RUNAWAY PRIUS ( 2004 - 2009 ) : Monday afternoon ; go to ...

[Hershey]

www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local-beat/Runaway-Prius-Needs-Help-to-StopCHP-86965487.html . Wonder if the YARIS shares the same gas pedal and other components as the PRIUS since it was the 1.5 ltr. engine :iono: . We had an '07 PRIUS of same color ( Seaside Pearl ) few years back . Where will it end ?

[2009BBPliftback]

Ok I'm gonna say it.. I know that there have been valid complaints of unintended acel in toyota's But.. There are going to be those few of what a piece of Toyota's profit and will do anything to get ahead in life.. so I'm calling BS there are most certainly going to be those (balloon boy) like stories that people will dream up....

[127.0.0.1]

Once the Prius' speed dropped to about 50 mph, Sikes turned off the engine and was able to coast to a stop, the officer said.

Landeros didn't know why the driver waited until his speed had dropped to turn off the engine, but the officer speculated that Sikes feared losing the car's power steering.




----
I'll tell you: MORONS should not drive.

"Landeros didn't know why the driver waited until his speed had dropped to turn off the engine," I know the answer. the driver is a MORON

[auxmike]

This happend to me in a '74 VW Super beetle with the semi auto tranny .
I quickly put the car in NEUTRAL then SHUT off the engine.
This guy could have put the car in neutral and bounced off the rev limiter as he pulled over with power steering still functioning.
Unfortunatly people don't REACT instead of sitting passive and panicing as they wonder what to do...:cry:

[Kal-El]

Problem is, is that this acceleration "problem" can be faked by anyone wanting to gain something. Usually problems can be confirmed but this issue is simply something reported by the driver with no evidence. Funny how reports are multiplying ever since the issue became famous.

[jambo101]

Throwing the car into neutral would seem the logical move if the gas pedal got stuck,why do some of these people have time to parlay with the cops for minutes at a time and not think of this option,or is the tranny in some way locked in position when these events occur.:confused:

[Mouse]

My first thought was,"The Prius can go that fast?"
The brakes on that car can't slow that car down with such a weak motor, power wise. Doesn't the prius come with 4-wheel disc brakes. If there was no smoke coming from the brakes how did they overheat? My first car(a miata) had a problem with the calipers. The piston in the caliper was actually holding the braking pad against the rotors with enough pressure that you would see smoke coming from the wheels when I stopped.

[why?]

it has been proven that on any stock car the brakes will overpower a fully revved engine.

[rihdrkc]

it has been proven that on any stock car the brakes will overpower a fully revved engine.


Absolutely true!

99% of these claims are bull shit. When you are at the top, there are those that want to see you fall. Toyota has had a great reputation for building vehicles with very few problems, and that cuts into other companies sales and profits,like the ones that the U.S. government(meaning all of us)have bailed out, and now have a stake in. It is a witch hunt, and as a magazine reporter stated, should be held in Salem Mass.


my $.02

[RacerFreakXXX]

From what I understand most of the claims that were researched were from people just no understanding how powerful their car is or them doing something to the car to cause this issue. I think this as all just BS and the government is paying people off so they will buy their cars that were just recalled again, rofl.

[YarisSedan]

So its just conciedence he just happend to take his car in get the recall they turned him away and right after he had this issue?

What i dont get is how they were able to cover up all the issues for years. Or were the cars jsut bombs ticking waiting to happen then after they are 3 to 4 years old BOOM all the accelerator pedals brake and now its happening but never a issue before.

[DerFlosser]

Does anybody aside from me find it funny that these Toyota problems reared their head shortly after the US government bought GM and Ford? This is all sabotage!

[Yaris_Fan]

Of course, real or not, this situation is going to negatively impact Yaris owners at trade in time.

The sterling reputation of Toyota quality has been tarnished.

[rihdrkc]

^ Ford did not get bailed out,they actually refused money and fixed themselves.I am not a Ford fan, but I give them credit for that. GM's execs, on the other hand should have been made to pay back their salaries for being such failures. Sorry, off topic. On with the thread:clap:

[Hershey]

My first thought was,"The Prius can go that fast?"
The brakes on that car can't slow that car down with such a weak motor, power wise. Doesn't the prius come with 4-wheel disc brakes. If there was no smoke coming from the brakes how did they overheat? My first car(a miata) had a problem with the calipers. The piston in the caliper was actually holding the braking pad against the rotors with enough pressure that you would see smoke coming from the wheels when I stopped. no , rear drums . The top of the line PRIUS may have . That's what the PRIUS in the news is . We had the PACKAGE 2 . That gave you V.S.C. , traction control , and the backup camera .

[Hershey]

at this time our BARCELONA RED base model '08 automatic is $9,125 ( Good Condition ) at K.B.B. and $9,515 ( Clean Condition ) at EDMUNDS with 18,000 miles . That's $9,320 when dived by the 2 values . Plan on keeping track of it every month in 1st week of next 6 months and see how much it depreciates monthly .

[Dave]

Does anybody aside from me find it funny that these Toyota problems reared their head shortly after the US government bought GM

My thoughts too.

The rampant media sensationalism around this issue is more than a little suspect. Where was the finger pointing when GM recalled 1.5 million vehicles over faulty power-steering? Or Ford's recall of the Escape for the same accelerator issue that Toyota had?

This seems like more of a CTS issue than a Toyota issue. But that doesn't spur name recognition and sell newspapers (or cars, if that's your business).

I'm not a Toyota fanboy, either. I bought a Yaris because it's the cheapest, smallest, most fuel efficient car that still met all of my general cargo hauling needs. The rest of my family drives GM vehicles. I have next to zero brand loyalty and will go through the same exercise with all makes the next time I buy a car.

[MUSKOKA800]

And through all this, Toyota Canada sales were up 25% in Feb.
It would appear the witch-hunt is failing.

[kustom play]

I like how he took the time to call 911, when you dial 911 you just dont hit the "call" button and magically your transferred to 911, it takes about 30-60 seconds before the call gets picked up but somehow he cant figure out to put the car in Neutral.

he claims he went 30 miles doing 90 before it stopped? I dont know about most of you but the speed limit here is 65, I have a hard time doing 80 in the passing lane before some stupid driver is going 55 and causes me to slow down

all off a sudden the highway patrol comes out and tells him some common sense things like "use the e brake" and "shut the car off" shouldn't that be the first common sense thing to do?

we need harder driver testing or at least some kind of common sense test to weed out the morons

[agibby5]

Does anybody aside from me find it funny that these Toyota problems reared their head shortly after the US government bought GM and Ford? This is all sabotage!

LOL, he does look a lot like Joe Biden!


In all seriousness...

The lady on the 911 call tells him to try neutral. It doesn't appear he does, or maybe he does and it doesn't work, but he definitely doesn't let the dispatcher know the result.

I'm thinking the whole time, just use neutral and turn it off! Then I talk to my friend who's really, really into cars. He says he spoke with a reputable mechanic friend of his just last night and basically, on a Prius neutral is locked out, for some reason. Can anyone verify this?

Maybe this guy is just trying to build himself a lawsuit and when she suggested neutral, he realized then "F**K, there IS a way outta this... oh well, play it off!". All joking aside, why would Prius not be able to use neutral like any other car on earth?

[kustom play]

LOL, he does look a lot like Joe Biden!


In all seriousness...

The lady on the 911 call tells him to try neutral. It doesn't appear he does, or maybe he does and it doesn't work, but he definitely doesn't let the dispatcher know the result.

I'm thinking the whole time, just use neutral and turn it off! Then I talk to my friend who's really, really into cars. He says he spoke with a reputable mechanic friend of his just last night and basically, on a Prius neutral is locked out, for some reason. Can anyone verify this?

Maybe this guy is just trying to build himself a lawsuit and when she suggested neutral, he realized then "F**K, there IS a way outta this... oh well, play it off!". All joking aside, why would Prius not be able to use neutral like any other car on earth?

i wouldnt say hes very reputable mechanic, you can shift into neutral on any car, here is the video to prove it on the prius

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II_03lbr-Jw

[agibby5]

i wouldnt say hes very reputable mechanic, you can shift into neutral on any car, here is the video to prove it on the prius

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=II_03lbr-Jw

I was thinking it was bogus that the Prius cant shit into neutral. But obviously the video shows you can... however, what happens that causes the gas pedal to depress automatically and uncontrollably? Perhaps that issue causes the switch to neutral to fail.

I'm not buying it that the car can't shift into neutral, but what if?

[kustom play]

im willing to bet hes faking it

they were saying its a spring or something, but the prius didnt have the bad pedal so it was prob his old age combined with stupidity

same way these old people somehow forget they are in reverse and hit the gas into the car behind them

[Hershey]

well if he did fake it he'll be in some serious deep sh*t . Sad to think that there are people desperate enough to do it for the money ( lawsuit ) and the spotlight . Crazy times . I won't pass judgement until all the facts are on the table .

[Mouse]

The 911 call....http://video.foxnews.com/#/v/4097490/runaway-prius-911-call/?playlist_id=87249

In all honestly...I still believe the guy is faking it.

[Mouse]

Here is another video showing that the brakes should work under full acceleration....by the same person that Kustom Play posted. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiSQeaeWxGU&NR=1

[sbergman27]

well if he did fake it he'll be in some serious deep sh*t .
For reference, Balloon Boy's father got 90 days in jail, some minimal community service, and a ban on profiting from the hoax for 4 years. Presumably, after 4 years, he can profit from it all he wants. "Serious deep sh*t" is all relative, I guess.

Anyway, regarding all the evidence being on the table... there is enough on that table right now to form a fairly firm opinion. There are just to many gaping holes in his story. And a clear motive for his perpetrating the hoax.

I can't believe that I'm actually defending a slave-driving International Megacorp. But in this case, it is clear that it is Toyota and its employees who are being wronged. And to the extent that it could affect resale value, its (honest) customers, as well. Not that that bit matters to me. I tend to keep my cars for *at least* 250,000 miles. I'm strange that way.

-Steve

[Twistoffate0817]

I keep hearing stories on the news how this is fake, and how its real. Does anyone know if this really was a case of the car being disfunctional, or was it the man behind the wheel?

[sbergman27]

I keep hearing stories on the news how this is fake, and how its real. Does anyone know if this really was a case of the car being disfunctional, or was it the man behind the wheel?
Consider the facts. He went to his dealer wanting a fix, and they said his car wasn't on the recall list. Shortly thereafter, he claims that the accelerator stuck wide open, the ignition switch would not turn off the engine, the transmission would not come out of drive, and the brakes would not stop the car. I and others have posted links to formal tests regarding the ability of brakes to stop pretty much any car even with the throttle locked wide open. (As a reminder, Car & Driver found that the Toyota Camry's 60-0 stopping distance under those conditions was one foot *shorter* than the Ford Taurus' *regular* stopping distance.) His story is the stuff of really bad 1970s "B" grade horror movies.

Predictably, he made sure to get the highway patrol involved, ensuring plenty of media coverage.

So... what do you think? Does this, as a package, seem plausible? Or is he just another nut that got mad when the dealership said his car wasn't on the list and decided to get even?

Don't ask other people to decide for you. Look at the facts and use your brain to arrive at the logical conclusion.

-Steve

[Kal-El]

I keep hearing stories on the news how this is fake, and how its real. Does anyone know if this really was a case of the car being disfunctional, or was it the man behind the wheel?

It's either a hoax, or he's the most incompetent driver in the world.
All evidence points to this being staged for personal gain.

[BLAZINBLUEVITZ]

sucks for him that his prius ISN'T even on the recall list and that TOYOTA already has downplayed the incident.....

[sbergman27]

sucks for him that his prius ISN'T even on the recall list and that TOYOTA already has downplayed the incident.....
Apparently, you feel that this alleged incident has some validity. And yet you fail to present any evidence which led you to that conclusion. Let's discuss the particulars. I have quite a few issues with the story he tells, some of which I have outlined in numerous other posts.

[127.0.0.1]

FAKE


FAKE

he denied being behind on his Prius payments, but that is a lie. he is behind in those as well
as a whole lotta other things
---------------
lying sack of shit
---------------

from Jalopnik and FBI investigation

http://jalopnik.com/5491101/did-bankrupt-runaway-prius-driver-fake-unintended-acceleration

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.

[sbergman27]

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.
Funny thing is... amongst all this negative information about him, my opinion of him took a *real* dive where It said he's a real estate agent. :-P

-Steve

[Kal-El]

Check this hilarious video demonstration by someone proving the stopping techniques in a Prius.

Heavy language NWS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ4PtafRB9c&feature=player_embedded
:biggrin:

[Cutie Pie #2]

Check this hilarious video demonstration by someone proving the stopping techniques in a Prius.

Heavy language NWS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ4PtafRB9c&feature=player_embedded
:biggrin:


That got the point for sure, and yeah it was pretty funny too if you don't mind the language! I think some of these people on the news need to watch that.

[Hershey]

Funny thing is... amongst all this negative information about him, my opinion of him took a *real* dive where It said he's a real estate agent. :-P

-Steve +1 . Most are shady from our home buying experiences . Was thinking he was in financial trouble due to slow sales and plummeting resale value in CALIFORNIA . Desperation is nation wide .

[Kal-El]

Now I'm hearing on the radio that lawyers in California are jumping on this and plan to Sue Toyota for "endangering the public".

Have they no sense at all?? It's 100% obvious that it's a hoax!

The news is still treating this incident as being real and attributing it to Toyota's so called problem.

Blood is shooting out of my eyes knowing the truth while the general public is being led to believe that every Toyota is a danger to society.

:mad:

[jaytown]

Seems like everyone is trying to make money off Toyota, even the Government. There are just too many hungry lawyers in this country.

[bitz767]

I also found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te3T60ryDYA

I thought it was pretty funny

[Hershey]

here's another issue for the TOYOTA Rav and the lawsuits to follow . http://cbs2chicago.com/consumer/toyota.rav4.lawsuit.2.1557129.html . Lawyers are sh*tting their pants with delite . Everyone is jumpin' on the money train . ALLLLLLLLLLLL ABOARD !!!

[Kal-El]

It's finally starting to be reported as a hoax by the media.

I can't wait to attend Sykes crucifixion. I may even be the one with the hammer.

[sbergman27]

I can't wait to attend Sykes crucifixion.
That was my initial feeling. But I decided that it was too unimaginative:

http://blog.guidetocinema.com/images/prometheus.jpg

[Gideon]

^ Yes it seems actually that a lot of media outlets are starting to be more skeptical about the other reports as well.

ABC's feature on the professor who supposedly reproduced the issue with an Avalon is now being reported as being nothing more that a ridiculous rewire of the pedal, a rewire that when performed on other manufacturers cars end in the same result (WOT with no error codes showing any vehicle fault)

In fact PopSci reported that he was paid by a safety consultant who runs a for-profit firm that is working with lawyers who are currently suing Toyota over the sudden acceleration issue.

It's looking ever better for Toyota, which is good because this media fiasco very much mirrors the Audi 5000 sudden acceleration issue back in the 80s, where every instance was found to be driver error. (Which came too late for Audi, whose sales were abysmal the following years after the incidents)

[eht13]

^ Yes it seems actually that a lot of media outlets are starting to be more skeptical about the other reports as well.

Finally... and ironic since the media made the whole thing worse.

ABC's feature on the professor who supposedly reproduced the issue with an Avalon is now being reported as being nothing more that a ridiculous rewire of the pedal, a rewire that when performed on other manufacturers cars end in the same result (WOT with no error codes showing any vehicle fault)

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2010/03/12/2003467795

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Check this hilarious video demonstration by someone proving the stopping techniques in a Prius.

Heavy language NWS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ4PtafRB9c&feature=player_embedded
:biggrin:

Holy crap, the Wing Stop I was eating just went all over my laptop! :laugh::laugh::laugh:

[Gideon]

Holy crap, the Wing Stop I was eating just went all over my laptop! :laugh::laugh::laugh:

Mmmmm.... Wing Stop. :biggrin:

[sbergman27]

Holy crap, the Wing Stop I was eating just went all over my laptop!
Yet another case of spontaneous acceleration. This time with food. Where will it all end?

P.S. Maybe you can sue Wing Stop.

[Kioshi]

Holy crap, the Wing Stop I was eating just went all over my laptop! :laugh::laugh::laugh:

Damn..uncontrollably laughing my ass off on that video...Now only if i could broadcast it to the retards around my area:rolleyes:

[fmicle]

I'm grateful for idiots like Sikes... without them, I wouldn't be having so much fun on a Friday night, reading the posts on this forum :wink:

[toyo]

why the fuck would you call 9-11 during an "emergency" like this? its BS, biggest load of it.

[jambo101]

Check this hilarious video demonstration by someone proving the stopping techniques in a Prius.

Heavy language NWS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZ4PtafRB9c&feature=player_embedded
:biggrin:

I tried posting that video on a few other foums but the mods immediately deleted it, I'm guessing they want to protect our delicate ears from those horrible cuss words, i didnt find it anymore offensive than an episode of Gordon Ramsey's Hells Kitchen.

[eht13]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/14/california.runaway.prius/index.html?hpt=C1

:thumbsup:

[Altitude]

I tried posting that video on a few other foums but the mods immediately deleted it, I'm guessing they want to protect our delicate ears from those horrible cuss words, i didnt find it anymore offensive than an episode of Gordon Ramsey's Hells Kitchen.

That might have more to do with the fact it has been posted many times already. No need for multiple posts and links to the same video.

[MadMax]

Toyota strikes back! :thumbsup:

Toyota casts doubt on man's speeding Prius claim (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100315/ap_on_bi_ge/us_runaway_prius)

By ELLIOT SPAGAT and TOM KRISHER, Associated Press Writers Elliot Spagat And Tom Krisher, Associated Press Writers 1 hr 1 min ago

SAN DIEGO – Toyota cast doubt Monday on a California man's claim that his Prius sped out of control, saying the report is inconsistent with the findings of the company's preliminary investigation.

Toyota said in a statement that the accelerator pedal was tested and found to be working normally and a backup safety system worked properly. The automaker said the front brakes showed severe wear and damage from overheating, but the rear brakes and parking brake were in good condition.

The motorist, James Sikes, said his car raced to 94 mph on a freeway near San Diego last week. The March 8 incident ended when Sikes stopped the car with help from a California Highway Patrol officer.

"While a final report is not yet complete, there are strong indications that the driver's account of the event is inconsistent with the findings of the preliminary analysis," the statement said.

A telephone message seeking comment on Toyota's assertions was left by The Associated Press at the office of Sikes' attorney, John H. Gomez.

Toyota said testing found that the car's accelerator pedal had no mechanical binding or friction, and the floor mat was not interfering with or touching the pedal.

A self-diagnostic system did show evidence of repeated applications of the accelerator and brake pedals, Toyota said.

"The data from the diagnostics test indicated that the accelerator and the brake had been rapidly pressed, alternately back and forth, 250 times," Mike Michels, vice president of corporate communications for Toyota Motor Sales USA, told a press conference.

In a test, the front brakes were replaced and then purposely overheated by continuous light application and still stopped the car, the company said.

According to Toyota, the Prius has a self-protection system that cuts engine power if the brake pedal is pressed moderately or greater. Tests found that system to be functioning, the carmaker said. The company also said the car's push-button power switch worked normally and shut off the vehicle when pressed for three seconds, and that the shift lever worked normally and allowed neutral to be selected.

The power management computer contained no diagnostic trouble codes, and the dashboard malfunction lights were not activated, Toyota said.

Earlier in the day, federal regulators said they were reviewing data from the gas-electric hybrid but so far had not found anything to explain the out-of-control acceleration reported by Sikes.

"We would caution people that our work continues and that we may never know exactly what happened with this car," the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement.

Inspectors said they tried to duplicate the acceleration during a two-hour test drive but could not.

Sikes has said the car sped up to 94 mph on a freeway near San Diego. He said he jammed on the brakes trying to stop it.

Sikes called 911, and a highway patrol officer helped bring the vehicle to a safe stop. Though no one was injured, the episode quickly becoming a high-profile headache for Toyota, which like NHTSA sent in an engineering team to investigate.

Gomez, the attorney for Sikes, said the failure to recreate the incident was insignificant and not surprising.

"They have never been able to replicate an incident of sudden acceleration. Mr. Sikes never had a problem in the three years he owned this vehicle," he said Sunday.

But Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., suggested the failure to duplicate the stuck accelerator, and the presence of a backup system in the car, raised questions about Sikes' story.

"It doesn't mean it didn't happen, but let's understand, it doesn't mean it did happen," Issa said on CBS' "The Early Show."

NHTSA is looking into claims by more than 60 Toyota owners that their vehicles had accelerated unexpectedly even after they were supposedly fixed.

Regulators said in a statement that Sikes' Prius was equipped with a backup safety device that reduces power to the wheels when the brakes and gas are pressed at the same time.

"The system on Mr. Sikes' Prius worked during our engineers' test drive," the statement said.

While investigators from Toyota and NHTSA reviewed the Prius during the same two days, a Transportation Department official said their investigations are separate.

"It does not appear to be feasibly possible, both electronically and mechanically that his gas pedal was stuck to the floor and he was slamming on the brake at the same time," said a memo prepared for Congress that cited a Toyota official.

Toyota has recalled millions of cars because floor mats can snag gas pedals or accelerators can stick. Sikes' car was covered by the floor mat recall but not the one for sticky accelerators. He later told reporters that he tried to pull on the gas pedal during his harrowing ride, but it didn't "move at all."

___

Krisher reported from Detroit. Associated Press Writer Ken Thomas in Washington contributed to this report.

[sbergman27]

Toyota strikes back! :thumbsup:
The problem is that striking back is a very dangerous thing from a PR standpoint. Even certain members of this forum have expressed a feeling that they think that Toyota is hiding something. I've looked and seen no evidence of any real issue. But the public is keen to tar and feather the current target of the media, which is perceived as being vulnerable now. Striking back can easily be interpreted as bullying the "poor guy".

I mean, poor James Sikes had his business fall out from under him, through no fault of his own, and was forced to declare bankruptcy. He had $58,000 stolen from him and had to do without while waiting for the insurance to pay. And now, to top it all off, his car tried to kill him, and some people don't believe him.

The guy is lying through his teeth. That much is obvious. But the PR game is far from over. Will people turn out to dislike the sleaze-bag James Sikes, or the Giant Multinational Mega-Corp, Toyota, the most?

-Steve

[MadMax]

Sorry, if this guy was lying about what happened then he broke the law the same way the assclown who claimed his kid flew away in a balloon did!

But I understand your point, especially with Toyota being Japanese. "Face" is important, which is why they aren't saying he lied about it (although I think he did), they are merely "challenging" what happened. I think that is better than simply accepting the lie and the consequences. We drove through a local Toyota dealer today and were amazed at the number of new vehicles they had on the lot! Heck, they had so many that they even parked them in the dirt lot next to the dealership. Now would be a good time to buy, because they seem anxious to sell cars!

By the way, the only model that they didn't have in mass quantities was the Yaris hatchback! There was only one on the lot. There were more Yaris sedans, but not nearly as many as other models.

Cheers! M2

[sbergman27]

But I understand your point, especially with Toyota being Japanese. "Face" is important, which is why they aren't saying he lied about it (although I think he did), they are merely "challenging" what happened.
I'm sure that Toyota has legal and marketing advisers whose experience stretch far beyond "being Japanese". Toyota is in a catch 22.

Skewering the auto industry of the country which hosts the greatest portion of their market, by producing better cars at a better price, has predictably had its consequences. Expect more witch hunts against companies who dare to outdo the Greatest and Most Free Country in the World.

As an American, I must say that being presented with such a very clear sign of the country I grew up in sinking under the waves is the saddest part of this whole affair. Especially since it is so obvious just how the competition beat us fair and square.

-Steve