In The Doghouse Again

[BassaJay]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/272410/texting_toyota_yaris_slammed.html?CMP=NLC-Newsletters&uid=5cbd2a1e3dcd55e98382a7df06ea6815

[gloucester]

That particular magazine does seem to be against Toyota most of the time but grovels towards VW Polo & Ford Fiesta. It's the way they do their roadtests that amazes me. How do they dream up some of the things they say? One I saw recently, not sure which car it was, they described it as playful, I think they were talking about the handling. Puppies & kittens are playful, not cars! Perhaps they think it sounds clever.

Regards, Pete.

[mrpj]

And the second response to this article sums it up nicely. Toyota's "excuse" is pathetic in the least!

I feel the same way about these gimmicky reversing cameras. You should be looking where you're going and not at a screen in front of you. Fine as an aid but as we all know that's not what drivers are going to use it for. They're going to use it as a substitute for their eyes.

If anyone thinks that "texting" while driving, by whatever means, is acceptable, they are probably the ones still using their 'phones stuck to their ear while driving too.

[Red Yaris 54]

And the second response to this article sums it up nicely. Toyota's "excuse" is pathetic in the least!

I feel the same way about these gimmicky reversing cameras. You should be looking where you're going and not at a screen in front of you. Fine as an aid but as we all know that's not what drivers are going to use it for. They're going to use it as a substitute for their eyes.

If anyone thinks that "texting" while driving, by whatever means, is acceptable, they are probably the ones still using their 'phones stuck to their ear while driving too.

I do not share your opinion on the use of reversing cameras.

The reversing camera on my new Verso S allows me to see far much more at the rear of the car than can normally be seen from the drivers seat.

I use it as an additional aid to my eyes when reversing and not as a substitute. I do not consider the reversing camera to be gimmicky in the least and can see the day when this innovative technology will become standard fit on all vehicles

mrpj......I feel that once you have experienced the benefits of a reversing camera, you would not be so critical of a potentially life saving system!

[Parts-King]

Seems to me like you cannot win, the number of times people complain on here about Toyota not allowing you to type Sat Nav details on the move

I personally think its a daft idea, just like altering your Sat nav on the move, the results are the same in my book, something else to take your mind off the road. The rest of the touch and go system is utterly brilliant IMHO

Kingo

[minidoughty]

HUD or gtfo...

[Chris81]

I was surprised to read about the texting on the go feature when I read about the new Yaris. Thought I must have read it wrong but obviously not. As I've said in another post, Toyota are marketing the new Yaris as a gadget first and a car second. Utter stupidity.

As for reversing cameras, what about those Ford Focuses that do a parallel park for you!?

[Bemused]

Beg to differ. They are aiming the new Yaris at the younger market who crave gadgets, especially anything to do with mobile phones etc. Whether texting on the move is unsafe is debatable, like many other things it depends on the person using it. Its a lot safer than (as many people do) texting holding the phone in front of them whilst driving.

[Parts-King]

As for reversing cameras, what about those Ford Focuses that do a parallel park for you!?

A waste of space those things, takes you 10 minutes to park and it shuffties back and forth tring to park for you

The parallel lines on the reverse camera are fantastic, you should try it, very good

The new Yaris is not a gadget car but has a modern system that will appeal to the age of customer the car is aimed at, 25-45 year olds

Kingo

[Lorna2]

I saw an ad on tv for the ford focus which parks itself, I don't like the idea of that at all. It showed the steering wheel spinning round by itself - very offputting, I would rather be in control of my car. I wonder who they would blame if one of these self-parking ford focuses hits another car when parking, will the driver try to blame the device instead of themselves not using it properly. Give me the Toyota reversing camera any day,good for seeing the blind spots.

[BassaJay]

I saw an ad on tv for the ford focus which parks itself, I don't like the idea of that at all. It showed the steering wheel spinning round by itself - very offputting, I would rather be in control of my car. I wonder who they would blame if one of these self-parking ford focuses hits another car when parking, will the driver or ford get the blame? Give me the Toyota reversing camera any day,good for seeing the blind spots.

[Parts-King]

will the driver or ford get the blame?

The driver is in control of the speed AND braking, the driver will be responsible

and that video is not in realtime, park assist usually takes ages and is very over cautious, easier to do it yourself

Kingo

[BassaJay]

http://new.skoda-auto.com/com/documents/manuals/b6/t3-m0244.htm

[Red Yaris 54]

will the driver or ford get the blame?

The driver is in control of the speed AND braking, the driver will be responsible

and that video is not in realtime, park assist usually takes ages and is very over cautious, easier to do it yourself

Kingo

Sorry but must disagree (again!)

The park assist system on my Mercedes A Class was excellent and left the brakeing and clutch control to the driver and would disconnect if the driver tried to touch the steering wheel and also after a preset time. Parallel parking to within an inch of the kerb being the normal in a space of approx 1 1/2 times the length of the car.........The first time I used it it was disconcerting, but I soon got used to it

The driver was in total control at all times!

My one regret is that Toyota do not do a similar system for the new Verso S

[Lorna2]

will the driver or ford get the blame?

The driver is in control of the speed AND braking, the driver will be responsible

and that video is not in realtime, park assist usually takes ages and is very over cautious, easier to do it yourself

Kingo

I agree that the driver using the park assist would be responsible as they shouldn’t use the device unless sure of how to use it properly. I didn’t mean who would be responsible legally, I was thinking of people who can’t use a device properly, then looking to blame anyone but themselves. Such as when some people used to blame sat nav for their driving errors, the sort of people who blame the gadget for their bad driving/lack of concentration.

Think I had a bit of lack of concentration when I wrote my original comment

[Jan&tone]

The Prius park assist is very good, BUT, by the time you have set it up, it's quicker to do it yourself IMO. HOWEVER.... The rear camera is fantastic and should be standard on all cars where you are unable to see the rear bumper from the drivers seat.

To those that say they are a gimmick, yes they are, but they do stop you hitting the child that is scrabbling under your back bumper for a ball, and they do srop you hitting that stubby concrete bollard put there by councils with the specific intent of helping you to dent your plastic bumper (bumper? A misnomer if ever I heard one - what happened to the half inch of chromed steel I had on my Mk1 Zephyr? Now THAT was a bumper!)

Lorna, I agree with everything you have said except that some people STILL blame their satnav when THEY get it wrong!