From: Hachiroku ハチロク on
On Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:48:17 -0800, Neo wrote:

>> Huh? Putting the car in neutral had no effect? Someone provide with with
>> a clue on this one.
>>
>> BTW< the car was a Lexus.
>
> driver = Mrs. Rhonda Smith of Servierville, Tenn Car = 2007 Lexus ES350
> Event date = October 2006
> Event location = I-40, Tennessee
> Event Car Mileage: 3000 miles
> Current Car Mileage: 30000 miles
>
> Event description = The driver testified before congress that her car
> accelerates to 100mph. as she attempted to slow it down using her brakes,
> emergency brakes, by shifting the car into neutral, and by shifting the
> car into reverse. After
> 6 miles the car stops[1].
>
> Ms. Smith trade in her 2007 Lexus ES350 after 3000 miles. It was purchased
> by another family whom has since driven
> it another 27000 miles without incident until the NHTSA has purchased it
> for
> testing at its Vehicle Research and Test Center in East Liberty, Ohio. It
> has
> been reported that the NHTSA
> purchased the car for about
> $42,500 for testing [2]. The
> blue book value of the car in good
> condition is $23,185.

3,000 miles and she never bothered to read the Owner's Manual or
familiarize herself with the controls.

I hope THIS is what she's driving now...

http://www.tennesseelimo.com/

From: Hachiroku ハチロク on
On Sat, 27 Feb 2010 14:15:05 -0600, jim wrote:

>> A lot of companies have adopted it. I think Honda was one of the first
>> with the S2000.
>
> I think it was a '46 chevy coupe that was the first car I saw where you
> pushed a button on the dash to start the car. It was considered cutting
> edge technology. A big step forward from stepping on a pedal on the floor.


I was talking in terms of modern, electrically controlled ignition rather
than have a button on the dash in place of a soleniod.

But you knew that.


From: anniejrs on
On Feb 23, 5:35 pm, Hachiroku <Tru...(a)e86.GTS> wrote:
> A woman testified before Congress that when her Toyota began accelerating
> uncontrollably she "put the car in neutral and it had no effect, I stepped
> on the brakes and it had no effect, I applied the emergency brake and it
> had no effect, I even tried to put the car into reverse and I couldn't."
>
> Huh? Putting the car in neutral had no effect? Someone provide with with a
> clue on this one.
>
> BTW< the car was a Lexus.

She probably didn't hit the brakes in conjunction with putting it in
neutral. Or my best guess; it's a ploy that will lead up to a lawsuit.
From: Hachiroku ハチロク on
On Sun, 28 Feb 2010 07:38:33 -0800, anniejrs(a)gmail.com wrote:

> On Feb 23, 5:35 pm, Hachiroku <Tru...(a)e86.GTS> wrote:
>> A woman testified before Congress that when her Toyota began
>> accelerating uncontrollably she "put the car in neutral and it had no
>> effect, I stepped on the brakes and it had no effect, I applied the
>> emergency brake and it had no effect, I even tried to put the car into
>> reverse and I couldn't."
>>
>> Huh? Putting the car in neutral had no effect? Someone provide with with
>> a clue on this one.
>>
>> BTW< the car was a Lexus.
>
> She probably didn't hit the brakes in conjunction with putting it in
> neutral. Or my best guess; it's a ploy that will lead up to a lawsuit.


That seems about on the money. Er, no pun intended...