Moan, moan, moan----get it off your chest or have a chat

[Lori S.]

While I would not want to experience such a thing as John did, it doesn't seem justified to look askance at Toyotas, particularly, in this regard.  Despite the media assassination of Toyota, here's some food for thought - Toyota ranks 17th down in the list of alleged* incidences of "unintended acceleration" complaints...
http://www.autoobserver.com/2010/02/toyota-ranks-17th-for-nhtsa-customer-complaints-edmundscom-analysis-shows.html

*Oh, there's a word the media seems to have ceased to use, preferring instead to report anything and everything "straight from the horse's mouth", without verification or research.  

[Maggi Young]

Crumbs, Lori,  I thought for a moment that there were all sorts of cars careering around like John's  vehicle... but on  closer inspection of your 'alleged' poll of
"alleged incidences of "unintended acceleration" " I see that this appears to be a list of all complaints about car types, not just of the unintended acceleration problem.

John... then the incident is doubly awful.Even luckier than I thought that you are in a fit state to be annoyed!

[johnw]

John... then the incident is doubly awful.Even luckier than I thought that you are in a fit state to be annoyed!

My previous Matrix was bought by a colleague at work.  She also bought the car I had before that - a Toyota Sienna - and still has it.  That car had a checkered background, the spare tire suddenly dropped off the under-carriage in the midst of heavy high speed traffic. I didn't know why there was chaos behind me that day, I knew something mighty large was crashing underneath.  I was told the incident was a fluke.  Now the Sienna is in on a recall for that very reason. Toyota told me I had to get a replacement donut tire as a standard tire was too large.  A donut tire is $700 ($900 installed / balanced etc inc. taxes) so I went without for more than a year. One day I went in for servicing and a new attendant said that car does not take a donut tire!  When Jens Nielsen was here we all got locked in it and couldn't get out - something to do with the electrics of the sliding door  - we were about to climb out the windows when the locks popped up.

The VW bug was my first car, a VW will be my next though the Toyotas never had engine or transmission problems. Every car has a good story if you live to tell it.

johnw

[Lori S.]

Mea culpa, Maggi -  I should have read it more carefully.  I hereby swear off expressing an opinion on any controversial subject, plant-related or not! 

[Anthony Darby]

John, I thought you Canadians spelled words like 'tyre' correctly?

[Maggi Young]

Mea culpa, Maggi -  I should have read it more carefully.  I hereby swear off expressing an opinion on any controversial subject, plant-related or not! 

Just sprinkle "allegedly" through any post, Lori, that should cover you! 

[Lesley Cox]

Mea culpa, Maggi -  I should have read it more carefully.  I hereby swear off expressing an opinion on any controversial subject, plant-related or not! 

Me too Lori, I'm always landing in hot water.

[johnw]

As you might guess Toyota blames the mat.  I have a meeting with the big wigs tomorrow.   If you see smoke on the horizon it's not Eyjafjoell.  How can the spring mechanism in the pedal not counteract the weight of a relatively light mat on the floor?  The mat is not bolted to the floor. Argh!

johnw

[Lesley Cox]

But here I go again though. I was interested to hear the speech this morning of the new UK Prime Minister, both thoughtful and rousing and calculated to bring all Brits to their feet cheering at the good governance to come. He (forgotten his name already) talked about getting things done and doing them honorably, retstoring trust in the political system etc. Then, cynic that I am, wondered how long it would be until it was realized here was a full and tempting trough into which their political noses could be pushed.

[Lesley Cox]

Best wishes for your meeting John, and congratulations for spelling out the name of Iceland's volcano. Not a single one of our radio or TV commentators or newsreaders has had the courage to attempt to pronounce it. But nor have I.

[Anthony Darby]

Actually Lesley, it is Eyjafjallajokull, and apparently it is pronounced like this  

[Maggi Young]

I'm not convinced by that rendition of the name, Anthony..... I heard Anna Magnusson (daughter of Magnus, sister of Sally) repeating it on the radio the other morning and it wasn't like that!!Her Icelandic connections are pretty good so I was prepared to believe her! Not that I could say it myself, you understand    

[arisaema]

Come on, guys, it's not that bad... What about Tetaumata­whakatangihanga­koaua­o­tamatea-urehaeaturipuka­pihimaunga­horo­nuku­pokaiwhenuaa­kitana­rahu on New Zealand or Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch?

[Lesley Cox]

Well the link Anthony gave me won't open at all so even Wikipedia is having difficulties. Re the Maori name from NZ, it is just a matter of phonetics really so not too difficult and even I can say gogogoch (as in loch, not lock)

I have only just learned to cope with the Finnish names of both the Concert Master and the Conductor of NZ Symphony Orchestra, both really nice guys, as I discovered recently over a glass of wine.

[Anthony Darby]

If you can ignore the moronic ad at the start, this is much more better: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/pronounce-eyjafjallajokull-10392613

Now to start learning Māori!