Hello all. Great forum. My mom was telling me the other day that my uncle showed her a web site and video where the 2007 Prius is supposed to have a feature that allows it to parallel park by itself. I did a search on this forum and didn't see anything. I also did a search on the web and only found that BMW has this feature for some of their future cars. Has anyone else seen this? Cheers! EDIT - I did another search and found this (Would you pay $700 for this feature?): http://www.local6.com/technology/8458908/detail.html
I've already got it. It parallel and reverse parks by itself. You just have to control the brake, but it steers for you. You have to position this green rectangle on the rear view camera, and then it'll back into that spot. It has some success in placing the rectangle in the actual parking spot, especially if you pull up to the spot in the way it recommends (which is basically the usual way). Some adjustment is typically required, so if you are under pressure from surrounding traffic it might not be worth it. It does however do an excellent job of squeezing you into a tight spot, so I often use it just for that.
haha.. imagine taking a road test! "wait wait, I gotta adjust the box first!" wait.. backing up another level. Are you allowed a backup camera on a road test?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(uclabruins @ Jul 15 2006, 09:49 AM) [snapback]286767[/snapback]</div> I think the most common reason for it not being available in north american cars is that Toyota suspects that it could cause a lot of lawsuits if people have parking accidents. What with north americans being so lawsuit-happy, it doesn't really make sense to give people more fodder for silly lawsuits. It was available in Japan in the 2004 Prius.
"so if you are under pressure from surrounding traffic it might not be worth it." Just imagine yourself sitting behind a vehicle in busy traffic waiting for the parking dance ahead of you to be completed. You might just be inclined to drive up until his sensor detects your car and initiates the voice in his vehicle that says " I think this parking attempt should be abandoned." Gary
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveG @ Jul 15 2006, 02:18 PM) [snapback]286840[/snapback]</div> I think you're right. Except I would just retrieve the black box information, so when the class action lawsuit is filed, they can request the information from the box...."So, why DID you override the automatic system and hit the car behind you?" at the depos... I can see the class action lawsuit for the increase in insurance, with every licensed driver in the U.S. as a potential claimant. Hasn't lawsuit fear driven many "safety" improvements underground until the gov't steps in and mandates them?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveG @ Jul 15 2006, 03:18 PM) [snapback]286840[/snapback]</div> Think again, that feature is coming here in 2007 in the Lexus LS460L. There are all kinds of technologies we just don't get first stab at here in the states.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Canuck @ Jul 15 2006, 07:32 PM) [snapback]287005[/snapback]</div> I'm sorry Dave, I can't let you do that... Hmmm...I have my GPS (not the built in NAV) set to a male voice--the higher register of the female one is neither as audible nor as euphonic to my ear--however, I may have to rethink this when it gets stroppy with me...DH and I still keep waiting for it to say, "Susan, you ignorant slut," the next time I turn in a direction with which it disagrees...
