Ask A Car Nut

[IglooDame]

These systems are certainly subject to sabotage, inadvertent interference, or bugs that do not come up while undergoing testing. Sudden vehicle acceleration may actually become a reality in the future instead of people hitting the wrong pedal.

You mean like with Toyota Priuses? (Prii?)

Actually, snark aside, what's your take on that - carpet getting under the accelerator, software glitch, PEBSAP (Problem Exists Between Seat and Pedal), or what?

 

[Formaldehyde]

Well the critical info, i.e. speed etc, is displayed right in front of me, and I have control over airflow and radio frequency from buttons built into the wheel. Granted, I still have to look at the touch-screen to know what I'm actually doing, but this is only a minor inconvenience. Take the Yaris, for example, which is another car I looked at. Its speedometer is located at that center console, and unlike some other cars like the Saturn Ion, this central speedometer/odometer is not even tiled towards the driver. It's ridiculous. But the Prius displays useful, but still nonessential information via that central screen.

Ah. My bad. The photo of the dash I looked at didn't show the panel near the windshield that has that info. I then saw a photo of the central console showing the speed and other info so I assumed that was the only place where the info was shown. But this photo makes the actual setup very clear:

No, this arrangement is perfectly fine. It is even better than the standard instrumentation where you have to look further down to see the information through the hole in the steering wheel. My objection is the same as yours. Having to glance so far to the right on Minis et al to be able to see the critical info, instead of merely glancing down. But people apparently do get acclimated to it...

You mean like with Toyota Priuses? (Prii?)

Actually, snark aside, what's your take on that - carpet getting under the accelerator, software glitch, PEBSAP (Problem Exists Between Seat and Pedal), or what?

The only problem that Toyota ever found was that in some cars there was a component in the throttle pedal that could occasionally jam under certain conditions. So they issued a recall. But the "cases" certainly don't end, even in cars where it is essentially impossible like the Prius:

New Prius "sudden acceleration" claims beginning to look fishy

A week and a half ago, in the wake of the publicity surrounding the ongoing government investigation into numerous consumer claims involving stuck accelerators on Toyota vehicles, a man placed a frantic call to 911 from a California freeway claiming that the accelerator on his 2008 Toyota Prius was stuck. James Sikes claimed that he "stood on the brakes" but the car continued to gather speed until it reached 94 mph. After "several attempts" to turn the motor off Sikes was finally successful, and a CHP officer used his own car to slow Sikes' Prius to a full stop.

Earlier this week, technicians from the NHTSA and Toyota reported that after thoroughly examining Sikes' car they could find no forensic evidence that the brakes and gas pedal were deployed simultaneously:

Toyota has said all Priuses are equipped with a computer system that cuts power to the wheels if the brake and gas pedals are depressed at the same time, as Sikes was doing.

"It's tough for us to say if we're skeptical. I'm mystified in how it could happen with the brake override system," Don Esmond, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales, said Thursday.

A Toyota official who was at the inspection explained that an electric motor would "completely seize" if a system to shut off the gas when the brake is pressed fails, and there was no evidence to support that happened, according to the memo.

"In this case, knowing that we are able to push the car around the shop, 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," according to the report for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

A day after the Sikes incident in California, another Prius driver blamed a vehicle crash on a stuck accelerator. A Harrison, NY resident claimed that as she was easing out of her driveway the accelerator on her 2005 Prius suddenly jammed. The brakes on the vehicle also failed, causing her to accelerate out of control and crash into a stone wall. But after technicians from the NHTSA and Toyota examined the car, they firmly concluded that "the car's event data recorder 'indicated there was no application of the brakes and the throttle was fully open.'"

As new "unintended acceleration" reports make news headlines, we continually find out more about the impressive number of safety features that Toyota included in the mechanical and computer systems of the Prius. Of course gremlins can pop up in mechanical systems at any time, but these latest reports of unintended acceleration by Toyota vehicles seem far more likely to have involved errors in human judgment rather than mechanical failure.

The vast majority of cases have been found to be "PEBSAP". The Audi 5000 is an excellent example. That car "featured" gas and brake pedals which were in slightly different positions than with most cars and ushered in the first such cases. There was never any proof found, but it doomed Audi sales in this country for nearly a decade.

A throttle can stick on any car. And, as you mentioned, car mats are notorious for both causing the throttle to stick and the brake to jam. I once had a golf ball end up rolling under the front seat when I braked to cause me not to be able to do so the next time I tried.

But in the case of stuck throttles the solution is quite simple. Turn off the ignition. And the brakes on any car can stop it, even with the engine at max revs. In the cases where the Toyotas refused to stop, the drivers had literally worn out their brake pads first by continuing to try to drive an obviously broken car.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Best Superbowl ad of all time?


Link to video.

 

[Commodore]

What is it that fascinates you so much about cars? This is not a criticism I genuinely do not understand why people love cars so much. I have always just viewed them as machines that get me from one place to another, so I just want to know what it is you see that I don't see.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Best Superbowl ad of all time?


Link to video.

I really liked the Clint Eastwood one.

In fact, a lot of the car commercials this year were really good.

 

[Formaldehyde]

What is it that fascinates you so much about cars? This is not a criticism I genuinely do not understand why people love cars so much. I have always just viewed them as machines that get me from one place to another, so I just want to know what it is you see that I don't see.

I wouldn't call it a fascination as much as a hobby and a sport. For instance, I don't name my cars or go out in the garage to stare at them for hours on end. I don't even spend all that much time keeping my current one clean.

But it is definitely far more than just getting me from one place to another. I started subscribing to Road and Track when I was 9. My very first car was a Triumph TR3.

My father also owned one when I was a kid, so I guess part of it was based on his own interest in cars. I have spent entire vacations doing nothing but driving around, but they were also very scenic areas with great roads.

I definitely want to take a driving vacation in Europe to drive on the Autobahn, go over the Alps, and drive the Nurbergring in Germany which is a 12.9 mile long race track that is open to the public. You pay by the lap:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nürburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times

 

[Takhisis]

That Nurburgring drive looks great!

 

[Formaldehyde]

I really the Clint Eastwood one.

In fact, a lot of the car commercials this year were really good.

Yeah. That's a great one.


Link to video.

That Nurburgring drive looks great!

It is! The F1 races were held there for years until it simply became far too dangerous on the old 14.3 mile course.

Here is the Radical SR8 setting the current modern day lap record:


Link to video.

 

[classical_hero]

So who is going to win the F1 championship?

 

[Formaldehyde]

I think it is quite likely going to be a matter of the usual suspects.

Adrian Newey, who has been by far the best designer in F1 for over a decade, is working for Red Bull so they will have the usual advantage over everybody else. That means that Sebastian Vettel is the clear favorite at this stage. But I would expect Mark Webber to be a much stronger contender if he can ever figure out how to do starts.

According to comments by Jackie Stewart at the Daytona 24 hour race, McLaren should be mounting a better challenge. So that means that Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button can't be counted out.

And let's not forget about Ferrari, which is by far the most successful F1 team of all time. Fernando Alonso is due for comeback and Philipe Massa certainly cannot be counted out either.

The cars should be fairly similar to last year given that the rules have remained fairly stable for a change. So it should be more a matter of refinement than sheer designing brilliance and interpreting the new rules in creative ways. I think it promises to be a much more exciting season, especially if other competitiors can keep Vettel from getting outside the DRS range by the time they become activated as he did so successfully last year.

 

[Boundless]

Opinion on Abaddon's Fiat Coupe 2.0l Turbo?

 

[Formaldehyde]

I don't know much at all about this car since it was never imported to the US. But I do like the exterior styling, although I'm not crazy about the rear end. The headlights are particularly cool for a car of that period. The Pininfarina-designed interior is also very cool from the few photos I have found on the internet. I'm not crazy about FWD sports cars in general, but this one isn't that bad at all. Too bad they didn't import it to the US. I bet it would have done fairly well.

And being a turbo, you can really boost the HP if you have a mind to do so at the risk of engine longevity...

 

[Takhisis]

The steering wheel is on the wrong side.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Opinion on Abaddon's Fiat Coupe 2.0l Turbo?

Spoiler :

Heh, that's almost what a sports car looks like.

It starts out great in the front, but then it slowly goes from Ferrari to Honda Civic hatchback in the back.

I'm torn.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Will the fascination for cars die out with the safety and environmental focus, or is the fascination relative to each era?

 

[Formaldehyde]

I'd say it depends.

If cars eventually become completely utilitarian and boring, much like electric golf cars that can even drive themselves, then I doubt they will generate near as much interest as they do now.

But I don't see that happening, at least in the near future. Even now with only a handful of electric cars on the market, there is already one which is based on the Lotus Elise chassis. While the batteries make it considerably heavier than the gas-powered version, it accelerates much faster than any other production-based car except for the exotics.


Link to video.


Link to video.

The child-based accelerometer is optional.

 

[danjuno]

Awesome Thread Form!

What is your Opinion of Ford cars in General? My dad says the only good Ford he's ever had is the Expedition.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Thanks!

Every time I think of that vehicle, I can't help but think of this Mad TV episode.

The old joke was that Ford stood for "fix or repair daily". But they are no longer your father's Oldsmobile to mix metaphors. The company decided long ago that they had to make radical changes in quality and performace in order to successfully compete with the better German and Japanese cars.

The Ford Focus in particular has been a runaway success in Europe for years, where they have had more than sufficient reason to not "buy American" in the past. Here is what Top Gear has to say about it:

http://www.topgear.com/uk/ford/focus

If you hate Ford, here's the real reason. Britain's best-seller is a hatch that can do no wrong. Its only drawback is that it's more common than Wayne Rooney's sister.

The Ford Focus is one of the most complete cars on the road today. Well designed, well engineered, well built, well priced. It drives superbly, does what you need it to, and won’t break the bank.

Britain's best-selling car. Don't you just hate it when the unwashed masses get it right?

Then there is the Ford Focus ST...

I want to talk to you about some of the best looking cars on sale today.

Link to video.

The latest ST is even better looking:

Spoiler :

It's just too bad we don't get the 305 hp Ford Focus RS...


Link to video.

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

I feel like an auto noob asking this, but is there a significant boost in gas mileage for taking higher-octane gas? Significant enough, say, to outweigh the extra $.10 per gallon that it normally costs?

 

[GinandTonic]

I feel like an auto noob asking this, but is there a significant boost in gas mileage for taking higher-octane gas? Significant enough, say, to outweigh the extra $.10 per gallon that it normally costs?

I've been told it works out more expensive, but that a full tank once or twice a year should clean out the injectors. Basically the same as sticking redex in the tank.

Opinion on Abaddon's Fiat Coupe 2.0l Turbo?

Didnt Abba have a hatchback with an absurdly large engine? Like a 3.0 polo or something?