VIDEO: Self-parking Lexus befuddles Automobile editors
Self-parking systems seem like a total waste of computing power IMHO, but Lexus maintains its Advanced Parking Guidance System allows a driver to parallel or back-in park the LS460 "with just a little brake work from the driver." Some very impatient staff over at Automobile Magazine put that claim to the test in this video, which shows three men first parking the Lexus LS460 on their own in the magazine's parking lot, and then again with the Advanced Parking Guidance System. We'll let you watch the video to see how the Three Stooges fair against the computer power of a Lexus, but one of the two almost manages to take out a minivan and a Ford Five-Hundred.
Thanks for the tip, Scott!
[Source: FQuick]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ndirish2001 12:34PM (12/04/2006)
It was my understanding that the Lexus self-park system is only for parallel parking, which the folks in the video were clearly not doing. Am I missing something?
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Design 1:53PM (12/04/2006)
I'll never buy that magazine agian, knowing that assholes like that are the Editors.
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sp 12:16PM (12/04/2006)
it is pretty obvious that they are ridiciluing the system...
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ProjectGSX 11:44AM (12/04/2006)
Those guys must be dumb or something. Ive seen the commercials. You just push the button and it parks the car. Durrr.
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required 11:54AM (12/04/2006)
just because a bunch of idiots can't figure it out doesn't prove conclusively that it's difficult to use.
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Kansei 11:54AM (12/04/2006)
I fear that anyone who isn't able to park a car by their own power will be a bit more than mystified by the system.
Adding to that problem is the fact that people in the states don't read instructions because we're not japanese enough :)
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Chris 12:39PM (12/04/2006)
Instructions said: "Me park you rong time!"
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Pat 2:39PM (12/04/2006)
I don't think they are IDIOTS if they are editors of the Automobile magazine...I would think if anyone was trying to figure it out, it would be them. Furthermore, the car wasn't able to park itself even at a slight incline. The technology is really cool and is going in the right direction, but its just quite there yet...
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Neil 1:54PM (12/04/2006)
it's made for PARRALLEL parking. that doesnt look like PARRALLEL parking to me. And when you have to tool bags touching the screen that doesnt help either.
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Matt 3:16PM (12/04/2006)
That was pretty funny, obviously they know how to work the system and they are just being combative with it for laughs.
I'm actually pretty impressed by the Lexus, sure the system is still in its infancy, but its a start and an impressive one at that.
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Nick 2:47AM (12/05/2006)
Looks even more complicated than iDrive...
#2: If you're calling people that review cars idiots, maybe you should show us how easy it is for the average Joe to do this in their own car. Don't think I'll be holding my breath, though.
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chuck goolsbee 2:08PM (12/04/2006)
Anybody who can't fricking park a car shouldn't buy a car. Why don't they focus their technological innovation at something USEFUL, like increasing fuel efficiency? In-car DVD systems and self-parking computer systems are a COMPLETE waste.... akin to adding a remote control toothbrush system on your toilet.
--chuck
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O.I. 12:13PM (12/04/2006)
Mystified? It's a 70,000 car that parks itself, these morons could have spent 5 minutes going over the manual rather than trying to "wing it" and making things even more confusing by having 3 people do a 1 person job.
Hell, these three probably couldn't figure out how to make a sandwich using this method.
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Seabass 12:14PM (12/04/2006)
"just because a bunch of idiots can't figure it out doesn't prove conclusively that it's difficult to use."
Who's the bigger idiot: the three guys that can't figure it out, or the people that actually buy the car and use the auto-park feature since they're obviously too retarded to park it themselves? Seriously, this "feature" will only be used by people that feel they still need to be breastfed.
Definatey one of hte funnier videos out there
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Adam 12:57PM (12/04/2006)
By the way it is a Lexus LS460 not the LS430.
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Richard Warren 1:23PM (12/04/2006)
Can't wait till the first lawsuit comes in on this and it will. Lets be honest if you can't park a car you've got no business being on the road. If you can't read the manual,well that's your fault
Lastly, it's just a dumb idea, just more gadgetry.
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AutoFan 1:38PM (12/04/2006)
I'd like to put my 70-year-old mother in one and see which would be easier for her. I think that's a fairer test of the system than this.
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Polo V 12:30PM (12/04/2006)
Ha ha, the clock on the dash reads 4:20. How appropriate. Speaking of which, why does the $70k lexus have what looks to be the same exact digital clock as the one in my 1989 Toyota pickup, and every Toyota since?
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Talis 12:37PM (12/04/2006)
OK, ProjectGSX and Required, you guys do not seem to understand the full complexity of this system. after watching the video, it is clear that the autoNAV in the Lexus has trouble finding the empty parking space and I think I know why. As the driver pulls up to the space, he has to find a "happy-medium" of sorts for the autoNAV to have a clear view of the surrounding area by use of the back-up cameras mounted in the rear bumper. If the view is not clear, it seems, the autoNAV function will give the driver a series of complex command input requests. Those are all the white arrows you see asking the driver to tell the autoNAV where to look for a spot.
After the driver inputs the area where he wants the autoNAV to park he must control the car by use of the foot brake. It would seem as though this safety is not well thought out, as you will notice, if the driver stops the car to look around him, the autoNAV function shuts off completely. I assume the autoNAV thinks the car is parked (or why else would the driver stop the car).
It does not help the driver in this video that two other people (who know as much about the system as the driver does) telling him what to do. As you all know back-seat drivers are the worst thing to happen to driving since before the iDrive system.
Although I have not driven the LS430 myself, I would like to in order to find out just how the system works. I am sure the makers of this video have some point to make as they try three times and fail, while not showing even one successful parking maneuver with the autoNAV system. The point is strong, as I am sure Lexus would not have bothered to include the feature if it did not have a success rate above 70% (at least).
For myself, I think this system will go up there with the iDrive and the push button transmission in yet another failed attempt to push the technological boundaries of the current time. Perhaps not, but at the price level of this class of vehicle, it would not surprise me if more people opt not to use this function and just park the car themselves.
For those of you who think these guys are "morons [who] could have spent 5 minutes going over the manual rather than trying to 'wing it'." would be wise to actually try the system out for yourself and see how hard it is. If you have the system and do find it easy to use, I would like to know more about it and where you found them to not understand the system. Please do not fill this comments page with the usual, "they are dumb, and I am smart" lines.
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enthusiast 12:32PM (12/04/2006)
Its made for parrallel parking..keyword parrallel. Those two tool bags up front touching all over the screen together doesnt raise the overall iq level in the vehicle either.
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