So Much For The "Pedal" Repair

[Mike Murrell]

Not proof conclusive, but certainly something to think about.



http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...tory?track=rss

[eskymi]

Read this article http://www.detnews.com/article/20100...tronic-defects and read where Toyota has sold over 40 million cars with the ETC and not one accident has been able to be linked to an electronics glitch.

Also, read what Strickland says...he states that Toyota has no more complaints than any other manufacturer, they just have more because they have sold more cars.

"If you look at it on a per capita basis ... their actual comparison to the rest of the fleet was actually unremarkable," Strickland said. "They had the same percentage of sudden acceleration issues as other manufacturers. They just had more of them because they have more cars."

I guess it all depends on your take on it. If there are 100,000 cars that have glitches out of 40 million that is a quarter percent. I will take those odds

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100...#ixzz0hAHRB0ux

[Mike Murrell]

Yes.....who do you believe?

Regardless - this is a very dark period for Toyota.

Not likely to trade-in any of the 2 I own for another anytime soon.



http://www.detnews.com/article/20100...-despite-fixes

[Marshal Dick]

I just traded my 06 Avalon Limited last saturday on a 2010 Nissan Maxima and got a great deal. Got 3,500 in rebates along with the already marked down price. They gave me KBB trade in of 16500.00 for the Avalon and we left relieved not having to worry with Toyota's problems and getting a great ride with the Maxima.

[billberry12]

I've been thinking about doing the same thing. How do you feel the cars compare? I have a 2008 Touring with new tires and 37,000 miles. How expensive are the Maximas?

[zythr]

Maxima's are overpriced. You could get a better deal on the Altima. It is the same car, but cheaper.

[billberry12]

I agree. I just looked at them online, and I didn't get too excited. I think going to an altima would be a downgrade from my touring, so I think I'm going to keep Touring.
Thanks for your comment.
Bill

[Marshal Dick]

The 2010 maxima sv is an awsome ride. You can get all the bells & whistles with a 39,000 sticker. After discounts, rebates, and a extra 1000.00 for trading in a Toyota you are in the 31,000. range.

[boosted-fc3s]

Dad's friend has an Altima 3.5 cvt, that car has some serious get up and go.

[Recoiler]

I was thinking to do the same with 2008 XLS Avalon, but.. no thanks. It's too comfy and nice to ride... and also fully paid. I hate to borrow and to pay for including interests... My wife has 09 Highlander Limited and I stiil like Avy ride by far - it's just relaxing and smooth. For my daily commute I still use V6 Camry 1993... I'm taking a really good care of it and in a past year several people from the office ask me to sell it to them. Not a single issue with 17 year old car! I bought it initially for my wife to drive... 4 years later she drives Highlander and I'm thinking... few more years from now and I will be giving driving lessons to my daughter on the same car!
Once I had a Ford, then Pontiac... then I 10 years ago I got Toyota Carolla. Needless to say I'm not changing my favorite brand)

[mhachtel]

Here's my sudden acceleration story: I was at the drive-through at Starbucks, with foot on the brake, and car lurched ahead suddenly, seemingly on it's own. I pressed the brake harder, and the car wouldn't stop...until I straightened out my foot for better brake pedal contact. When I did, the side of my foot (the same foot on the brake) came off the gas pedal. I learned with my foot on the brake, it could also make contact with the gas.

This really happened to me. I didn't hit anything, and it wasn't Toyota's fault that I used poor "foot posture," or Starbucks fault for the design of the drive-up.

My point is that there are as many potential prolems with these cars as there are drivers. Is it possible that the sudden acceleration thing is, well, not really a thing?

When Audi went through the same thing a few decades ago, there was a lot of paranoia over those "death traps" from Frankfurt. The fix was the shift interlock device, preventing shifting out of park without the foot on the brake. Now all cars have them, because the best explaination for Audi's sudden acceleration problem was with drivers shifting into gear with their foot on the gas. (Idiot-proofing.)

The floor mat problem shouldn't be blamed on Toyota, just like it wouldn't be Toyota's fault if someone put in a bean-bag chair on top of the the driver's seat then had seatbelt problems. The sticking gas pedal fix was the equivellent of the Audi's shift interlock. It was a solution to a people-problem so that public would move on.

Now there's more concern that it could be electrical interference, but again, it's probably just a problem with people. Once the seeds of doubt about an electrical problem were planted in the public's mind over the last couple of weeks, you knew that you'd hear the there were other problems. I think that Toyota should have "fixed" the make-believe software problem when they flashed the ECM to add the brake overide feature. Perhaps a better PR approach would have been to admit to a make-believe software problem, and come out with a make-believe fix.

You heard about the woman that testified that that her "runaway" Lexus took three miles to bring to a stop. That's what, about 2 minutes? In two minutes she didn't think of neutral? You can't make a machine as complex as today's cars "idiot proof," especially when there are so many varieties of idiots.

[billberry12]

I tend to agree. I have an appointment scheduled at my dealer to 1. replace the oil line, 2-do the accelleration thing, and 3- check for the floor mat thing. I am beginnning to feel they are messing with something that doesn't seem to exist in my car. I hope I don't come away from the fix worse that when I went. I am tempted to tell them to leave my accelerator alone, and just replace the oil line.

[Bob Coates]

I agree with mhachtel. Audi is a valid comparison. I believe that Toyota must shoulder SOME of the blame but certainly not all. I have a 2006 Avalon with 17K and no issues with the accelerator or floor mats. I have even placed a clear vinyl mat over the carpeted mat to protect it from the Pennsylvania winters. When I take my car in I will NOT have Toyota cut out my floor under the accelerator.

[nhcycle]

Originally Posted by mhachtel

Here's my sudden acceleration story: I was at the drive-through at Starbucks, with foot on the brake, and car lurched ahead suddenly, seemingly on it's own. I pressed the brake harder, and the car wouldn't stop...until I straightened out my foot for better brake pedal contact. When I did, the side of my foot (the same foot on the brake) came off the gas pedal. I learned with my foot on the brake, it could also make contact with the gas.

This really happened to me. I didn't hit anything, and it wasn't Toyota's fault that I used poor "foot posture," or Starbucks fault for the design of the drive-up.

My point is that there are as many potential prolems with these cars as there are drivers. Is it possible that the sudden acceleration thing is, well, not really a thing?

When Audi went through the same thing a few decades ago, there was a lot of paranoia over those "death traps" from Frankfurt. The fix was the shift interlock device, preventing shifting out of park without the foot on the brake. Now all cars have them, because the best explaination for Audi's sudden acceleration problem was with drivers shifting into gear with their foot on the gas. (Idiot-proofing.)

The floor mat problem shouldn't be blamed on Toyota, just like it wouldn't be Toyota's fault if someone put in a bean-bag chair on top of the the driver's seat then had seatbelt problems. The sticking gas pedal fix was the equivellent of the Audi's shift interlock. It was a solution to a people-problem so that public would move on.

Now there's more concern that it could be electrical interference, but again, it's probably just a problem with people. Once the seeds of doubt about an electrical problem were planted in the public's mind over the last couple of weeks, you knew that you'd hear the there were other problems. I think that Toyota should have "fixed" the make-believe software problem when they flashed the ECM to add the brake overide feature. Perhaps a better PR approach would have been to admit to a make-believe software problem, and come out with a make-believe fix.

You heard about the woman that testified that that her "runaway" Lexus took three miles to bring to a stop. That's what, about 2 minutes? In two minutes she didn't think of neutral? You can't make a machine as complex as today's cars "idiot proof," especially when there are so many varieties of idiots.

+ 10 My pet theory as well..... foot position hitting brake and accerator simultaneously......
peple piling on to get out from under unaffordable car payments by some?????

[Tom in Tacoma]

...until it hits close to home. Then the lynching party comes out.

I don't see how people don't have the mental facilities to overcome a runaway car. Sure, for the first few seconds I'd be surprised/puzzled/etc. but I'd shift it into neutral, pull over and shut it off. That part I don't get.

But what gripes me is the way Toyota handled this whole affair. They had an opportunity to make right by their customers but instead took a business risk - a risk that Toyota drivers and their passengers might pay for.

...that is all...