Would you purchase a Self Driving Prius?

Yes, after about ten million other self-driving cars were already on the road.

 

Google's had their own for a while.

Personally, no. I would not buy one. Not because I fear the tech, but because I like to drive. And if I am going to buy a self driving car, I would buy a chauffeur car. Something like an extended length BMW 7 series, or the LS600h. If you are going to be in a car, but not drive it, then the passenger experience becomes the first priority. A Prius is a great car, but it is not an excellent inside. It is a mid-range inside at best.



vs.

 

The more 'self driving' cars, the safer they are, they know the programming of the other "Otto"matic cars, the manual drivers have bugs in their code.

 

Less insurance, less gas, less eye strain, less road rage
Can't imagine a manual mode wouldn't be available.
Get in a group of cars the auto pilot takes over, insurance regulations
(just speculating)

 

Is this after the first day, when 75% of the cars in LA would crash and then be off the road, freeing up traffic for the remaining 25%.


I actually like the idea of technology that assists driving, but couldn't resist the opportunity for a lighthearted joke.

 

The automatic pilot!!!

 

I like the idea of self driving cars...but can you honestly say that you'd take version 1.0 on a winding moutain road in the rain and snow? When you get close to the cliff with no guard rail, as an engineer, I'd have to be wondering how many of these "edge" cases did thye test the software with. You do know that most software bugs are fixed after someone tests it and reports the "crash."

Mike

 

There is a big leap between research and mass acceptance. Look how marginal hybrid cars are right now.

I would say it'll take 10 years, maybe a bit sooner after cash for non-autonomous clunkers.

 

Probably not- it won't be perfected in my lifetime. The price would now be prohibitive, and it would depend on the technology they would use. Besides it wouldn't be any fun.
The interium lane-keep feature is nice, but couldn't justify a gimicky self park option. I saw a video on the Lincoln MKZ lane-keep option and it looses it when the painted lane lines are faded or missing.

 

I still like to drive, but I am all for a traffic management computer taking acceleration and braking control of a column of cars accelerating when the light turns green. Imagine how efficiently many cars accelerating at the same rate at the same time is versus the yoyo effect we get when there is an delay of people waiting for the car in front of them to start moving before starting out?

I believe the traffic engineers call it caravaning. They do it on the freeways and highways too to get more cars in a smaller space of road.

 

I voted "no". Don't have enough money. Get real please!

 

That's a pretty short sighted view of the future you have. You honestly believe if Toyota was to commercially release a car that could drive itself they would leave the cockpit unchanged from what it is today? I imagine cars will evolve to what was seen in iRobot (sans the shperical tires) An optional "manual" mode with a drive by wire "steering wheel" that could be accessed but normally tucked away in the dash. Without the need for a steering column a lot of space will be freed up for more comfortable seating and workspace areas. I believe self driving cars are inevitable and I will be happy to be a guinea pig when it happens.

I

 

I would not only buy one, but probably happily pay extra for it.

Yeah, there's quite a few times I enjoy driving, but those are few and far in between. For the most traffic, traffic stresses me out (because other people are idiots), and eliminating that stress would make me live longer and healthier.

 

But your honor, the designated driver was my Prius.