Toyota Hybrid Horror Hoax

Forbes.com ^ | 03.12.10, 01:37 PM EST | Michael Fumento

[Oklahoma]

"On the very day Toyota was making a high-profile defense of its cars, one of them was speeding out of control," said CBS News--and a vast number of other media outlets worldwide. The driver of a 2008 Toyota Prius, James Sikes, called 911 to say his accelerator was stuck, he was zooming faster than 90 miles per hour and absolutely couldn't slow down.

It got far more dramatic, though. The California Highway Patrol responded and "To get the runaway car to stop, they actually had to put their patrol car in front of the Prius and step on the brakes." During over 20 harrowing minutes, according to NBC's report, Sikes "did everything he could to try to slow down that Prius." Others said, "Radio traffic indicated the driver was unable to turn off the engine or shift the car into neutral."

In fact, almost none of this was true. Virtually every aspect of Sikes's story as told to reporters makes no sense. His claim that he'd tried to yank up the accelerator could be falsified, with his help, in half a minute. And now we even have an explanation for why he'd pull such a stunt, beyond the all-American desire to have 15 minutes of fame (recall the "Balloon Boy Hoax" from October) and the aching need to be perceived as a victim

[snowtigger]

Never owned a Toyota, or any Jap car, for that matter. I drive an '03 Pontiac Grand Am with 265,000 miles on it, so I'm happy driving American cars and supporting American workers and investors.

All that aside, I don't believe this story any more than I believe any of the others.

Toyota builds a quality product and has no interest in producing defective automobiles. In today's world of instant communication, this would be corporate suicide.

Perhaps the floormat problem was real, I don't know,but there are several ways of stopping a car with a stuck accelerator pedal. (turn off the ignition, shift into neutral, apply brsakes, HARD) I think maybe these people are on the gas when they think they are on the brakes and, in their panic, they push harder. It has happened in several cases where older people have driven cars into buildings or crowds of people.

BTW What is the age of the drivers killed in these accidents?

In this case the driver said he was afraid to shift into neutral. That story is a little thin to me. I think this guy is going to sue for a lot of money, hoping to get a settlement for a lot less. I hope Toyota fights it.

[Celerity]

I have a family of cops, and a TON of good cop friends.

That said, Cops are mostly intimidating jerks. I’ve had WAY more negative experiences with them than good experiences. In shelton CT my car was broken into, and I saw the person that did it. The police told me to get out of town (I was visiting from New Hampshire at the time). Personal experiences.

I’m surprised more people haven’t written me, asking about the Yellow Jeep thing and the Monte Carlo thing.

[P.O.E.]