Prius "must-haves" vs. "frills"

+1 My cell phone is so old it doesn't have Bluetooth and I leave it turned off most of the time.

Who's idea was it to name a short range wireless technology after a dental hygiene problem?

 

If you leave it turned off most of the time then what's the point of having a cellphone? Might as well get a pager.
Also bluetooth is not named after dental hygiene problem. It's named after a Danish King, Harald Bluetooth.

People's been talking on the cellphones while driving since late 80's and all of the sudden it's unsafe? Back in the day cellphones are expensive so only the well off people can afford them. Does that mean rich people can drive better than average Joe? When the first cellphone involved accident happened, why didn't the law changed then? Most Cellphones back in the day were bulkier and have a cord attached to them making them even more unsafe to use while driving compared to the compact cellphones used today. Texting while driving is more dangerous than talking while driving yet talking while driving was the first one to go.

There's no law for surfing the web while driving. I use Google maps all the time while driving. Eating while driving is more dangerous than talking on the phone while driving. Why isn't that against the law? They should make a cellphone case that looks like a hamburger or a McDonald's fries box. How about reading a map while driving? or putting on makeup while driving? or writing while driving? or removing a jacket or a shirt while driving? Talking on CB radios or ham radios is still legal. How's that different than using a cellphone? I can hold the phone the exact same way as holding a CB radio having the same conversation.

Whoever said that talking on a phone using bluetooth is just as dangerous should not even have a license. You should just stay home. God forbid you might trip and fall while walking and chewing gum.

I've been talking on cellphones while driving for the last 16 years and I've never been in a situation where I feel I don't have total control. Know your limitations. If you feel you can't handle it, don't do it, pull over or hang up. I've done this when I feel that I can't handle it and I'm not ashamed of it.

The tests they've done with people talking on the cellphone while driving are flawed. They're set up for you to fail especially the mythbusters one. They don't represent real world driving with real world conversations. They setup a closed course with tracks that look like a go cart race course. Their conversation they use involves complex mathematics problems and brain teasers. Nobody talks like that.

I have BT in my Prius and my Touch Pro2. I usually turned it on for the music streaming. If a call comes in it's routed to BT. I'll talk hands free, no big deal. If I wanted peace and quiet I'll turn off my phones BT. If a call comes in I'm not going to go out of my way to then the BT back on so I'll have hands free. I'm gonna just talk on the phone while driving.

 

it depends on the issue you're talking about. probably in your 16 years of driving while talking on the phone you were just bubbeling nonsense that doesn't need too much brain activity.
some people seem to have so much to say on the phone, and it happenes that they get carried away by their conversation. they start driving slowly, don't use the turning lights, etc., and that leads to serious situations.
on the other hand it could be a question of intelligence, and the law has to orientate on the biggest moorhen.

the law can not forbid WHAT you're talking on the phone, but HOW.

 

Excellent thinking! For the photo voltaic roof = it is NOT a/c! The fan will only keep the interior no hotter than the outside. Bummer. Len

 

I also have a II and love it. On cruise control I go 54.8 mpg! All the standard goodies preclude need for other expensive gadgets. Toyota has done well! The replaced my Tundra frame free this spring. I added all belts, water pump, brakes, etc for extra $3400. Happy camper. Lenny D

 

Can you tell me you long you kept these cars that didn't leak?

The only factory sunroof in my household began leaking at age 12.5 years, long after many buyers have moved on to something else. Of course, the aftermarket sunroofs in earlier cars also leaked during their second decade.

 

Lets face it guys, it comes down to do we need it, heck no, do we want it, heck yes.
It also come down to can we afford it. A lot of people can afford a ll or lll and just can't afford to move up to a higher trim package, it doesn't put them in a lower class if fact it probably is that they are living within their means and are not overloading themselves with debt just to have a car with lots of bells and whistles, not that all those that do buy the higher trim packages can't afford them but I'll bet, not much, maybe a couple of bucks, there are some who are strapped with a high car payment just so they can brag about all the bells and whistles they have on their car.

 

Many of you people are just lucky you can choose the model and extras. When I wanted to buy my 2010 IV, I was lucky to get the floor model that was 1 day old. There was a shortage and I was lucky to get that one. I took it with what it came with at list and paid more than I should have for the custom moldings and pin striping.

Guess what, I don't care. I got my Prius and other than paying off my mortgage early, it was the best purchase I ever made.

 

Oh, i went thru the same thing...i searched for MONTHS for a V...and, by coincidence, found one available because the previous buyer who ordered it backed out of it.

 

Speaking of Frills ??

Would anyone know if the following from a gen2 Prius fits the gen3
Mud guards ?
Weathertech window visors?
WeatherTech floor mats??
Thanks for you time ...

 

The oldest is a 1993 BMW 325 iS that has never had a leak in the sunnroof. The car is not driven very much these days, but it does sit outside in the elements.

 

Greysquirrel nailed it.

In my case though, Toyota's packaging of the extras I wanted with a bunch of khrap I had no interest in resulted in me buying a basic II.

Our Prius is our lowest priced car, our other cars have leather seats, funny roofs, Nav and all that other stuff.

We have had a sunroof on at least one of our vehicles almost all the time since 1971 and rarely used anyone of them.

We have Nav in our other cars but at $2k for a system that gets used maybe 5% of the time we are in the car, with the primary advantage it has over a $200 handheld unit is the fact that it's built in. No thanks. It costs about as much to update the maps in a built in system as it does to buy a decent handheld outright.

It's not just the dollars, it's an aversion to being had by a car company.

 

I like all the little gagets, so got a V and never looked back.:rockon:

 

Well, lets be fair here...the NAVI/JBL comes with:

1. an excellent JBL sound system that you would be hard press to better with aftermarket parts for under $1000, or even $1500!
2. Rear view camera
3. USB connector for Ipods/Iphones with full control via steering wheel controls
4. Bluetooth functionality, including full phonebook download and speed dial
5. Bluetooth audio streaming from Ipod-compatible units

and lastly,
6. Navigation system

So, is it worth $2000? IMO, hell yeah, esp. if you have Ipods or any cellphone for that matter. For me, i use my cellphone quite a bit while on the road...and the phone book transfers and speed dial option are basic requirements! Rearview camera because i have small toddlers running around. My Itouch loves my system since the USB also charges my Itouch while in use. The JBL system is just amazing...and literally a bargain IMO! And we're haven't even mention the navigation system itself!

 

The only thing in that list that interested me was the Nav system.

 

My '98 Saab has a sunroof, the car sits outside (I have no garage) and it doesn't leak (knock wood).

As far as the iPod connection on Prius, as long as there's an AUX jack then any MP3 player can play through the stereo. That can be done on any trim level of Prius. No, it doesn't charge the iPod by being plugged into the AUX jack, but there are other ways to accomplish that.

Backup camera can be added aftermarket--it doesn't require having the Toyota NAVI system in order to have a backup camera.

My Garmin Nuvi has full bluetooth capability (incl phonebook integration), MP3 and audiobook capability, other travel tools, and it all works wonderfully. I use the bluetooth all the time.

So, for those who want/need/desire a built-in NAV they can get it, and for those who want/need/desire a different and less costly method for getting the same functionality, they can get it with 3rd party solutions.

 

USB does more than just charges the IPOD...it gives you full control of your Ipod withOUT having to touch your ipod while driving. In fact, while driving, my Itouch is in the center console. You can select songs/categories by the steering wheel controls or via the touchscreen. THAT is what is nice about it. AUX functionality is very limited and can be dangerous while driving because you have to play with your IPod. And if i don't want to use my USB, then i can use BT audio streaming, which has limited functionality like AUX, but there are no wires.

Yeah, i have seen those installs in the Audio section of this forum...not exactly cost-effective (since you have to buy an aftermarket headunit with NAVI)...and not exactly simple for the non-handy folks.

I have a Garmin NUVI 775t...a top-rated NUVI last year. Yes, it has BT stuff...but, holy cow, it sucks royal butt! Totally and utterly useless in a car. The speaker in the back of the unit sucks. And channeling it through an FM station is difficult and rarely successful. It can't hold a candle to the BT functionality of the OEM NAVI. I have read other folks finding the BT function on the NUVIs equally frustrating! Maybe the newer units improve...i don't know.

 

Different folks need different things....

 

I got the V. Missing the parking and radar curse. SORRY!!!!!!
The navigation lacks a bit but It is great. I have version 9.0.
17" are great.( mine came with Michelins) Out corners an lot of those tailgaters with ease.
Love the LED Head lights and I did replace the Fog lamps with H.I.D.s AWESOME.
It is a poor mans Lexus.

 

i only took the III because they couldn't get a II in time.


do i need a V...no

\do i need the car to park itself...no. and if you need this option you shouldn't be driving.

what i learned from 6 years at nasioc is that you can always personalize/mod your car enough to make it different and feel better about what you got, while saving money. it also pays to wait until other members try out new aftermarket parts. most aftermarket parts don't fully live up to or exceed your expectations. do research and pick carefully.