U.S. launches criminal probe into Toyota safety

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

That the American government is full of self serving lobbyists and enablers is no surpirse at all - however that's a far cry from this lunacy that Obama is enabling a soviet communist style take over of the American Auto industry.

Gee you can see alot while blindfolded. Familiar?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

what gary said is not far fetched.

Yes it really is.

[DEDixon 39]

That the American government is full of self serving lobbyists and enablers is no surpirse at all - however that's a far cry from this lunacy that Obama is enabling a soviet communist style take over of the American Auto industry.

agreed, soviet communist style takeover is over the top, but this is getting an unusual amount of attention so it does make one wonder if it is orchestrated to give US automakers an edge.

[Peikko 1,575]

How does it give US automakers an edge? Surely it gives everyone that isn't making Toyotas an edge, if indeed there is an edge to be found. In my experience, customer loyalty to car brands is suprisingly fierce and doesn't run along national lines.

Edited February 23, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[DEDixon 39]

bad press for any product would give competing products an edge. loyalty isn't the whole of it. think about the people who were loyal to GM and thinking about a toyota - they just might stay with GM and there are a lot of GMers out there.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

bad press for any product would give competing products an edge. loyalty isn't the whole of it. think about the people who were loyal to GM and thinking about a toyota - they just might stay with GM and there are a lot of GMers out there.

And why is that any worse than when GM was making junk and people flocked to Toyota, Honda Nissan, etc? Toyota fvcked up big time, just as GM and Ford have done in the past. They don't walk on water as much as some people like to believe.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Now would actually be the best time to buy a Toyota.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Now would actually be the best time to buy a Toyota.

Unless the uncontrolled acceleration is an electrical problem like some believe.

[DEDixon 39]

And why is that any worse than when GM was making junk and people flocked to Toyota, Honda Nissan, etc? Toyota fvcked up big time, just as GM and Ford have done in the past. They don't walk on water as much as some people like to believe.

gm's problems back in the day were very real, but toyota's problems today just might be overblown just to give US automakers an advantage (if even temporary).

Now would actually be the best time to buy a Toyota.

true.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

gm's problems back in the day were very real, but toyota's problems today just might be overblown just to give US automakers an advantage (if even temporary).

So you think it's a conspiracy? Even thought the problems and recalls exist outside of the US market?

[Ali G. 37]

Unless the uncontrolled acceleration is an electrical problem like some believe.

I saw that on ABC world news last night and it was pretty bad. My friend works for a certain US auto company in Aus and even he said that they clearly have some sort of issue but are covering it up; as the computer or electronics in a car cost big bucks to replace..

[Ali G. 37]

Now would actually be the best time to buy a Toyota.

A family friend went to Toyota this weekend to purchase a Sienna and said the dealer would not budge on price. I thought they were joking because only an utter idiot who thinks it's 2006 would act that way, when their product's name has been dragged through the mud like that.

Actually, this is why I hate the notion of a dealer in general. I should be able to buy my car online directly from the manufacturer or from a private retailer like Sams or Costco, at close to cost price.

Edited February 23, 2010 by Booyah

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I saw that on ABC world news last night and it was pretty bad. My friend works for a certain US auto company in Aus and even he said that they clearly have some sort of issue but are covering it up; as the computer or electronics in a car cost big bucks to replace..

I'm glad you saw that too. And what amazed me the most was that no error code was created on the cars computer to tell what malfunctioned. Toyota has insisted that if it was an electrical problem an error code would be created. We clearly saw that is not the case. And the average driver would panic and just jam on the brakes without ever thinking of putting the car in neutral. It was quite an effective demonstration.

[Ali G. 37]

Toyota dealers now claim they are being picked on by the government because the bailed GM.

Many actually had the nerve to claim "they don't understand why the recall is such a big deal". Hey fucktards, people are freagin dying in your cars.

[Ali G. 37]

I'm glad you saw that too. And what amazed me the most was that no error code was created on the cars computer to tell what malfunctioned. Toyota has insisted that if it was an electrical problem an error code would be created. We clearly saw that is not the case. And the average driver would panic and just jam on the brakes without ever thinking of putting the car in neutral. It was quite an effective demonstration.

Yeah, the lack of error codes was the worst part and can explain why they have not been able to nip it in the butt, yet 'claim' they have.

I always found the story about a Californian state trooper killed with his family puzzling because he would have been trained to handle a car, unless something happened that caught him off guard. Never believed the BS floor mat story. The stuck accelerator also failed to explain the sudden acceleration people were reporting. However, what we saw yesterday sure as hell looked like the most logical explanation so far. Of course Toyota does not want to admit that sort of a problem because it would cost them well into the billions to fix.

Here is the video: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/RunawayToyot...tory?id=9913933

Edited February 23, 2010 by Booyah