Can’t imagine the fear created by a floor mat that traps the gas pedal and causes the car to speed out of control. Obviously, the floor mat has a mind of its own preventing the driver from physically moving it away from the pedal. Scary…
After a six-hour investigation by an independent panel of experts, two of which had formerly been dog catchers for the city of Dresden Germany and a third who had been a toll collector on the Trans Siberian Highway, Toyota released the following statement:
“How dey get dat car to go so fast? We tink dey mess wit onboard computer – onry component made in Amellica. We onry design dis car to go 85 mires per hour. It definetry NOT us what made dat car have probrems”.
With all due respect, the guy in the Prius should not be driving a car if he doesn’t know what to do if the throttle sticks for any reason. The tinker toy powerplant in the Prius in no way could overpower the brakes.
Maybe the throttle stuck- maybe it didn’t but that’s not my point. ANY car will stop if you mash on the brakes hard and don’t let up.
I have demonstrated this to three of my friends now- On an empty stretch of road I run my Pontiac GTP up to 80 mph or so, floor the accelerator and keep it pinned to the floor, and press the brake pedal hard with my left foot. The car stops albeit with hot stinky brakes. Slipping the car into neutral makes stopping even easier.
I am very sorry that Toyota drivers and passengers have been hurt and/or killed but cars cannot suffer demonic possession. The media who are reveling in this story are the same ones that beleived that a small boy was riding INSIDE an 8 foot helium balloon.
I have a hard time believing that the car would not stop with the brakes. Any car will stop with brakes to the floor. Sounds like this guy wants to get a big piece of toyota……and of course–it happened in CA so Toyota might as well just stroke that check……
I’m no engineer but I believe there is a difference with how the brakes work when the gas pedal is depressed between a Toyota vs. GM. The American cars have an override feature that allows the brakes to “over power” the acceleration. Toyotas do not. Water bug – try the same scenario with a Toyota and let me know how it turns out.
By the way, anybody want to buy my Prius?
There is no difference between the operation of GM brakes and Toyota brakes.There is no such thing as an over rider device that allows GM cars to stop with the throttle wide open.
Auto technology is my area of expertise and has been so for over 26 years.
Speaking of GM, its interesting that since GM became Govt Motors and the big sale of Toyotas during the Cash for Clunkers debacle, that Toyota became a government target. If the mainstream media punishes Toyota to the extent they praised Obama in 2008, Obama may have to bail them out to.
Because many members of congress are too ill-informed to make good decisions.
Instead they just make knee jerk reactions to the emotionally charged headlines du jour.
I would venture that “sudden acceleration” is human error- like most auto and aviation accidents, the human behind the controls is typically the piece of equipment that failed.
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Can’t imagine the fear created by a floor mat that traps the gas pedal and causes the car to speed out of control. Obviously, the floor mat has a mind of its own preventing the driver from physically moving it away from the pedal. Scary…
After a six-hour investigation by an independent panel of experts, two of which had formerly been dog catchers for the city of Dresden Germany and a third who had been a toll collector on the Trans Siberian Highway, Toyota released the following statement:
“How dey get dat car to go so fast? We tink dey mess wit onboard computer – onry component made in Amellica. We onry design dis car to go 85 mires per hour. It definetry NOT us what made dat car have probrems”.
With all due respect, the guy in the Prius should not be driving a car if he doesn’t know what to do if the throttle sticks for any reason. The tinker toy powerplant in the Prius in no way could overpower the brakes.
Maybe the throttle stuck- maybe it didn’t but that’s not my point. ANY car will stop if you mash on the brakes hard and don’t let up.
I have demonstrated this to three of my friends now- On an empty stretch of road I run my Pontiac GTP up to 80 mph or so, floor the accelerator and keep it pinned to the floor, and press the brake pedal hard with my left foot. The car stops albeit with hot stinky brakes. Slipping the car into neutral makes stopping even easier.
I am very sorry that Toyota drivers and passengers have been hurt and/or killed but cars cannot suffer demonic possession. The media who are reveling in this story are the same ones that beleived that a small boy was riding INSIDE an 8 foot helium balloon.
I have a hard time believing that the car would not stop with the brakes. Any car will stop with brakes to the floor. Sounds like this guy wants to get a big piece of toyota……and of course–it happened in CA so Toyota might as well just stroke that check……
I’m no engineer but I believe there is a difference with how the brakes work when the gas pedal is depressed between a Toyota vs. GM. The American cars have an override feature that allows the brakes to “over power” the acceleration. Toyotas do not. Water bug – try the same scenario with a Toyota and let me know how it turns out.
By the way, anybody want to buy my Prius?
Hey Underryder-
There is no difference between the operation of GM brakes and Toyota brakes.There is no such thing as an over rider device that allows GM cars to stop with the throttle wide open.
Auto technology is my area of expertise and has been so for over 26 years.
My advice to you is to keep your Prius.
Speaking of GM, its interesting that since GM became Govt Motors and the big sale of Toyotas during the Cash for Clunkers debacle, that Toyota became a government target. If the mainstream media punishes Toyota to the extent they praised Obama in 2008, Obama may have to bail them out to.
Water Bug
So why is the administration contemplating making all autos have an override system?
“Goverment weighs requiring brake overrides”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35659830/ns/business-autos/
Again, I’m no expert, just trying to understand.
Why is the gov’t requiring (fill in the blank)?
Because many members of congress are too ill-informed to make good decisions.
Instead they just make knee jerk reactions to the emotionally charged headlines du jour.
I would venture that “sudden acceleration” is human error- like most auto and aviation accidents, the human behind the controls is typically the piece of equipment that failed.
How do you get a Prius up to 90 mph anyway? And on a San Diego freeway? fugedaboutit.
30 miles in 20 minutes on a San Diego freeway, in a Prius? Who does he think he’s kidding?
And, if you’re on the freeway and don’t have to make any hard turns, why not just shut the engine off?