All about my Prius Four with ATP/PCP

That's interesting. I have not had that experience and I've driven in similar conditions (like you described) not on highways... but on roads with a 40 mile speed limit and another at 50 MPH... with cars in front at stop lights. Never had that problem.

But what I have experienced (under those conditions) is the car sometimes breaks much later, than I normally would. It warned me with the big red "BREAK" display, then it applies the breaks rather aggressively (shortly thereafter). But it's always in time, and albeit a little scary. But pretty much in line with how the manual describes it.

On the open highway, it's been just perfect (for me). Of course, the open highway is where it's designed to be used. But I like getting more out of it... and pushing the intended functionality. Shhhh... don't tell Toyota!

 

Noticed an unhappy thought in all that.

 

Yes, dark grey once more

I see all the safety systems on all cars as an addition to driving, not a substitute. And I don't think Toyota's are much advanced and I would expect software updates (hopefully available to all owners) to improve the algorithms that run the systems and take the decisions.
It would be a pity if Toyota will never take the chance in the future to update the software of the current Gen4 to improve the above mentioned glitches.

Nevertheless I think that if I see cars standing there, it is my duty to brake. They system is not designed for stop-and-go traffic, even if it can bring the car to a stop. Yes, surely that will want you to use it in city traffic, or even non highway traffic, but still, that's not what it is designed for. In my opinion it will work "ok" in regular highway traffic.

And I will keep always the eyes on the road and the foot on the pedals.

It's like the traffic recognition - it is based on image recognition. If the camera, under the windshield, is obstructed by raindrops, dust, etc - no way it can read properly the signs. It is borderline a gimmick, aiding rarely to what we drivers should do - look at the road. And the HUD helps with that - the HUD for me is "the safety device" of the Prius. The rest, I have my reservations.

If all the comments and possible problems we face with our Gen4s are fed back to Toyota and they manage to improve, with the existing hardware, the software to increase reliability, and they update our cars, it will be great.

Otherwise I will probably end up disabling all the "gimmicks" as I cannot feel I can rely on them, and not because they will not recognize a safety situation, in which in any case I need to be ready to react (the Prius Gen4 is NOT a self-driving car, like the Tesla isn't!), but because I will be afraid of the car doing weird things, in totally normal situations...

 

I believe even if you're not using radar cruise it will hit the brakes and tension seat belts if a front impact is imminent? That I like.

As for the rest of it, regular cruise is fine for me; abiding by speed limits, I'm rarely closely following anyone.

 

Well the Autopilot function on the Tesla does not make it a self driving car (yet). The Tesla can't detect stoplights and would therefore blow right through them (if there was no car in front of you and if you let it).

 

I am also bothered by the 1 mph maintained speed below what I set it to.

Example: I'm driving, 70mph on my speedometer, set cruise to 70. All is fine until car in front of me knocks me down to 67. Car moves and I speed back up automatically, but only to 69. System still shows 70 as set cruise speed. I flip set cruise speed up to 71, speedometer moves up to 70. Small pet peeve, and surprised it was overlooked by Toyota.

 

You're totally right.
Forgot to put the quotes around "self-driving".

I wanted to say that the Tesla is more "self-driving" than this Prius ever will. Or let's say, the Tesla can do things like change lanes (if I remember correctly), the Prius not at all.

I am still waiting the day I will have an eerie feeling getting my new car, and telling it to bring me home and off it will go with me ever touching anything, apart from showing it how to park in my garage...

 

is it worth to go for four model without ATP package ?

 

Yes

However if you are broke get the cheapest 2016 on the lot and hold your nose on the color.

 

We are process of buying Prius 4.

Quick question about the "Premium Convenience Package and Entune Premium JBL Audio with Integrated Navigation and App Suite".

How much of this requires my smartphone to be Bluetooth linked ? Might run up my cell phone costs?
Do we have to setup Entune ? We normally just listen to NPR or to our own DVD's

Toyota's PCP description written with hardware and software merged together. Hard to tell what's hardware (comes with car) uses which software.

 

You do not have to use Entune. I don't, I listen to XM and FM radio and don't use my phone in the car while driving. Yes, the phone is linked to the car via Bluetooth. If I need to use the phone, I stop.

 

However you need ETUNE in some situations for the WX link. Very little data is exchanged. HD radio is the primary source but you need ETUNE up and running if you want reliable WX coverage in the WX app. Be sure to set your data path to both in settings.

 

If WX is the weather overlay... thanks for that information

We use our smartphone weather app. Smartphone App updates every 20 seconds from local NOAA Weather Center. We can watch 3 last hours + 3 hour future storm direction. Usually my passenger wife does the cell phone while I am driving the car.

 

Navigation doesn't require Bluetooth or a data plan. That said, map updates cost a few hundred dollars if/when you want them (your decision).

Primary traffic and weather data comes from HD radio if available in your area. If not, Entune via your phone and data plan is an option (again, your choice).

Listen to music over Bluetooth as much as you want. Data use depends on the source on your phone, e.g. Pandora uses data, but downloaded local MP3s do not. Bluetooth pair your phone for hands free calling and messaging, but of course uses your minutes/text plan.

Anything else that requires Entune to be installed will use your data plan to varying degrees.