From what I see on the Interweb in the states suing Toyota for damages seems to be the growth industry of 2010, a nice little earner for lawyers and
families on the make. For a few months I suspect suicide by Toyota or Lexus will replace the other unique American way out suicide by cop.
If you do manage get killed driving a runaway Toyota/Lexus on the freeway and find time to call your wife the truth is if it wasn’t suicide it was
death by Darwinian selection you were too stupid to live, you had time to stick your toe under the pedal or knock it out of gear or carefully
turn the ignition off.
[Edited on 24/2/10 by britishtrident]
One of those killed who had phoned 911 was in a vehicle he had on test drive from the dealer. I wonder how many of us fully read the manual of a car
before a simple test drive and would know how to turn of the ignition off on a keyless car and get it to stop.
[Edited on 24/2/10 by andyharding]
An American woman on the radio this morning said that she was reversing when the accelerator stuck and she ended up doing 100mph. I know that this was an auto but is this actually possible and, if anyone has actually tried steering a car in reverse flat out, what would be the chances of doing anything remotely close to this for any length of time.
Id be pulling it out of gear and letting the engine blow before Id risk dying!
No, 100mph in reverse isnt possible normally, reverse tends to be lower geared than first, so 40 max if youre lucky, probably only 25-30.
[Edited on 24/2/10 by alistairolsen]
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Quinn
An American woman on the radio this morning said that she was reversing when the accelerator stuck and she ended up doing 100mph. I know that this was an auto but is this actually possible and, if anyone has actually tried steering a car in reverse flat out, what would be the chances of doing anything remotely close to this for any length of time.
Well, I wasn't sure how the gearing worked in things like top-end Lexi. Thought that the hybrid/Duracell RX things may have direct drive on
electric or something.
Don't forget some of the BEC boys do have 6 reverse gears and could do more than 100mph backwards
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Quinn
An American woman on the radio this morning said that she was reversing when the accelerator stuck and she ended up doing 100mph. I know that this was an auto but is this actually possible and, if anyone has actually tried steering a car in reverse flat out, what would be the chances of doing anything remotely close to this for any length of time.
as what BT said,i think people have lost the ability to think for themselves/accept responsibility for their actions and when things start to go pearshaped they imediately ring the lawyers
Basically the American car industry is on its knees. Hence the amount of airtime over all this crap. Toyota sell more cars in the US than American
firms as they only make shite cars.
Its just one big conspiracy by the US goverment/car firms as they've been given so much money to bail them out.
quote:
Originally posted by andyharding
One of those killed who had phoned 911 was in a vehicle he had on test drive from the dealer. I wonder how many of us fully read the manual of a car before a simple test drive and would know how to turn of the ignition off on a keyless car and get it to stop.
Surely the brakes are more powerful than the engine anyway? Stall it!
quote:
Originally posted by bartonp
Surely the brakes are more powerful than the engine anyway? Stall it!
quote:Ahhh, that makes a bit more sense
Originally posted by brianthemagical
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Quinn
An American woman on the radio this morning said that she was reversing when the accelerator stuck and she ended up doing 100mph. I know that this was an auto but is this actually possible and, if anyone has actually tried steering a car in reverse flat out, what would be the chances of doing anything remotely close to this for any length of time.
My interpretation of what i'm assuming was the same story is that she was traveling forwrd at 100mph, and then put it in reverse, rather than trying for neutral.
[Edited on 24/2/10 by brianthemagical]
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
quote:
Originally posted by bartonp
Surely the brakes are more powerful than the engine anyway? Stall it!
Try it one day, plant the accelerator and with that foot firmly down plant the brake and let us know how you got on
I had a 205 derv that decided it wouldn't stop so i'd have to put it in first, on the brakes and handbrake and dump the clutch. Worked fine for a bit but then the clutch stated dying. Only ever tried it while stationary though.
I've been thinking about the idea of dropping the clutch in this situation and letting the engine destroy itself...
But in a modern car with a rev limiter would it work? Surely the limiter would kick in the revs would drop, the limiter kicks out, rev rise and we are
back to square one.
I suppose with the clutch disengaged it would be possible to use the brakes with the revs going up and down as so bring the car to a halt.
Discuss
quote:
Originally posted by DorsetStrider
I've been thinking about the idea of dropping the clutch in this situation and letting the engine destroy itself...
But in a modern car with a rev limiter would it work? Surely the limiter would kick in the revs would drop, the limiter kicks out, rev rise and we are back to square one.
I suppose with the clutch disengaged it would be possible to use the brakes with the revs going up and down as so bring the car to a halt.
Discuss
quote:
Originally posted by Ninehigh
It's in America where "clutch" is something you do with your hands. No clutch no disengaging gear.
Next problem, my mum's Prius has forward, backward and neutral. Not sure if it'd let you go for neutral when you're moving...