Prius Too Complicated For The NY Times?

Dear Ichabod:
I´ve got bad news: While I had to wait at a red light for a left turn, the straight lane next to me got the green one and even though I was pushing the brake-pedal the car behind me hit my back because its driver had been so concentrated on the other car next to me...

When I drove the prius the first time (a test drive) I decided to stop at the freeway parking space to check out all the buttons and lights. (FYI: There are hardly any cars with automatic gear here in europe and I had never driven one of these before. Maybe that´s a reason why the prius is not as popular here as it is on your side of the atlantic.) Finally I wanted to leave but the car didn´t want to - it just beeped twice. I had to get out the manual to get in gear again... Since then I know

kind regs
wogue

 

Hi cwerdna,

When electronic fuel injection (not keyless start) first came out, I was told that you should not press the gas pedel, but instead you must press the brake pedel, while turning the ignition. All of the cars with electronic fuel injection that I or my family have owned have expressly stated in the owner's manual that you have to press the brake while turning the ignition on. That's why I thought it's been common since the 90s.

But now you and Pat say that not all cars with electronic fuel injection require you to step on the brake while turning the ignition. Some do, some don't. So I stand corrected to that extent.

But I still say that it's been common (or at least not uncommon) since the 90s to have to step on the brake while turning the ignition. Certainly, it's been common enough so that I was surprised that a Stanford professor who writes on technology in 2008 apparently never heard of such a thing.

 

still don't agree that it's common

As I stated, I've NEVER encountered a car w/o keyless start that required the brake pedal be held down to start. That's just bizarro and not common. Here are the cars I can think of off hand (that I've driven, rented or owned) which I've driven were MY 1990 or newer, all of which I'm 95% sure don't require the brake pedal to be held down to start.

Dodge Neon
Chrysler PT Cruiser
91 Toyota Camry V6
96 Toyota Camry V6
02 Toyota RAV4
01, 03, and 04 Nissan Altima
03-04 Nissan 350Z
97, 02 Nissan Maxima
Pontiac Sunfire
Chevy Cobalt
Ford Focus
93 Dodge Caravan
02 Toyota Camry
02, 08 Honda Accord
02 Acura TL
Ford Mustang
Chevy (Malibu) Classic
Chevy Malibu
Toyota Corolla
Chevy Monte Carlo
Pontiac Grand Am
Chrysler Sebring
Daewoo Lanos
Kia Optima
Hyundai Elantra (?)

 

I have seen and driven several, Mazda, Eunos and Japanese Ford among others. As I said it isn't unheard of, it isn't bazaar it is just a safety feature some manufacturers have installed. Personally I think it makes a lot of sense, especially if you have kids around.

My mum told me this, I believe it is a true story.
Many years ago, when I was just a little boy a child who lives over the road from me, Davey was intellectually handicapped, he got into my dad's car and knocked it out of gear. It was parked outside our home on the side of the road. We lived on a hill. Fortunately it got stuck in mud after it crossed a road so no damage or injuries. I think transmission locks are a good idea.
The idea of preventing a vehicle from starting unless an adult is at the wheel is a good one, using the brake pedal to ensure this is also a good idea.

 

I've not seen a modern (MY 1991 or newer) automatic transmission car which will let you shift out of park w/o you holding down the brake (unless you also press a shift lock override button, some of which require a screwdriver to access). I also have never seen a modern (MY 1991 or newer) automatic car which lets you start the car if it's not in park or neutral.

Admittedly, I've not experimented on this a large # of cars. I've just hit this by accident myself.

 

my 1994 corolla requires you to have foot on brake when shifting, it was an automatic.

have had a few, that required foot on brake when starting