Was the Prius your first car?

You are not alone in this, it is becoming a very common thing, even in common news media use. It was widely understood in the vacuum tube and early transistor days, when electric devices were common but anything electronic was new and exciting and high-tech. But modern generations of general public, non-technical people often have no experience base to know the difference. And most of today's electric products now contain electronics too, so the later term is valid for them. Just not for their ancestors that pre-dated electronic controls and displays.

For most people these days, we should excuse the mistake, the world has changed and they simply can't be expected to be well versed in the details. But for some of us old fogey insiders, it is almost like using 'astrology' and 'astronomy' interchangeably.

 

My high school electronics teacher said, “Electronics is Electricity divided by 1000”.
Before he was teaching he worked up at the DEW line in northern Canada to detect early incoming missiles from the Soviet Union.

 

I could do 100Kts on the payment and just pull back and lift off...(TBM) but with the little 150 cessna about 60kts...

 

My earliest training after schooldays was circuits involving thermister valves and how they worked. The RAF had a vast stock of Mullard tubes for their equipments although the transistor had arrived, so it took many years before solid state tech came came to us gradually with the generation replacement process. I covered radio, radar and teleprinter technology before transferring to air traffic control branch.

 

I'm an EE. I've worked on things from HV electrical drives for Navy submarines to electronic circuit boards for guided missiles. But even the true electrical systems that we grew up with are now electronically controlled for efficiency.

My first car was a sweet 1962 Ford Fairlane. Straight six, four doors, cream colored exterior, maroon vinyl upholstery. Had dry rotted brake cylinder caps. Learned to rebuild drum brakes at 16. Got the car for $150.

 

For my generation, on this issue, I can agree.

But for the newer, younger generations without the same first-hand experience, they can't be expected to know without being taught, as the distinction is no longer as clear and obvious as it was to my generation. The volume of similar things they should learn is continually growing, while their capacity for uptake remains finite. Many things must be lost from the general knowledge pool that we demand 'everybody' know, to make room for the many newer things, and I'm afraid that this must be one of the many casualties.

But thanks for trying!

 

Prius is my 4th car.

1. Chevvy Celebrity (used)
2. Saturn (Used)
3. 2002 Honda Accord EX (New)
4. 2018 Prius 3 (New)

Actually, I was kind of looking to buy Honda Insight Hybrid. Unfortunately, it was not coming out until 2019. In fact, I could not find any new 2018 Honda Hybrid (non-plug in). That almost immediately made my decision very simple. Otherwise, I would have spent a lot of time comparing the pros and cons of Honda Hybrid vs. Toyota Hybrid cars.

The four things I like about Prius:

1. Fuel Economy.
2. Reliability.
3. Abundant Safety Features.
4. Nice Cargo Space due to hatchback.

The four things that I don't like about my Prius.

1. Hate the divided view through rear mirror instead of single view.
2. MID not in the natural place where one would look.
3. Acceleration (have not yet personally faced issues) in highways.
4. Lack of Android Auto or Apple Carplay (not really missing it as I never had them before).

 

I work for a university and much of the staff is younger than me. I give up trying to correct improper spelling and grammar issues in writing.
It is a sad epidemic.

 

Sad to say it's much the same in UK. Not that I work in a uni!

 

For many people, I think what Arthur C Clarke said applies: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

Do NOT let the "magic smoke" out though.

 

First car was a 1993 Volvo 240 and then I’ve been driving a 1998 Volvo S70 since 2009 or so (minus a few years when I was in NYC and didn’t need a car.) just bought a 2015 Prius!! My first new to me car.

 

Hey, welcome to Prius Chat. I see this is your first post and thought you might need an acknowledgement - if only from a Brit.