Toyota Recalls

[MadMax]

Wow, anyone remember what the "unintended acceleration" problems did to Audi back in the late 70s-early 80s? The following is from Wikipedia...

This decline in sales was not helped in the United States by a 60 Minutes report which showed faked footage of an Audi 5000 suffering from a supposed problem of "unintended acceleration" when the brake pedal was pushed, and emotional interviews with six people who had sued Audi after they crashed their cars.

Independent investigators concluded there was no mechanical problem, and driver error, partially due to drivers not paying attention to the closer placement of the accelerator and brake pedals than some American cars.

The difference was partially attributed to European driver's preferences for smoother heel-and-toe driving techniques. This did not become an issue in Europe, possibly due to more widespread experience among European drivers with manual transmissions.

The report immediately crushed Audi sales, and Audi renamed the affected model (The 5000 became the 100/200 in 1989, as it was elsewhere).

Audi had contemplated withdrawing from the American market until sales began to recover in the mid-1990s. The turning point for Audi was the sale of the new A4 in 1996, and with the release of the A4/A6/A8 series, which was developed together with VW and other sister brands (so called "platforms").

I wonder if the same phenomenon is happening with the Toyotas?!?

[supmet]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Wow, anyone remember what the "unintended acceleration" problems did to Audi back in the late 70s-early 80s? The following is from Wikipedia...



I wonder if the same phenomenon is happening with the Toyotas?!?

Ya, the american media is hoping they can achieve this effect by playing the toyota recall 24/7. I guess it makes sense since we all own a piece of the american car companies.

[ozmdd]

Originally Posted by supmet

Ya, the american media is hoping they can achieve this effect by playing the toyota recall 24/7. I guess it makes sense since we all own a piece of the american car companies.

I think the media is just willing to air any sensational story to death, period. I don't see how they would have much agenda on this. After all, Toyota is a HUGE part of the American economy, between all the Toyota factories in the states, the dealerships, etc. It only hurts the US to have such a big player stop generating revenue, even for a short time.