New Prius Owner - Well On Monday 7Th

[Tazman_1978]

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd introduce myself as a soon to be Prius owner. Next Monday! It'll be the first brand new car I have ever had (ok, company cars aren't really your own I know).

I finally got the chance to order a company car and went for the T4 prius in silver (couldn't get the t-spirit due to my car bracket).

This may be daft but I just went for it, spent a while looking at the toyota website and various reviews. I've not even had a test drive in one, everytime I went to one of the toyota garages near me they said their test car was out or booked up for weeks!!

I've read through a lot of posts here and it seems the general feelinig is that it's a good car to own and drive

Just a couple of questions though if you don't mind.

1) The T4 model has bluetooth but how does it interact with the phone? What I mean is, can you access your phonebook? stream audio etc?

2) The stereo, is it true that it can read MP3's? and is it a single cd or an in dash autochanger?

Regards

Taz

[Jan&tone]

Welcome to TOC Taz -

Hi everyone,

Just thought I'd introduce myself as a soon to be Prius owner. Next Monday! It'll be the first brand new car I have ever had (ok, company cars aren't really your own I know).

I finally got the chance to order a company car and went for the T4 prius in silver (couldn't get the t-spirit due to my car bracket).

This may be daft but I just went for it, spent a while looking at the toyota website and various reviews. I've not even had a test drive in one, everytime I went to one of the toyota garages near me they said their test car was out or booked up for weeks!!

I've read through a lot of posts here and it seems the general feelinig is that it's a good car to own and drive

Just a couple of questions though if you don't mind.

I have the T-spirit and there are differences in the Audio/visio bits... I'll answer what I can for you and no doubt others will fill in the gaps....

1) The T4 model has Bluetooth but how does it interact with the phone? What I mean is, can you access your phonebook? stream audio etc?

Yes. I understand however that how easily it does it actually depends on the phone.

I had no problem with my HTC smart, but I have found that if my wife has her mobile on bluetooth and it is connected to the car, then my contacts are not available and vice-versa. I can only assume therefore that the contact directory on the car is tied directly to the phone connected at the time.

2) The stereo, is it true that it can read MP3's? and is it a single cd or an in dash autochanger?

This I can't help with as the T-spirit has a single cd player and a hard drive that we copy cd's to.

I'm sure those that have T3's and T4's will be happy to answer this one for you though

Lastly mate - enjoy the car, it's an absolutely amazing beast and yes, others have found faults, but mine is as perfect as I could wish for....

Tone

[r04drunner1]

Welcome on board Taz!

I am still exploring the bluetooth link on my own (company) Gen3 T4 so I can't really comment on your first question. In the main the features you can use do seem to depend on the particular model of phone you are using. Mine is a brain dead base model phone so the integration is not great! I ended up manually programming in my contacts.

I would also warn you that the Prius owner's manual is very poor on the bluetooth aspects of the car. Details are minimal. (That may be because facilities differe depending on the phone you have.) Trial and error with the manual open beside you seems to be the way to go.

But I am sure somebody better informed than I will be along shortly to answer your first question more thoroughly.

2) The stereo, is it true that it can read MP3's? and is it a single cd or an in dash autochanger?

This I can help with.

Yes it can read MP3 tracks on CD. Which is handy when you are listening to a long MP3 track that is too big to go on an audio CD. (One of my sermons :D )

Yes it is a single CD, not an in dash autochanger. (You can confirm this for yourself by trying to insert a second CD while the first is already in there ;) - that's how I confirmed it anyway!)

You can also plug in your MP3 player via the AUX interface. The plug is found at the back of the centre console luggage box, between the two front seats. Open up the lid and you will see! (I haven't tried this interface as yet.)

As a general point, having a T4 as a company car is GREAT. I still can't believe the amount of money it has saved me, and I get a lot of pleasure driving it. The city commute in particular is transformed. Enjoy your new car - and this board!

[johalareewi]

Just a couple of questions though if you don't mind.

1) The T4 model has Bluetooth but how does it interact with the phone? What I mean is, can you access your phonebook? stream audio etc?

2) The stereo, is it true that it can read MP3's? and is it a single cd or an in dash autochanger?

Regards

Taz

Having a T3 I don't have bluetooth so can't answer question 1 but can answer question 2.

Yes it can play MP3 files from a CD and also WMA files (but not WMA lossless). It reads CD-R discs but you may find CD-RW a problem. Sometimes they work sometimes not.

It will display the MP3 ID tag data on the screen. Use the TEXT button to scroll through the items.

If you have put several audio CDs into folders on the MP3 CD and want to use the random play feature, a short press gives random play in the current folder, a long press is random play over all folders.

On the minus side, there is no pause/play button :( and when you mute the volume, the CD player doesn't pause. :( However, it does pause when an RDS traffic annoumcement comes through. :)

[Tazman_1978]

Thanks for the replies, I've got a Blackberry so willhave to try out the bluetooth connection.

only 2 days to go now

[Seamaster73]

I investigated all this before I placed my order.

The T4 head unit only supports bluetooth for hands-free phone use. The T Spirit is the only model that also supports A2DP audio streaming for music over bluetooth. In the T4 you have to make do with a physical wired connection to the head unit for this, using the aux in socket in the arm rest. The good news is that your phone can be connected via both bluetooth for phone and aux in for music simultaneously (assuming your phone supports it — the iPhone certainly does).

See also:

http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=118962

[Tazman_1978]

well, it's arrived!

only had 2 miles on the clock!

Been out for a couple of little drives and it's really weird to start off with.

A lot to get used to and my driving style is going to have to change a bit.

I thought the Prius had daytime running lights...mine doesn't seem to have these

Taz

[Jan&tone]

No it doesn't... The Auris does, but not the Prius. I believe it's new MODELS after the 1st Feb this year.

[Mkuk0]

11th Feb I believe

[kithmo]

11th Feb I believe

Manufacture date, that is.

[jont-uk]

Only for new models - not existing ranges ?

Jon

[Jan&tone]

Only for new models - not existing ranges ?

Jon

I believe so. What normally happens is that it will be for new models for a few months and then existing models from another date. At some stage it may be necessary to use dipped headlights on all cars, if not automatic, then use the switch sort of thing, but that bit I dont know...

[Jan&tone]

The following is taken from the Highway code:-

Extracts from the UK Highway Code

Lighting requirements (113-116)

113 You MUST

ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise

use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified

use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226)

Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).

[Laws RVLR regs 3, 24, & 25, (In Scotland - RTRA 1984 sect 82 (as amended by NRSWA, para 59 of sched 8))]

114 You MUST NOT

use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders

use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226)

In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.

[Law RVLR reg 27]

115 You should also

use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen

keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users

slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights

Other clauses:

Vehicle maintenance - Lights MUST be properly adjusted to prevent dazzling other road users.

Strangely, there is NO REQUIREMENT for Continental left hand drive vehicles to have beam converters on UK roads.

Drivers using DRL appear aggressive and inconsiderate towards other road users - it portrays a "get out of the road I'm barging through attitude". This is at variance with the intent of these rules:-

180. The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders. It is particularly important to be aware of children, elderly and disabled people, and learner and inexperienced drivers and riders.

181. In urban areas there is a risk of pedestrians, especially children, stepping unexpectedly into the road. You should drive with the safety of children in mind at a speed suitable for the conditions.

125. Be considerate. Be careful of and considerate towards other road users.

126. Safe driving needs concentration. Avoid distractions when driving [it is harder to concentrate on hazards when blinded by DRL]

References http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/index.htm

[Jan&tone]

And regarding DRL's:

In 2008 a new law was passed by the European Commission that meant all new cars and small vans purchased after February 2011 had to have daytime running lights, and lorries will follow suit from August 2012. The new vehicles will have the daytime running lights (DRL) that come on automatically when the engine is started. This law will not affect cars bought before this period and DRL´s will not have to be retro fitted.

Daytime running lights are not new to the UK. Volvo´s were the first vehicles that came with these as standard, although the driver did have the option to turn them off. Volvo´s were fitted with DRL´s due to the laws in Sweden and have always been seen as a safety feature. The European Commission had introduced this law on advice that there could be a significant reduction in road deaths and serious injuries. Those that are opposed to the new law argue that the glare from these lights will be distracting. There is also concern over motor cyclists and the possibility of a rise in pollution due to increased fuel usage.

In a report for the Department for Transport it was confirmed, "There is substantial evidence that the mandatory use of DRL would provide a net accident reduction. However, the evidence concerning the magnitude of the effect and particularly the relationship with accident severity is considerably weaker."

Many manufacturers are already planning and designing their new ranges of cars and vans with the future regulations in mind. The new range of Audi´s (which can be seen below) will all come with daytime running lights as standard.

Audi have tried to combat the issue of increased fuel usage by designing their new lights with LED´s. LED´s use less watts (about 5-10) when running compared to headlamps which consume 110 watts. The difference in the amount of power used will have a big impact on the amount of fuel used. Expect to see the majority of manufacturers follow suit by using LED daytime running lights as the economy will be used a selling point for new vehicles.

published: 18/02/2010