The Prius is a funny car, where I last worked we got one as a pool car that I was sent to pick up from the dealers. Very strange even for an auto, I had a 15 minute tution with the salesman and even he didn't know what some buttons(the engine braking one) were for.
Also that hybrid motor sounds very sick when you thrash it :-)
I didn't find it too difficult to park/reverse no more so then any other auto. Think its probably just a case of getting used to it over time. Saying that before I left that place, I always went for astra or mondeo if I needed one of the pool cars. Gave that prius thing a wide berth, but i never have liked autos.
Didn't like the split view out the rear windscreen either which seems to be becoming more popular these days.
|
|
|
I have driven it. It's fine when we are moving. The steering is good, and it is a nice smooth ride. However, I didn't like parking it. Not being able to control the speed with the clutch whilst reversing scared me. Any handy hints?
I agree about the split rear windscreen, but I expect we will get used to it.
|
|
Don't you do it as with a big auto car, left foot on the brake? I would have thought that was the way to go.
|
You have nailed my problem - having only ever driven a manual, I am completely at a loss in this car or any automatic. I have read sites (including this one) recommending the left foot on the brake technique, but my husband and my brother tell me I should NEVER, under any circumstances let my left foot anywhere near the brake. What's worse , having driven the Prius yesterday, I was all at sea when I drove my Primera today. I kept forgetting to change gear. Perhaps I should sell them both and top up my Oyster!
Yours in terrified confusion - Linnyvinny
,
|
|
I agree with your husband and brother. I've never understood what HJ was on about with his two foot technique. You've driven all your life shifting right foot from accelerator to brake and back. Don't try to change now, you'll stomp the brake pedal. Don't worry about parking. The creep on the auto will move you gently along while you cover the brake. After a few days you'll wonder what a manual's all about. Persevere.
|
|
left foot braking in an auto is simply another technique to add to your skillset. It makes town driving so much easier. OK the first time you try it you'll stop in the shortest distance you've ever managed but if you take your time somewhere quiet and practice you'll soon wonder why you ever thought there would be a problem. In fact taking parallel parking on a hill as an extreme example it's easier in an auto using both feet than trying to juggle three pedals and a handbrake in a manual. right foot = go left foot = stop - simple!
|
|
|
|
It seems that European nomenclature for the Prius differs from ours. I have what we call a Generation 3 Prius, the whaleback look. [ Gen 1 was never supposed to have left Japan ]. If you have what I call gen 3, be careful when hill-starting on wet or oily roads. { or steep gravel driveways which is where I found out about this quirk. }All movement starts on the electric motor running at high torque, and it is well able to cause loss of traction if you are a bit lead-footed. The half-baked traction control then promptly opens the main breaker and there you are, sitting in the midle of the intersection doing a series of bunny-hops as the breaker opens and closes in rapid succession. Lift off immediately, and start again more gently. Once the engine starts, which may be only a second or so later, you have better reaction from the computer and can accelerate normally. Don't forget that there is no direct connection between your right foot and the engine. The power train is controlled by the computer, and the "throttle" is just another computer input as a power demand.
Don't feel bad about the quirks of the car. I had to instruct the MoT inspector on how to get it going, so you are not alone.
|
Hi,
As you are a beginner to auto, as others have said, I'd advise just using your right foot for accelerator and brake.
Using your left foot in my opinion is pointless and it just muddies the water - most people when starting out with one (me included :-) ) hit their noses against the windscreen when using their left foot accidentally for the brake as that leg is used to pushing a clutch.
There are situations where a left foot can be used in driving an automatic but that is to balance a car when driving very sportily on twisty roads etc - not something I'd recommend anyone to do anyway.
For slow speed manoevers just use creep (where the car move slowly on its own) and dont press the accelerator as it can react suddenly shooting the car backwards/forwards. Hover your right foot over the brake when creeping so you can stop quickly.
Try to be aware where the pedals are in the footwell (sounds silly I know) so you dont hammer down the throttle thinking its the brake.
There are situations such as on a really steep hill where the creep function wont overcome the slope. An experienced driver might use his/her left foot to hold the car on the brake as they increase the gas to go like you would when finding biting point with a clutch but you might find the handbrake is the better method rather than using you left foot to hold the car.
HTH
|
It's CVT btw - continuously variable transmission, don't know where this CVA comes from.
Just remember to caress the pedals in an auto rather than stamp on them. I'd forget the left foot business - I think it's an over-reaction to some notion that autos can suddenly 'take-off' or something - well, it's never happened to me , nor have I heard about it - except for the apochryphal (or urban myth more like..) tale of the OAP in the supermarket carp park wiping out a row of cars while reversing.
I've driven CVTs & conventional autos - some 'creep' others don't, IIRC, the Prius doesn't really creep, but does hill-hold. Don't worry - try to enjoy a new experience!
|
Thanks everyone. I feel a lot better. I will try it tonight and tomorrow and see how I get on.
Cheers
|
|
|
The only place for left foot braking is in karting.
Just ignore all this left foot braking nonsense and stick to using your right foot like most sane people.
Autos are a doddle to drive and you'll soon get used to it. Just go out and practice for a bit.
I've driven the new audi with CVT - absolutley great fun when you floor it from the taffic lights - the revs go up to just below the redline and stay there all the way from 0mph to something illegal :)
Apparently the CVT is faster than the manual.
|
|
|
|
I'm not sure its even CVT:) It has none of the wear parts that a "conventional" CVT has. Sun and planet, single gear transmission, I believe, also known as a power split device.
|
I seem to remember HJ had a Toyota Prius on a long-term test a few years ago, so it's probably worth reading his report.
Perhaps the Mods or HJ himself might possibly be able to point you in the right direction of it if you ask them nicely!
|
It's OK, no need to worry the Mods or HJ, Prius long-term test can be found here:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=135&
Edited by Galaxy on 22/04/2008 at 15:39
|
|
I'm not sure its even CVT:) It has none of the wear parts that a "conventional" CVT has.
I think the name (CVT) describes the overall action as in: a transmission that is continuously variable (as opposed to having fixed ratios), rather than any implications or assumptions about the oliy bits that achieve it. At least, that's my understanding of it.
|
|
It has a fixed ratio. 1 gear. It overcomes this potential difficulty by having very torquey electric motors. But if you don't need to know how the innards operate, then it seems like a CVT! Here's a neat description: www.cleangreencar.co.nz/page/prius-transmission
|
On left foot braking: left foot braking in normal driving, although recommended by some here including HJ, does take a lot of practice and in my opinion should not be attempted by ordinary drivers except on completely clear roads and with due caution. I wouldn't try it myself.
Left foot braking while parking, moving slowly a few feet backward and forward with due respect for Dynamic Dave's motors parked close at either end, in an unfamiliar car driven by powerful electric motors whose power delivery is not going to be strictly linear given the fly-by-wire nature of the throttle pedal, just seems to me like commonsense caution. And it is certainly what I would do, at first anyway.
|
Yes, I stand correcred nortnes2 - very interesting (..and surprising!) technical description.
|
|
Ta Woodbine. Isn't it surprising what goes on behind that bland exterior!
|
|
|
The Prius does creep (as well as having hill hold). But the creep is artificial, like the coasting drag.
If in D or R with foot off the accelerator, below about 8mph it uses the electric motor to nudge itself forwards (or backwards). This means it tends to want to roll about 3-5mph on level ground. Push the brake to retard it, as in any automatic. When you come to a full stop with the brake depressed sufficiently, it stops pushing so as not to waste power. Some people may not press the brake enough to cut out the motor - you can check if it's still pushing on the fancy power display thing. I think some normal automatics shift to N when stopped like that.
Above 8mph in D (and I assume R) with the accelerator released, it induces a little artificial drag by generating electricity, so it feels more like a normal car which has engine drag. Otherwise it would just coast as if in neutral. Pushing the accelerator a little removes that drag and makes it coast.
There are quite a few owners on enthusiast sites who would like an option to defeat both the artificial creep and drag. Not sure that would be a good idea for control though.
|
My wife and I have a Toyota Yaris with the MMT (Multi-Mode Transmision) gearbox and have found that left foot braking is the way to go. When parking, or other slow speed manouvering, having the left foot over the brake pedal is the only really effective way of controlling the speed of the car (no clutch to slip to adjust the speed).
Left foot braking took some practice, but now we can easily step from the Yaris with its MMT transmission and drive our other vehicle (a Transit based motorhome) with an 'ordinary' gearbox.
Its only practice that you need.
|
>>Its only practice that you need.
Yes, practice in using/modulating throttle. I don't know about MMT in small cars, maybe it jerks & jumps on small/minimal throttle openings, but my slush box auto allows the smallest acceleration (above the creep of about 4mph) to be nicely judged. The advantage of a proper auto I suppose. I reverse/parallel park often just on creep (but do have, effectviely, 2 reverse gears on mine) & right-foot break The danger, in my view, in using both feet is that any sudden-ish movement is amplified because both feet are 'floating' with no bracing foot - even if heels of feet are grounded.
|
In torque convertor autos I've never found left foot braking necessary.
Small autos (like many small CVT boxes) often don't have torque convertors, they have automatic clutches. which can engage a bit suddenly. For those, left foot braking is a good idea when manouevering at low speeds.
|
|
Spot on. I drive a torque converter auto and parking is easy. With MMT it's different unless the system has somehow been programmed to creep, and I can't see how you'd do that. I've never had a surge of power in my auto when parking, but if I did I'd have the brake covered with my right foot.
|
Hi everyone -
It is two months on, and you were all quite right, it is fine. I got used to it!
On the down side, I find the Prius very slow to pull away, a big change from my nippy little Micra. It also has a very wide turning circle so i have clipped a couple of kerbs in the multi storey. On the plus side, visibility is good, I haven't found any blind spots yet. It holds well on hills and it is a nice smooth ride even over South Londons potholes. We are alreadyaveraging about 50 MPG (by my calcs, not the onboard computer), and we haven't done 2000 miles yet.
So, all in all, a good buy.
Thanks for all your advice
|
As I mentioned in a brief report earlier this month, I rented a Preeus (as they pronounce it in the States) for a week at the end of May. We covered 1k miles in 6 days, and within 15minutes of sitting behind the wheel felt that I had been driving one for years. Incredibly intuitive.
In 35 years of driving I have only ever had 'a go' in one automatic (a Marina 1.8 whilst learning!!) and just loved Percy Preeus. Fantastic dashboard display and screen, good stereo, excellent aircon ...as proved when it reached 100f for a few days around the Sacramento valley, and relaxed cruisin' at 75mph. Achieved 49mpg, mostly fast Freeway driving, plus lots of up/down in the Sierra Nevada.
I never found it slow to pull away...but then I am comparing it to the average American driving style. Brilliant car...such a shame they are so expensive over here in the UK.
The only downside was the limited rear visibility and fairly shallow boot.
|
I'm quite a fan too - I think most of us pronounce it Pree-us here too, just as the Clio is pronounced as in Lady Dankworth.
It pulls away quite smartly in town - it just isn't at its best on the motorway or accelerating on the open road where the petrol engine screams away at 5.000 revs to get decent performance. But then perhaps you aren't supposed to drive it for performance....
I believe Toyota will introduce a bigger hybrid sometime next year which may answer the problem. If I could find similar performance and nearly-as-good economy as with my Golf 2.0 TDI, I could be tempted back to petrol, even doing 20,000 miles a year.
Edited by Avant on 27/06/2008 at 01:42
|
"With MMT it's different unless the system has somehow been programmed to creep, and I can't see how you'd do that."
VAG DSG has managed it - all they have done is programme the system to engage the clutches when the footbrake is released - great in traffic jams as it creeps on tickover.
It seems MMT is like the smart system where the clutches don't engage until sufficient power is applied.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
