My "assumption" would be that most people think in a "stuck throttle" situation the brakes get applied but aren't enough to stop the car. Therefore, to make it look more realistic, you have to try to burn out the brakes the best you can.

Because most people view this as an "unintended acceleration" issue, not a brake issue.

But every time he tried to stand on the gas and the brakes at the same time, the damn car cut power and started slowing down. So, he had to resort to short bursts of full throttle, then brakes, full throttle, then brakes.

He also had to ignore the multiple instructions to do the common sense things like put it in neutral, or, ummm, TURN THE CAR OFF. ("I thought the car would flip over if I turned it off," LOL, that's the story and I'm sticking with it!)

When he couldn't ignore the officer any more, and had a long enough "run" to make his claim, and finally put on the parking brake, he could no longer keep up the 90 mph, the car slowed and he knew the gig was up, so he stopped. He did get some benefit from that, though, in the officer could smell the overheating parking brake.

Classic M3 "money shift" due the twist of the drivetrain under load; you think you're getting 3rd but you really get 1st.

It sounds like you can left foot brake to keep from back rolling on a hill or preload the transmission according to this:

'This morning, NHTSA issued the following statement: “Further, the Prius is equipped with a system that detects simultaneous brake and accelerator pedal applications. When the brake applications are moderate or greater, the system will close the throttle allowing the vehicle to slow down and stop,” said NHTSA officials. “The system on Mr. Sikes’ Prius worked during our engineers’ test drive.”'

Jim Sikes: Reconstructing His Wild Prius Ride and Deconstructing The Myths | The Truth About Cars

Interesting. The guy who wrote that went out and rented a Prius to test how the gas pedal/brake system works (what happens when you press both). What he found is different that most were saying here (that pressing on the brake instantly cuts power):

so I rented a 2008 Prius to determine what could or couldn’t have happened, and examine some of the other claims and counterclaims. You be the jury.


This morning, NHTSA issued the following statement: “Further, the Prius is equipped with a system that detects simultaneous brake and accelerator pedal applications. When the brake applications are moderate or greater, the system will close the throttle allowing the vehicle to slow down and stop,” said NHTSA officials. “The system on Mr. Sikes’ Prius worked during our engineers’ test drive.”

The key here is the degree of brake pressure, and what variance there may be from car to car, or if that system is prone to malfunction. I tested the system (on his rental prius) initially by applying very strong pressure, and the system worked, cutting power from the engine. But there is a wide range of pedal pressure less than a full-on application that did not cut the power.

I drove along for quite a few miles, with wide open throttle (WOT), and kept the Prius’ speed reduced by continuous left foot braking to various degrees. Depending on terrain and brake pressure, vehicle speed was restrained to as little as 45 mph and as high as 90 mph.

When I noticed increasing fade, I pulled over and the front wheels were engulfed in a cloud of smoke. I had also begun to smell the brakes through the ventilation system. I did not drive long enough to induce significant brake wear, but I have little doubt in my mind that they could be fully worn down driving in this fashion for an extended period, such as Sikes’ thirty-some miles at speeds between 80 and 94 mph.

Possibly he's being smeared by his own volition? This case has gotten remarkable press, if everyone is so sure he's a crackpot trying to scam Toyota, how big of a stretch is it to consider that the real beneficiary of this story is in fact Toyota? What if he is intentionally portraying himself as a scammer, and providing the evidence his car did not malfunction in a very public manner at the behest of Toyota?

Certainly Americans have shown the capability of playing lawsuit lottery, but from what I've read, this scenario is exactly what Toyota has claimed was going on from the beginning in Japan. Possibly it is, and this is merely evidence that bolsters their position, but this is a very public story that throws suspicion on the claims about questionable Toyota quality. If the scenario's honesty is being called into question, this is an angle to consider.

Before this all became front page news, there were a small number of complaints about toyota and sudden acceleration.
Since it became news, the number of complaints has skyrocketted. By over 1000 in one week.

Why?
Could it be that there are a whole bunch of low-lifes out there willing to lie their butts off just so they can get a shot at some free money? Is it possible people can be that scummy and despicable? Are there that many twisted individuals that enjoy seeing the name of a good car company dragged through the mud?
Yes, yes, and yes.

No sammy, that's wrong.

The complaints date back 7 years and are in the thousands.

So sowwy.

That is the key info, which I was asking fin about. (of course he was just driving his rental like a normal car...didn't mess with weird scenarios) Some YouTube videos made it appear that the throttle would cut immediately on touching the brakes. ...which would make it difficult for the Sandy Eggo (San Diego)guy to fake it.

Sounds like BG had it right.

sammy, I agree that there is no denying the liklehood of the driver's greed driving the issue. What I am saying is that I have personally paid little attention to the whole issue, (I own and drive a Tundra with which I am quite happy) but this one episode has received more coverage, that I am aware of, than any other. From what I understand the driver hasn't even sued Toyota, but there's been media communication through his lawyer. It seems to me that he is making claims in a manner that gets significant media exposure, but I bet it never crosses the line into what could be considered fraud. This story plays right into Toyota's hands, and I'm skeptical. That's all I'm saying. The individual's greed wouldn't surprize me at all, but for a media savvy company like Toyota to perpetrate the whole scenario certainly isn't unthinkable.

Wow, an interesting premise Taz.

Yup. And they're using the same PR firm that Bush/Cheney used to perpetrate 9/11.

Time to cancel that Star subscription.

Dottore, either the story is true, or it is concocted. Those are the 2 choices. It is easy to believe as more and more information comes out that the story is concocted, right now I certainly believe it is. Do you? Or do you find that too cynical a position to take, too much of a conspiracy?

If the story is made up, who did it and why? Some guy, because he stands to make some serious cash? I could easily believe that, it's been the motivation for plenty of litigation (and not a few careers in law I might add). But I don't see the driver standing to gain as much from a bogus lawsuit as Toyota does from this well-publicized scenario. Sniper claims there are thousands of unintended acceleration reports against Toyota, I've heard of 2. The police officer who died, and this one, and the amount of coverage (that I am aware of) this report has gotten exceeds that of the dead police officer.

The only media reports I regularly listen to come from NPR, and I do not subscribe to print publications. Maybe I don't have enough faith in the integrity of large corporations?

I think the story is made up, and I think the driver made it up. That's the simplest explanation.

Occam's Razor. If you hear hoofbeats think "horses" not "zebras"—unless of course you are in the Serengeti.

Also Japanese companies are very hierarchical. Any serious decisions get passed up and up, and are made at the top. I absolutely cannot believe that this entire incident was orchestrated by Toyota from the top. The potential gain is too small and the potential for it blowing up in their face is enormous. And the Japs are highly conservative in these things. If you've ever been close to a serious Japanese company. this just makes no sense. None.

Dottore, I have never been close to a Japanese company. I've been a customer of Toyota, and believe they produce better than average vehicles. I also believe that they've built their reputation on excellent quality, and are now dealing with significant quality control issues. I believe the story referenced in this thread is made up, but I also believe that there have been instances of vehicle induced unintended acceleration (Occam's Razor and all that). You are not skeptical at all about the publicity that this claim has gotten from the very beginning, the whole way through. It is just one of many (thousands according to Sniper), but here in rural Pennsylvania, I know more about this claim than any other. And this claim makes Toyota look wronged and innocent.

I completely admit that I came to the conclusion that Toyota could have orchestrated the entire event on my own with very little actual knowledge of the driver, or Toyota, or any of the events not linked on this site or reported by NPR. This is nothing more than speculation.

But at this point we both agree that the story was made up for selfish gain by the entity which made it up. We both agree that it could well have been the driver. The only place where we disagree is that since Toyota has an interest in proving him wrong, and had access to all the pertinent data, and the claim has received remarkable media attention, I can see some motivation for Toyota to create a scenario like this, where you refuse to consider the possibility. Your faith in Toyota's integrity and bureaucracy may be well founded, certainly our shared cynicism of the US public's motives is.

I've posted many links citing 34 deaths and thousands of incidents. All you have to do is google "Toyota sudden acceleration deaths"

In support of your theory , I just want to ask and add

how many "runnaway toyotas" are reported outside the USA?

At least several dozen. That was linked here too.

Most non US cars are 5 speeds, much easier to prevent serious catastrophe than in an Auto that wont always shift out of gear, depending on HAL's mood.

"Hal, put the car in neutral please."
http://storagezilla.typepad.com/.a/6...c59d970b-500pi


"I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid that's just not possible."
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hal-9000-eye.jpg

"Would you like to play a game of chess? I am an excellent player."

Dottore, you've made me confront my inner crackpot. I cannot figure out what the driver had to gain by making up that story, and surrenduring the evidence that proves him a liar. There are no damages to sue for. Why do it so publicly?

I see nothing that can benefit the driver from that story. Maybe the driver being insane is more likely than Toyota planting the story, but I cannot see any motivation for the driver's story other than the desire to become a public disgrace.

On the other hand, if doubt could be cast on the validity of the unintended acceleration claims, it would be worth sending a Toyota rep. to examine the car right away, and getting extensive media coverage of the whole scenario. Of course the driver doesn't have much to gain by surrendering the telemetry data, but naturally he cooperates. What does Occam's Razor say about that? Anyhow, if I keep thinking about this I'm going to need more tinfoil, I wonder what I've been missing in the Star...

This fellow has done a lot of things in his life that you wouldn't understand, or don't make logical sense to you, because you're not a scheming scamster.

Like you view the situation as "no damages." Because you are a fundamentally honest person, you don't "see" them. However, "extreme emotional distress" caused by a "grossly defective product" = $$$ to the minds of many. Like "soft tissue" injury, "emotional distress" is at the forefront of most scamster's minds.

Look at just about any frivolous lawsuit ever filed (esp. ones filed in pro per, i.e. without an atty), "emotional distress, $1,000,000 or more" is ALWAYS an allegation. I think it comes from watching too much TV or movies.

As far as doing it so publicly, that is viewed by many as a way to get leverage on a company. The company is going to want a "quick and quiet cash settlement" to make the publicity go away, right? Plus, maybe you'll become "famous" or be able to sell the rights to the story.