Reversing

Victor, like anything else, it takes a little getting used to, and once that's done it is just fine.

 

I think, this is one of those things where there is no technical necessity for the behaviour of the car, but just a decision from Toyota to choose something that is familiar expecially to the US driver. Because there is no need whatsoever to have it this way and because everything is software driven, Toyota should offer a set of "preferences", where the driver can decide himself.
This would apply to this artificial crawling, to the reverse beep (which cannot be muted in Europe), the touch screen beep who is waking passengers up, to the average consuption reset at refill etcetera. If it's perfectly normal in a PC to choose your own set of preferences, why not doing this with the computer system called Prius??

Richard W. Born

 

It would indeed be nice if one could configure the Prius with a personal set of preferences. However, a defaults setting would be needed to return the car to its original condition if you decide to sell it.

 

I agree that preferences settings would be nice. But I imagine Toyota wanted to make the car as transparent as possible. Both the forward and reverse creep are intended to mimic an automatic transmission, as is the slight braking when you let off the accelerator at faster speeds than the creep.

A manual coasts when you let it out of gear, and does not go until you put it in gear, and a few folks would like the Prius to mimic that. But I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that the vast majority of drivers prefer the feel of an automatic.

I think I could live with it either way, but I'm fine with the way it is.

 

I am not you and Belle is not you’re car ( I'm sorry I don't know his or her name) I thing that more individualization is better. Just another idea.

 

At some point, too much change can be overwhelming. I expect once the new 'wierd' features of the Prius, like the power button, engine shut off, electronic braking and accelleration, etc. become 'normal' in all vehicles, more changes can be introduced.

 

Henry: the problem is that Toyota has to balance between providing high-tech goodies (like preference settings) for the techies like us, and frightening away the vast majority of their customers, who just want a clean, efficient, comfortable car.

That said, I agree with everyone else here: I'd like to have lots of preference settings. But those of us who are obsessed enough about our car to spend time on a chat board talking about it are the very tiny minority.

BTW, my car does not have a name. It's a car, not a housepet.

 

I guess we agree except on the name thing. When it comes time to swear at your car it is better if it has a name. More satisfying, and though I do not have a double blind crossover study it may work better.

 

I have not had to swear at my car since I got rid of the Jeep and bought the Civic.

 

victor, i guess you will get used to it...

i question your "moving very fast" statement as i have had several automatics and my Prius doesnt seem to move any faster than any other car ive owned. i will say taht it does move SLOWER than several ive had since normal cars idle very high at times when the weather is cold making coasting speed higher.

i have had several cars that will coast at 10 mph. in reverse, that is fast... but its very gradual acceleration and the brakes still do work.

 

well, normally you cant "slip the clutch" but there several streets in seattle that you will immediately start rolling backwards in drive if you dont punch it as soon as you take your foot off the brake... so would that be "slipping in reverse?"

 

The thing I like about the Prius in reverse is that it will not go with the parking break on. That should preclude driving it forward with the brake on, which I have done on occasion in the past.

 

I have driven forward with the parking brake on. Not good. But it can be done. I figure that since I cannot remember to take it off, I'm better off not using it at all.

 

does the car drive with the parking brake on??

i've attempted it a few times but i thought there was just an alarm without no movement engaged.

 

No alarm. No cut-off. No lock. If you're alert you can tell it's working harder. But if you've got your head in the clouds you just step a bit harder on the accelerator, and you wonder what's wrong with it, and you drive away.

Maybe if you set the parking break absolutely as hard as you can, it would take so much throttle you'd have to realize you'd done something wrong and figure it out.

But, yes: it drives.

 

wow toyota has the ball
there at 10!!

FUMBLE!!!!

with 6 computers on board, they cant disable the drive with the parking brake on especially from a standing start???

im afraid i dont see the advantage of being able to drive away with the parking brake set.

at least they still have the red brake sign on the the gear display flashes so you sorta know something is wrong

 

Parking brake can be useful when starting uphill. At least if it is steep.

This is a technique one will learn here when getting the driving license, since most cars have manual gears. Three pedals and only two feet can result in embarrasing stalls.

/Paj