front bumper collision warning

Not sure what you mean by "a front bumper collision warning system that doesnt cost $1000 to purchase and install". If you are talking about PRIME, all trims already have preinstalled TSS-P which includes Pre-Collision System. No need to install any additional warning system. If you are asking about older model Prius, then I don't know the answer to your question. Also, if you are thinking of a warning system for a low end of the bumper hitting the curb, I have no idea what system would be available.

 

I believe that NONE of the forward collision warning systems "look" low enough to prevent you scraping a parking lot bumper or curb.

You can still buy spring like curb feelers for about $20.

OR......you could each practice stopping BEFORE you hit the curb.

(My "curb warning" is my wife.......who whacks me on the arm and yells STOP at the right time.)

 

I don't know which model you have, but even the advanced with the sonar sensors won't detect a curb.

the best thing to do would be to install a front facing camera (see corvette for instance) that's aimed at the ground. you can probably pump it in through the media input (same way they do the psudo-apple/play screen attachment)

 

i wired up some metal coat hangers to the underbody, protruding out front to warn me before the bumper scrapes

 

^ Yeah, still have it in clipboard, commercially available version:



I had those on one of our accords, one thing: they tend to snag debris. I guess the tighter coil ones are less prone to that.

 

It's called a "wife" but costs a lot more than $1K.

 

no kidding, just the installation alone is likely to cost $30K on the low end now a-days.