February 08, 2011
— Gabriel Malor Months ago I wrote that the Obama Administration was sitting on an NHTSA report that would conclusively exonerate Toyota from charges that the electronics in its cars was causing them to suddenly accelerate. The Administration had almost no other choice but to delay in the face of weeks of statements by Administration officials and Democratic congressmen excoriating the automaker. (Overlawyered also covered the suppression charge and the NYTimes' participation in the attack on Toyota.)
Lo-and-behold, now that the election is over and Democrats can get no more camera time on the issue the report finally comes out.
A federal investigation into the recall of Toyota vehicles found no electronic flaws to explain sudden, unintentional acceleration, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.The latest report came after a 10-month investigation into whether faulty electronics were responsible for the unintentional high-speed acceleration problem. But the investigation found no evidence for any causes for the unintended acceleration beyond sticking accelerator pedals and floor mat entrapment, though officials said they would consider steps to prevent drivers from pushing wrong the pedal.
At one point, Transportation Secretary LaHood even announced that Toyota owners should return their cars to the dealers and demand refunds. Congressional Democrats were dragging Toyota executives to inquisitorial committee hearings all for an imaginary problem. Oops.
Toyota issued several recalls to secure floor mats and adjust sticky brake pedals but the claim that some electronic goblin was causing their cars to accelerate out of control formed the heart of the inquisition. Ultimately, Toyota was forced to pay more than $48 million in fees because of the recalls and Toyota was the only full-line automaker in 2010 to post lower sales.
Remember, this was completely predictable. It happened before. A few incidents get blown completely out of proportion by giddy lawmakers and credulous media and then every person in a fender-bender uses the "it just got away from me" excuse.
File this one under "politicized science."
Posted by: Gabriel Malor at
02:22 PM
| Comments (308)
Post contains 354 words, total size 3 kb.
Posted by: fluffy at February 08, 2011 02:28 PM (SwkdU)
Which is about zero.
Posted by: mpfs, Leader of the Fish Stick Liberation Front& Jewish Cabal at February 08, 2011 02:29 PM (iYbLN)
Posted by: turfmann at February 08, 2011 02:30 PM (l4J9G)
Sudden Unintended Acceleration can be countered very easily now days by shifting the vehicle into neutral, the rev limiter prevents engine damage and you still have power to brakes and the steering. Brake with a combination of regular and hand brakes. Once the vehicle is stopped, turn off the vehicle.
It is that simple.
Posted by: Holger at February 08, 2011 02:34 PM (YxGud)
It is a similar deal with going down a steep and long hill. If you use the brakes too much, the brakes heat up and loose their effectiveness or fail. Whenever you are going down a long steep grade you are supposed to down shift and let the engine keep the car from running away.
Posted by: Holger at February 08, 2011 02:38 PM (YxGud)
Posted by: Cherry π at February 08, 2011 02:39 PM (+sBB4)
Posted by: Guy Fawkes at February 08, 2011 02:39 PM (xdHzq)
Posted by: Count de Monet at February 08, 2011 02:39 PM (XBM1t)
Posted by: Holger
In which fantastic country reside these capable drivers of which you write?
Posted by: goldbricker esq at February 08, 2011 02:41 PM (S59+B)
Posted by: Quicksilver Madness at February 08, 2011 02:42 PM (jZFWB)
Posted by: Obammy Motors at February 08, 2011 02:42 PM (XBM1t)
It's not that simple if you're trying to juggle cell phone calls to a family member, 911, a TV network and your attorney at the same time.
Posted by: MrScribbler© at February 08, 2011 02:42 PM (Ulu3i)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 08, 2011 02:43 PM (0GFWk)
Posted by: George Orwell at February 08, 2011 02:44 PM (xeG08)
Posted by: Count de Monet at February 08, 2011 02:44 PM (XBM1t)
Posted by: George Orwell at February 08, 2011 02:45 PM (xeG08)
Posted by: eman at February 08, 2011 02:48 PM (gZVTR)
Posted by: Democrat Science at February 08, 2011 02:48 PM (xeG08)
Posted by: curious at February 08, 2011 02:49 PM (p302b)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 08, 2011 02:49 PM (0GFWk)
I would like to see Toyota sue the living shit out the officials PERSONALLY. But that will never happen,
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 02:50 PM (M9Ie6)
Posted by: Toyota Motors at February 08, 2011 02:50 PM (xeG08)
Posted by: King Barry I "Piehole" at February 08, 2011 02:52 PM (QKKT0)
Why bomb it when you can just buy it?Posted by: nevergiveup at February 08, 2011 02:52 PM (0GFWk)
Most likely people who should have given up driving many years before and who have no business on the road.
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 02:52 PM (M9Ie6)
You know....lying.
GM can eat the corn outta my shit.
Posted by: Portnoy at February 08, 2011 02:53 PM (azgo2)
Posted by: Cherry π at February 08, 2011 02:54 PM (+sBB4)
Posted by: eman at February 08, 2011 02:55 PM (gZVTR)
Posted by: Paladin at February 08, 2011 02:55 PM (LTquJ)
Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 06:22 PM
Ok all you smart guys. This is what happens when low reading comprehension meets irresistible urge to suck up.
Posted by: Count de Monet at February 08, 2011 02:55 PM (XBM1t)
Posted by: Cherry π at February 08, 2011 02:55 PM (+sBB4)
Posted by: Sekhmet at February 08, 2011 02:57 PM (gnEPW)
Guess what Government Motors - I'm still not buying a Union made car from GM.
Never. Well, unless you kill the union and agree to do business w/ market driven incentives under the modern and fair work rules of the US. Those don't include tax-payer subsidized bailouts.
Posted by: Juji Fruit at February 08, 2011 02:57 PM (0fzsA)
In this You Tube Vid but I find the Midwestern sensibility that permeates the piece to be strangely compelling!
Proust had his cookies, those of us from Illinois, must make do with rants about how to drive a damn car!
Posted by: Deety wishes to be excluded from Polite Company at February 08, 2011 02:57 PM (Jb3+B)
Posted by: Count de Monet at February 08, 2011 02:58 PM (XBM1t)
Posted by: eman at February 08, 2011 02:58 PM (gZVTR)
hhahhhahahha i didn't read, just guerilla posted and then went to a quick meeting so if I screwed up sorry...lol
Posted by: curious at February 08, 2011 02:59 PM (p302b)
Posted by: Johnnyreb at February 08, 2011 02:59 PM (NNrYJ)
In an act of contrition for our shoddy treatment of the Toyota corporation, this administration proposes to make it up to Toyota by using them as America's official supplier for my new High Speed Train legacy.
The Japanese have always been America's best and closest friend.
Posted by: Obama Lama Dingdong at February 08, 2011 03:01 PM (J74Py)
Posted by: Deety wishes to be excluded from Polite Company at February 08, 2011 06:57 PM (Jb3+B)
Wrong site to be complaining about that
Posted by: Sekhmet at February 08, 2011 03:02 PM (gnEPW)
Posted by: Stephen Fucking Hawking at February 08, 2011 03:02 PM (xeG08)
Posted by: Cherry π at February 08, 2011 03:03 PM (+sBB4)
Ghosts can be stopped by placing them in the Ecto-Containment Unit.
The Death Star can be destroyed by using the Force to aim glowing balls at its butthole.
The Red Sword of Uirdn Kief can be countered with the Blue Shield of Dvica Slorta—
Hey! This is useful real-world advice, people! Pay attention!
Posted by: oblig. at February 08, 2011 03:04 PM (xvZW9)
Posted by: Cherry π at February 08, 2011 07:03 PM (+sBB4)
the comment on the "high speed rail" thread about the germans using trains really makes you pause.
Posted by: curious at February 08, 2011 03:04 PM (p302b)
I believe TV's Andy Levy can be of service for all your Chevy protest needs.
(not an official sockpuppet b/c didn't want to chance the actual guy commenting here)
Posted by: Guy of Gisbourne at February 08, 2011 03:05 PM (1GApF)
The Japanese have always been America's best and closest friend.
Posted by: Obama Lama Dingdong at February 08, 2011 07:01 PM (J74Py)
I hear they're pretty good at math too.......Kinda short fellas, clean though...but I can't understand a goddamn thing they say....
Posted by: Sheriff Joe at February 08, 2011 03:05 PM (azgo2)
Design wise, the Corvair was similar to the VW beetle and only exhibited the claimed "dangerous" handling characteristics if people failed to inflate the tires with the prescribed pressure differential front/back. VW also recommended the same pressure differential to tame the jacking and over steer effects of swing axle rear engine cars.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 03:06 PM (ORIbF)
but, they don't run 7-11's and they are never at the home depot
Posted by: curious at February 08, 2011 03:06 PM (p302b)
I still hold out hope that Gojira will show up on the Mall.
Posted by: alexthechick at February 08, 2011 03:07 PM (qPgNK)
The Toyota Execs should get to line up and kick the guy who called 911 from his car in the balls.
One free shot, each.
Posted by: garrett at February 08, 2011 03:09 PM (+Zqli)
Posted by: Henny Youngman at February 08, 2011 03:10 PM (QKKT0)
Yeah, it's too bad we owe them all this money...We shoulda whupped their asses back in the 60's when that Ho Chi Min fella was running things...
Posted by: Sheriff Joe at February 08, 2011 03:10 PM (azgo2)
>>...the Obama Administration was sitting on an NHTSA report that would conclusively exonerate Toyota...<<
This comes as no surprise; Toyota USA isn't under the heavy thumb of UAW.
Posted by: Stillwater at February 08, 2011 03:10 PM (0GpN4)
Posted by: Ohio Dan at February 08, 2011 03:11 PM (EH4cc)
But hey, check Weasel Zippers for story on GM's plans to bonus its 53,000 unionized hourly workers $3,000 or so ea. GM's previous high payout like this was in 1999 for $1,775.
Posted by: Count de Monet at February 08, 2011 03:12 PM (XBM1t)
Design wise, the Corvair was similar to the VW beetle and only exhibited the claimed "dangerous" handling characteristics if people failed to inflate the tires with the prescribed pressure differential front/back. VW also recommended the same pressure differential to tame the jacking and over steer effects of swing axle rear engine cars.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 07:06 PM (ORIbF)
My father spent two decades playing around with various makes and models of Corvairs, and he loved them. The best car he ever found is what he said. We usually had about 5 or 6 of those things sitting around the yard at any given time. I rode/drove around in them from about age 1 to age 18+ and never once experienced any handling problems if the car was properly serviced. Wish we still had a few of the Spyders around.
Posted by: Johnnyreb at February 08, 2011 03:12 PM (NNrYJ)
Posted by: The UAW at February 08, 2011 03:14 PM (xeG08)
Give me what company was butt bucked with the charge of Sudden Unintended Acceleration for $800 Alex?
Posted by: Fish the Impaler at February 08, 2011 03:15 PM (ZHsNw)
Posted by: Ohio Dan at February 08, 2011 07:11 PM (EH4cc)
You ain't kidding. I was the dumbass for not requesting additional withholding, but shitfuck, I didn't think the goddamn stimufuck would mean my withholding for last year would be ZERO. ZERO, people, as in the dirtpipe milkshake in the White House zero. I want to slap something now.
Posted by: Sekhmet at February 08, 2011 03:15 PM (gnEPW)
I just read in the sidebar that Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd killed a guy at a California Cock Fight.
That sounds... Hot!
Posted by: garrett at February 08, 2011 03:17 PM (+Zqli)
If I have to go...I'll take it.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at February 08, 2011 03:18 PM (gDbxE)
Yep, those were the days.
Posted by: GnuBreed, practicing to be a liberal at February 08, 2011 03:18 PM (bvXGR)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 08, 2011 03:19 PM (0GFWk)
I saw a recent pic of Cheryl Tiegs, and she still looks fantastic too.
Compare and contrast, with, say Carrie Fisher. Yeeeesh.
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 08, 2011 03:19 PM (ogFrB)
I wrote about that too, Vic. It was a startling and statistically impossible coincidence. At least until the "sudden exaggeration" became mainstream after the media went nuts, the vast majority of folks reporting surprise, sudden acceleration were eligible for Medicare...
Posted by: Gabriel Malor at February 08, 2011 03:20 PM (XVaFd)
The administration has been forthright about the problem with Toyota vehicles, and after exhaustive analysis, we only now know the truth about the circumspect engineering of these automobiles.
Posted by: Robert Gibster, POTUS Mouthpiece at February 08, 2011 03:21 PM (ZHsNw)
Posted by: Sekhmet at February 08, 2011 03:23 PM (gnEPW)
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 08, 2011 03:23 PM (ogFrB)
Never see her running up and down the strip getting drunk, shooting smack, and getting out of a car with no panties.
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 03:24 PM (M9Ie6)
Posted by: Count de Monet at February 08, 2011 07:12 PM (XBM1t)
@ $375 avg per head donation to a democrat it's a nifty twenty mil.
Posted by: Beto at February 08, 2011 03:24 PM (H+LJc)
3 Churches in the South burned by racist rednecks!!!
And by the South I mean Indonesia ....
"Mobs destroyed three churches in Temanggung, Central Java, on Tuesday in violence that broke out following a blasphemy hearing against defendant Antonius Richmond Bawengan."
Posted by: goldbricker esq at February 08, 2011 03:24 PM (S59+B)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 08, 2011 03:24 PM (0GFWk)
Never see her running up and down the strip getting drunk, shooting smack, and getting out of a car with no panties.
This is a positive?
Posted by: Cicero at February 08, 2011 03:25 PM (QKKT0)
The recently released information about Toyota in no way absolves the company of any liability regarding any engineering defect found in the future by the very capable staff at Homeland Security chaired by Janet Napolitano, first cousin of Judge Andrew Napolitano or something.
Posted by: Joe "Slow Joe" Biden at February 08, 2011 03:25 PM (ZHsNw)
Never see her running up and down the strip getting drunk, shooting smack, and getting out of a car with no panties.
Alas, a moron can dream...
Posted by: garrett at February 08, 2011 03:26 PM (+Zqli)
Posted by: nevergiveup at February 08, 2011 07:24 PM (0GFWk)
Being short and old happens to a lot of ladies...
Posted by: Sekhmet at February 08, 2011 03:26 PM (gnEPW)
Yea, lots of those kinda things...like the Firestone tire "problems" Ford was having on the SUV's. Curious that the incidents were heavily biased towards southern states.
Gosh, underinflate a tire by 10lb or so, put it on a 5-6,000lb vehicle, run it at 80mph down a southern freeway, on a hot day, and its not surprising at all it delams.
Maybe those Firestones weren't the best quality, but inflated correctly and driven at sane speeds the tire was intened to be driven at, the delam issues would have been statistical noise level.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 03:28 PM (ORIbF)
I'm sure this news is a comfort to the Government Attorney that vacated the case and decided not to do the trial over....
Posted by: Portnoy at February 08, 2011 03:29 PM (azgo2)
You mean there is no mechanical problem........what the hell are we supposed to do?
Hey Rocky, watch me pull a lawsuit outta my ass!
Posted by: Trial Lawyers at February 08, 2011 03:29 PM (QKKT0)
Also, don't freak out like a spastic rhesus monkey wired on meth when it does delaminate, and you don't roll your SUV either.
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 08, 2011 03:30 PM (ogFrB)
That was total bullshit from the word go.
Posted by: irongrampa at February 08, 2011 03:35 PM (ud5dN)
As several of our cabinet agencies are run in this manner, I think your analogy has additional spin-off applications.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at February 08, 2011 03:35 PM (gDbxE)
I knew the sudden acceleration thing was bullshit from the get go, remembering the same hoax from twenty years ago, with Mercedes, I think. I profited from this one by buying my Prius when all this trash talk depressed the price of the car. I didn't pay a premium for my Prius and they gave me full blue book plus $25 on my trade in. In other words, they lowered the price by about $2000 with a gimmick. I'm only sorry I didn't wait another couple months when they were giving away free iPads with each car.
A Japanese journalist interviewed me during my first oil change three months later, asking me why I bought the car. I told him I trust Toyota more than I trust the media.
Posted by: Tantor at February 08, 2011 03:37 PM (blNMI)
Oh, fuck me running sideways, they're going to "fix" it.
I can't think of anything they could possibly do that won't be ten times worse than the problem.
You don't fix radical, chronic incompetence by moving the pedals around or sticking $500 worth of electronics in to override the driver's judgment at the worst possible moment, you bureaucratic fucksticks.
ARGH I'm gonna have an aneurysm.
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 03:39 PM (bxiXv)
Posted by: Holger at February 08, 2011 06:38 PM (YxGud)
One of my pet peeves about the auto industry is that they save money in the worst places. Like brake pads.
There are brake pads that will not do this to you (unless you're speeding madly on the longest hill in the world), and it would add about $10 per vehicle.
But still they use crap. One of the first things I replace on any vehicle.
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 03:40 PM (bxiXv)
Posted by: Captain Hate at February 08, 2011 03:41 PM (eh+ki)
Posted by: dagny wants logprof free at February 08, 2011 03:42 PM (HLFbQ)
Audis. See P.J. O'Rourke's Parliament of Whores for the rundown. Epic media and lawyer driven stupidity. Pun fully intended.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at February 08, 2011 03:43 PM (gDbxE)
Inflation pressure was the key thing. The idiots at Ford recommended an inflation pressure significantly lower than Firestone's minimum so "the ride" would be like a comfy sofa.
Of course that raised rolling resistance and internal friction within the rubber beyond its design specs.
Your vans were probably going out inflated near the recommended maximums, which kept internal heating subdued even when overloaded, and fleet drivers don't last too long when they start too many collecting speeding tickets...
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 03:44 PM (ORIbF)
Another analogy. Apply to Jimmah and those who voted for you-know-who in 2008.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at February 08, 2011 03:44 PM (gDbxE)
"Obama Admits There Was No Electronic
Problem Causing Toyota Sudden Acceleration"
We need to take to heart the Alinsky technique. Personalize the problem. Make everything Obama's fault! Use the left's strategy against them.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at February 08, 2011 03:45 PM (LH6ir)
Posted by: dagny wants logprof free at February 08, 2011 03:45 PM (HLFbQ)
though officials said they would consider steps to prevent drivers from pushing wrong the pedal.
Haha--so are they going to paint the brake pedal RED and the accelerator GREEN? Oh, wait, no...the driver might be colorblind...
Ok, a motion detector on each pedal w/device to emit "stop!" or "go!" as driver's foot approaches????
Posted by: Stillwater at February 08, 2011 03:45 PM (0GpN4)
I think it was the original Audi A6's that introduced that goofy 5-cyl engine. People were stepping on the gas when they thought they were stepping on the brakes.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 03:46 PM (ORIbF)
Things never change...just the targets.
Posted by: seguin at February 08, 2011 03:46 PM (y0Y96)
High quality ceramic brake pads are slightly cheaper than the composite ones for my truck. Those will be going on soon.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at February 08, 2011 03:47 PM (LH6ir)
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 07:24 PM (M9Ie6)
I always hated her for that.
Posted by: AmishDude at February 08, 2011 03:47 PM (BvBKY)
I think it was the original Audi A6's that introduced that goofy 5-cyl engine. People were stepping on the gas when they thought they were stepping on the brakes.
It was. My brother in law had that Audi and we would stand in front of it and scream just to piss him off. Nobody died.
Posted by: dagny wants logprof free at February 08, 2011 03:48 PM (HLFbQ)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 07:46 PM (ORIbF)
It was Audi, but it was a decade before the A-series.
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 03:49 PM (bxiXv)
Posted by: Cicero at February 08, 2011 07:25 PM (QKKT0)
Not one, but two perverts beat me to the joke.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at February 08, 2011 03:50 PM (LH6ir)
Demand they pre-fill the oil filter before spinning it on. The vast majority of service people don't do this and the engine will have several seconds of zero-pressure when its first started again.
Whenever I change my oil, I *always* prefill the filter. It usually takes a minute or more to accomplish because it takes a few fillings before the oil soaks completely through the filter.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 03:50 PM (ORIbF)
Posted by: dagny wants logprof free at February 08, 2011 03:51 PM (HLFbQ)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 03:51 PM (ORIbF)
NBC "News" put igniters on the gas tanks for a segment on Dateline.
On. the. tanks.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at February 08, 2011 03:52 PM (gDbxE)
I remember when they did this to GM back in the 90's. The gas tank "controversy" that was totally made up...and forced a redesign.
Things never change...just the targets.
-------------------------------------------------
Wasn't it 60 Minutes that rigged up a truck to "help" it explode?
Posted by: Taxpayer at February 08, 2011 03:52 PM (NpmCe)
Posted by: Cat Filter Spammer at February 08, 2011 03:53 PM (QKKT0)
134 Thanks. I changed people. I love these new guys but I'll tell them what you said.
My 90 year old mother was the one who figured it out. Like she says, she's not naturally brillant but she's been around a while and has had a lot of things happen.
Posted by: dagny wants logprof free at February 08, 2011 03:53 PM (HLFbQ)
Whenever I change my oil, I *always* prefill the filter.
With half of the cars I've owned most of the oil would have spilled out when you put it on.
Posted by: Ed Anger at February 08, 2011 03:54 PM (7+pP9)
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at February 08, 2011 07:47 PM (LH6ir)
Do your homework, though. Almost everything most "brake shops" and dealerships carries is crap.
I like EBC and they carry most car fitments. Hawks may be better but for less cars. They all make different types for different vehicles/uses.
Don't even GLANCE at "consumer reviews," look for reviews where they actually test the product.
Some brake shops can order EBC, they're not much more expensive than the "premium crap."
Nobody can beat the price on the really cheap crap, but then, nobody wants to end up halfway through a tree, either.
Like I said, pet peeve of mine.
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 03:54 PM (bxiXv)
Posted by: dagny wants logprof free at February 08, 2011 03:54 PM (HLFbQ)
Lousy brakes on newer vehicles? How about , when you're downsizing the fucking thing, leave the goddamn brakes ALONE. Front drive cars have 80to85% of their weight up front. Every manufacturer downsized the rotors along with the rest of the car--thereby making the difficult job of braking the vehicle harder. Hence the brakes wearing out in 10k. Or in GM's case, outsourcing their rotors to China, and getting some total pieces of shit. I observed countless instances of rusting on the machined surface, which decreased the swept brake area, leading to decreased stopping power. Some became evident within 3 to 5 k miles, on certain GM models.
Posted by: irongrampa at February 08, 2011 03:56 PM (ud5dN)
It was the Pinto and no it wasn't fine. It actually was a mobile firebomb.
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 03:57 PM (hVDig)
Posted by: Ricki at February 08, 2011 03:57 PM (xHKos)
That's dangerously close to merging mathematics with physical science....physics, if you will.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at February 08, 2011 03:58 PM (gDbxE)
Posted by: George Orwell at February 08, 2011 03:58 PM (xeG08)
Posted by: Trabant at February 08, 2011 03:58 PM (0GFWk)
I think that was the Pinto.
Posted by: Delta Smelt at February 08, 2011 07:56 PM (A0VTZ)
Yeah, it was but that scam was done totally by the trial lawyers. The Pinto statistically was involved in no more fires than any other auto in a rear ended collision.
That suit was the auto version of "talking to dead babies".
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 03:59 PM (M9Ie6)
Hey, I'm right here!!
Posted by: Ford Pinto at February 08, 2011 03:59 PM (SwkdU)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 03:59 PM (ORIbF)
On. the. tanks.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at February 08, 2011 07:52 PM (gDbxE)
And Consumer Distorts built a machine that could turn the steering wheel faster than humanly possible, and added weights to the car, to make the Suzuki Samurai flip over. It was a crap car, but it doesn't deserve its reputation.
Some days you just wanna puke.
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 03:59 PM (bxiXv)
Whenever people complain about brakes wearing out too fast, its usually related to to their driving style.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 04:03 PM (ORIbF)
And Consumer Distorts built a machine that could turn the steering wheel faster than humanly possible, and added weights to the car, to make the Suzuki Samurai flip over. It was a crap car, but it doesn't deserve its reputation.
Hence, the nickname of the car. Suzuki Suicide. Anyone remember the 'Alar' scare from about 20 years ago?
Posted by: Truck Monkey at February 08, 2011 04:03 PM (yQWNf)
Posted by: sTevo at February 08, 2011 04:03 PM (VMcEw)
Posted by: Delta Smelt at February 08, 2011 04:03 PM (A0VTZ)
Posted by: George Orwell at February 08, 2011 04:03 PM (xeG08)
Posted by: Delta Smelt at February 08, 2011 08:03 PM
Why yes it was. Unsafe at any speed. Ruined the Corvair. It actually was a pretty cool little car.
Posted by: Truck Monkey at February 08, 2011 04:05 PM (yQWNf)
Whenever people complain about brakes wearing out too fast, its usually related to to their driving style.
But where do you live? Here, you just put the car in gear and then use the brakes. You only need the accelerator for vacations.
Posted by: dagny wants logprof free at February 08, 2011 04:05 PM (HLFbQ)
Yep - Unsafe At Any Speed was what put him on the radar.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 04:06 PM (ORIbF)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at February 08, 2011 08:05 PM (yQWNf)
Yeah that's what I thought. I've got a relative who owns a couple of them. Kind of a collector of sorts.
Posted by: Delta Smelt at February 08, 2011 04:07 PM (A0VTZ)
Posted by: Delta Smelt at February 08, 2011 08:03 PM (A0VTZ)
Yeah, I forgot what was wrong with it though. I think maybe it folded up and killed you if you got in an accident.
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 04:07 PM (hVDig)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 07:59 PM (ORIbF)
Nope. Not more lethal than other cars, extremely difficult for those two parts to collide (in the legendary initial collision that started the case the impact killed everyone in the car before the fire started).
Also, the smoking gun memo that "won" the case didn't refer to the Pinto, didn't refer to any design changes in the Pinto, and the human value calculation that earned GM the media's wrath was quoted from the government regulators that requested the memo from GM.
The famous UCLA tests later used to back up the news narrative also used an incendiary device under the gas tanks.
Basically, that guy who said "everything you know is wrong" was a fucking genius and if he got royalties for that we'd all be broke.
I can source all that but it would take time and this is a blog comment, not homework. It's all out there. The UCLA thing was from a 1968 report detailing their methods, NBC just never mentioned the incendiaries when they used it.
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 04:07 PM (bxiXv)
Posted by: sTevo at February 08, 2011 04:08 PM (VMcEw)
http://tinyurl.com/67y7tmw
Note that I had seen the same kind of data from industry experts back when all this shit was happening.
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 04:09 PM (M9Ie6)
I recently retired from a 40+ year career of being the friendly fellow who fixed you car right the FIRST time, and have seen an incredible number of dumbshit things people have done. And I've gotta say, the overwhelming cause of said dumbshit failings can be attributed to the idiots driving the cars.
Did make for a certain amount of amusement, though.
Posted by: irongrampa at February 08, 2011 04:10 PM (ud5dN)
Well yea, FL is flat, but I also drive exclusively manual transmissions, shift accordingly, play a lot of mental games anticipating 1/4-1/2 mile ahead so I can just roll through stop lights as they change to green, anticipate idiots in front of me and slide over a lane before they cause me to have to slow down, etc.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 04:10 PM (ORIbF)
What was wrong with it. Chevy didn't sue the worthless bastard into oblivion. Everytime that asshole opened his pie-hole he puked out a lie.
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 04:10 PM (M9Ie6)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 08:03 PM (ORIbF)
I don't care half as much how long they last as how well they stop and how little they fade when hot.
Doesn't do me a damned bit of good if I have 90% life left on the pads when I get killed by the truck running a red light 'cause it's at the bottom of a hill and my brakes are fading and my stopping distance is doubled.
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 04:11 PM (bxiXv)
Posted by: Chairman LMAO at February 08, 2011 04:11 PM (9eDbm)
Posted by: irongrampa at February 08, 2011 04:11 PM (ud5dN)
Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2011 04:13 PM (AZBsQ)
http://tinyurl.com/67y7tmw
Note that I had seen the same kind of data from industry experts back when all this shit was happening.
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 08:09 PM (M9Ie6)
That's a great summary, I realize they didn't source everything because a lot couldn't be linked, was on paper, etc., but I wish someone would because I'm too lazy to.
Also note the anecdotes about other tests. I'm fairly sure I'm not confusing the CJ with the Samurai - I wonder if the same people did the tests!?!
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 04:15 PM (bxiXv)
Yeah, I forgot what was wrong with it though. I think maybe it folded up and killed you if you got in an accident.
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 08:07 PM (hVDig)
Folded like a cheap accordian, I believe.
Posted by: ErikW, just looking for a cool, Che type t-shirt at February 08, 2011 04:15 PM (2I9nc)
As a general statement, I've been underwhelmed by the robustness of the rotors on most Japanese cars I've looked at..even the pricier Lexus/Acura types sport flimsy rotors compared to a comparable sized VW or BMW.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 04:16 PM (ORIbF)
Posted by: Buffalobob at February 08, 2011 04:16 PM (GwH6h)
Huh. Didn't know we had one of those.
Layers.
This place has 'em.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at February 08, 2011 04:18 PM (gDbxE)
But how about the unions, government and the media? You don't trust anybody more than those guys, right?
Posted by: Steve Skubinna at February 08, 2011 04:18 PM (7YekA)
Posted by: Florida White Haired Driver at February 08, 2011 04:19 PM (DLxD/)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 08:10 PM (ORIbF)
I do the same thing (probably more aggressively) when lucky enough to have an M/T, but just so everyone else knows, while trail-braking is bad, brake pads are cheaper than clutches.
Just sayin'.
Also, I don't drive 3mph below the speed limit in traffic or draft people to save a few pennies on gas, in case that's obvious. And I haven't had a car in more than a decade that didn't need premium gas, either.
Well, technically the Turbo Volvo can run on the cheap stuff, but I lose like 10hp from the (automatic) timing changes, depending on air temps.
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 04:19 PM (bxiXv)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 04:20 PM (ORIbF)
Yeah, I forgot what was wrong with it though. I think maybe it folded up and killed you if you got in an accident.
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 08:07 PM (hVDig)
One problem that Corvairs did have was with their air-cooled engines in the back, the fan belt had a large number of right angle turns to make and they were always wearing out and getting thrown or broken quickly. That had nothing to do with whatever scam ass-breath Nader was making his swag on.
Posted by: Captain Hate at February 08, 2011 04:21 PM (eh+ki)
The rest of the book was for ALL cars that were built at that time.
Another thing to keep in mind was that back in the late 50s Ford had tried to build and sell a car based on increased safety with all kinds of safety features and options.
It was a massive disaster. The car was the Edsel which became a running joke for decades.
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 04:21 PM (M9Ie6)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 08:16 PM (ORIbF)
The good news is, Brembos are cheap. May not be the best, but better than most factory rotors.
Or blow $4k on a set of Wilwoods. 
(TUV testing includes braking from higher speeds, so they have to spec things up a bit for the Euro market, and unlike engines that doesn't get dumbed down for the American market.)
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 04:21 PM (bxiXv)
Posted by: irongrampa at February 08, 2011 04:24 PM (ud5dN)
LOL, can't have those fancy rotating spinner wheels messed up though. Brother gotta have sum fancy $2000 wheels.
Yes, I denounce myself.
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 04:25 PM (M9Ie6)
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 04:26 PM (hVDig)
Occasionally the idiot behind the wheel is a problem, but not nearly as much as the other two.
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 04:27 PM (M9Ie6)
Posted by: irongrampa at February 08, 2011 08:24 PM (ud5dN)
My designer wheels are designed for improved airflow - and lighter weight.
Brake dust is ugly but brake fade is uglier.
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 04:28 PM (bxiXv)
Posted by: Vic at February 08, 2011 04:30 PM (M9Ie6)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 04:31 PM (ORIbF)
Posted by: Alaska Paul at February 08, 2011 04:33 PM (rMkgW)
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 04:33 PM (hVDig)
Take care, good people.
Posted by: irongrampa at February 08, 2011 04:34 PM (ud5dN)
Posted by: Alaska Paul at February 08, 2011 08:33 PM (rMkgW)
You've obviously never been to Tacoma then.
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 04:34 PM (hVDig)
My complaint about them has always been their shit handling characteristics due to lackluster suspension designs biased towards "comfort".
I *want* to feel the car and the road. When you can feel the car and the road, they talk to you if you're willing to listen to what they're trying to tell you.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 04:34 PM (ORIbF)
You've obviously never been to Tacoma then.
Do you think Toyota engineered in the Tacoma aroma"?
Posted by: ParanoidAnxietyGirlInSeattle at February 08, 2011 04:35 PM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 04:36 PM (hVDig)
Ummm...that's probably a petrified tuna sandwich some worker left in a door panel.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 04:37 PM (ORIbF)
A lot of race cars specifically duct air onto the rotors to help cool them. A shield is a pretty dumb idea unless its an integral part of a cooling duct system
1966 Shelby GT 350 (R)
Posted by: For Example at February 08, 2011 04:38 PM (+Zqli)
Tundra - why would I buy a vehicle named after a frozen wasteland? FAIL
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 04:40 PM (ORIbF)
Posted by: Sort-of-Mad Max at February 08, 2011 04:42 PM (2PTT7)
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 04:46 PM (hVDig)
Posted by: brak at February 08, 2011 04:47 PM (nIoiW)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 08:40 PM
I only need a smaller truck with less load capacity...was looking at the Half-Tundra.
Of course the reason all those Toyotas messed up was that the owners didn't equip them with Factor Gear!
Posted by: MrScribbler© at February 08, 2011 04:48 PM (Ulu3i)
Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2011 04:49 PM (AZBsQ)
Posted by: blaster at February 08, 2011 04:49 PM (aU7Ox)
Posted by: Erg-a-nomics at February 08, 2011 04:50 PM (2PTT7)
Yeah, I didn't think so either. Yet another thing to put under the "What if a Bush Administration official had done this?" column.
Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at February 08, 2011 04:51 PM (c0A3e)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 08:34 PM
Very easy when you hear the screams of the hobo dragging around your undercarriage
Posted by: kbdabear at February 08, 2011 04:51 PM (vdfwz)
Posted by: Burn the Witch at February 08, 2011 04:52 PM (A/oSU)
WTF Teh Fred's gonna run again?
Where did you hear that?
Don't think that would go well. The man hates campaigning and he's even older. And he's got that bitchin reverse mortgage gig.
Posted by: Delta Smelt at February 08, 2011 04:52 PM (A0VTZ)
The greedy Gub'ment competing for market share.
Lie, cheat, steal, etc...
I never thought I would see that.
Posted by: SomewhereSouthWest at February 08, 2011 04:54 PM (CyPWX)
Brake dust is ugly but brake fade is uglier.
Ugly brake dust can be removed by either spending the money to run your car through the car wash, or a hose, bucket, and sponge
But if I spend my money washing the car, how can I make the payments on the rubber band tires, tinted windows, and 3,000 stereo system I put into a 20 year old Honda?
Posted by: kbdabear at February 08, 2011 04:56 PM (vdfwz)
Posted by: blaster at February 08, 2011 04:57 PM (aU7Ox)
I just read in the sidebar that Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd killed a guy at a California Cock Fight.
I saw a recent pic of Cheryl Tiegs, and she still looks fantastic too.
Compare and contrast, with, say Carrie Fisher. Yeeeesh.
Well, considering that Fisher did almost as much Peruvian Marching Powder as Keith Richards.......
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 08, 2011 04:58 PM (9Lm5R)
The only real problem it had was the front suspension. Rather than having upper and lower A frames or some other parallelogram suspension system the axle pivoted on one point. It's not the best system but like other morons have said, if you drive sanely and properly inflate your tires it wouldn't cause a loss of control.
Posted by: Ed Anger at February 08, 2011 04:58 PM (7+pP9)
Gabe makes a great post, and people think that Ace wrote it?
Hey Gabe........welcome to the party, pal.
Posted by: Russ from Winterset at February 08, 2011 05:01 PM (/MEFr)
Posted by: Whatever at February 08, 2011 05:01 PM (piMMO)
Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2011 05:02 PM (AZBsQ)
Posted by: ParanoidAnxietyGirlInSeattle at February 08, 2011 05:03 PM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: kbdabear at February 08, 2011 05:04 PM (vdfwz)
Final: 277-148
Yes: 210 Republicans, 67 Democrats
No: 26 Republicans, 122 Democrats
Posted by: Somebody at February 08, 2011 05:04 PM (sZ+lP)
.Poison apples
I don't know, I've made it a general policy after seeing it on the teevee to avoid accepting apples from ugly old hags. It's served me well so far.
Posted by: ParanoidAnxietyGirlInSeattle at February 08, 2011 05:05 PM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: MWR at February 08, 2011 05:05 PM (CA2NO)
Omigod! I ain't never eatin' another hamburger!
Posted by: Orca Winfrey at February 08, 2011 05:06 PM (vdfwz)
Posted by: MM at February 08, 2011 05:06 PM (nbAPU)
Posted by: blaster at February 08, 2011 05:06 PM (aU7Ox)
Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2011 05:07 PM (AZBsQ)
Posted by: Krazy Kat at February 08, 2011 05:08 PM (oNphh)
If you don't take the poison apple, your prince will never come!
Posted by: Rum, Goddess of Doom at February 08, 2011 05:09 PM (YxBuk)
Of course, when they're texting or sexting, not so much.
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 08, 2011 05:09 PM (DCpHZ)
If you don't take the poison apple, your prince will never come!
Oh drat it, is that what I'm dong wrong?
Posted by: ParanoidAnxietyGirlInSeattle at February 08, 2011 05:09 PM (RZ8pf)
Posted by: NY Times at February 08, 2011 05:10 PM (AZBsQ)
Posted by: ParanoidAnxietyGirlInSeattle at February 08, 2011 09:03 PM (RZ8pf)
We're even, I agreed with Bill Gates the other day. He said the scientist and those in the press and entertainment industy that promoted the tie to vacines and autism were responsible for the deaths of thousands of children.
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 05:11 PM (hVDig)
Posted by: NY Times at February 08, 2011 09:10 PM (AZBsQ)
CC seems to help a lot as well--obviously cause and effect doesn't work with crime stats.
Posted by: Hrothgar at February 08, 2011 05:11 PM (DCpHZ)
Posted by: ParanoidAnxietyGirlInSeattle at February 08, 2011 09:03 PM (RZ8pf)
;" class="posted">We're even, I agreed with Bill Gates the other day. He said the scientist and those in the press and entertainment industy that promoted the tie to vacines and autism were responsible for the deaths of thousands of children.
;">
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 09:11 PM (hVDig)
As the adage goes, even a broken clock is right twice a day.
(...provided it's not running on military time, I assume)
Posted by: MWR at February 08, 2011 05:13 PM (CA2NO)
Could be. I remember the Alar scare, where Fenton Communications and some Hollyweird gits got a safe and cheap apple preservative off the market because some idiot researcher hyped a cancer finding (you'd have to drink about 15,000 quarts of apple juice made from alar-treated apples to see an increased cancer risk).
Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at February 08, 2011 05:14 PM (c0A3e)
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 08, 2011 08:34 PM
More likely built towards "cheap". Since American roads are on the average flatter and straighter than European roads, they used leaf springs and live axles up until the 80s, and still have live axles in some rear drive models even today. It was simply cheaper to do so, and using softer shocks and lighter springs was a cheap way to give a floaty soft ride.
Posted by: kbdabear at February 08, 2011 05:15 PM (vdfwz)
Who was it,crying in front of congress about the poison pesticide apples?Glenn Close?
No. Meryl Streep.
Alar! Alar!
For the children!
Posted by: Whatever at February 08, 2011 05:15 PM (piMMO)
Meryl Streep? Alar.
Posted by: Derak at February 08, 2011 05:15 PM (CjpKH)
Meryl Streep
Posted by: kbdabear at February 08, 2011 05:15 PM (vdfwz)
Posted by: blaster at February 08, 2011 05:15 PM (aU7Ox)
It was a specifically rough patch for Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who was the subject of much finger-pointing after the vote, as he is charged with vote-counting. Erica Elliott, spokesman for McCarthy, noted that most House Democrats voted against the bill, “deny[ing] their own administration’s request for key weapons in the war on terror.”
Other Republicans blamed Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) for the debacle. Sensenbrenner is a senior Judiciary Committee Republican.
Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at February 08, 2011 05:17 PM (sZ+lP)
Posted by: Whatever at February 08, 2011 09:15 PM (piMMO)
Don't you just love it when actresses go in front of Congress and spout left-tard think tank factoids about farming and chemistry?
All they can do is read off a script.
Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at February 08, 2011 05:18 PM (c0A3e)
Posted by: NY Times at February 08, 2011 05:19 PM (AZBsQ)
http://tinyurl.com/eazkn
Posted by: Kemp at February 08, 2011 05:20 PM (JpFM9)
Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2011 05:20 PM (AZBsQ)
The second generation Corvairs went with the same IRS you'd find in a Corvette. Fantastic handling cars and fun to drive on those twisting roads.
Posted by: kbdabear at February 08, 2011 05:21 PM (vdfwz)
Damnit! I went to Bing to try and find the awards rant where Streep went off about poisoning the children and couldn't find it. So, I said, WTF and flipped over to Google in a very rare misstep. Guess what? It's Jules Vernes 183rd birthday!
This, they commemorate. Memorial Day, not so much.
I HATE those son of a bitches!
Posted by: Whatever at February 08, 2011 05:21 PM (piMMO)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at February 08, 2011 05:23 PM (yQWNf)
And a handful of the no-votes were freshmen who felt completely uninformed by their leadership. Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.), who voted for the bill, said he “didn’t know anything about (the vote) until today.”
[...] Hoyer added, “I think they’re clearly going to have difficulty. When you have their response to the State of the Union, and Paul Ryan being their choice and then Michele Bachmann also gives one, they’re clearly differences within their conference and they’re going to have to work it out.”
Other Democrats were giddy Tuesday night at the defeat. They knocked Republicans for not putting the bill through committee – something they all but promised they’d do during the midterm campaign season. And Hoyer’s office called it “another rough day for the new majority.”
Another Democratic aide put it more simply: “Governing 101: make sure you have the votes. Governing 102: make sure you understand your own members.”
Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at February 08, 2011 05:23 PM (sZ+lP)
Damnit! I went to Bing to try and find the awards rant where Streep went off about poisoning the children and couldn't find it. So, I said, WTF and flipped over to Google in a very rare misstep. Guess what? It's Jules Vernes 183rd birthday!
This, they commemorate. Memorial Day, not so much.
But Google knows your birthday, what porn sites you subscribed to with the $50 Visa Gift Card your wife bought you on Amazon while searching for her old boyfriend on Facebook, and put a cookie on your computer that would attach to an email your sent to your boss from home saying you were sick, while buying tickets to Disneyland online.
Don't Be Evil and You Won't Have Anything to Hide from Your Overlords
Posted by: Eric Schmidt at February 08, 2011 05:26 PM (vdfwz)
Another Democratic aide put it more simply: “Governing 101: make sure you have the votes. Governing 102: make sure you understand bribe and/or threaten your own members.”
Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at February 08, 2011 09:23 PMFIFT
Posted by: Eric Schmidt at February 08, 2011 05:28 PM (vdfwz)
Posted by: eman at February 08, 2011 05:29 PM (gZVTR)
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 08, 2011 05:29 PM (ogFrB)
Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2011 05:31 PM (AZBsQ)
Posted by: eman at February 08, 2011 05:31 PM (gZVTR)
Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at February 08, 2011 05:32 PM (sZ+lP)
Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2011 05:32 PM (AZBsQ)
Well, there was also the booze in that situation.
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 08, 2011 05:32 PM (ogFrB)
Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2011 05:35 PM (AZBsQ)
Channeling that Oscar-worthy movie Under Siege 2 - Assumption is the mother of all slip-ups.
Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at February 08, 2011 05:35 PM (c0A3e)
Well, they too got caught for using the same procedure last year without getting enough votes. This was much closer, since they only lost by 7 votes, but (politically speaking) it was an unforced error. Now the Dems are talking-up the divide in the GOP when a majority of Tea Party members voted for the extension.
Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at February 08, 2011 05:37 PM (sZ+lP)
I am still freightened by the Jason Voorhees goalie masks. I am so glad that they have changed.
Posted by: Truck Monkey at February 08, 2011 05:39 PM (yQWNf)
Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2011 05:42 PM (AZBsQ)
Posted by: Truck Monkey at February 08, 2011 05:44 PM (yQWNf)
Posted by: Samuel Adams, drunk since 1930 hrs CST. at February 08, 2011 05:50 PM (Jx0x6)
Posted by: steevy at February 08, 2011 05:53 PM (AZBsQ)
Posted by: Guy What Says 'Pull My Finger' When There are Long, Akward Silences at February 08, 2011 05:58 PM (yQWNf)
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 08, 2011 09:29 PM (ogFrB)
Apparently "don't do that" doesn't wok training people to drive.
Several 3rd-gen RX-7s killed drivers and dealership employees during test drives.
Rumor has it many of the last words went something like "boy, this thing isn't as fast as I thou..." followed by a mad 2-second ride across four lanes of traffic, through a school bus and into a tree.
Turbo lag is also counter-intuitive. People just push the gas pedal harder and then BANG they die.
In that case, also, don't do that and you'll be fine. Hell of a car in skilled hands.
Posted by: Merovign, Bond Villain at February 08, 2011 05:59 PM (bxiXv)
Posted by: Waterhouse at February 08, 2011 09:29 PM (ogFrB)
Yeah I used to have a 911 SC and if you thought you were in a corner too fast, give it some gas.
Posted by: robtr nickless liberation front at February 08, 2011 06:00 PM (hVDig)
288 Guy What Says 'Pull My Finger' When There are Long, Akward Silences
Honey, what are you doing on AofS. I thought you were at the civic asso meeting?
Posted by: dagny wants logprof free at February 08, 2011 06:00 PM (HLFbQ)
Posted by: Ex-Republican genius at February 08, 2011 06:02 PM (le5qc)
Posted by: USS Diversity at February 08, 2011 06:18 PM (DLxD/)
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at February 08, 2011 07:38 PM (61b7k)
We now need Congressional hearings into the Congressional hearings.
Posted by: Lee Iacocca at February 08, 2011 07:56 PM (tvs2p)
Posted by: BarbaraS at February 08, 2011 08:32 PM (GwJMa)
Pretty much all non-trivial software systems for which no correctness proofs have been generated will have bugs of some sort...which is about 99.999999% of the software out in the field.
Generally, its not economical to generate correctness proofs, and very few software practitioners even understand how to do it, so it doesn't happen - even for the vast majority of what would be considered "life critical" systems.
Of course, generating a correctness proof for a piece of software makes the assumption that the underlying hardware it runs on would also be correct and errata free.
This makes it even harder since almost all microprocessors and their support circuitry have lists of known minor or major errata system designers have to work around, as well as potentially undiscovered errata that over time reveal themselves in the field as real life customer scenarios that go beyond test suites push limits designers never anticipated would happen.
Posted by: Purple Avenger at February 09, 2011 02:17 AM (A9x4x)
OK...but will they admit there's no long-form birth certificate?
Posted by: birther at February 09, 2011 06:38 AM (0AkWH)
Exactly, Purple. One of the car rags went out and bought a used Explorer equipped with original tires. Think it had 50 or 60K miles on it. They then put it on a test track and did panic stops from 30 MPH all the way up to 70 MPH. Guess what? That's right, nothing happened. The truck stopped straight as an arrow. Their final test, camera running, was to have the test driver panic stop from 70 and take his hands off the wheel. Yeah. Straight.as.an.arrow.
The media sucks. Toyota got the beating it deserved. Unless they slip back into favored corporation mode again, suspect they're in for some more. The acceleration issue "outed" Toyota for all the global recalls of millions of vehicles that had been transpiring for over ten years. These are mechanical recalls, not seatbelt failures or the result of low IQs..
Posted by: Mazzuchelli at February 09, 2011 09:11 AM (zAZNI)
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I bought some <a href = www.hotantishoes.com > MBT shoes</a>
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