mark kibort

want proof on how good the rear of the 928 is? watch the video of Anderson getting hit from behind at las vegas back in 2000. (and he had no bumper in there as well!)

mk

fabric

We don't have an inflated spare tire, so we don't have that portion of it. I would also wonder how it all fits together with the spare tire being next to the gas tank, which extends further back than the tire, I believe. The spare tire is also awfully high in the 928 compared to where the full size spare in most cars is.

Tom in Austin

You think lawyers second-guessing you on having the spare present (and properly installed) is bad ... have you heard about the new generation of auto computers that store speed and other variables? I've read of these data being sought in court proceedings to help in assigning fault and damages. How long before some device queries the computer in your car and sends you a speeding ticket?

Why in the hell do the mfgrs push this Orwellian stuff out without telling anyone? It's your car, you paid for it, if you knew they were slipping you this stuff you'd buy from someone else, right?

Mike Frye

Tom,

+1.

In NJ you can get a ticket from the state if EZPass shows you going from one toll to another in less time than you could make it doing the speed limit.

No EZ Pass for me, stay out of my checking account and you gotta catch me breakin' the law to give me a ticket.

Leslie 928 S2

+2!!
Mike, Darn tootin!! Can I get an amen?


Leslie

Incendier

Not to hijack and certainly not to defend...

...but there's some reason for the Orwellian features of new cars, at least sport cars. All Porsche vehicles from the 9x6 generation on record ignition range data, so that they can determine for warranty purposes whether the failure was the fault of the vehicle, or whether the synchros are folded like that because some wannabe track star got into second at 120 when he was looking for fourth. Ignition range two (four/five in newer cars) is recorded due to mechanical overrev. Trips to the rev limiter are also recorded (range 1 in older cars, ranges 1-3 in newer ones).

The technology likely wouldn't be necessary if some owners were honest. I can't count the number of claimed "warranty" engines and transmissions that show several thousand ignitions in mechanical overrev. That's a long time...and transmissions and motors are expensive.

If you really wanna get your panties in a twist, ask what the airbag module records if you crash...

Leslie 928 S2

Okay, I'm asking...?
Thanks,
Leslie

Incendier

...heh, I had a feeling.

I can't honestly tell you because they don't tell. It's encrypted - it comes out as a massive string of hex data - and when it's retrieved it's sent off in a black helicopter... That says something right there - it's a secret

*big f'n disclaimer* I do not know how much or if any of this is true. Because, obviously, it's encrypted and I'm not a Porsche engineer.

Somewhat reliable rumor has it that it's everything about what you and the vehicle were doing (accel/brake/lateral accel/steering angle/engine conditions/etc.), recorded on a loop basis (airplane "black box" style), so that you are recorded from many moments prior to deployment.

It puts one on the same fence as the other situation. I sure would like to know how fast the moron who hit me was going, but I sure would not like to have the same data retrived if I'm the moron.

Which I probably am.

Leslie 928 S2

Yikes. That sux.

I have an air bag in my 98 Durango...is this thing gonna tattle on me, or is it (please god) too old to have this feature?

Thanks for the bad news...I think.



Best,
Leslie

(Mike, apologies for the hijack... )

auzivision

New? Not exactly. If you were born when these first came out, you would be old enough to legally drink in the States.

If your car has air bags, it more than like has some sort of memory (Throttle position, Speed, Impact sensor readings). These were built in to protect manufactures against potential lawsuits for air bags firing (or misfiring).

It is rather scary that big brother has the potential to obtain this data. Just wait one day you’ll be ordering pizza and you conversation might go like this:

http://www.aclu.org/pizza/images/screen.swf

Jim bailey - 928 International

Just a quick FYI " Car giant General Motors is facing a lawsuit claiming that it has violated privacy laws by installing black box recorders in its vehicles to record information about speed, braking and seat belt use in the moments leading up to a crash, reports Bloomberg.

The suit claims that the world's largest car company failed to tell motorists about the existence of the recorders, saying the devices are aimed solely at helping to design safer cars and to help investigators in accident reconstruction. GM is alleged to have failed to inform motorists about the existence of the devices or what they do, amounting to an invasion of privacy.

Eight 1999 US models are listed in the complaint: the Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro; the Pontiac Firebird; the Cadillac DeVille, El Dorado, and Seville; and the Buick Century and Park Avenue.

The modules in the Cadillac DeVille also record speed, engine RPM, brake and throttle data.

"We think that our collection and use of the data is legal and appropriate," said a GM spokesperson. "When accidents occur, the device is providing a level of precision that you may not have otherwise in a crash situation."

"Our policy is that we have to get the vehicle owner's permission," they added. "If the owner requests it, they can get a copy of downloaded data."

"In most instances, the recording has been taking place without the owners ever knowing about it," said a lawyer for the plaintiff, one Sherry Valan. "It raises very troubling questions about informed consent."

The lawsuit also alleges that GM also has used the data against at least one car owner to defend a product liability suit. ® " So looks like this has been going on for at least the last EIGHT YEARS or so which pretty much makes it a DONE DEAL ...

nosnow

Depending on the year a whole host of information can be gathered from the central computer. Have to admit I don't like my car to tattle but here is some of the items you can gather off of certain makes.... GM is the biggest offender but the rest are quickly following suit, blame the laywers.

Info that can be gathered from a late model GM
- speed
- what stage of airbag went off (multi stage cars)
- seat position
- how many g
- amount of braking force
- whether seat belt is worn
- acceleration
- past 60 - 120 seconds of data (ie acceleration, trans gear, rpm)
- I am not sure if it is an option or standard for onstar equiped vehicles to call for emergency services if airbags deploy

ew928

Bet Audi was kicking themselves that they didn't have the "Black Box" tech in the Audi 5000/100 in the "Sudden Acceleration" days.

I swear. My foot was planted firmly on the brakes when it drove through the garage door . . .


Now where were we? Oh yes. So does the spare factor into a rear crush zone scenario? Isn't it about the right height as the bumper. Probably a coincidence since the battery weighs much more and them engineers wanted it waaaay low.
And it would truly suck to have to remove the battery to get to the spare in the middle of a cold dark snowy night.

Ernest (NYC)

SharkSkin

Mike, you need to let some air out of those tires -- didn't you see the recent tire pressure thread?