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What are the odds?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by ChuX, Mar 16, 2006.

  1. ChuX

    ChuX New Member

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    Is there a chance that the automatic parking feature being available in the US for the upcoming model years such as the '07 or '08 models? Japan and Europe already have it. Is it too early to say?
     
    #1 ChuX, Mar 16, 2006
  2. bgdrewsif

    bgdrewsif New Member

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    I cannot imagine seeing this feature available in the United States anytime soon... Can you say "lawsuit'? The first time someone sits in their car and lets it back itself into another car or person and then blames it on toyota or the injured party sues toyota for damages incurred by the auto-parking feature, this would really become a problem for the auto companies... Americans are overall too stupid to use such a feature (and I say that as an American... sometime you just got to admit to it, collectively we Americans are mentally handicapped... most of the people at priuschat are not but for each one of us there are at least 100,000 dumba$$es in the US to cancel you and me out with their stupidity... Prius Chat has 12,000 members... the US has 300 million + people... you do the math...
     
    #2 bgdrewsif, Mar 16, 2006
  3. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    I have a different take on it: While potential lawsuits may be a problem, I suspect that Toyota just doesn't see a big enough market for Parking Assist in a country where most people cannot program their VCR, and where most people are too impatient to wait 45 seconds for their car to do, automatically, what they themselves could do in 30.

    And the cost is outrageous. I'd pay big bucks for a 30-mile plug-in Prius, but not for parking assist. Why pay for something I can do myself for free???
     
    #3 daniel, Mar 16, 2006
  4. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    I think the only way we'll see it is to buy one in Europe and have it sent over. Of course you'd have to get it street legal for the US then. A lot of work for something, like daniel said, you can do for free.
     
    #4 aaf709, Mar 16, 2006
  5. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    Actually the US premiere of this technology comes next year on the all new Lexus LS460.

    It'll be a long time before it trickles down to the price point of a Prius though.
     
    #5 SW03ES, Mar 16, 2006
  6. dnbinfv

    dnbinfv Junior Member

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    Last month our Orange County Prius Club had a guest speaker, Dave Hermance, from Toyota Headquarters in Torrance, CA. We asked him that question. His reply was no, reason "law suits"
     
    #6 dnbinfv, Mar 18, 2006
  7. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    Well apparently not, because its coming.
     
    #7 SW03ES, Mar 18, 2006
  8. hdrygas

    hdrygas New Member

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    I have seen the videos of the process. It is slow. My take on it is that the people behind me would get out of their cars, go out and buy a baseball bat, and pummel my car. Americans are not a patient group. Having said that I am certain that there are a lot of people here that could use it.
     
    #8 hdrygas, Mar 19, 2006
  9. Orf

    Orf New Member

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    We in Australia are also denied the park feature. The 06 car has a backup camera so I do not see why a back up facility would cost anything. The computer is in situ and Toyota would have to trun the facility off or delete it from their software if it is not to be used.
    I agree that other motorists would get quite irate waiting for someone to mark out the territory and start backing.
    I go along with the legal reasons for denying the feature.
     
    #9 Orf, Mar 19, 2006
  10. ChuX

    ChuX New Member

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    I only ask because I was hoping that if I hold out longer, I might get some more high tech features.

    I'm considering trading in my Scion tC for a Prius. I'm getting ~230 - 250 miles per 12 gallons of fuel. I thought I would get around 23-25 mpg, but after 10k miles, I still struggle to get 20 mpg. Most of my driving is 6 miles a day, to and from work, so that kills the mileage. I'm driving more conservatively, but that only helps so much.

    As it stands now, I have a steady job that pays well and one which I enjoy. Doing the preliminary math, I can acquire a Prius by paying $100 more a month than I do now, but financed a year longer.

    Personally, I think it's a no brainer to switch to the Prius due to my local driving and the rising cost of gas. But, my dad wants me to finish paying off my car so that I hand it down to him for free and I get a new Prius.
     
    #10 ChuX, Mar 19, 2006
  11. ceric

    ceric New Member

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    ChuX,

    6 miles round trip is your commute per day. That is 3 miles one way. For the first 2 miles, you will get about 30-35mpg in a Prius. Then it goes up from there. My bet is that you will get about 35-40mpg for your short commute. Make sure you understand that before you commit to buy a Prius. The EPA 60mpg/city is hard to achieve in reality. The longer your commute is, the better mpg a Prius brings you. :)

    On the Parking Assist, if it does come to USA, I am sure Toyota/Lexus will ask you to push an "I Agree" button before it starts to work for you. Bet on that.
     
    #11 ceric, Mar 19, 2006
  12. ChuX

    ChuX New Member

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    I was fortunate enough to be able to rent a Prius for a week. And in that short period of time, I was doing mixed driving and it truly impresses me in terms of how far I was able to travel in terms of mpg according to the MFD.

    With the Prius, I might be more inclined to take the long way home :D

    MPG is not the only reason I'm considering trading for a Prius. When I bought my car, I only thought I would be driving just 1 other person. But, instead, my parents want a ride everywhere with my car. Being a 2 door car, it's not the most convenient in transporting a lot of people. In addition to that, the low roof line in the back seat makes it uncomfortable if a person is tall.

    With that in mind, I that the Prius has ample leg room in the back. It certainly is much roomier than all the other small cars I have looked at since there's 38" of rear leg room according to the specs.

    The addition of the backup camera in the '06 would make it easier for me to park. I would have a much better idea of how much room I have to back up as opposed to just guessing right now. It is definitely useful when parking in tight spaces.

    I know the prius is in my future, possibly near future. The question remaining for me is package 3 or 5? The VSC and bluetooth is what I am deciding on.
     
    #12 ChuX, Mar 19, 2006
  13. daniel

    daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb

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    Get the VSC. I cannot praise it enough. It's saved me several times.
     
    #13 daniel, Mar 19, 2006
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I thought the tC had reclining rear seats? I'm 6' and I was fairly comfortable in the back :)
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, Mar 20, 2006
  15. ChuX

    ChuX New Member

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    The tC does have reclining rear seats, but the roof slopes down as well at that point. You'll have to slouch to not hit your head. That's a problem for my tall friends.
     
    #15 ChuX, Mar 20, 2006
  16. jared2

    jared2 New Member

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    Could you give some details?
     
    #16 jared2, Mar 20, 2006
  17. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Then you have some really tall friends or tall-torso friends :). I'd love to have reclining rear seats in the Prius hehe.

    VSC - Vehicle Stability Control, Toyota's 2nd gen system (first was Vehicle Skid Control). This is a yaw control that "prevents" the car from oversteering (fish-tailing) or understeering (plowing). (Prevents is in quotes as it can't defy the laws of physics). Basically, it uses a yaw sensor and the ABS system to sense whether the car is starting to rotate on its axis or if it's not going in the direction that the wheels are pointing. In these cases, the system will brake individual wheels as needed to maintain control of the vehicle.
     
    #17 Tideland Prius, Mar 20, 2006
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