Self-Parking Cars Coming To U.S. 610
Rio writes "Vehicles that are able to parallel park themselves while drivers sit and relax behind the wheel are coming to the United States, according to a Local 6 News report. New Toyota hybrid cars are now available in Britain with a $700 "parking assist" option. Local 6 news showed video of a driver sitting and allowing the car's steering wheel to turn on its own as it pulled into a tight parking spot on a London street. The reporter never touched the wheel as the car parked itself.Toyota says expect to see the technology pop up in the U.S. soon." Here is our previous coverage of their release in Japan.
Liability issues (Score:5, Informative)
Here is a video (Score:3, Informative)
Shows a BMW parking itself
Re:Just wait for the lawsuits to start... (Score:5, Informative)
So this really isn't all that much different from someone being run over by your average driver.
Re:Thank you Jesus (Score:5, Informative)
If you can't master this after about three attempts, let's just say I would recommend a nice icepick lobotomy.
Re:Most new drivers suck (Score:2, Informative)
Most of the people with those 'fart machines' just put a toner on their exhaust, not really accomplishing much of all. Don't judge japanese sports cars based on how most of them look (fools with body kits, NOS stickers, and wing-size spoilers).
Though, some japanese sports cars ARE a bit better than american sports cars: Lighter bodies, higher revving engines, and better handling. Try comparing the handling and acceleration of, say, a '93 civic hatchback with an integra GSR engine swap (and all that entails) to a corvette, and you'll understand.
Compare:
61 Stingray to a 2002 subaru impreza wrx, and you see a 0-60 in 6.2 seconds compared to 5.5 seconds. Also note that the wrx has all wheel drive, including steering: when you turn the wheel a little bit, it turns all four wheels in the same direction to ease lane changes. Turn it more, and the rear wheels begin to turn in the opposite direction, allowing you to take corners much tighter. Yeah, your muscle car can get there in a straight line maybe a little faster than the WRX, but can it take a turn at 60 miles an hour without sliding?
Compare the same stingray to a mitsubishi lancer evolution VIII, and you see 6.2 seconds compared to 3.5 seconds.
In a true race, and not a flat-out drag race, I'd take a Japanese or European sports car over an American hog any day.
Not to mention, they're more reliable... 60's and 70's muscle cars sound awesome, and pack a lot of punch, but they don't hold up to the sheer technical superiority of modern Japanese cars. Don't believe for one second that the morons with ricer kits on their cars represent Japanese sports cars one bit.
Re:Wow ... (Score:2, Informative)
Also in California here, and I'd like to add that the GP was incorrect about passing lanes here as well. The left lane is the "fast lane", not the "passing lane", and if you are driving at the speed limit you are welcome to stay there as long as you'd like. I make a lot of long drives on two-lane highways along the coast where speed traps are prevalent and so are people who like driving 10-15 miles under the limit, so I cruise the entire drive in the left lane going right at 65. Plenty of assholes come flying up on my tail wanting to go 90MPH, but I'm under no obligation to merge every time one of them comes up (and then back again to pass the next slowpoke) just because they want to speed.
VIDEOS (Score:2, Informative)
http://media.almamedia.fi/id/75630.wmv [almamedia.fi]
http://media.almamedia.fi/id/75631.wmv [almamedia.fi]
Colorado and Florida (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Thank you Jesus (Score:2, Informative)
Of course that doesn't mean that some people aren't completely crap at parallel parking...
Re:Thank you Jesus (Score:4, Informative)
As do millions of Americans, it's just you were at the biggest tourist trap in the world so of course every yahoo with a trailer hitch and an airstream was there. Check out any major or even minor city people do it everyday and some of them are actually good at it.
sorry I hate when some one from another country comes and sees the smallest slice of life and starts generalizing about the whole country.
Re:Wow ... (Score:5, Informative)
DON'T brake hard at the last second, especially when approaching an intersection. It makes other people at the intersection nervous.
DO pay attention to traffic lights, especially when first in line. React promptly when they change.
DON'T attempt to perform a task that requires the continuous use of one or both hands. (Using a phone, eating, shaving, etc.)
DON'T follow closely, especially at high speed. During normal traffic flow on the highway, you shouldn't need to use the brakes. If you are braking periodically to avoid running into the back of the car in front of you, then you are too close.
DON'T use the horn when stopped in heavy traffic. It's not because someone forgot to continue driving that traffic isn't moving, so reminding them won't help.
DO pull off in a safe place to consult a map (or ask for directions) when unfamiliar with an area. Do NOT simply drive very slowly while searching for your destination.
DO drive with appropriate equipment in adverse weather conditions. Summer tires on a rear-wheel-drive car in the snow is a hazard to yourself and other drivers.
1933 Dymaxion Car (Score:5, Informative)