Toyota probe leads US lawmakers to draft safety bill

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Reuters

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON, April 27 (Reuters) - Senior congressional lawmakers, motivated by Toyota Motor Co's (7203.T) recalls, said on Tuesday they were preparing legislation to increase auto safety.

Legislation written by Henry Waxman and John Rockefeller, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee respectively, was still being drafted and details were not disclosed.

A draft of the legislation is expected to be introduced before Waxman's next hearing on Toyota, which is scheduled for May 6, two sources familiar with the timing of the proposal said.

One provision expected to be included would strengthen the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which has come under scrutiny in ongoing congressional investigations of its handling of Toyota safety matters.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2712831820100427

[happygoluckytoyou]

1. NEW TOYOTA... free floormats and optional brakes

[Dover]

2. Surprise!

Another sad story about Toyota, another post by Omaha Steve. Imagine that!
Funny, you never posted stories about Toyota when they were introducing their innovative
cars that reduce gas consumption like no other... so I'm guessing you are feeling some
glee as they stumble and want to do your part to make sure DU is saturated with the sad tale.

No affiliation with American car companies? Uh huh.

And thank goodness the car companies can focus everyone's attentions on the safety issues,
exploiting the fear factor into concentration on new safety features which will, no doubt,
take the place of any serious innovation relative to fuel economy.

[Omaha Steve]

3. "Their innovative cars that reduce gas consumption like no other"

Tell that to Koua Fong Lee in his prison cell. His 1996 Camry was recalled too btw.

Lawyer: Stuck Throttle Found in Car of Imprisoned Toyota Driver

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/RunawayToyotas/runaway-toyotas-lawyer-stuck-throttle-found-car-imprisoned/story?id=10428540

Or go to the cemetery and brag to these 10 people about upstanding quality of Toyota. They don't have any plans. Maybe you could stop by this weekend?

Acceleration questioned in fatal crashes.

http://www.boston.com/business/specials/accelerationdeaths/

Or kick in on the costs for a Tundra driver paying for a bad design ("Their innovative cars that reduce gas consumption like no other") that costs owners $4,000 to fix out of pocket. You read that story already.


Many people on the DU know I work in local government. We bought a used Nissan in December 07 btw. My son in law sold them at the time. It broke down in a week. Was covered but it was an inconvenience. It had problems up until we traded it in for an 09 Cobalt.


http://www.chevrolet.com/cobalt/coupe/competitive-comparison/

2010 Scion tC Sports Coupe 5-Spd MT

Cobalt XFE beats Scion tC in standard hwy. fuel economy3. And Cobalt has a 100,000 mile/5-year5 transferable Powertrain Limited Warranty - that's 40,000 more miles than Scion tC offers.
2010 Honda Civic Coupe DX 5-Spd MT
2010 Honda Civic Coupe DX 5-Spd MT

At 37 MPG hwy4. and 155 hp, Cobalt XFE beats Honda Civic DX in standard highway fuel economy and horsepower6. Plus, with the 100,000 mile/5-year5 transferable Powertrain Powertrain Limited Warranty, that's 40,000 more miles than Civic.
2010 Ford Focus SE Coupe
2010 Ford Focus SE Coupe

At 37 MPG hwy4. and 155 hp, Cobalt XFE beats Ford Focus SE in standard highway fuel economy and horsepower7. Plus, with the 100,000 mile/5-year5 transferable Powertrain Limited Warranty, that's 40,000 more miles than Focus.


Chevy makes "innovative cars that reduce gas consumption like no other" with the best warranty in the USA.

OS

[Dover]

4. What is your obsession with reporting on Toyota's problems?

I'm really curious, because it sure seems like you have an agenda. Are you saying you don't?
I wonder how many anti-Toyota posts would turn if there was a search on your name?

As for fuel efficiency I should HOPE there is at least one fuel efficient American car (at least hwy if not city). But don't you think this list of the THE most fuel efficient cars is telling?
(and by the way it is a government site)
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/bestworst.shtml
Not that America CAN'T be a leader in fuel efficiency (afterall, we used to have some very efficient models on the road), but apparently there is no will to be. And with fuel prices on the rise it seems the auto companies have been playing deaf and dumb relative to public outcry. And that doesn't sit well when it comes to building loyalty. And that's just ONE example that has led to all the bad blood. And they KNOW IT...they KNOW they lost customer loyalty.


All car manufacturers have mechanical issues that have led to accidents. Which ones have filled the most cemetaries? Is that a comparison you want to make? Because I'm guessing that's one competition American car companies could win.

I'm all for American cars competing, so long as they do it based on their own merits rather than
undermining the competition. If they build it we will come...

[Omaha Steve]

5. Had Toyota not delayed a recall for several months in the USA after it did so in other countries...

like Canada I wouldn't have an agenda.

So you work for Toyota? :-)

[Dover]

7. No my issues and concerns are much broader. The American auto industry has betrayed this country

and the planet by being enablers for big oil which is a disaster environmentally as well
as an unhealthy dependancy that fuels unnecessary wars and foreign policy failures.
They chose short term profits over long term vision and innovation that actually might have lifted and propelled us all forward in important ways. Profit-only weights and measures do not translate into progress, and they and other dinosaur industries have demonstrated that at great cost to everyone. They are an impediment to progress rather than leaders.

Toyota was on the right track, regardless of the problems. So the way I weigh and measure things, they were and are ultimately doing much more good than harm.

[blue_onyx]

8. You can't be serious?

What do you think Toyota's vehicles run on....water vapor?

Seriously, what has Toyota's done to make typically rational people worship the company? Toyota is a corporation and doesn't care about you.

[Nihil]

6. "Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light ..."

...
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad go-faster stripes and bright stars lights thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts showrooms we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's Pinto's red glare, the bombs tyres bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag car was still there."

:patriot: :rofl:

[Romulox]

9. You can always tell who drives a Toyota, because they come to these threads with hurt feelings.

The salesperson undeniably told you that everyone would think you are smart for buying a Toyota, but now everyone looks at you and laughs--as if you are stupid for owning a Toyota!

It's just not fair!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbxzAgYL98A&feature=related

[Omaha Steve]

10. Nailed it

But just when was this cutting edge so good? The 96 camry was recalled. Early 2000 was the sludge class action settelment. In 2010 their VP wrote we must come clean. So they retired him. This last week one of their lawyers bailed out. It is a long list.