Art and I have laughed over the fact that we both kept trying to figure out the Prius GPS system, but it refused to work when I kept trying to program it. It would work occasionally when we were out, but most of the time would stop in the middle and not let me continue to punch in the address.
It took us way longer than it should have to discover that the Prius purposely prevents people from working on the GPS while they're driving. You can program it when you're stopped at the stop light or on the side of the street, but not while it's in operation. Makes sense. Toyota doesn't want you fiddling with the programing while you're driving.
I'm sure if we read the manual more carefully we would have known that.
Tuesday morning I got into the driver's seat because I always drive us to the Farmer's Market. I pressed on the brake and pressed the ignition button. However, when I tried to reverse out of the garage it wouldn't listen to me. I turned off the engine and tried again. Nope. Same thing.
Art and I switched places and doggone it! The car reversed out of the garage.
I was convinced the Prius just didn't like me. Art drove us to the Farmer's Market.
Art said I should be nice to the car and it might let me drive it home. He reassured me that there shouldn't be anything wrong because he just took the Prius in the day before for servicing.
We did our shopping and it occurred to me that there was one little thing that might have been the problem when I was trying to start the car at home.
Can you guess?
I forgot to buckle my seat belt. Sure enough! When I got into the Prius and put on my seat belt first, the car allowed me to drive. (Art says I should have heard the seat belt warning signal.)
Art could hardly contain his mirth. He insinuated that the car was smarter than me. Sheesh! So why doesn't it just turn off the lights by itself then?
POSTSCRIPT: (January, 2013) I take it all back! It wasn't the seatbelt! I tried it a couple of days ago and it started fine even though I didn't have my seatbelt on. Now I don't know why it wouldn't let me start the car.
I'm sure if we read the manual more carefully we would have known that.
Tuesday morning I got into the driver's seat because I always drive us to the Farmer's Market. I pressed on the brake and pressed the ignition button. However, when I tried to reverse out of the garage it wouldn't listen to me. I turned off the engine and tried again. Nope. Same thing.
Art and I switched places and doggone it! The car reversed out of the garage.
I was convinced the Prius just didn't like me. Art drove us to the Farmer's Market.
Art said I should be nice to the car and it might let me drive it home. He reassured me that there shouldn't be anything wrong because he just took the Prius in the day before for servicing.
We did our shopping and it occurred to me that there was one little thing that might have been the problem when I was trying to start the car at home.
Can you guess?
I forgot to buckle my seat belt. Sure enough! When I got into the Prius and put on my seat belt first, the car allowed me to drive. (Art says I should have heard the seat belt warning signal.)
Art could hardly contain his mirth. He insinuated that the car was smarter than me. Sheesh! So why doesn't it just turn off the lights by itself then?
POSTSCRIPT: (January, 2013) I take it all back! It wasn't the seatbelt! I tried it a couple of days ago and it started fine even though I didn't have my seatbelt on. Now I don't know why it wouldn't let me start the car.
Oh gosh that was funny. I think all GPS won't work while you drive, The Hubby's won't in his Avalanche or mine in the Jeep! The seat belt thing, now that is interesting and I think should be on all cars.
ReplyDeleteThinking ahead, making sure that you are safe, that's what your smart car is doing. I loved this story, Kay! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm totally not mechanical, a Prius is not for me! Lol.
ReplyDeleteYou are too funny. Do you think your Prius likes Art. I love Toyota products and have driven them for years, but I have the Matrix at present. If I can't find a place without GPS there is no hope. Dianne
ReplyDeletecars are getting too smart...lol!
ReplyDeleteThat is a smart car....and you guys were pretty smart to be able to figure out the problems.
ReplyDeleteKay - Time to find a restored VW beetle, like the one you had long ago. No computers, no problems. Just simple engines and parts. The good ones include rusted out floors to pedal the car if needed. Wonder what other "secrets" are in the newer car's manual? DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteThe heating system in our old VW bug wasn't working either so winter used to be a little tough.
DeleteBlessings....
ReplyDeleteThough i don't drive, truth is i cannot, don't know how, it all make sense to me. Drivers takes so many things for granted, example trying to programme GPS while driving (hehe), driving without engaging seat belt (haha),i guess they figured (makers of vehicles) if they equipped a car to do just what you did then that would beginning to eliminate "accidents" on the road.
Sounds like you and Art had fun though dispite the learning curve.
have a blessed weekend.
I'm impressed by the GPS function!
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for a really smart car that can drive itself. Then I will feel confident to drive long distances again.
ReplyDeleteL. from W.
Gosh, how low Toyota has sunk. A company that made what was indisputably the best vehicles on the planet in the 1970s-80s, has reduced itself to a nagging nanny, petulantly refusing to ignite the engine unless the driver's seat belt is on.
ReplyDeleteGPS won't cooperate while the vehicle is in motion? Implying that passengers are too stupid to operate it? Who the heck do Toyota think they are, my parents? My passeners' parents?
It'll be easy to buy another make of car anyway, being as Toyota no longer make reliable or mechanically sound vehicles.
Actually... the Prius has done quite well so far. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will continue this way. A nagging nanny is sometimes what I need at my age and forgetfulness.
DeleteSuch a smart car..I loved this post and Art's comment that 'you should be nice to the car and it might let you drive it home' made me smile..
ReplyDeleteI guess society is still on a learning curve with the Prius. Some of that stuff you mention will become common knowledge eventually. However, the dealer didn't do you any favors by not briefing you. I find the Prius to be slightly "creepy" in the way it makes no sound at all. But that's irrational of me becausue it's outside of my experience, although I would be extra careful when children are near the driveway. A lot of these tech types with computers and smart phones plow right ahead wihout instruction manuals as they go by "intuition." Me? Give me an instruction book every time, but they are getting rarer and rarer.
ReplyDeleteIt's true. Birds don't hear us when we come up to them with just the electric motor going. We have to be careful of pedestrians and bike riders too.
DeleteI like Art's whimsey.....kinda bossy car though; a nanny car.
ReplyDeleteWhat if monsters are chasing you and you jump in the car with seconds to spare and it WON'T take off till you buckle up with your trembling fingers??!!
You NEVER bore us, Kay!
Warm Aloha from Honolulu side
Comfort Spiral
=^..^=
> < } } ( ° >
Oh too too funny! Then again........
DeleteOkay Kay, Cloudia's thought of things to worry about. Maybe, deep in the instruction manual, is some "override button," or maybe there are hidden tasers for self-defense! DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteHmmmm....this is so true. I guess James Bond can never ride a Prius.
DeleteThat car just might me a little too smart. But it certainly does have safety features.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic story, Kay! That is a great car. I have no car as I don't drive, but I think yours is really smart! I wish I had a bike like that! Lol.
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever design. All cars should be like that.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could use your iphone. If you turn on location services for maps in your settings it will pinpoint where you are.
ReplyDelete~L.