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Canadian Prius v for USA?

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by wjtracy, Jan 24, 2020.

  1. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Does it make any sense to buy a v in Canada for import to USA for use here?
    I would want the auto braking safety stuff that USA Toyotas have now.
     
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  3. Leadfoot J. McCoalroller

    Leadfoot J. McCoalroller Senior Member

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    Last time I checked an importation like that was not even close to economical- worth it for investment cars, folly for transportation.

    Also keep in mind- such a car would have a Canadian warranty. Typically that means you'd pay cash for all repairs at a USA dealer, then submit receipts to Toyota of Canada for reimbursement.
     
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  4. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Apparently the Toyota Venza is coming back exclusively as a hybrid using the 2.5L engine. Venzas are bigger than our v’s but will likely have better mpg. Clearly it will have the latest safety tech. 3F56C994-2CF8-4C90-8E4F-E677FF92A85C.jpeg
     
  5. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    The mandatory DRL is a plus for me. The front passenger seat occupancy detector that lacking/not required in Canada is a big issue getting it federalized I've read...

    moto g(7) power ?
     
  6. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    This is very easily simulated on U.S. models by simply turning the headlight switch on, then never ever turning it off. Auto-Off prevents the battery from draining when the car is shut off.

    Or does the 'v' lack this liftback feature?
     
  7. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    My 2012 v three has it. I turn on my headlights every 5000 miles, as my mechanic turns them off.
     
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  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Never heard of that lack of requirement but the Prius v does have front seat occupancy sensors for the front airbags.
     
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  9. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    The v does the same thing and I use it (or more properly never mess with it as its automatic). The function has an adjustable timer in Settings which can be set to zero forcing the headlights off immediately with a powerdown AND the driver's door opening.
     
  10. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    We have an "AUTO" setting on the switch. I guess I could try leaving the switch on Headlight mode, and testing the Auto-Off feature. But this turns on all the other lights that go on with the headlights in that mode. Someday I still dream of pulling apart the fuse box and installing one of the green relays for DRL function. I tried a Sylvania ZEVO LED DRL Fog kit but the correct Toyota bracket did not fit well and it went into my iQ.

    moto g(7) power ?
     
  11. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    In eight years of running my lights in auto, I have replaced a couple of sets of halogen headlight bulbs. None of the others. As far as I am concerned, DRL versus all lights is a safety issue. I constantly see drivers running around at night with their lights off because their DRL gives them marginal headlights and their dash is lit up. However their taillights and side markers are off making them hard to see especially on dark or rainy nights. Some don't even have their DRLs on but think their lights are on because the dash is lit up.
     
  12. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    I'm just trying to clarify the modes.

    There is an AUTO mode on the switch. This turns on the lights as appropriate depending on the in dash light sensor. (I believe not all Prii have this but obviously I could be mistaken). I leave the switch on this mode....

    Then there is leaving the light switch in the Headlight position, always on. I believe this causes a buzzer to sound when you leave the car, but may, (this part I'm not sure about), automatically turn off the headlights after a certain amount of time.

    Which mode is being suggested I'm not clear. I don't want my parents in their 80s to come back to a dead battery in any case.

    But that's a good point. Sometimes I see a car without all ancillary lighting because seems like the DRL makes them perceive their lights are on, or the dash, or both....



    moto g(7) power ?
     
  13. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    I'm suggesting the standard Headlight position. When the car is shut off, it does not cause a buzzer sound, but simply turns the lights off after a configurable delay ( 0-30-60-90 seconds, factory default is 30). It is safe to use in a set-once-and-forget strategy, this won't drain the battery.

    There are a few known ways to defeat it and thus kill the battery:
    * after shutting the car off, move the switch to any other position and back again, the car takes this as an override and disables Auto-Off;
    * exit the car through some means other than the usual driver door, i.e. climb out the window or crawl over through the passenger door, so the car never gets the open-driver-door signal that starts the timer;
    * stay in the car and take a nap, again the car never starts the timer.

    If your parents are the types to lack confidence that it will shut off and thus start fiddling with the switch, then I strongly recommend setting the delay to 0. This way they can see the lights turn off before getting away from the car. Otherwise, if they lack confidence and start fiddling with it, then they will defeat it and get on track for a dead battery.

    This works on all lower trim Prii too. The AUTO position on the switch is for that automatic day-night switching using the light sensor, a higher level feature than this Auto-Off.
     
    #13 fuzzy1, Jan 25, 2020
    Last edited: Jan 25, 2020
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  14. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Agree with above. Change the timer to zero and then there is no question if the lights went off.
     
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  15. jzchen

    jzchen Newbie!

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    I set theirs to AUTO with the timer set to zero. Excellent advice. Thank you.

    They do not do anything and the car takes care of it. Similar on my wife’s Honda Clarity. In fact I was tinkering with the car one night and turned the light switch to off to protect the battery. She ended up getting a ticket for her lights being off driving home from work the next night! (I had forgotten to turn it back to Auto)!
     
  16. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    I park at night in a garage and am very happy with 0 delay, my daughters park at night in a large hospital parking lot and have the maximum delay so their path is better lit.

    You will know your parents habits better than we do.
     
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  17. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Did you want a substitute DRL function? I'm not sure AUTO will get this, it may turn the lights off in daylight.

    So if you want a DRL replacement, it may be better to pick a non-Auto, headlights-forced-on position. And this will still turn off automatically when the driver shuts down and gets out.
     
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  18. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    Also recall 1-year ago we had spy shots of the "new v" test vehicle disguise paint job...guess Toyota sure fooled us: I suppose that was the Venza hybrid prototype. We looked at Venza during cash 4 clunkers but we needed a minivan at that time. Or maybe that is a "v" but they decided to call it Venza since "v" is nutz name.

    I'd be interested in the Venza, especially if I could get this paint job.
    [​IMG]
     
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  19. bostonbruins8703

    bostonbruins8703 Active Member

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    Everytime an article came up about the “spy shots” of the new V. I never put two and two together thinking that the new V is the new Venza. I know the Venza is a little bigger than the V but I remember getting mine and how much it reminded me of the Venza. Then parking my V next to a Venza and comparing them. I wonder if that’s the reason they called that model of Prius, the Prius V as a nod to the Venza (shrugs)
     
  20. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    I saw a Venza in the wild yesterday and would buy the hydrid version without styling changes if it was available today. It appears to be quite a bit bigger than a Prius v, similar to a Rav4. Anyone know when it is scheduled to be out?
     
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