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Webleyaz

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As a Toyota dealership employee I get to see the newest of the exceptionally mundane as they come off the transport trucks. The CH-R is back and all electric. Bigger than the previous version but I don't see it competing with the R2.
I was reading the monroney and noted the 338 combined hp and thought back to the blistering quick 215 hp 1987 mustangs and 225 hp camaros that were littering the roadways during my formative years. Then I saw something that instantly made me forget everything for a moment. Paddle shifters. Wtaf? This requires investigation.
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Toyota is still behind on charging performance. Like other laggards, they’re putting out better EVs now but still not serious about it. The paddles are probably to change regen. The Japanese OEMs have done this before, with little traction with consumers, but they keep doing it. They are stubborn like that. DCFC is capped at 150kW max.
 
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Webleyaz

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I just learned from a product specialist (yeah, that exists) that they are, indeed, to select 1 of 4 regen strength settings. So, as you're slowing down, you can make it feel like you're down shifting. Can't get away from emulating inefficiency. They also creep when you let off the brake. Apparently, Toyota drivers don't want to jump into the future. Thay need to be acclimated slowly.
 

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I just learned from a product specialist (yeah, that exists) that they are, indeed, to select 1 of 4 regen strength settings. So, as you're slowing down, you can make it feel like you're down shifting. Can't get away from emulating inefficiency. They also creep when you let off the brake. Apparently, Toyota drivers don't want to jump into the future. Thay need to be acclimated slowly.
But in practice it’s nuanced and against their customers, who don’t want to think too much about driving; the reason they buy and own Toyotas. It’s also against their own brand tagline: we make it easy. It’s certainly easier to make than intelligent and contextually aware software.

Aesthetically, not bad. For a Toyota.
 
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Webleyaz

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There are some features on vehicles that don't make a lot of sense to me. Paddle shifters being one of them. On an actual racecar or even available on a sports car sure. But a hybrid rav4? And why are horns still mandated? What life-or-death situation can it solve? I'd bet horn use CAUSES more situations than the opposite. Ours can barely be heard from 15 feet, anyway.
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UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan

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There are some features on vehicles that don't make a lot of sense to me. Paddle shifters being one of them. On an actual racecar or even available on a sports car sure. But a hybrid rav4?
Agree. [the paddles] Unnecessary gimmick for a commuter car.
 
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They also creep when you let off the brake. Apparently, Toyota drivers don't want to jump into the future. Thay need to be acclimated slowly.
You poo poo this, but this is a complaint I have heard before. My own daughter even complained about it when I let her drive my truck. I don't see this as a big deal, especially if it can be turned on or off per the drivers preference. And there are drivers who like the creep because that is all they have known.

And why are horns still mandated? What life-or-death situation can it solve? I'd bet horn use CAUSES more situations than the opposite. Ours can barely be heard from 15 feet, anyway.
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If you arrive at someone's house who is waiting for you, you can beep to let them know you arrived. Or if you are exiting an alley with next to zero visibility to pedestrians, you beep to warn people you are coming out. Or the guy in front of you too busy looking at his phone to notice the light has turned green. Lots of reasons to have a horn. What an odd thing to want to get rid of.
 

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I've saved myself from several collisions because of the horn.

People backing up, not seeing you - a quick beep beep gets their attention.

I've seen people pulling out of driveways, looking the opposite direction and getting ready to make their move, a quick beep beep lets them know you're there.

I definitely wouldn't like to drive with ok it a horn
 

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Car horns are a thing from the earliest ones in the 1800s to present day. That's well over 100 years, during which it evolved from manually squeezing a flexible rubber bulb (to push air through a trumpet), to one that is electrified. If there wasn't a single reason to keep it, it wouldn't be there anymore... already.

It's the simplest and effective device possible, to say "I am here", with or without anger.

If you've never had a reason to use it... You're an extremely passive driver, or don't know anyone. Or, both?

https://www.caranddriver.com/featur...e-history-and-evolution-of-car-horns-feature/
 
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While I agree with what you are saying (mostly), like someone else said, they have the average Toyota buyer in mind. I'm quite literally the opposite of anyone would buy a Toyota, so I fully get that this is not for me, but very easy to recommend for someone looking for a commuter EV who currently has an ICE vehicle.

I think for what this is, the price and range is actually solid and seems appealing for a RAV4 alternative. I like options, so I'm fully onboard with this. I think with Toyota releasing several EVs that adoption overall will also increase. Toyota says they are game, then EVs are legit. If sales of Q1 are anything to go by, they have a winner.

Not at all how I think but unfortunately how things will likely play out. A lot of people don't cross shop and just go by what their parents say is good. Toyota is usually top of that list. They got their reputation for a reason.
 

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Webleyaz

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If you've never had a reason to use it... You're an extremely passive driver, or don't know anyone. Or, both?

https://www.caranddriver.com/featur...e-history-and-evolution-of-car-horns-feature/
My first vehicle was a Willy's Jeep which either had no horn or it was non-functional. A few other of my whips definitely had nf horns. When the AZ basket cats won the championship in '97 I layed on the horn of my grand national so long that it died.
The only other time I remember purposefully blaring my horn was when I saw my buddy in traffic to say hi. He was heading the opposite direction across a large-ish intersection in a top less Jeep. He did not hear my R1T horn.
I hear horns every day and wonder what everyone is honking at. I can see waking someone up who's looking at their phone while a light's been green for several seconds but even then I like to just wait to see how long they will sit there. I'm rarely in such a hurry that I don't have a few extra seconds.
 

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Car horns are a thing from the earliest ones in the 1800s to present day. That's well over 100 years, during which it evolved from manually squeezing a flexible rubber bulb (to push air through a trumpet), to one that is electrified. If there wasn't a single reason to keep it, it wouldn't be there anymore... already.

It's the simplest and effective device possible, to say "I am here", with or without anger.

If you've never had a reason to use it... You're an extremely passive driver, or don't know anyone. Or, both?

https://www.caranddriver.com/featur...e-history-and-evolution-of-car-horns-feature/
Horns are ok, except when they are used to loudly announce that you have locked the car.
 

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Horns are ok, except when they are used to loudly announce that you have locked the car.
My Rivian doesn't honk the horns on locking. What's your point? My previous car did, but it could also be turned off.
 

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My Rivian doesn't honk the horns on locking. What's your point? My previous car did, but it could also be turned off.
I'm happy that my R1T doesn't honk the horn when being locked. My point pertains to all of the cars that do honk when being locked, including two of my neighbors who get home from work after the bars close.
 

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There are some features on vehicles that don't make a lot of sense to me. Paddle shifters being one of them. On an actual racecar or even available on a sports car sure. But a hybrid rav4? And why are horns still mandated? What life-or-death situation can it solve? I'd bet horn use CAUSES more situations than the opposite. Ours can barely be heard from 15 feet, anyway.
I'm ok, now.
If the horn goes away, how else do you tell someone to get the hell out of the way? In seriousness, the horn has saved me from people carelessly merging into me on the freeway many times.
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