of these are low powered radio systems with much less power than a cell phone. All manufacturers warn about the risk of radio devices in close proximity to medical devices, such as pacemakers. It's a standard warning, designed to minimize liability.

This is not unique to the Prius, or to hybrids, but true with almost every new car. The risks are no greater than what you get with cell phones, microwave ovens, Play Station 3, and WiFi hotspots in coffee shops. Take it for what it's worth, which isn't much.

Tom

 

Don't be so naive.
You are getting more electro-magnetic radiation sitting in front of your computer than you would receive in the Prius.

 

That's why I appended my post with the following: "..just remember what I said about the font..."

Permission granted to laugh at me all you want though, I really don't take myself all that seriously...

 

I meant no offense! Sorry I didn't get the joke...

 

LOL....don't worry about it.
(I didn't.. )

 

That's a good one, radiation from the Prius.

Anyway, as many of us who bought a Prius last year suspected, the unintended acceleration is now shown that it was heavily driver error. Basically people who hit the wrong pedal combined with media hysteria responsible more than anything for Toyota's poor luck last year. Good for us who could see through the FUD, though; we got great deals on good cars.

 

This sums it up as well as possible. The real world out there is not all the media says it is.

Fear is a useful tool, and the American people are in constantly manipulated using fear--in advertising and politics.

I know somebody who succumbed and bought a VW diesel instead of a Prius for these misguided reasons. Women are especially vulnerable to the fear element.

My wife bought a Honda Insight. Mainly because it was $5K cheaper than the Prius, and more like her old Civic. It was a good decision.

The Insight is a helluva good car. A trifle smaller than the Prius, 10% less gas mileage (42 mpg ain't bad) and Honda reliable after 15K miles.

You haven't heard good things about the Insight in the media, either--for awhile. That's a tipoff for your wife to look at the Insight.
Imagine a hybrid for $18K? That's a bargain.

 

Honda Insight? What is this strange manner of creation you refer to? Never heard of it

I have heard that Prius outsells Insight at 6:1. The insight is inferior, but if it really is $4k cheaper (Truecar says a great price is a hair under $18k now and I think Prius II is still about 22) then that's nothing to sneeze at I suppose.