2012 Prius Noisemaker

Useless function.
Prius has noise from electric motor when it is runing in EV mode. People can hear that.
By the way, the VPNS noise is not cool and is annoying.
Even the pedestrian will hate that noise.

 

After reading the replies on the original news announcement on this I would like to stress it is a US Government mandated device (by law) NOT something Toyota did because they thought it was a good idea.
I do think their chosen sound is kind of "cool".
But if it were my choice it'd be a repeating "Bronx cheer".

 

Of course....The "World" needs more noise! ....Bring/It/On! ...

 

You'll probably be able to shut the sound off via a ScanGauge II or something similar, just like the reverse beeping.

 

Is there a link that gives the law for the noise maker?
What noise are the Volt and Leaf offering... and all the other ev's on the horizon...

 

They're going to try their best not to make it easily defeatable, just like the NAV lock-out in motion. However, someone somewhere will figure out a way to defeat it for sure.

That'd be funny though. Hit a pedestrian, take out the scangauge and turn it back on so as not to get into deeper trouble in court.

 

I would buy the car.......then turn off the noise.......who needs more noise !!!!!

 

I think it's a good idea, have had a few instances driving in electric-only when it would have come in handy. When you're coming up on pedestrian they often do not hear you: the electric motor is near silent and tire noise is negligible.

Of course: I like the reverse beep too.

 

Have you actually driven the car with the noisemaker? According to my trusted sources and what I've heard personally it really is a non issue. It's very unobtrusive and sounds a lot like the inverter noise on the GenIIs which is actually kinda cool.

I highly doubt it is going to annoy people so much that it affects resale value.

 

How about pedestrians and bikers pay attention to what the hell they are doing? turn the iPod off and look around.

 

Dude were killing thousands of blind people every year. Don't be so insensitive!

 

Lol oh come on.

When I'm out jogging, I pay extra close attention at intersections and driveways NEAR intersections where I am crossing. If need be, I pull my ear bud out and I have never been hit by a car and I jog in both rural and urban high traffic areas. Just saying.........

 

Re: 2012 Prius MOO Noisemaker -

Over where the Noisemaker movie is... one person thought they should hack to noisemaker box and replace the current multi frequency noise with:

"Pony trotting clip-clop clip-clop" sound event when driving less than 15 miles/hour

Another person suggested a cow "moo" was a good replacement sound.

I can just hear the 100 2012 Prius cars in North bound Rush Hour I-35 West traffic traveling for 5 mile onlooker delay at 10 mph. All sounding like a herd of Texas long horns !

 

Covered pretty extensively in another thread, but without the poll. As with the extra cost for stuff I wouldn't have ordered, I don't really want the noisemaker. But in order to get the car, you have to take what Toyota has decided you're going to get. I think visually impaired people are likely to be a lot more careful and aware of their surroundings, and therefor safer, than a whole lot of folks with excellent vision who are too absorbed with cell phones, iPods and the like, making them easier targets.

 

As mentioned in the previous thread, the noisemaker is not a big deal sound wise. Its audible but not terribly loud or annoying. Futuristic sounding I would say. I have heard it first hand, both outside and inside the car.

It seems your set with getting a 2011 anyways... based on your previous statements. If you think this will "ruin" the prius, you are wrong. Go get a less expensive 2011 if you think this noise is too much to bare.

I think the only thing Toyota did wrong, was to introduce it earlier than required, and to release the video which clearly amplifies the sound to extreme proportions.

EDIT::
I also think someone, or something will enable the user to edit, muffle, or turn off the noise at some point down the road. =)

 

It depends on several things, for example:

1. Is it legal to turn it off? If so can it be done easily?
2. If I can't turn it off how obnoxious is it?

If it is as loud as the one in the video and I'm not permitted to turn it off my answer would be, "no thank you." This might be my last hybrid car.

But I think I may be in the minority, I suspect that most hybrid car buyers will not mind at all. After all it must be a great idea or our government wouldn't require it.