Well I have decided to get a 2012 Prius IV, but wife is not convinced. She is not wild about a "TV screen" in the dashboard" and the idea of havingto put her foot on brake to start car is freaking her out for some reason. She is not really a luddite, but not thrilled by gadgets the way I am. Oh my, I have my work cut out for me this weekend, Any suggestions?
Just curious, you have to put your foot on the brake to move the gear from Park to Drive on a non-hybrid. Why the big deal? Does she understand the benefits of the hands-free SKS system such as putting groceries or shopping bags in the car without having to take keys out of her pocketbook? Good luck with the wife, that can usually be a challenge
Most new cars these days have an LCD display in the dash. Look at Lexus, Caddilac, Ford, Lincoln to name a few. I have a 95 Honda and 2005 Toyota Sienna, both non-hybrid. Both of these cars require I put foot on brake pedal to put in gear - It's a safety thing - you don't want the car to lurch forward when you put it in drive. What car does she drive now where putting the foot on the brake is not required?
Yeah, but don't have to put foot on brake to START the car. It seems very minor to me. The SKS does interest her, but she is dubious as the key fob on my Outback has failed to wrok numerous tiems and left her resetting the alarm.
Have her test drive a prius. Learning "hands on" is a fun way to discover the joy of driving a hybrid. Push button START means she can keep the keys in her purse. The center console has a full size purse holder and the vanity mirrors have their own automatic large overhead lights for make-up or for primping. The trunk has a hidden cargo bay for any shopping spees that need to be hidden from view. Save gas money for a night out in town. Good luck.
I would point this out to her... As a safety precaution, it is best to be pressing on the brake, regardless of starting at ACC (Which would be just going to turning the car on, but not the engine or pushing the start button without pushing the brake) or turning on the engine to avoid the car suddenly lurching forward, even with the parking brake on. You should also take her to the dealership and have her sit in the passenger seat before you turn on the car, the nav display does come up with a nag message stressing the importance of proper use of the screen, that you should have your eyes on the road at all times. The Nav system will be using the car speakers, not just text. Also, the nav system is NOT a must to use if she happens to be a proponent of using a portable GPS device (Although from the sound of things, she may not care for it either) I can tell your wife that it will pretty much run like a normal car and while I occasionally look at the nav screen with the fuel consumption, rarely do I have the time or inclination to look at the screen while driving.
Prius c Two? It has a regular keyless entry fob and no "tv screen", just a regular radio headunit. Honestly though, more and more cars will come with these LCD or OLED screens (in varying sizes) so now might be the time to get her to try it out. As mentioned above, it is a good habit to have your foot on the brake when starting a car (even a regular car that doesn't require your foot to be on the brake).
In my household she was pro Hybrid and I was concerned about the size. Our salesman gave us a used Prius as a test drive overnight. I loaded up all my gear and still got 42 MPG. That sold me. Consider renting a Prius and having a weekend 'road trip' where she drives as much as she likes and you drive as much as is needed. Richmond > Lynchburg.> Danville> Richmond? McGeorge Toyota has a used 2009 on the lot. Priority Toyota has 11 used Prius, two are Gen 3 Mechanicsville Toyota has 5 used Toyotas, 3 are Gen3 None of these dealers mention rentals. <sigh> Nor do the rental car companies have a Prius in Richmond. Even if it does not 'sell' her a Prius she will see you value her opinion.
Thanks for the homework; Haley Toyota has offered to lend one over night tomorrow. Probably go Richmond -> Williamsburg -> Richmond (and even go shopping!)
Sometimes this situation is not something that can be overcome. I think my Dad would buy a Prius but his wife is similarly intimidated by "new technology". My Dad tried the Ol' rent a Prius trick, and it actually backfired. All it served to do, was prove to my Dads wife, that she didn't want a Prius. I don't know what specifically freaked her out...but evidently "Hybrid" was just too much for her to handle. Toyota still won. RAV 4 in the driveway. But my Dad will privately- sadly mention his "slight" disappointment in the MPG. I personally think if dealing with someone NOT sold on Hybrid advantages, and also not a fan of technology or gadgets? I think your best bet is to highlight all the similar advantages to Prius. Hatchback, Utility, Space,..comfort...then throw in Gas Mileage and savings...who can NOT like getting upwards of 50 mpg? If that doesn't work? I noticed you worded your first sentence as "You've Decided"? Well if you unilaterally go with that decision? How much is the battle worth towards the war? I think my Dad really likes his RAV 4....and his wife....even if I think he'd rather be driving a Prius.
Putting foot on the brake to start any car is a good idea. One time I put foot on gas pedal a little on my Accord and got a 3,000 rpm scare when it fired up.
She might like the SKS Door Handles, and Trunk Release Button on the Hatchback. No need to remove the keys ever from her Purse. Also the Bluetooth is nice. No need to fumble for the Cellphone (if she has one....).
kinda random comment.. but.. if you wife ever wants to upgrade a car... ever in the future.. she'll have to put her foot on the brake... it's becoming standard... both my prius and my g/fs mini require this. (both smart key) my dad used to be old tech... said soo many bad things about a prius and it's tech.. blah blah blah.. now my brother owns a prius too (lives with parents).. my mom wants one.. and my dad really does miss his old rx400h. toss them into the pool.. the water is warmer than it looks... they'll swim.. and an odd comment.... what's next.. trying to shift out of P into D without using the brake?... more brake seems more natural than less brake.
I'm not a big fan of touchscreens in cars for the same reason. The best you can do is to get her to sit in the car and go through all of the normal functions (besides driving) so she can see that the screen won't be a distraction. And stepping on the brake just seems normal to me, although it's a slight inconvenience if I just want to turn the car on to help me scrape the windows. My Mrs doesn't like the Prius but accepted it on the basis of the great fuel economy. She can put up with the slight lack of responsiveness, the whining up steep hills and minimal telescoping. Her big issue with it is the poor rear visibility and blind spots. So, for her next commuter I'm hoping she'll find that the Prius c has overcome her key Prius objections. That's the current target vehicle for my wife for a "10 year" replacement in 2018, but she has wondered about upgrading her commuter and handing her 2008 Civic on. Hence the c thing I rode in a Camry Hybrid in Charleston (Charleston Green Taxi to the airport). It was very spacious and comfortable in the back. I can't say anything about the driving experience. But I forgot to ask whether it was a new model. Duh.
Is this car for you? Is this car for her? Do you only have a single car and need to decide/agree on it?
If she is concerned about the nav display being a distraction, I would like to believe she is pretty much a no-cellphone-in-car-user. If not... Ho boy... While I admit I abuse the whole SKS system... I do have to bring up my earlier concerns with a system such as that, given that whole 0-60 Seconds about that. But assuming that the SKS uses encrypted rfid, the issue shouldn't be nearly as much of a problem. Now while I have the ATP on my Prius v, which means the safety connect system should also be part of the 'anti-theft' should I subscribe past the trial period, I Lojacked mine, as just having alarm won't stop a crook from stealing your car persay or breaking into it. If they had the SKS, they won't be able to deal with the lojack unless they stripped it down right then and there. Perhaps it is silly of me to do so, but I was planning on making this my long term investment for now.
