Opening the center console of our 2004 Toyota Prius was like opening up a time capsule. Check it out, valet instructions. Apparently back in the day, the Prius' unconventional gearshifter was too weird to comprehend? In any case, these nifty cards, which come in a stack and have a hole in the top corner so you can attach it to your keys when you leave them with the valet, outline how to start, shift and park the car.
Searching Prius forums, it sounds like the cards were discontinued around 2005-2006. So here it is for those of you who bought a Prius that didn't come with them. Print them out and leave them for the valet or car wash attendants you're not sure of.
Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor
formerhpb says:
12:18 PM, 10/ 4/10
At least you don't have to worry about the Valet hooning your car Ferris Bueller style when you pull up in a Prius.
caroscuro says:
12:27 PM, 10/ 4/10
Good point. :)
vt8919 says:
06:23 PM, 10/ 4/10
For a while I used to roam the Prius forums a lot. There was one member who told us about her experience with an airport. She drove the car there, had a valet park it in their lot, and she went on her one-week trip. One week later she came back and her Prius's gas gauge was right on E. It was full when she drove it there. Turned out the guy who parked it was not used to hybrids, and the fact the engine turned off made him think the car was off, too. So for an entire week the engine kept starting and stopping as needed so the battery wouldn't drain, causing it to burn through an entire tank of gas, until she returned.
caroscuro says:
07:48 AM, 10/ 5/10
Yikes. I wonder if that still happens, even now. But I guess that answers that question about what would happen if you left a Prius on for a week.