Intimidated!!!!

[BiXLL]

Well, I took delivery of my 2015 HiTy this morning. I am a bit overwhelmed at this point. The salesman was very patiant in going over everything multiple times, but my head is swimming with everything this car has and does. I am sure over time I will learn it and get used to it, but right now I have kind of an empty feeling of did I get too much of a car?

[Hybrider]

Congrats! Yes, these extremely high-tech FFHs can make you feel a bit overwhelmed at first. But it doesn't take very long before you get used to it all, and almost start to see it as you did any of your other cars.

 

Except for the fact it is not like any other car...it is the awesome FFH!!! :shift:

[Texasota]

Sit in the car as you read the owner's manual. Read it a couple of times. It takes time to absorb all of it.

[lolder]

Like Texasota said, read the manuals, push all the buttons while parked. Then, put the HVAC on automatic, select "D" and drive it like a normal car. You're going to have fun with it for a long time.

[BiXLL]

Did you guys feel the same way, or am I just showing how tech backward I am?

[GrySql]

Did you guys feel the same way, or am I just showing how tech backward I am?

Most of us still learn things about these cars all the time, stick with it and it will become the 'new normal'. :)

[lolder]

Just don't get distracted watching the "video game" of the instrument panel. This is all actually old technology brought together. Electric propulsion has been around over 100 years. Planetary gear transmissions have been around that long. A solid state motor control device was developed about 1984 to control industrial motors in factories and trains called an Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor ( IGBT ) that makes it easy to convert HV AC to DC and vice-versa. Hybrid design started soon after but Toyota put it all together in a commercial product in the '90's with the first Prius that went on sale in Japan in 1997. Sophisticated software that Ford is also a leader in has made the hybrids silky smooth vehicles. There's not much for a new hybrid driver to learn; accelerate modestly, brake early and lightly, look ahead to traffic lights and intersections and coast up to them as the other road bullies will permit. Drive the speed limit in the right lane if it's not unsafe. At stop lights, look at the dozens of other cars around you and realize most of their engines are still running. As time permits, hone your driving habits to be less aggressive. You can probably even cut back on some high blood pressure meds.

[rwhgme]

As they say in Indy Cars and Nascar..."shut up and drive!" I felt EXACTLY like you did. It felt like you needed an Engineering degree to understand it. Now..I am driving the car like I drove my BMW, just getting 49mpg and smiling all the way to the bank! You will own this car a long time...and learn as you go. Mazel Tov and enjoy!

[raadsel]

This reminds me of a time when my father bought a new car, years ago, that was fancy. He was with a friend one day and a fly had gotten into the car and the friend asked, "Where is the button for the automatic fly swatter?"

 

Enjoy the new car.

[mwr]

I'll suggest that as you learn the details, quickly or slowly, that you just drive the car, enjoy it, and let the mpg take care of itself. I mostly did that and am still doing it, even if I have learned a lot more.

[Texasota]

This forum is great for learning about the FFH and there are many very knowledgable and helpful members here. But it is also easy to obsess about driving the FFH for maximum MPG. Some of the posts and threads go overboard in this regard (in my opinion).

 

There is nothing wrong with driving it like you would any other car. There is no requirement to drive it in a manner that is different than your previous driving experiences. If you spend time on this forum you will be able to absorb lots of helpful information.

[CCalvinN]

Well, I took delivery of my 2015 HiTy this morning. I am a bit overwhelmed at this point. The salesman was very patiant in going over everything multiple times, but my head is swimming with everything this car has and does. I am sure over time I will learn it and get used to it, but right now I have kind of an empty feeling of did I get too much of a car?

 

Take out the differences in driving a hybrid compared to a plain-jane car, and you still have a lot of customizable techy things to get used to. I believe if you try to get used to it all and get the absolute most out of each and every feature all at the same time it will be VERY overwhelming. What I suggest is taking each techy piece that catches your eye (or hand, or foot...) and learn about it. Use your manual, trial and error, and most especially this forum as ways to find out what works best for you.

 

I was in the same wide eyed, YAY mode for a few weeks. But over the first few days/weeks I slowly learned how I wanted each of my dashboard screens set (Myview with empower on the left, fuel economy over 30 minutes on the right), and how I wanted the MyFordTouch screen set up (leave it in default four quadrant mode). After about a week of normal cruise, I read up on the advantages/disadvantages of ECO cruise (now on all the time). I didn't read up on the BLiS or Cross Traffic Alert until the first time it beeped at me. I learned a lot about the NAV system a few days before my first long trip. I learned about the lane assist a few weeks after buying the car when I first felt it nudge me back into my lane. On and on... feature by feature.

 

I've now had the car for about five months and I'd say I'm 'comfortable' with all the techy features. They're all amazing, but they're also just part of the entire package. And I still stop by hear and read up on what everyone is doing or learning about their FFHs.

 

Most of all... just sit back and enjoy your new car. It's awesome!

[BiXLL]

Thanks guys! Its not the hybrid driving that had me worked up, it was all the gadgets and all the options the gadgets have. I will be ok with it after I get used to it I am sure, it just seems like sooooo much to learn coming from a 2002 Avalon! Heck I had to get the book out for it everytime I needed to change the clock! LOL

[Cobra348]

Did you guys feel the same way, or am I just showing how tech backward I am?

I was 40 years in IT and spent a good couple hours with the manual and the car going through EVERYTHING. I figured out what I wanted on the cluster displays and set them. I went through the tutorial that is in the left screen of the cluster. I went through all the settings in the center stack and learned what buttons to push for what ...

 

Then I started driving it like I stole it! Seriously ... 2-1/2 months and I have over 6000 miles already! Good road car for the trips I take and really good on gas. Have fun!

Edited June 28, 2015 by Cobra348

[jadei]

I'm in IT also and had my FFH about a month and a half now. I am still learning new things. Just today as I was coming back from Costco my wife said the passenger side mirror was messed up. I looked over and sure enough it was almost flat against the side window. I never even knew they were the adjustable type that did that! I wondered a while ago why they didn't collapse because I didn't see how they could at the time.

[Texasota]

 

But over the first few days/weeks I slowly learned how I wanted each of my dashboard screens set (Myview with empower on the left, fuel economy over 30 minutes on the right)

 

CCalvinN, you probably are aware of this but beginning with the 2015 FFH you can configure the right side information display to display your fuel history. I configured mine that way. I then configured the tach and engine temp in the MyView but I recently switched the tack to be the "Accessory Power" (Indicates electrical power demands from your vehicle’s accessory systems).

Edited June 29, 2015 by Texasota

[CCalvinN]

 

CCalvinN, you probably are aware of this but beginning with the 2015 FFH you can configure the right side information display to display your fuel history. I configured mine that way. I then configured the tach and engine temp in the MyView but I recently switched the tack to be the "Accessory Power" (Indicates electrical power demands from your vehicle’s accessory systems).

 

Tex,

 

Yeah, I'm fairly sure we're talking about the same thing. The fuel economy or fuel history shows a running bar graph over a period of time. I have mine set at the 30 minute mark as my commute is just about an hour.

 

As for the left screen, my MyView is the empower with Trip 1. As I always reset Trip 1 at fill up I like comparing the miles driven with the miles to empty.

[vangonebuy]

Something not mentioned so far.

Ford has a article / video collections on its website.

Explains many features.

 

http://owner.ford.com/how-tos.html#?tabCategory=owner-services

 

Much easier than the manual.

 

[Cobra348]

Something not mentioned so far.

Ford has a article / video collections on its website.

Explains many features.

 

http://owner.ford.com/how-tos.html#?tabCategory=owner-services

 

Much easier than the manual.

 

While it may be easier ... looking at the printed word and not being able to actually touch the switch/contact is a lot different. That's why manual and manipulating the things is recommended. However, I have a PDF of the manual and with a printer handy, I can hardcopy excerpts and do things that way.

[ElectricFan69]

Did you guys feel the same way, or am I just showing how tech backward I am?

There is a 'Zen' to the cars - closest human interaction is being a captain of a boat / ship where you have to delegate the grungy details. In the case of these cars, the 'crew' are the myriad of ECUs that take your requests/commands and (hopefully most of the time) do the actions desired and to the degree demanded. These are vehicles that will frustrate you to no end if you want to control the minutiae. If you make your commands and let the car do the work, they're easy as pie to pilot.

 

And many of the more techy details are going to be of limited/marginal relevance to the day-to-day operations.