Ya know Real, I don't think I've met anybody so screwed up in my life. But just for you so MAYBE you can see the light. How about we go back to the ways of old and screw the gas throttle being controlled by a servo under the hood that can and will malfunction and go back to linkage. Yeah, what a concept! Yer foot is actually pushing on something that controls the gas and air going into the engine....like days of old. And guess what, they never had a malfunction in the millions of cars made like that. Just like the F-150's of just a few years ago, you don't have to worry about redundant systems, just push on the gas when you want to go and let up when you don't want power. Next, we can go back to linkage controlled transmission shifting. You can take it out of gear at any speed when ever you want. And because linkage is dirt cheap, you can save a bunch on the cost of the unit. Gee, what an idea! Safety and cheaper. Gosh, I should get a job in the industry. Think you can figure out the electric steering from here?

 

I vote we go the aircraft route and put in a reduntant systems. And just incase both systems fail they should install ejection seats!

 

Every vehicle should be manual transmission. This way it weeds out the people that shouldn't be behind the wheel of dangerous machinery.

 

You really do think it requires an exceptional skill to drive a standard, don't you?

 

Yes. Today's kids don't know what a clutch is let alone can't put down a cell phone, Micky D's, and their lipstick.

 

The insults are uncalled for. Let's not make an honest discussion personal. I know you and I have different political views but that doesn't mean you have to turn every little discussion into a ***** waving match.

Maybe we should just go back to horse drawn buggies. That would be very romantic!

That's just not true. My brothers best friend rolled his 1960 something VW Beetle years ago after the gas pedal stuck going downhill on a curve. And I doubt that was the only accident from stuck accelerators. Let's Google it from 1990-1995 and see if the "old-fashioned" way is completely safe (as you claim):

http://news.google.com/archivesearch...ge=1996%2C2010

Ooops! What do you know! This problem has been around long before accelerate by wire systems took over. Time to wake up that rusty old thinking noggin' called a brain.


Whatever. I don't consider myself an anti-technology luddite but you seem to take odd pleasure in it.

Well, you better get back to your wood-cutting, those gas furnaces with electronic controls are dangerous!

 

So Lab nerd can't wave his ***** but you can wave yours?

The reason car makers are going with drive by wire and other computer controlled system is simple. Its the only way they can meet current and future emissions standards. You can't meet those type of emissions and still have the HP that we love with out computers. 20 years ago you never heard of a V6 making 30 MPG and still has 300HP. Hell even 5 years ago that was unheard of.

 

I stand corrected. But now I'm not sure it was a Spectrum. I could have swarn it was a Toyota built Chevy. Maybe it was the Nova. Either way it was a total POS. I think it was my brothers first new car.

 

Real, what part don't you get about it not being about "stuck accelerators" ? That's a smoke screen to detract from the real problem just like Audi did years ago. Have you listened to any of the 1st. hand accounts by people who have experienced the "E ticket ride"? I have not heard a single one who said "I was driving along and let off of the gas and my accelerator stuck". Every one that I have heard 1st hand has said that the vehicle accelerated out of control on it's own. That's not a stuck accelerator in any man's world. It's a purposeful play on words to change the perception in peoples mind as to what has actually happened so that they can say the driver evidently made some mistake... his or her fault, not ours, just like Audi did.

 

ManualF150,

I think you are right. I cringe every time I take my Mustang to the car wash, as I see all the staff just staring at it wondering who can drive a manual far enoug to get it into the car wash and back out to get detailed. Of course driving a manual with that kind of horsepower is a little different than granma's Honda. First gear is a little tricky!

I think all people should at least learn how to drive with a manual transmission. At least they'd have the skill if needed.

 

I was responding directly to Labnerd who said, " Yer foot is actually pushing on something that controls the gas and air going into the engine....like days of old. And guess what, they never had a malfunction in the millions of cars made like that.

Read the Google link I provided above. You will find out that the old fashioned way has it's own safety issues. Labnerd is not facing reality if he believes the old "direct" system was completely safe and fool-proof.