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Originally Posted by Bert
I don't have the exact numbers handy, but statistically Toyotas are still much safer than the average . . . even if you attribute every single fatality in a toyota to a vehicle fault, obviously a very conservative assumption, they are still well below the average.
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I don't question Toyota's safety record, but this is simply not true. If you hold Toyota at fault for every fatality in one of their cars and don't do the same for every other OEM, Toyotas would be the worst cars on the road. That's because driver error is at fault in greater than 50% of all traffic fatalities. The math doesn't work and this is pure speculation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bert
Again I did not see the interview . . . but I do not understand how somebody can have their car going over 100 mph for 6 minutes and not think to step on the brakes? or put it in neutral? or turn off the ignition? and again I don't have the details handy, but I've seen an article that said the brakes will always overcome the engine;
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Again, not true on all cars. Many cars have undersized brakes that the torque of the engine at WOT easily overcomes. This, combined with momentum of the vehicle, can make the brakes useless. Putting a car in neutral is the 1st and best course of action, but a panicked driver might not think of that. A trained CA Highway Patrol driver in CA didn't think to do this in the 1st Lexus crash last year. What makes you think a less skilled driver would always know to do that? Turning off the ignition is not the worst thing you can do, but the driver will lose power brakes and power steering, which can make the bad situation worse.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bert
Maybe they did intentionally conceal it, but that isn't anything that every other major car manufacturer hasn't also done.
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I would hope before you post a statement like that you can back it up with facts. EVERY car manufacturer couldn't possibly have done this or more would have been taken to the woodshed and we would know about it. No company can conceal their actions forever and the truth always comes out.
I didn't think Ford's Firestone tire debacle was intentional and I don't think Toyota intentionally covered anything up either. What's their long term payoff for doing so? Companies that want to be around for a long time simply don't do this kind of thing on purpose. However, that's where the similarities end.
I'm not a Ford fan, but I recognize and commend Ford for getting out in front of the Firestone tire situation on their Explorers and doing everything they could in a transparent way once the problem was identified. Sucked for them and it hurt their business for awhile, but they got past it and look where they are today. In contrast, I DO feel Toyota acted irresponsibly in their investigation of the problems reported by customers, NHTSA, State Farm and others. They were in denial and weren't transparent with the American public and that's what this is all about. I agree with you that cultural differences had a lot to do with this. In Japan, transparency is not viewed in the same light as it is in the US.
This isn't a conspiracy for profit...it's just corporate negligence. They got fat, dumb and happy and are now paying the price. No, I don't think this is overblown and I think the families of those who lost their lives would agree. This is very serious business and we owe it to the departed to find out how this happened and make sure it doesn't happen again. Unfortunately, when everyone is screaming conspiracy, a public and very transparent inquiry is the only way to get this done. Yes, some in Congress will use this for political gain. That's the one thing that makes me sick about America, but our system isn't perfect and is better than any other I know of. Human nature will never be totally removed from the equation.
I don't wish Toyota any ill will. I wouldn't wish what they are going through right now on any company. I think, in their minds, they truly thought there weren't any problems. Bottom line...they drank too much of their own Kool-Aid and now their reputation will be tarnished for a long time.