If you lived 120K of your life in a Cavalier, I admire your tenacity.
Funny, the 65K miles I lived in a Neon seemed like much more miles and time than I've done in an Accord Coupe for the same mileage. It felt like I had driven the Neon for at least twice as long, and I'm sure my average speed in both was about the same (lots of highway miles in the Neon).
I can only say that, I think the Neon gave me a glimpse of what HARD time must be like, the kind of slow time one would experience in solitary confinement with nothing to do. :surprise:
I had a Cavalier rental one of those periods where the Neon was in the shop for one reason or another, so between 1996-2000 most likely.
Granted, the Cavalier rental never failed to start or run or move, so in that way it was superior to the Neon, but when the Neon was running, I far preferred it to the Cavalier. That doesn't say much for GM.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
>Their new HQ building will be LEED-certified, well, in order to earn that you have to offer EV parking spots. For instance we had to add 2 EV charging spots in our garage to earn it here.
That may explain why the Hampton and Hilton Inns where we stayed near Smyrna TN had two Bling stations at each motel. It appeared that the desk staff parked in the Bling spaces. I had, perhaps erroneously, thought it was because they were close to the Nissan plant and wanted to Leaf parking spaces for Nissan EVs.
I forgot to add the GM reference: Volts were allowed to park there. :P
I don't think twice about them tangling up in the gas pedal.
And even if it did tangle the accelerator pedal, I would hope both you and your wife would have the competent decent common sense of a qualified driver, and simply shift the car into neutral or turn off the ignition in the alternative, rather than kill yourselves.
Some driver's tests require you to RETAKE the test if you fail before getting your license. Some driver's tests, unfortunately, cannot be retaken, and you lose your life for failing. Unfortunately, that is what happened to the Saylors.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
What I found amusing is that mostly people traveling would be using the motel. A Leaf only has a short range. So they must be fairly close to home if they stay there. Only a car like the Volt with an additional ICE can achieve longer distances, arrive, park, and plug in.
I suppose someone working at the hotels as desk people might use it for their trip from home to work. I doubt that the housekeeping staff will make enough to have a newer vehicle such as a leaf.
Other motels on the service drive did NOT have the Blink terminals that I could see. There were 3 or 4 others besides the Hilton twins.
I hadn't given it much thought at first, but I wonder if the gas tank on the Blazer and Suburban of that era was out in back, like on a car? When you think about it, they really couldn't put the tank in the same spot on a Suburban as they do on a pickup, because the rear doors would be where the fuel filler is.
I've looked at some old pics online, and the fuel filler for the Suburban is in the right rear quarter panel. Here's a 1975 ad that shows it.
Shame they didn't put the gas tank back there on the pickups as well, but then I guess they'd have to find someplace else to put the spare tire.
Was Saylor not a member of the California Highway Patrol? One would think he would have been schooled in emergency maneuvers, unlike Joe Average. That's what has had me scratching my head since the day it happened. Doesn't add up.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
Was Saylor not a member of the California Highway Patrol?
Yes.
One would think he would have been schooled in emergency maneuvers, unlike Joe Average.
One might think that but they'd be wrong to think that makes them a better driver. Based on my run-ins with the CHP living in CA for 33 years, I'd give them an F- for performance. They are largely incompetent, lazy, and boneheaded. The fact that they would perform worse than the Average Joe in certain situations doesn't surprise me one iota.
P.S. I am not biased against the CHP, just reporting facts. Afterall, the courts have ruled in my favor in the past, and turned down one of their allegations with a "not guilty verdict." Much different than a simple dismissal because they forgot to show up in court on trial date!
That's what has had me scratching my head since the day it happened. Doesn't add up.
Based on the above, it does add up. I would suggest the CHP revise, strengthen, and create a more substantial driver's training curriculum for their officers.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
William Frawley was a close friend of Desi Arnaz. However, Frawley was a chronic alcoholic and Arnaz told Frawley if he ever showed up drunk on the set, he would immediately be fired. As a result, Frawley managed to stay sober during filming of the "I Love Lucy" show.
Another piece of trivia....
Vivian Vance and William Frawley hated each other's guts in real life, and that's one reason their antagonism on the show looked so convincing...
And even if it did tangle the accelerator pedal, I would hope both you and your wife would have the competent decent common sense of a qualified driver, and simply shift the car into neutral or turn off the ignition in the alternative, rather than kill yourselves.
About 5 years ago, my brother had an aftermarket floor mat hold the accelerator pedal down on his '02 Nissan Sentra Spec V. Being a manual, he just pushed the clutch in and let the engine bounce off the rev limiter until he pulled over. Kind of like the Toyota situation, he had a thick floor mat over the top of the factory mats.
I guess if he would have lost control of the car and caused a catastrophe, Nissan could have had a similar issue on their hands.
One thing to consider, if your vehicle has a run away situation, your brakes are only good for one application, you'll have to stand on them and not let up. A gas engine at WOT does not produce vacuum so the only vacuum assist available is what's currently in the brake booster.
Here is CU's video on testing braking at WOT with a Toyota Venza v6
I disagree about what the driver says about turning the key off, I don't know of any vehicle that will lock the steering column w/o being in park, but I agree that putting the car in neutral is the best solution.
That is one reason I prefer a console gear shift, it's much easier to use while driving. Most people don't have experience using the gear shift while driving.
I use mine occasionally when towing, and the console shift is easier to use than a column shift. I was always concerned about accidentally shifting to neutral or reverse with my suburban.
I agree that a Hemi Ram wouldn't over power the brakes. But pump them once while the engine is at full throttle and the brakes will basically be useless.
I've tried in my expedition once, first time I applied the brakes it easily slowed down (I didn't do it long), but when I kept my foot floored on the gas and hit the brakes a second time, I basically had no stopping ability at all, just like in the CU video.
Same thing goes for Bette Davis and Joan Crawford in "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane." It definitely contributed to their performances.
Intense flick, but have you ever seen "Hush..Hush, Sweet Charlotte"? Davis and Crawford were supposed to team up for that, but Crawford dropped out halfway through and was replaced by Olivia deHavilland, a friend of Davis. I like the movie better than "Baby Jane" although it seems like it's lesser-known. In fact, I'd call it my favorite movie, from way back.
Some nice '64 Buicks in it, too....two Electra 225 six-window sedans and a Special 4-door sedan.
2024 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT; 2019 Chevrolet Equinox LT; 2015 Chevrolet Cruze LS
You have to read what the author claims happened, and he blames the engine for being too powerful.
Sorry, but he loses me right there. I don't really believe anything else he says given he's trying to get out of the liability of the damage he created.
I'll be shocked when someone actually takes personal responsibility for a change.
You have to read what the author claims happened, and he blames the engine for being too powerful.
He very well could have mixed the pedals up. But people rarely can recall what happened and how they reacted in a panic situation with 100% accuracy.
All I'm saying is, if he applied the brakes at all, then let off, then realized the engine is still racing at WOT, he basically wouldn't have any braking power.
but I agree that putting the car in neutral is the best solution.
It works everytime on an electronic transmission, if the electronics are working and not the cause of the throttle-problem. The shifter does not mechanically disengage an electronic automatic transmission; the shifter merely is a signal-sender, much like pushing a button your keyboard.
On another note I read an article today, that said our vehicles are becoming so high-tech with all the electronics and services like Onstar, that there are concerns that hackers or terrorists could cause some mass mayhem. The concern is that a car could receive some new code thru it's satellite link, such as to disable the brakes, and if you happen to be driving at the time... you might be one of the few thousand cars that crash. I don't doubt someone is trying; since China is a huge sponsor of probing the weaknesses in our infrastructure and defense systems, in case we ever go to war.
Sorry for the drop and run, I had a comment typed but I hit the reply button early and then got pulled away from my desk...
I was going to say that while the witchhunt occured for Toyota, and how even still there are some ahem, "folks" ahem, who want to cry foul that Toyota was cleared (not from covering up the floormat/pedal recall that they knew about, but that the issue was not electronics related), there were plenty of Chrysler related UA cases (like the one I linked to) that were conveniently ignored by the media...
the shifter merely is a signal-sender, much like pushing a button your keyboard.
Even when a computer is frozen and locked-up, and my keyboard can do nothing, holding the power button for 3 to 6 seconds has never ever failed me; not a single time. A key is even faster! Push button starts scare me a tiny bit.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I agree it sounds like pedal misapplication in that Ram story of UA.
He also is full of excuses like :
1) things happen fast 2) I panicked 3) My brain didn't think rationally
Which is another way of saying I reacted too slowly, I was incompetent in an emergency situation, and I should have my qualifications to drive reviewed thoroughly.
If I ever experienced UA, I would immediately go to neutral, instantaneously, no thought required. I would not wait to find out if my brakes can or cannot (they can) overpower full throttle. The start of UA would be so shocking and jarring that I can't imagine not going to neutral immediately in any situation.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Old GM never addressed it. They just threw Dateline under the bus and looked the other way
Well this is what really happened: In a completely scientifically controlled experiment (sarcasm intended) NBC rigged the truck in the demonstration with explosives, resulting in a spectacular fiery crash. Someone ratted NBC out resulting in this from 1993 LA Times:
In its apology, NBC admitted that it had used incendiary devices to ensure that a fire would erupt if gasoline leaked from the truck being hit by a test car. The 15-minute segment was addressing critics' charges that GM's full-size pickup trucks built between 1973 and 1987 are unsafe because their gasoline tanks are on the sides of the trucks, outside the frame.
GM has staunchly denied that the trucks have safety problems.
NBC's public apology, which completely reversed statements the network made Monday defending the program, is yet another in a long series of setbacks to the financially troubled network. It is already reeling from the collapse of its prime-time entertainment lineup and the embarrassing loss of late-night talk show host David Letterman to rival CBS. Once the dominant TV network, NBC's ratings are down sharply from last season, and it has slipped to third place overall among the major networks.
Thought #1 - Leave it to our government to allow people to retire at 45, probably with pension and healthcare. But not a topic for this forum.
Thought #2 - Only speculation, I obviously didn't know anything about Saylor. But I've known people who study and pass tests because they can memorize things, but they don't really understand things well. He might have had training, but in the spur of a moment a brain can freeze up or somebody might not have an inherent understanding of how things work. Obviously no way to know.
As an example, a private pilot I know took off from an airport near here one day, and at 1500' in the climb he noticed that the throttle cable appeared to have broken - he was stuck at full throttle! Within 10 seconds he had evaluated how serious the situation was, decided on a course of action. He declared an emergency with ATC, and flew about 5 miles to a nearby airport with a much longer runway. The tower cleared the pattern, and the pilot manipulated the mixture control to reduce engine power, reducing the power but causing the engine to run very lean, backfire, and run very rough. At about 50' above the runway he killed the engine completely and glided to a perfect landing. He figured he could have killed the engine up higher, but felt that having some power manipulation capability was less risky than a glide from a higher altitude.
Another pilot might not have evaluated and *understood* what to do so quickly. Just an example of what I'm thinking might have occurred with Saylor, RIP.
In nosing around the net, I think Saylor was a 19 year vet of the California Highway Patrol who wound up doing admin work out of a downtown San Diego office, including safety inspections of buses and the like. He was off-duty at the time the Lexus crashed, but not retired afaik.
Here's a plaintiff's research firm that has summarized all the Toyota/Lexus SUA cases (not to mention the five Audi SUA recalls), if you want to delve further into it. (pdf file).
@#%^&*((* Hate that junk) Has anyone had any problems with dealars NOT telling trouth about DEXX COOL Junk? I have a 2002 Buick Yes it has 198,000 mile on it I have taken the thing to ONLY dealers for service First dealer was a mercedies/Buick dealer then a chevy dealer after the high priced dealer charged for an oil change and I found my initials on the oil filter after picking up car. (I do things like this to test for honesty), My buick last June developed a problem with stinking black sludge in the radiator?? Were did this stuff come from you ask. DEXX COOL is known to break down over time and cause all knids of plugged up over heating ruin your engine problems. BUT did the dealer EVER check the cooling system during reutine maintenance HELL NO!!! other wise I would not have had any problem now. I have had the car back many times to have the black tar like junk flushed since June of 2011. $1,400.00 has been paid to the dealer to Fix first time I was heater core leaked which caused the sludge low level in radiator LOL!! the main radiator was replaced, heater core bypassed. Second time plenum PLASTIC piece of junk on top of motor $900.00 third time curtisy flush and refill,fourth time curtisy flush and refill. I still got black junk in cooling system.Fifth time was in September 2011 and again a curtisy fulsh and they stated all is well no more problems detected BUT YOUR HEATER CORE needs replacement $750.00 I told them I would replace it my self much less expencively. SOO Christmass day afternoon I started to remove the heater core Monday afternoon I finally got it out only to discover not a darn thing wrong with it EXCEPT some sludge inside not much because summer time heater was never turned on here in Florida. Please have your dealer or yourself take off radiator cap in the morning before you start engine and make sure the coolant is coolant and not sludge. I have since drained and flushed my systen for two hours I put a flush kit (a "T") connector in heater hose started water flow opened petcock and started engine you should have seen the junk come out of the system I flushed the cooling system like this for 2 hours steady at engine idle until clear water came out I then drained completely and refilled with PLAIN OLD PROVEN PRESTONE GREEN. since then all is ok no more black sludge. Get rid of DEXX COOL. Your car will run a bit hotter but I guess a cooler thermostat could solve that?? I don't know that but just guessing. I'm getting rid of the GM thing and getting a horse Yeh I gotta feed it even when I'm not using it but I make a friend and someone to talk to. Also the animal can kick the crap out of the vet when doing something wrong to it and get away with it I can't do that to a dumb dealer
Even when a computer is frozen and locked-up, and my keyboard can do nothing, holding the power button for 3 to 6 seconds has never ever failed me;
Right. But modern vehicles do not have a similar power button in the passenger compartement. What you think are absolute-cutoffs are NOT. Whether you're talking about the key-in-the-ignition, the AT shifter, or the brake pedal, they are all just "positioners" feeding into electronic sensors. An engine needs 3 things to run - fuel, air, and spark. Can you stop any of those 3 physically from the passenger compartment? is there a valve you can close to stop the fuel? can you disconnect the battery? can you close a valve in the air intake? No. If you're electronics are netwoeked and some central processor locksup, then you may have system freezes.
The people who build your auto systems are elec. engineers and they have a strong bias, like anyone in a career, that their approaches are the best. And they're usually right. The problem is the "usually" word. Remember your vehicles are designed as quickly as possible, using the lowest cost components the manufacturers can find, by fallible humans to put out a competitive vehicle out. And what manufacturer wants to put a button on the dashboard that releases a spring to close a valve in your fuel-line?
In a RWD police cruiser a long time ago before he started working a desk job.
Like I said, the Saylor family has an on-going lawsuit against Bob Baker, the dealer owner.
I'm skeptical of other cases because when I'm driving I notice people applying make-up, reading Kindles, newspapers, BlackBerrys, texting, etc. Pretty convenient to blame the Ram instead of taking responsibility for user errors (there were plenty in that case).
The topic of UA was well-bludgeoned to death over in the Toyota forum. Anything ANYONE would want to know no doubt can be found there.
As for where I live, its not unusual to hear of pedal "misapplication" once a month on the 6 pm news. Around here, it's the occasional Toyota, buy much more often it is either a Buick or a Ford/Lincoln product, and the cars are usually in parking lots. Those cars often end up in 7/11's and such, but shortly before Christmas, one ended up in the waiting room at a doctor's office, seriously injuring 6-7 people.
My kids watch those craziest-stuff-on-wheels shows and they always have a couple of those cars then end up in the middle of a coffee shop.
The only thing running rampant is bad driving. I've never seen a runaway Ram 1500 or any other car for that matter, but I see inattentive drivers every single day.
My kids watch those craziest-stuff-on-wheels shows
Mine do to on occasion. It's amazing how stupid people can be. The guys on motorcycles often take the cake.
Well, the "red neck" who decided it would be fun to leave the drivers seat and ride on top of his Silverado while going down the road was interesting. How did he not think that would end badly;)
I'm willing to bet the human brain causes far more accidents than the computers in a car.
Fox news using the Volt to put down Obama. Treating the Volt like anothe Solyndra. They made a big deal out of the $7500 tax incentive to buy a Volt. Don't recall a big deal made of the Prius tax rebate?? They made a big deal out of 500 million tax money contributed to develop the batteries for the Volt. It went to the battery developers some of whom are Chinese owned. Not a word about the 250 million in tax incentives given to Honda to build a plant to make Civics in Indiana. The promise of 2000 jobs at Honda......we get robots and don't need no stinkin Americans....says Honda now.
Why won't America but a $32500 Volt (after rebate)? Varney says its a slow car...NO it isn't. I read the full road test and it will outrun the 169 HP 4 cyl 6 spd Malibu. They all catch on fire was also used as a reason. I was checking on car prices and find Fusion runs from 20,000 to 29,000. The Volt is $3500 more than a top end Fusion. About 10% difference
General Motors Co. on Sunday will show its first small Cadillac in more than two decades, hoping to woo younger U.S. luxury-car buyers from German brands and carve a bigger role globally for the American icon.
GM stopped selling compact Cadillacs nearly 25 years ago, when the abysmal performance of its Cadillac Cimarron became a symbol of Detroit's declining production standards. Since then, German and Japanese auto makers have roared ahead in the market for small luxury cars
I was checking on car prices and find Fusion runs from 20,000 to 29,000. The Volt is $3500 more than a top end Fusion. About 10% difference
Really, every Volt on my local dealer lots MSRP for $45k. I've yet to find one under $40k.
Plus I'm not sure the $7,500 credit is all it's cracked up to be. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but in order to get the credit you have to have $7,500 or more in federal tax liability and not get caught by the AMT.
What's odd is I did a quick autotrader comparison within 50 miles of my house.
42 volts available with an average MSRP of 44k 8 Fusion Hybrids with an average MSRP of 32.6K. Plus I'm willing to be you'll get a far better deal on the Fusion. Though it looks to me like the Volts are stacking up on dealer lots around me.
I'll guess you can easily get the Fusion for $32k out the door a volt will be 36,500 considering tax credit say. Say you can get enough off to pay the sales tax. $4,500 will buy years worth of gas in the Fusion.
According to fueleconomy.gov a Volt running solely on electricity will only save $600 per year compared to a Fusion Hybrid driving 15k/yr. Start using the gas engine and it will be less.
".....Old GM never addressed it. They just threw Dateline under the bus and looked the other way."
Um, IIRC Dateline threw themselves under the bus when a still photo showed the car hitting the P/U igniting BEFORE impact!!! NBC actually admitted to embelleshment (ie an ignition source) for effect.
I wonder if the Volt sales numbers include all those cars stacked up at the dealers' lots? ("sold" to dealer, but not to the public yet?)
I think the sales volume reports are from actual sales to customers. It's when GM reports earnings that sales to dealers can be counted for accounting purposes.
Comments
Funny, the 65K miles I lived in a Neon seemed like much more miles and time than I've done in an Accord Coupe for the same mileage. It felt like I had driven the Neon for at least twice as long, and I'm sure my average speed in both was about the same (lots of highway miles in the Neon).
I can only say that, I think the Neon gave me a glimpse of what HARD time must be like, the kind of slow time one would experience in solitary confinement with nothing to do. :surprise:
I had a Cavalier rental one of those periods where the Neon was in the shop for one reason or another, so between 1996-2000 most likely.
Granted, the Cavalier rental never failed to start or run or move, so in that way it was superior to the Neon, but when the Neon was running, I far preferred it to the Cavalier. That doesn't say much for GM.
An Aveo By Any Other Name Is, Indeed, Sweet
They prefer the 1.4T powertrain, though.
That may explain why the Hampton and Hilton Inns where we stayed near Smyrna TN had two Bling stations at each motel. It appeared that the desk staff parked in the Bling spaces. I had, perhaps erroneously, thought it was because they were close to the Nissan plant and wanted to Leaf parking spaces for Nissan EVs.
I forgot to add the GM reference: Volts were allowed to park there.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
And even if it did tangle the accelerator pedal, I would hope both you and your wife would have the competent decent common sense of a qualified driver, and simply shift the car into neutral or turn off the ignition in the alternative, rather than kill yourselves.
Some driver's tests require you to RETAKE the test if you fail before getting your license. Some driver's tests, unfortunately, cannot be retaken, and you lose your life for failing. Unfortunately, that is what happened to the Saylors.
Then again, a quick Google search for "Hilton LEED" got a ton of hits.
In my building, you can even get free electricity for your Volt.
I suppose someone working at the hotels as desk people might use it for their trip from home to work. I doubt that the housekeeping staff will make enough to have a newer vehicle such as a leaf.
Other motels on the service drive did NOT have the Blink terminals that I could see. There were 3 or 4 others besides the Hilton twins.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
http://gm-volt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ChevroletVoltPartsInstallation084-- 710x1024.jpg
http://gm-volt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ChevroletVoltPartsInstallation115-- 724x1024.jpg
Full video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCkYr_Mg2Ew&feature=player_embedded
Nice to see GM provide a solid fix. :shades:
I've looked at some old pics online, and the fuel filler for the Suburban is in the right rear quarter panel. Here's a 1975 ad that shows it.
Shame they didn't put the gas tank back there on the pickups as well, but then I guess they'd have to find someplace else to put the spare tire.
Resist the urge to crack geezer jokes, y'all.
Yes.
One would think he would have been schooled in emergency maneuvers, unlike Joe Average.
One might think that but they'd be wrong to think that makes them a better driver. Based on my run-ins with the CHP living in CA for 33 years, I'd give them an F- for performance. They are largely incompetent, lazy, and boneheaded. The fact that they would perform worse than the Average Joe in certain situations doesn't surprise me one iota.
P.S. I am not biased against the CHP, just reporting facts. Afterall, the courts have ruled in my favor in the past, and turned down one of their allegations with a "not guilty verdict." Much different than a simple dismissal because they forgot to show up in court on trial date!
That's what has had me scratching my head since the day it happened. Doesn't add up.
Based on the above, it does add up. I would suggest the CHP revise, strengthen, and create a more substantial driver's training curriculum for their officers.
Another piece of trivia....
Vivian Vance and William Frawley hated each other's guts in real life, and that's one reason their antagonism on the show looked so convincing...
About 5 years ago, my brother had an aftermarket floor mat hold the accelerator pedal down on his '02 Nissan Sentra Spec V. Being a manual, he just pushed the clutch in and let the engine bounce off the rev limiter until he pulled over. Kind of like the Toyota situation, he had a thick floor mat over the top of the factory mats.
I guess if he would have lost control of the car and caused a catastrophe, Nissan could have had a similar issue on their hands.
One thing to consider, if your vehicle has a run away situation, your brakes are only good for one application, you'll have to stand on them and not let up. A gas engine at WOT does not produce vacuum so the only vacuum assist available is what's currently in the brake booster.
Here is CU's video on testing braking at WOT with a Toyota Venza v6
http://youtu.be/KoIIT0WJS4s
I disagree about what the driver says about turning the key off, I don't know of any vehicle that will lock the steering column w/o being in park, but I agree that putting the car in neutral is the best solution.
That is one reason I prefer a console gear shift, it's much easier to use while driving. Most people don't have experience using the gear shift while driving.
I use mine occasionally when towing, and the console shift is easier to use than a column shift. I was always concerned about accidentally shifting to neutral or reverse with my suburban.
I'm skeptical and that statement makes me even more so.
A Hemi charger can hit 100 in about ~12 seconds yet it can stop from 100 in about ~4.
The brakes are much, MUCH more powerful than the engine, no contest.
The supports a simple conclusion - pedal misapplication.
I've tried in my expedition once, first time I applied the brakes it easily slowed down (I didn't do it long), but when I kept my foot floored on the gas and hit the brakes a second time, I basically had no stopping ability at all, just like in the CU video.
Intense flick, but have you ever seen "Hush..Hush, Sweet Charlotte"? Davis and Crawford were supposed to team up for that, but Crawford dropped out halfway through and was replaced by Olivia deHavilland, a friend of Davis. I like the movie better than "Baby Jane" although it seems like it's lesser-known. In fact, I'd call it my favorite movie, from way back.
Some nice '64 Buicks in it, too....two Electra 225 six-window sedans and a Special 4-door sedan.
Sorry, but he loses me right there. I don't really believe anything else he says given he's trying to get out of the liability of the damage he created.
I'll be shocked when someone actually takes personal responsibility for a change.
He very well could have mixed the pedals up. But people rarely can recall what happened and how they reacted in a panic situation with 100% accuracy.
All I'm saying is, if he applied the brakes at all, then let off, then realized the engine is still racing at WOT, he basically wouldn't have any braking power.
It works everytime on an electronic transmission, if the electronics are working and not the cause of the throttle-problem.
On another note I read an article today, that said our vehicles are becoming so high-tech with all the electronics and services like Onstar, that there are concerns that hackers or terrorists could cause some mass mayhem. The concern is that a car could receive some new code thru it's satellite link, such as to disable the brakes, and if you happen to be driving at the time... you might be one of the few thousand cars that crash. I don't doubt someone is trying; since China is a huge sponsor of probing the weaknesses in our infrastructure and defense systems, in case we ever go to war.
Any Mopar guys know?
I was going to say that while the witchhunt occured for Toyota, and how even still there are some ahem, "folks" ahem, who want to cry foul that Toyota was cleared (not from covering up the floormat/pedal recall that they knew about, but that the issue was not electronics related), there were plenty of Chrysler related UA cases (like the one I linked to) that were conveniently ignored by the media...
Even when a computer is frozen and locked-up, and my keyboard can do nothing, holding the power button for 3 to 6 seconds has never ever failed me; not a single time. A key is even faster! Push button starts scare me a tiny bit.
He also is full of excuses like :
1) things happen fast
2) I panicked
3) My brain didn't think rationally
Which is another way of saying I reacted too slowly, I was incompetent in an emergency situation, and I should have my qualifications to drive reviewed thoroughly.
If I ever experienced UA, I would immediately go to neutral, instantaneously, no thought required. I would not wait to find out if my brakes can or cannot (they can) overpower full throttle. The start of UA would be so shocking and jarring that I can't imagine not going to neutral immediately in any situation.
Well this is what really happened: In a completely scientifically controlled experiment (sarcasm intended) NBC rigged the truck in the demonstration with explosives, resulting in a spectacular fiery crash. Someone ratted NBC out resulting in this from 1993 LA Times:
In its apology, NBC admitted that it had used incendiary devices to ensure that a fire would erupt if gasoline leaked from the truck being hit by a test car. The 15-minute segment was addressing critics' charges that GM's full-size pickup trucks built between 1973 and 1987 are unsafe because their gasoline tanks are on the sides of the trucks, outside the frame.
GM has staunchly denied that the trucks have safety problems.
NBC's public apology, which completely reversed statements the network made Monday defending the program, is yet another in a long series of setbacks to the financially troubled network. It is already reeling from the collapse of its prime-time entertainment lineup and the embarrassing loss of late-night talk show host David Letterman to rival CBS. Once the dominant TV network, NBC's ratings are down sharply from last season, and it has slipped to third place overall among the major networks.
THEY looked good. How did YOU look after all that? :P
Sorry, couldn't resist.
That's too bad.
Thought #1 - Leave it to our government to allow people to retire at 45, probably with pension and healthcare. But not a topic for this forum.
Thought #2 - Only speculation, I obviously didn't know anything about Saylor. But I've known people who study and pass tests because they can memorize things, but they don't really understand things well. He might have had training, but in the spur of a moment a brain can freeze up or somebody might not have an inherent understanding of how things work. Obviously no way to know.
As an example, a private pilot I know took off from an airport near here one day, and at 1500' in the climb he noticed that the throttle cable appeared to have broken - he was stuck at full throttle! Within 10 seconds he had evaluated how serious the situation was, decided on a course of action. He declared an emergency with ATC, and flew about 5 miles to a nearby airport with a much longer runway. The tower cleared the pattern, and the pilot manipulated the mixture control to reduce engine power, reducing the power but causing the engine to run very lean, backfire, and run very rough. At about 50' above the runway he killed the engine completely and glided to a perfect landing. He figured he could have killed the engine up higher, but felt that having some power manipulation capability was less risky than a glide from a higher altitude.
Another pilot might not have evaluated and *understood* what to do so quickly. Just an example of what I'm thinking might have occurred with Saylor, RIP.
Here's a plaintiff's research firm that has summarized all the Toyota/Lexus SUA cases (not to mention the five Audi SUA recalls), if you want to delve further into it. (pdf file).
Most of the counter arguments can be found in our Unintended Acceleration - Find the Cause discussion.
Right. But modern vehicles do not have a similar power button in the passenger compartement. What you think are absolute-cutoffs are NOT. Whether you're talking about the key-in-the-ignition, the AT shifter, or the brake pedal, they are all just "positioners" feeding into electronic sensors. An engine needs 3 things to run - fuel, air, and spark. Can you stop any of those 3 physically from the passenger compartment? is there a valve you can close to stop the fuel? can you disconnect the battery? can you close a valve in the air intake? No. If you're electronics are netwoeked and some central processor locksup, then you may have system freezes.
The people who build your auto systems are elec. engineers and they have a strong bias, like anyone in a career, that their approaches are the best. And they're usually right. The problem is the "usually" word. Remember your vehicles are designed as quickly as possible, using the lowest cost components the manufacturers can find, by fallible humans to put out a competitive vehicle out. And what manufacturer wants to put a button on the dashboard that releases a spring to close a valve in your fuel-line?
In a RWD police cruiser a long time ago before he started working a desk job.
Like I said, the Saylor family has an on-going lawsuit against Bob Baker, the dealer owner.
I'm skeptical of other cases because when I'm driving I notice people applying make-up, reading Kindles, newspapers, BlackBerrys, texting, etc. Pretty convenient to blame the Ram instead of taking responsibility for user errors (there were plenty in that case).
THEY looked good. How did YOU look after all that?
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Better than if I'd have spent more and sent that money someplace else.
As for where I live, its not unusual to hear of pedal "misapplication" once a month on the 6 pm news. Around here, it's the occasional Toyota, buy much more often it is either a Buick or a Ford/Lincoln product, and the cars are usually in parking lots. Those cars often end up in 7/11's and such, but shortly before Christmas, one ended up in the waiting room at a doctor's office, seriously injuring 6-7 people.
The only thing running rampant is bad driving. I've never seen a runaway Ram 1500 or any other car for that matter, but I see inattentive drivers every single day.
Mine do to on occasion. It's amazing how stupid people can be. The guys on motorcycles often take the cake.
Well, the "red neck" who decided it would be fun to leave the drivers seat and ride on top of his Silverado while going down the road was interesting. How did he not think that would end badly;)
I'm willing to bet the human brain causes far more accidents than the computers in a car.
They made a big deal out of the $7500 tax incentive to buy a Volt. Don't recall a big deal made of the Prius tax rebate??
They made a big deal out of 500 million tax money contributed to develop the batteries for the Volt. It went to the battery developers some of whom are Chinese owned. Not a word about the 250 million in tax incentives given to Honda to build a plant to make Civics in Indiana. The promise of 2000 jobs at Honda......we get robots and don't need no stinkin Americans....says Honda now.
Why won't America but a $32500 Volt (after rebate)? Varney says its a slow car...NO it isn't. I read the full road test and it will outrun the 169 HP 4 cyl 6 spd Malibu. They all catch on fire was also used as a reason.
I was checking on car prices and find Fusion runs from 20,000 to 29,000. The Volt is $3500 more than a top end Fusion. About 10% difference
Now we know why China will start producing it...Wasn't the Volt, "Car of the Year", according to Motor Trend mag?????
Yes, Washington throws money at anything to satisfy the "Eco-Whacks" and we pick up the tab...Just print more money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
General Motors Co. on Sunday will show its first small Cadillac in more than two decades, hoping to woo younger U.S. luxury-car buyers from German brands and carve a bigger role globally for the American icon.
GM stopped selling compact Cadillacs nearly 25 years ago, when the abysmal performance of its Cadillac Cimarron became a symbol of Detroit's declining production standards. Since then, German and Japanese auto makers have roared ahead in the market for small luxury cars
Regards,
OW
Really, every Volt on my local dealer lots MSRP for $45k. I've yet to find one under $40k.
Plus I'm not sure the $7,500 credit is all it's cracked up to be. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but in order to get the credit you have to have $7,500 or more in federal tax liability and not get caught by the AMT.
What's odd is I did a quick autotrader comparison within 50 miles of my house.
42 volts available with an average MSRP of 44k
8 Fusion Hybrids with an average MSRP of 32.6K. Plus I'm willing to be you'll get a far better deal on the Fusion. Though it looks to me like the Volts are stacking up on dealer lots around me.
I'll guess you can easily get the Fusion for $32k out the door a volt will be 36,500 considering tax credit say. Say you can get enough off to pay the sales tax. $4,500 will buy years worth of gas in the Fusion.
According to fueleconomy.gov a Volt running solely on electricity will only save $600 per year compared to a Fusion Hybrid driving 15k/yr. Start using the gas engine and it will be less.
Meanwhile we still subsidize the oil companies. Goose for the gander?
Slide show: Top-selling General Motors vehicles in 2011 (bizjournals.com)
Silverado is number 1, followed by the Cruze and Malibu.
Um, IIRC Dateline threw themselves under the bus when a still photo showed the car hitting the P/U igniting BEFORE impact!!! NBC actually admitted to embelleshment (ie an ignition source) for effect.
Like to the southern U.S. ? :P
Yeah, I agree that is ridiculous and while I do consider myself a conservative, I pretty much refuse to watch Fox or Faux news.
I wonder if the Volt sales numbers include all those cars stacked up at the dealers' lots? ("sold" to dealer, but not to the public yet?)
I think the sales volume reports are from actual sales to customers. It's when GM reports earnings that sales to dealers can be counted for accounting purposes.