The Runaway Prius

I thought it was odd too, but the cops who helped him slow down said it seemed like he really did lose control of the car. I don’t care how much someone paid me, I’d never jack my car up to 100 mph, driving in a position that would make it seem to outsiders as if I was standing on the brake, trying not to hit cars or get killed myself. That’s just a way too dangerous stunt to attempt. But who knows? The guy had a questionable path and I wouldn’t put anything past anyone.

And to be fair, haven’t they said they aren’t able to reproduce the problem at all? Maybe I misheard that, though. Still, if it’s a computer issue, there’s always room for doubt. Computers sometimes do strange things for reasons we can only speculate, leave no trace and can’t be reproduced. It certainly smells like a hoax, but you never know. How many years did that one guy spend in prison before someone finally believed his Toyota sped up on its own and killed people?

why do we need cars that go 100mph? – thats the question nobody asks

Well as someone who paid his way through College to get his degree in computer science, by working as a mechanic, let me try and wear both hats.The problem is too much electronics in these cars. It’s not like the old days of an accelerator connected by a cable, then you have some pulleys and springs and that controls your throttle on the carb (or even efi). Now there are computers controlling this.Reproducing problems in computers is far more complex than in a mechanical system. As matter of fact you won’t be able to reproduce the exact environment this occurred in. Atmospheric conditions can even play a part in it (temperature, humidity).Not saying that this isn’t a hoax or anything, but without a “blackbox” type system to get accurate measurements on everything, we really have no way of knowing. Life was much simpler in the cable and pulley days. At least then you had something you could physically look at and touch to check for signs of wear and tear.

It seems more like an exaggeration than a hoax.I do believe something happened, but not with the car, if you get me.We’ll see…

Hey Bob, did you see all the massive press coverage to GM’s million-car recall a couple of weeks ago?Me neither.

It must have been terrifying.

I heard this on NPR the other day:“Gilbert told a congressional hearing Feb. 23 that he recreated sudden acceleration in a Toyota Tundra by short-circuiting the electronics behind the gas pedal — without triggering any trouble codes in the truck’s computer.”

The whole story is here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124049244

What Camel54 said. The problem all along has been they haven’t been able to reproduce the problem.This also happens in most makes of cars and trucks. But it’s a very, very low % so don’t freak.From NPR, How Does Your Car Rate?http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124276771

I mean no disrespect to anyone who has been hurt or killed or lost a loved one, but Toyota has sold MILLIONS of cars and there are only dozens of documented cases. Even if we get into the hundreds of reported cases, that’s still a blip.No car is safe. PERIOD.This reminds me of the demand for publication of sex offenders. The way I see it, I should never assume any neighbor is safe for my kid to be around. Same with the cars.I am needing a new car and I admit there is some hesitation on Toyota but in the end, this will not be what I base my final decision on.Jennifer

Oh, I meant to add to Matt’s point on the GM recall, I have a VW and we have had three separate recall issues — one of which was a fuel thing that could have caused an explosion.Jennifer

Matt, the difference between the Toyota incident(s) and the GM recall is that no one is surprised about problems with GM cars. A sad truth.Meanwhile Toyota, for years, has played up its reputation for safety and reliability. Spectacular claims of cars speeding out of control tend to tarnish that image, and a skeptical, low information public will immediately assume that they have been duped all these years.As others here point out, all car makers will have issues that will require a recall now and then. It’s the issues made public that go against our expectations and the car makers reputation that get media attention.If I made cars, my slogans would be: “They usually stop.”, or “Almost none of them have blown up!” I probably wouldn’t sell many, but I’d always exceed my customers expectations.

As a po’d Corolla owner, I have to side with Toyota on this one. I suspected that guy was lying from the beginning. I have yet to hear a reasonable excuse for why he didn’t put the car in neutral. When the cop told him to, his response was “I’m trying to control the car”.This would be my first reaction. Since I have a 5 speed, I would hit the clutch. I can understand why you wouldn’t want to turn the car off–you would lose power steering.BTW, NBC reported that he filed bankruptcy last year. Sounds like he just wants a new car.

My opinion, it smelled like a hoax. He seemed a little too over-dramatic about it. Call me a creep for thinking that way. I’m just skeptical of these kind of public displays.Not that I don’t think there are issues with toyota cars the need to be addressed. This one seemed a little too convenient.If it is a hoax, kudos again to “breaking news/happening now” minds of the various media outlets for wasting our time again.