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HUD vs blind spot monitoring - Looking at used Prius

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by aang86, Aug 1, 2021.

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  1. aang86

    aang86 Junior Member

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    Hi folks!

    New member here. I currently drive a 2007 Prius which has been great... but just got T-boned by someone backing out of their driveway really enthusiastically without looking. Waiting for confirmation from insurance, but my car is likely totaled.

    So, I'm looking at getting a 2017 or 2018 used Prius to replace my '07. My top two contenders right now are a 2017 Prius Three that has blind spot monitoring and a 2018 Prius Three that does NOT have blind spot monitoring, but DOES have the head-up display and a moon roof (which is not necessary, I just think it's kind of fun).

    Both cars have adaptive cruise control, bluetooth, etc. so are otherwise pretty similar as far as features I'd like to have.

    So my question is: For folks who have blind spot monitoring and/or head up display - which one do you think is more important? Do you feel a lot safer having the blind spot monitor? My old car didn't have it, and I've never driven a car with it (I just adjusted my mirrors like CarTalk told me to, and never felt like I had a problem, lol). The head-up display seems cool but I can't tell how useful it would actually be, or if it's just kind of a neat tech feature.

    Would appreciate any advice! Thanks!
     
    #1 aang86, Aug 1, 2021
  2. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    My 2016 Prius 3 was equipped with the advanced electronics so it had the heads up display, sun roof and Navigation, but no blind spot. My 2021 AWDe has blind spot (among other safety features). I miss the heads up display, but would miss the blind spot warnings even more as they have prevented several driving errors so far.

    JeffD
     
    #2 jdenenberg, Aug 1, 2021
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  3. PtPri

    PtPri Junior Member

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    Mine has both. To be honest, the HUD is amazing and helpful, but the blind spot can save you from an accident.

    If I wear polarized sunglasses, I can't see the HUD - yet I prefer to protect my eyes. So, the HUD is dispensable.

    The blind spot monitoring is an absolute safety feature.
     
    #3 PtPri, Aug 1, 2021
  4. aang86

    aang86 Junior Member

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    Thanks! Seems like the blind spot monitor is the way to go (makes sense!). I appreciate the advice/thoughts!
     
    #4 aang86, Aug 2, 2021
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  5. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    I would agree that the BSM is way more helpful than the HUD. Wife has BSM and once I drove that, I started wishing I could trade in my mid trim Prime for the top trim to get the BSM.
     
    #5 jerrymildred, Aug 3, 2021
  6. MIkeDr

    MIkeDr Active Member

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    I will not buy a vehicle without BSM. Period. HUD is nice, but hardly necessary, and I don’t find Toyota’s implementation particularly useful. I would have much rather them put in a birds eye view 360 camera, which along with ventilated seats and a height adjustable passenger seat (short spouse) are the three options I wish my Prius would have.
     
    #6 MIkeDr, Aug 3, 2021
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  7. jdenenberg

    jdenenberg EE Professor

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    When My spouse and I were buying our new 2020AWDe, I wanted the BSM (her Subaru had it and my 2016 Prius did not) and that clinched the purchase.

    JeffD
     
    #7 jdenenberg, Aug 3, 2021
  8. sclevine

    sclevine Member

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    I have all the features in my 2017 Four, but I had had to choose, the BSM is a must-have. The HUD is nice, but I could easily do without it.
     
    #8 sclevine, Aug 6, 2021
  9. robsnyder20

    robsnyder20 Active Member

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    I have a three with the HUD, NAV and moonroof as well and I have driven a few cars with Blind Spot monitoring and my vote is for blind spot monitoring. Could save you a potential accident. Sorry to hear about your accident. Just wrecked my dads car with someone who made a left right in front of me without noticing I was driving down the road...sigh!
     
    #9 robsnyder20, Aug 8, 2021
  10. AzWxGuy

    AzWxGuy Weather Guy

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    The HUD is nice, and it's true as previously mentioned if you are wearing polarized sunglasses the display is almost invisible. I usually don't wear sunglasses though as the windshield and surround glass more than adequately filters UV. Evidence of this is my glasses are photo-gray activated by UV and they don't even begin to tint in full sunlight when inside the vehicle. The BSM is also useful, although I typically maintain a hyper-awareness of all other vehicles in my vicinity anyway. It's a failsafe for me. A second feature of the BSM though, the rear cross-traffic alert function, has been very helpful and probably helped avert disaster on several occasions. Hopefully this feature is available in the BSM for that model year.
     
    #10 AzWxGuy, Aug 8, 2021
  11. aang86

    aang86 Junior Member

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    Thanks, everybody! As luck would have it, both cars I was looking at sold before I could get them (hooray for this crazy market), but we just brought home a 2017 Prius Two yesterday, with BSM and cross-traffic alert, plus basically all the same features that mattered to me on the other Prius Three. I can live without HUD and a sunroof, particularly in SoCal, where I tend to wear sunglasses all the time and (at least right now) it's pretty darn hot!

    Really appreciate all the thoughts! It's only been 12 hours but I'm pretty impressed with the car so far!
     
    #11 aang86, Aug 8, 2021
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  12. Fester

    Fester Active Member

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    Probably the BSM, but as I think several of us have discussed before, a warning sound would be very useful as the mirror warning lights don't grab your attention very well in the daytime.
     
    #12 Fester, Aug 8, 2021
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  13. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Nice!!! That's just what my wife has. She LOVES it! I like it too. Not as much as my Prime, but still terrific. Hope you get great smileage. (y)
     
    #13 jerrymildred, Aug 8, 2021
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  14. artie

    artie Member

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    I have both, blind spot monitoring is far more important and useful, to me, IMHO.
     
    #14 artie, Aug 29, 2021
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