Too stupid to own a Prius?
03-10-2010 | 11:55 AM
#17
Thread Starter
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 12,008
Likes: 97
From: Hyde Park, NY
Next time I get pulled over, I'm going to use that excuse.... "Sir, I pulled you over for doing 120 in a 65."
"I know you did officer - I didn't want to go that fast, this stupid 911 just accelerated, practically by itself, to that speed. I didn't know what to do, so I just carefully held the wheel with both hands and tried to avoid the slower cars. Thank goodness you came along to save me!"
Think the guy called 911 at 90 MPH with his "hands free" phone?
03-10-2010 | 12:06 PM
#19
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
From: YUL
03-10-2010 | 12:30 PM
#20
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,632
Likes: 15
From: Apex, NC
The story was suspicious from the start.
How far did he travel at that speed during that amount of time? Can you really fly down the freeway, even out east of San Diego, for all that distance, at that speed, in a car with poor handling? No traffic? No trucks passing each other? For 40 or 50 miles? Please.
This is clearly a scam.
How far did he travel at that speed during that amount of time? Can you really fly down the freeway, even out east of San Diego, for all that distance, at that speed, in a car with poor handling? No traffic? No trucks passing each other? For 40 or 50 miles? Please.
This is clearly a scam.
03-10-2010 | 12:34 PM
#21
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,422
Likes: 1
From: 91x15
The story was suspicious from the start.
How far did he travel at that speed during that amount of time? Can you really fly down the freeway, even out east of San Diego, for all that distance, at that speed, in a car with poor handling? No traffic? No trucks passing each other? For 40 or 50 miles? Please.
This is clearly a scam.
How far did he travel at that speed during that amount of time? Can you really fly down the freeway, even out east of San Diego, for all that distance, at that speed, in a car with poor handling? No traffic? No trucks passing each other? For 40 or 50 miles? Please.
This is clearly a scam.
03-10-2010 | 12:41 PM
#22
Parts Specialist
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Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 16,326
Likes: 24
Reporters say the driver was "all smiles" as the tow truck loaded the car onto the flatbed. The driver said as soon as the tank was re-fill he would re-investigate the problem on the same wide open stretch of highway
03-10-2010 | 01:19 PM
#23
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 3
From: CURRENT: Audi TT / Audi A3
I don't drive cars with automatic transmissions, so forgive me if this question sounds silly:
Can an automatic transmission actually be shifted into neutral while the car is travelling at 94 MPH? Please don't jump to a conclusion and answer "yes" unless you really know. Don't make assumptions.
I'm thinking that MAYBE there could be an interlock that prevents an "accidental" shift into neutral in a car with automatic transmission while the car is being driven at high speed. Such an accidental shift, without a concurrent lifting of the drver's foot from the gas pedal, would suddenly increase RPMs to the point of harming the engine; hence, the interlock.
Does anyone here know for sure?
Can an automatic transmission actually be shifted into neutral while the car is travelling at 94 MPH? Please don't jump to a conclusion and answer "yes" unless you really know. Don't make assumptions.
I'm thinking that MAYBE there could be an interlock that prevents an "accidental" shift into neutral in a car with automatic transmission while the car is being driven at high speed. Such an accidental shift, without a concurrent lifting of the drver's foot from the gas pedal, would suddenly increase RPMs to the point of harming the engine; hence, the interlock.
Does anyone here know for sure?
Last edited by VGM911; 03-10-2010 at 01:37 PM.
03-10-2010 | 01:40 PM
#25
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 999
Likes: 30
From: Houston, TX
I don't drive cars with automatic transmissions, so forgive me if this question sounds silly:
Can an automatic transmission actually be shifted into neutral while the car is travelling at 94 MPH? Please don't jump to a conclusion and answer "yes" unless you really know. Don't make assumptions.
I'm thinking that MAYBE there could be an interlock that prevents an "accidental" shift into neutral in a car with automatic transmission while the car is being driven at high speed. Such an accidental shift, without a concurrent lifting of the drver's foot from the gas pedal, would suddenly increase RPMs to the point of harming the engine; hence, the interlock.
Does anyone here know for sure?
Can an automatic transmission actually be shifted into neutral while the car is travelling at 94 MPH? Please don't jump to a conclusion and answer "yes" unless you really know. Don't make assumptions.
I'm thinking that MAYBE there could be an interlock that prevents an "accidental" shift into neutral in a car with automatic transmission while the car is being driven at high speed. Such an accidental shift, without a concurrent lifting of the drver's foot from the gas pedal, would suddenly increase RPMs to the point of harming the engine; hence, the interlock.
Does anyone here know for sure?
03-10-2010 | 02:00 PM
#26
Race Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,978
Likes: 8
From: San Antonio, TX
We all laugh at this but it happened to me....in a way more powerful car......my 500hp 911!
I drove straight from work to the drag strip which is about 30 minutes away because I put in a new clutch and wanted to see how it would do. I teched the car and went straight into the staging lanes.
I quickly got to run and did. When I got to the traps (the end where the light/sensors are at) I let off......but the car kept pulling like a freight train.
BTW, you have to know my car has a HUGE turbo on it built for top speeds, it wasn't close to being done with 4th gear.
Anyways, when I let of and the car kept pulling, I panicked and smashed the clutch in and the brakes. My car doenst have ABS anymore (different calipers and rotors)......the car violently took a different direction as all 4 tires locked up!
I was clocked at 118MPH.
Right after I **** myself, I reached for the keys on the right side of the steering column. Well guess what? I'm driving a Porsche!
I found the key on the left side, turned off the motor, and coasted off the track.
What I discovered is the throttle pedal has a bellcrank behind it that had is worn out and would snag the sheetmetal on the floor board!
I bent the **** out of the sheetmetal so it would never happen again.
Don't laugh, it was freakin' scary!!!
I drove straight from work to the drag strip which is about 30 minutes away because I put in a new clutch and wanted to see how it would do. I teched the car and went straight into the staging lanes.
I quickly got to run and did. When I got to the traps (the end where the light/sensors are at) I let off......but the car kept pulling like a freight train.
BTW, you have to know my car has a HUGE turbo on it built for top speeds, it wasn't close to being done with 4th gear.
Anyways, when I let of and the car kept pulling, I panicked and smashed the clutch in and the brakes. My car doenst have ABS anymore (different calipers and rotors)......the car violently took a different direction as all 4 tires locked up!
I was clocked at 118MPH.
Right after I **** myself, I reached for the keys on the right side of the steering column. Well guess what? I'm driving a Porsche!
I found the key on the left side, turned off the motor, and coasted off the track.
What I discovered is the throttle pedal has a bellcrank behind it that had is worn out and would snag the sheetmetal on the floor board!
I bent the **** out of the sheetmetal so it would never happen again.
Don't laugh, it was freakin' scary!!!
03-10-2010 | 02:17 PM
#27
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,727
Likes: 5
From: Cali
Yep, even the CHP officer who unfortunately lost his life with the Lexus loaner, also in San Diego, didn't put it in neutral.
The first thing that came to mind also is... "Put the f'in thing in neutral!" He was afraid it would flip if he put it in neutral but he had the guts to call 911 while barreling down the freeway at 90mph, swerving and changing lanes to avoid hitting other cars.
WTF? Stupid is as stupid does.
The first thing that came to mind also is... "Put the f'in thing in neutral!" He was afraid it would flip if he put it in neutral but he had the guts to call 911 while barreling down the freeway at 90mph, swerving and changing lanes to avoid hitting other cars.
WTF? Stupid is as stupid does.
03-10-2010 | 02:42 PM
#28
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,356
Likes: 801
From: Sarasota, FL
No. The Prius guy had his problem on the same stretch as a different asian guy who was in a Lexus RX loaner that ended up rolling and bursting into flames. If only he had known a simple flick of your wrist into neutral would have saved his family's life. 
03-10-2010 | 03:50 PM
#29
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 3
From: CURRENT: Audi TT / Audi A3
The media accords him great credibility...they love anyone who can "testify" to a death-defying problem with a Toyota. Everything he said seemed to be accepted unconditionally and without question.
