2010 Prius V with Tech Pkg, The Perfect Lush Mobile?

Maybe I'm old-fashioned - yeah, certainly I am, but I have to say that the tech pkg just feels decadent - there's no other word for it. Lots of high tech gee gaws to do things competent drivers either should be able to do or should learn to do. I've long felt, for instance, that the roads have become considerably less safe with the widespread use of cruise (I'm as addicted as anyone.) and I have a hard time believing that radar or any of the other features in that pkg will really do wonders to reduce the current levels of driver distraction out there. (But then, Wth do I know? I still prefer the map and compass to the GPS, and I mostly use my iphone for reading email and the Times.)

Anybody familiar with the case of the two aircraft that collided over the Amazon a few years back? There's reason to believe that it was due in part to unintended consequences of the newest & best instrumentation (along with some arbitrary assumptions on the part of pilots).

I wonder how Ralph Nader feels about this stuff.

 

So just get a V w/Nav and no ATP ... save yourself $2700.

 

I am waiting on a II with added bluetooth. Nothing else. And I just ordered a portable Garmin 265WT GPS. For about $200. I'll have a GREAT car for thousands less. It's worth pondering how much you need all the "extras." Unless $$$ isn't an issue. Then go for it!

 

But this is good. A car that has built in intelligence to help drunk drivers arrive home safely is a good thing. One day we'll tell the Nav "Go Home" and the car will drive itself back. The drunk driver could pass out safely. Another option is that the car takes over is the driver is DUI, falls asleep or has a medical emergency.

 

This already exists


Smart Car? This One Knows When You’ve Had a Stroke | Autopia | Wired.com

 

I've had my V w/AT since Memorial Day, and I think I have had enough experience with it to address some of your issues.

Got that right! I've never been a big fan of cruise control, and I particularly didn't like it (or use it) in my '07 Prius. I knew I could get better mileage on my own!

The radar systems changes all. I've used it on several trips, and it adds greatly to the comfort and safety of long drives. Here is a quick story about my use of the cruise control with the other features of the AT package:

I was following a tractor-trailer rig as we approached a construction zone. The truck slowed down, and so did I. No problem. We had a merge coming up, but there were no other vehicles merging, so we kept a decent pace. Out of nowhere, a car zooms in ahead of the truck. The truck almost nails this idiot, and in the process locks up his brakes. We're now in a one-lane construction zone with nowhere to go. By the time I saw the smoke billowing from his brakes and tires, the car already had pre-tensioned the seat belts. As things got a bit nastier, and I decided I needed to brake, the seat belt pulled me back into the seat. I reached for the brakes, but I couldn't even keep up with the brake pedal as it descended: the car already had started heavy braking. It was pretty intense! I was paying attention the whole time. The amazing thing was that the car sensed and reacted faster than I could. There was no accident, and I just kept on going. In fact, I hit "resume" and off I went.

I've had it engage twice on road trips. Perhaps it didn't save my live (a bit overdramatic), but it prevented an accident once and likely saved tire damage, if not worse, another time.

I was rather dubious, myself. I have to tell you, now, that I find it to be a very helpful tool.

This one never really interested me, and I haven't even tried it out yet. I'm sure I will, someday.

I'm sorry to say I had a good chuckle over this one. I've really experimented with the LKA (with and without the dynamic cruise control). Attempting to use the lightest possible touch on the steering wheel (after 15 seconds without hands on the wheel, the system sends a warning and disengages), I found that the car would slowly oscillate from wide side of the lane to the other. This wasn't unsafe, but it would look much like a drunk driver from the outside looking in.

I don't see this as an issue. Drunks are not going to get much further using this AT package.

 

I confess that I am interested in the dynamic cruise control and the precolision feature. And I wish those two were available without the other two features.

It seems like the dynamic cruise control finally makes it usable in areas with varying road congestion (e.g. along I5 from the Bay Area to LA) where I've never really used cruise control before.

The only accident I've had in the last 20+ years was a (thankfully minor) rear end collision in urban stop-and-go traffic. I took my eyes off the car in front of me for 2 seconds when he braked hard. It was all at low speed (my Sienna had $0 damage), I believe there's a chance that the PCS braking could have prevented the accident.

So, I ordered a Package V with AT yesterday.

We'll see...

 

I believe I understand your premise, but perhaps I'm just talking as though I'm telling an inside joke to strangers.

The ACC and LKA pair well together, but they do not takeover control of the car. The driver still must continue to steer the car.

The LKA WILL keep your car inside the lane boundaries, but there are a couple of conditions and a warning to make. The conditions are that the driver have hold of the steering wheel and that the road lane markers be visible to the camera. The second is subject to rain, lighting and road conditions, so the LKA can turn off at a moment's notice. Also, I should warn folks that the LKA does not offered automated stopping. You'd be relying on a vehicle in front of you to stop and stay stopped.

The "inside joke" part of the comparison is that the look of someone relying completely on LKA would look out of control or even not in control of a sitiation. The look would be much like that of a drunk driver weaving through traffic -- an especially ironic joke.

 

Priori, I completely agree with your assessment of the LKA. When I tried it, it would slowly creep to the right, then correct itself. The problem was that it would correct itself too much. Then it had to turn back to the left after I got to the other side of the lane. And again, correct itself too much. If a drunk driver tried to use that as a method to get home, he would certainly call MORE attention to himself.

 

I found this problem as well.. mostly at slower speeds and windier roads..

 

Just for purposes of clarification: I don't see this LKA characteristic as a "problem" in any way. (I doubt you two folks are really reporting this as a problemmatic issue, but you can speak for yourselves.)

The LKA is only supposed to keep you from crossing from you lane into another (or onto the shoulder), it is not intended as a crutch to allow the car to drive itself. This very "problem" is what makes it so useful and valuable. It is much too dangerous to have a car simply drive itself. The warning sound and correction are enough to grab your attention and move you back into a safe position. It remains your responsibility to drive the car at all times.

 

In no way did I mean to say the LKA is faulty. It does exactly what it was meant to do. If it didn't over compensate, I can imagine someone thinking they could hop in the back seat and go make a sandwich or something crazy.

 

I understand that you may be sensitive to the issue of drunk drivers... But from what I have been reading, it seems that a drunk driver using the AT features would be weaving all over the lane and hopefully pulled over earlier than otherwise (or at least be obvious to those around). I also think the AT package could decrease the chances of an accident because the car would have a better chance of not crossing over the center line (or leaving any lane) and at least braking hard before any impact to reduce the severity of injuries.

Even if you don't care what happens to the impaired driver, it sounds to me that all cars should have those features to protect others.

The AT package seems really helpful for those long drives when your reflexes are a little sluggish. I think that was Toyota's motivation and that's why I've ordered it.

 

Post deleted, wrong thread.