BINGO!

It flunked my smell test when I heard about the 911 call and that he was a CHP trooper. Me? I think he got pulled over, then identified himself as LE, then got the CHP to help with the ruse. I'd like to compare the time of the 911 call to any time-stamped video data in the cruiser. Might be interesting. (Honor among thieves and all that!;))

(Edit: Not all LE types are the sharpest tools in the shed, if you know what I mean. )

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1268511810

So how do you shift into N? The shifter always goes back to the dot when you release it. To shift into N you have to hold the shifter in the neutral position for a few seconds. Just like the keyless ignition... you have to hold the button for a couple seconds. A few seconds is a lonnnng time when your blood is pumping and the car is "running away".

Electronics have their place, and they do a great job. But I don't see why manf's feel the need to go changing the user interface around. FWIW Mercedes isn't above this nonsense either:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1268512284

-Jason

That was another incident and the CHP trooper died. Here is that 911 call complete with death screams...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MyxGUUtE8A&feature=player_embedded

Told ya so!:D

What really gets me about the whole deal is the way some people are all but accusing Toyota of first degree murder for the 52 deaths reportedly attributed to this unintended acceleration phenomenon, accusing them of knowingly putting unsafe cars on the road.

Last I heard, there are 50,000 deaths in this country each year from highway accidents because, for the most part, these people never learned how to drive in a safe manner.

Where's all the outrage over THOSE deaths? Where are the crowds demanding that licensing requirements be tightened such that people actually know how to drive in a safe manner BEFORE getting their damned license for the first time?

Not that I'm defending Toyota, but I'll bet at least some of these newly self-appointed safety nazis that want to crucify Toyota over this, spend most of their time behind the wheel with a cell phone glued to their ear.

Congress (and other branches of govt. to a lesser degree) are presently the de facto Board of Directors of GM. Toyota is global competitor (read enemy) number 1. So, lets knock em down at every chance. Don't be surprised to see FoMoCo in the crosshairs in the next few years.

What's good for GM is (still) good for America! :rolleyes:;)

Hmmmmm....
 

James Sikes, the San Diego runaway Toyota Prius driver, filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and now has over $700,000 in debt. According to one anonymous tipster, we're also told he hasn't been making payments on his Prius. UPDATE!

We received an email earlier today from an anonymous tipster who claims James (Jim) Sikes, the driver of the runaway Toyota Prius, was in financial trouble and even behind by five months on his payments for the Prius. If that's true, it's potential motivation for wanting to find an out — any out — on paying for the vehicle.

We did some public records searches (thanks to the help of Gawker's John Cook) and found Sikes and his wife Patty found themselves, like many in the California real estate business, on the bursting side of the real estate bubble last year. The two declared bankruptcy in June of 2008 and have a combined liability of over $700,000 dollars in debt.

Among the list of creditors holding secured claims is none other than Toyota Financial Services for a lease on a 2008 Toyota Prius with 7,200 miles on the odometer. Total value of the lease at the time of bankruptcy was $20,494.

So, with almost three-quarter million dollars in debt there's obviously the potential for financial motivation here. But, for his part, when we questioned Mr. Sikes over email earlier today, he denied being behind on his Prius payments.


Mr. Sikes also has not shied away from cameras appearing on CNN and numerous other television programs. In each, he's stated numerous times he's not going to sue and isn't looking for any financial remuneration from Toyota other than a new vehicle.

We've asked the law firm representing him to furnish us with an up-to-date copy of his Toyota statement and we'll post that as soon as we receive it — to either debunk this myth or add fuel to any fire.

We'd also like to point out Toyota itself sent out a tweet yesterday showing how a Prius of that generation can easily be stopped if it's accelerating out of control. But, for the moment, we'll ask you to again listen to the full 911 tape and tell us what you think — does that sound like a man faking or genuinely afraid for his life?

But regardless of what happens with the Sikes case, the bigger issue for Toyota will be every cash-strapped 'yota-owner looking for an easy out on their loans and leases potentially thinking about doing just this with their car. That's a lot of potential carnage to wade through.

UPDATE: We're now hearing rumors that Sikes has a history of items in his possession being stolen and him filing for insurance claims. We found at least one case of this in his bankruptcy documents, which we've included below. We're told we should know more about a second incident shortly.

But there's also another, more salacious tidbit we've found which may or may not be irrelevant — we're still trying to fit this piece into the puzzle. With a tip from a commenter at TTAC, we discovered Sikes owned and operated a web site called AdultSwingLife.com. Interesting. There's also a report from KTLX with a neighbor stating he may have been involved in the porn industry. Someone alleging to be a former business partner also claims Sikes stole from their company and acted fraudulently.



Send an email to Matt Hardigree, the author of this post, at matt@jalopnik.com.

It is irrelevant mostly. Nothing wrong with being involved in the porn and/or swinging industry as long as it is by consenting adults?

Why didn't that so and so take him to court? Kinda sounds like a divorce. Your soon to be ex will say you are a scumbag and you will say she is a *****. IF you felt I cheated you, lets go to court and get a judgment. Till then, it is just words.

Latest one is some woman in NY state supposedly had this happen in her Prius coming down her driveway, claimed that the brakes were ineffectual, shot straight across the road and plowed into a 2 ft high stone fence.

They had the local chief of police on camera, not requesting but DEMANDING that Toyota send reps to help them investigate the accident, and that Toyota publicly disclose ALL info in the "black box" from the car. He was all high and mighty about it, saying "We take the safety of our citizens seriously, and we're going to hold Toyota accountable".

Translation - "I'm up for reelection, and this is an easy way to get free PR and votes".

Even good old Chuck Schumer showed up and added his anti-Toyota public safety rant. Guess he smelled free PR and easy votes as well.

Considering this was on "Geraldo at Large", the premiere ambulance chaser himself, I'm not surprised at the slant they were giving it.

From looking at the video of the woman's driveway, what was done to that stone fence, and the distances involved, I'd wager that instead of hitting the brakes she had the pedal to the metal. Interestingly, the driver wasn't interviewed for the segment.

Toyota Receives More Bad Publicity
 

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Consumer Reports has issued a safety warning on Toyota's 2010 Lexus GX 460 SUV because of an increased rollover risk during a turn.

The magazine says it uncovered the problem during routine tests, and is urging car shoppers not to buy the GX 460 until this problem has been remedied.

The special designation given to the GX 460 by Consumer Reports -- "Don't Buy: Safety Risk" -- is rarely given by the magazine. The last time it was used was in 2001, on the Mitsubishi Montero Limited.

"We're concerned with the results," said Toyota in a statement, adding that the company will try to duplicated Consumer Reports' test "to determine if appropriate steps need to taken."

About 5,000 GX 460s have been sold in the roughly three months the model has been on sale, the magazine said. It advises current owners of this vehicle to approach exit ramps with caution, and to call Toyota demanding a fix for the problem.

Toyota said the GX 460 "meets or exceeds all federal government testing requirements."

The SUV's electronic stability control program failed to keep the vehicle in line during a severe handling maneuver, allowing it to slide almost completely sideways, said Douglas Love, Consumer Reports spokesman. That situation could lead to a rollover, Love said.

Electronic stability control (ESC) is a computerized system that controls the brakes and accelerator to help maintain vehicle control in abrupt maneuvers.

The problem with the Lexus' ESC system became apparent during tests designed to detect a specific emergency handling problem -- one in which a vehicle's back end slides outward when the driver lifts his foot from the gas pedal during a turn. The GX's ESC system did not become active until the SUV had already skidded dangerously, Love said.

The test mimics a driver's typical response to encountering an obstacle in the midst of a turn or to finding a turn to be unexpectedly tight.

"CR believes that, in real-world driving, that situation could lead to a rollover accident which could cause serious injury or death," the magazine said in a statement.

However, Consumer Reports also said in its statement that is not aware of any reports of injuries or deaths caused by the problem.

The problem was not an isolated occurrence, Love said, but occurred during tests conducted by four different Consumer Reports test drivers. To confirm the results, Consumer Reports tested a second GX 460 and found the same problem.

The GX 460 was completely redesigned and re-engineered for the 2010 model year. The problem did not occur on Lexus GX models from prior model years.

The problem was also absent during tests of the closely related 2010 Toyota 4Runner SUV, Love said. The 4Runner was also redesigned for the 2010 model year.

Electronic stability control systems have proven extremely effective in reducing dangerous single vehicle crashes. According to separate analyses by the privately funded Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Department of Transportation, ESC systems have been shown to reduce the risk of fatal crashes by as much as a third. The systems will be required on all cars by 2012.

Lexus is Toyota's luxury division and the company has been facing a public relations crisis surrounding allegations of unintended acceleration in many of its most popular vehicles. In the past year, the automaker has recalled 8 million vehicles worldwide for safety issues.

Is it just me, or does it seem as if all the sharks are circling now that they smell blood (ie, Consumer Reports as well).

Just seems odd that in the year since the feds became part owners of two OEM's, that seemingly overnight their major competitor has went to supposedly building nothing but junk.:rolleyes:

FWIW, Consumer Reports hasn't had any credibility in my eyes for years. Last time I took notice of them was when they claimed my 05 Jeep Liberty diesel only averaged 11 mpg in their testing - when I routinely get mid 20's in town and over 30 mpg highway. I sent them an e-mail and asked those idiots if they had thought to hook up the fuel RETURN line to their test container as well, or had just dumped half their fuel back into the vehicle's fuel tank? Only response I got was that they stood by their test results.;)

"Just seems odd that in the year since the feds became part owners of two OEM's, that seemingly overnight their major competitor has went to supposedly building nothing but junk."

it seems odd to me too. but what's more odd is that no test has ever PROVEN, beyond a reasonable doubt, using anything resembling any scientific method, that toyota's products are at fault and causing an accelerator stick. not one shred of evidence anywhere

Are you suggesting that our govt would go out and squash their competition now that the referee in the game is also a player? ;) Heresy, I say.