Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

CAFE Vs. Toyota
Investors.com ^ | March 10, 2010 | INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY Staff

Posted on 03/10/2010 6:12:49 PM PST by Kaslin

Auto Safety: As a Toyota Prius with a stuck accelerator races down a California freeway, no one mourns the victims of the fuel economy standards imposed by Congress. Forced into smaller cars, thousands have died.

We can barely imagine the panic felt by James Sikes, 61, as his Toyota Prius accelerated uncontrollably while he drove down Interstate 8 in San Diego County. We can imagine the continuation of the grandstanding by the owners of "government motors" as they further browbeat a competitor of government-run GM and Chrysler.

We do not minimize the safety issues here that need to be addressed, but we feel a sense of perspective is sorely needed. Toyota has been accused of cutting corners in the name of profit. The Congress that now huffs and puffs in righteous indignation can be accused of increasing the carnage on the nation's highways in the name of saving gasoline.

Sudden-acceleration events in Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been blamed for at least 19 fatalities and 815 vehicle crashes since 1999. That's fewer than two fatalities a year in a country that makes 1.8 million cars annually. How many crashes and fatalities are caused by the use of cell phones and text-messaging while driving?

Let us take a look at the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards enacted by the federal government in response to the Arab oil embargo. Lately, supporters have sought to increase these standards in the name of fighting climate change. They have neither reduced our dependence on foreign oil nor saved the Earth.

(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Extended News; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 111th; acceleration; accelerator; automakers; automobiles; autos; autosafety; bho44; bigbrother; cafe; cafetoyota; cars; carsafety; chrysler; climatechange; congress; djsob; foreignoil; fueleconomy; gasoline; generalmotors; government; governmentmotors; highwaysafety; hoaxtoyota; ibd; jamessikes; lexus; nannystate; nhtsa; obama; obamasamerica; oil; prius; runaway; toyota; toyotahoax; toyotaprius; unintended; warontoyota
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 next last
To: buccaneer81

I had one when I took mine in for the 90,000 checkup, and I was quite dissatisfied with the styling. The older Prius doesn’t look like a space ship. I felt cramped, and I had trouble seeing out the front and side easily. I also thought my head was too close to the ceiling.

It just didn’t feel comfortable like my current Prius. But it was cool though, with the economy/sports settings and the backup camera.


21 posted on 03/10/2010 6:57:14 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: CharlesWayneCT

The over the shoulder visibility in the 2010 could be better. And the rear-view look takes some getting used to with the back window wiper.


22 posted on 03/10/2010 7:05:29 PM PST by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: buccaneer81

My sister had a datsun B210, it’s the car in which I learned how to drive a shift. i liked it.

My wife had a chevy chevette. at one point I took it to the shop, complaining that it would lose acceleration up hills. The guy laughed at me — “Chevettes can’t accelerate up hills”.

But it turned out there was a problem with the fuel filter — it really could accelerate up a hill if you knew how to drive and shift.


23 posted on 03/10/2010 7:05:40 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: CharlesWayneCT
My sister had a datsun B210, it’s the car in which I learned how to drive a shift.

Same here. I bought a 1978 model in 1984 for $400 and taught myself.

24 posted on 03/10/2010 7:07:21 PM PST by buccaneer81 (ECOMCON)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: mamelukesabre

He’s most likely a liberal, and liberals aren’t very smart


25 posted on 03/10/2010 7:09:21 PM PST by Kaslin (Acronym for Obama: One Big Ass Mistake America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: buccaneer81

fiat x1/9


26 posted on 03/10/2010 7:14:44 PM PST by mamelukesabre (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: CharlesWayneCT
My sister had a datsun B210, it’s the car in which I learned how to drive a shift.

Mine was ok, but it rusted badly after several years and was weak in the clutch, and I knew how to drive a stick before I bought it. It did drive nicely for a few years, though.

27 posted on 03/10/2010 7:17:27 PM PST by Pearls Before Swine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: buccaneer81

I had a ‘69 MG Midget. Now that was an aptly named car. Lots of fun, though I couldn’t drive it with shoes on.


28 posted on 03/10/2010 7:20:48 PM PST by Tony in Hawaii (NUTS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: CharlesWayneCT

Yeah, they used to tell me my volkswagen beetle couldn’t do a hundred too.


29 posted on 03/10/2010 7:26:43 PM PST by mamelukesabre (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

But even at 94 mph, he was still getting 36 mpg!


30 posted on 03/10/2010 7:28:54 PM PST by smokingfrog (You can't ignore your boss and expect to keep your job... WWW.filipthishouse2010.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tony in Hawaii

I rear ended a rusty old mufflerless midget with a 60s era chrysler once. the rear bumper guards made two little tiny dents in my METAL grill. The midget flew apart like a bomb and the driver started screaming about being blind and dying when his glasses flew off his face and over the windshield, over the hood and into the car in front of him. He was fine after we got his glasses back to him.


31 posted on 03/10/2010 7:39:21 PM PST by mamelukesabre (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: mamelukesabre

It’s the Toyota Lottery.


32 posted on 03/10/2010 7:51:40 PM PST by arthurus ("If you don't believe in shooting aPerhaps after bortionists, don't shoot an abortionist." -Ann C.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Come on all you Toyota apologists, the problem is real. Sure the media is capitalizing on it but hey.


33 posted on 03/10/2010 7:55:35 PM PST by 38special (I mean come on.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 38special

how about turning the ignition key off?


34 posted on 03/10/2010 8:17:03 PM PST by 1st Division guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin; ex-Texan

Ship all the toys back to Toyotaland.

35 posted on 03/10/2010 9:14:31 PM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is never "free")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mamelukesabre

But was that when you were push-starting it?


36 posted on 03/10/2010 10:04:08 PM PST by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: CharlesWayneCT

Hey, I push started that thing by opening the door and putting one foot on the ground and pushing backwards then popping the clutch while in reverse.


37 posted on 03/10/2010 10:08:29 PM PST by mamelukesabre (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: 1st Division guy

Prius doesn’t have a key, it has a start button and a proximity chip.


38 posted on 03/11/2010 1:15:05 AM PST by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: mamelukesabre

Reverse. That’s an interesting solution. At college, we’d get out and push while my roommate would steer and pop his clutch in.

I couldn’t push-start my car.


39 posted on 03/11/2010 4:49:40 AM PST by CharlesWayneCT
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: CharlesWayneCT

Normally you have to do it in second gear. Getting the engine to pop off in first or reverse is tricky...takes lots and lots of practice and a low compression engine. Having the engine over the drive wheels helps too. It just might be that a VW beetle is the only car that it can be done with.

BTW, people die from going in reverse with one foot out the door. If the car is small enough, the front wheel will run over your foot when your leg is fully extended...it pulls you out of the car and under the wheel. At least on a front wheel drive it does.


40 posted on 03/11/2010 5:29:46 AM PST by mamelukesabre (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 39 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson