Thursday, 18 March 2004

No, I am not going to loose my fingers I am not sure but I believe that the keyless entry system in this car works by scanning your finger prints at the door handle and once you are cleared by the car's security system it enables the ignition system. In case someone breaks in the system remains idle. - Flavio A. Manfredi Lebrao • 3/18/04; 3:48:25 PM No, Flavio, it is simply a contact sensor, not a scanner. See the link above.... I prefer to have a key. This finger print system will only encourage crooks/thiefs to the next level of crime: Cutting people's finger to get in the car if the driver makes any attempt to resist. - MichaelV • 3/18/04; 4:57:33 PM Very active imagination. Extra points for complete mistrust of fellow human beings...: ) Check out the above link for an explanation of the entry system. In a nutshell, I have a "key transponder", which features a unique security code. If the key transponder gets within 3 feet of either the doors or the hatchback and the car verifies the code, the Prius places the door locks on unlock standby. When the door handle is touched, the contact sensor unlocks the door. Prius then deactivates the engine immobilizer and readies the car for driving. Basically I never have to take the transponder out of my pocket. But, if somebody got a hold of my transponder they could drive the car away...no need to slice off fingers.... It is my opinion that if somebody wants entry bad enough and knows what s/he is doing, they will get in - whether that's a home, a car, or anything else. Keys, codes and other security measures only keep the amateurs out and are supposed to make us feel safer. I think the best way to safe-guard your car is to install a monster siren inside the vehicle....something that puts out a squeal of around 150db, which would be unbearably painfully to anybody but a deaf person. Then you install a remote alarm and an ignition sensor. When your remote alarm beeps and you see that the ignition was started you set off the interior alarm and most likely whoever is driving your car will abandon the vehicle and run away. Now, hopefully there will never be a malfunction that sets off the squeal while you are driving through a busy intersection................ I think the only thing he'll be flipping off will be the gas and oil companies. 50mpg, right? - Naomi • 3/18/04; 2:36:11 PM Yes, Naomi, the Prius gets 45-60mpg. Basically I will save gas-money compared to my Audi even if they double the gas prices. My middlefinger shall be raised in salute every time I pass a gas station. I believe the only way to get people to consume less gasoline is to raise the price...however, I think that instead of letting the oil companies pocket all of that money one should hike up gas taxes and use those billions of dollars for education or road repairs and improvements. 8:34:15 PM    comment []; Fatal trap 4 birds.... Everyone loves a room with a view – unless they happen to be a bird. Scientists have gathered an increasing amount of proof that collisions with glass windows account for several million bird deaths annually. Another link... 2:56:47 PM    comment []; Toyota Prius This car definitely exceeds my expectations. Apparently Toyota is subsidizing the Prius in order to bring it to the market at this low price. This is a smart investment as they are developing the car rapidly and getting feedback from drivers. I am told that Ford is licensing last year's Hybrid tech from Toyota and that this 2004 model already incorporates a lot of improvements. The entry system is keyless and no key is needed to start the car. A brief push of the power button is all it takes to get going. The small drive selector resembles a gear shift, but could have been a couple of buttons as it is completely drive by wire. The car is quiet and actually quite zippy. The bluetooth system built into the car works well. I was able to pair my T610 cellphone with the Prius on the way home from the dealer and downloaded my phonebook into the car in about a minute. The navigations system seems to work very well. I have had Nav systems in a few rental cars over the years and they always seemed clunky, but this is smooth. When I got home I fired up a hair dryer to soften the glue/cement used to attach signs + labels to the body and removed all insignia, except the Toyota sign in front and back. They have holes underneath them or I would have taken them off as well...So, if you see a insignia-less Prius, honk because it is probably me..... I bet that Jon's acoustic bass would fit in the back with the rear seats folded down. This car is amazingly roomy! 2:46:22 PM    comment [];

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