CNN faked reporting about the Prius brakes?...

I just think if your going to re-enact a phone call to Toyota Customer Service you might as well make it more exciting.

Something more like the opening scene in "Scream".

Jessica: I've noticed a condition with my Prius Brakes....

Muffled Phone Voice: Do you like scary movies?

 

Very true. It is so unfortunate that in this era of 24/7 news there is a constant stream of opinion and commentary used just to fill airtime, as much in support of ratings rather than hard, useful information. The days of Walter Cronkite are long gone.

It also seems to me that ever since 9/11, the whole issue of American security, in all its forms, and what can or should be done about it has taken on an extra dimension, to the extent that it always appears to be one of the first items covered on any news broadcast. We are becoming a more fearful and paranoid nation as a result.

 

OMG! Lock your doors and "Stab" your Power Button for a full 3 seconds!

 

"Power down, and STEP AWAY FROM THE CAR!"

Tom

 

What amazes me is the way people eat this shit up. (not going to apologize for that obscenity, because it's the only word that fits)

It amazes me that people get so worked up about things which have a miniscule chance of killing you, while remaining totally oblivious to things like cancer and drunk drivers... And more than that, they get off on being scared, and the weirder, more obscure the danger is, the more they get off on it.

Same applies to all the pundits on "news" channels - the weirder their spin, the more obscure their "facts", the more unhinged their "logic", the more people seem to enjoy it. Does it make these people feel superior to think they know something that most others have never even considered because it's so insanely paranoid as to be virtually impossible?

 

I saw Wolf Blitzer trying to get Steve Wozniak say there was a problem with his Prius. He asked (in full Blitzer gravitas voice) "you're driving along, you put your car let's say at 55 miles an hour in cruise control, and all of a sudden the car accelerates, and you didn't do anything?" "No, no," said Steve. "It's just that if I hit the cruise control 3 times at 85 mph, it starts to speed up until I touch the brake. I told Toyota because I thought it might be a bug." Blitzer tried and tried to create drama but Woz kept saying it was no big deal, but he loves his Pria and he'd found a reproduceable bug so he wanted to let them know because it might be related to other issues.

 

This thread is making me LOL. It is so bad it is funny!

 

I think the fact still remains that Toyota was initially aware of customer concerns, and chose to ignore it, or push it back on the consumer. I don't think this is in dispute. For me anyway, and as least as far as the Prius is concerned, this is not so much an issue with fixing a perceived problem, but is an issue with Toyota customer service and it's overall image as it impacts our re-sale value.

Anybody ever call corporate Toyota? I did prior to taking delivery of my prius back in August (not on the braking issue, but on something else). Probably the most frsutrating expereince I have gone through in a very long time. As this CNN reporter found out, they were NOT there to help me/you or this CNN reporter, but to make the process difficult enough that they just hoped you/me/this reporter would simply go away.

That said, there is one thing this reporter should have done (I learned this a LONG time ago with other cars I've had)...when I have a problem that's not easily reproduced, or only I know how to make it happen...I absolutley INSIST that I go for a test drive with either the service manager, or the mechanic who will be looking at my car. I then drive the car to make my issue/problem happen so that they can hear it, and see under what circumstances it happens. Simply telling the mechanic something like this, usually never gets the problem corrected...and I end up having to come back. Sometimes multiple times.

Finally, this reporter did say one thing that resonated with me, and I think it's something Toyota could/should have done through it's dealerships, or even hiring a 3rd party answering service. Toyota (directly, or indirectly), should have called (or emailed) owners of affected vehicles to assure them the problem would be addressed, etc...rather than letting owners have to read about it in the news. Yes, i realize that's a lot of email's and/ or calls, but IMO, that's how Toyota should have handled it, and had they done so, probably wouldn't be quite in the same mess they are in right now. I think it's now perfectly clear that Toyota was not pro-active and did little to help those with complaints and concerns, because Toyota underestimated this entire issue, and thought this too would quickly blow over. But it didn't, and now they're getting beat up over it, with MUCH more to come during the 3 different Congressional hearings in a few weeks.

Unfortunately, it's owners like you and i that will also feel the fallout from Toyota's handling of this mess...as our re-sale/residual values continues to fall.

 

hockeydad,

Your incessant complaint of how Toyota could have done this or that (and bringing up a thread that hasn't really been discussed in a couple days) is getting old and tiresome.

 

Then don't read. Simple. Me thinks you, like Toyota, want to supress those that would speak out. The attitude is one of - "OK folks, you've seen enough, now move along". Not gonna work in this age of the internet. The story will die when the media jackels have feasted enough, and not before. So buckle your seat belt until then.

Please note - I did NOT start this thread, but will repond to those that don't think there's a problem, or think the problem mainly lies with the media. Yes, the media is hyping this - A LOT - but that's what they do...hype and sensationalize. Many reporters are sharks, and will feed on a dead carcass until the next breaking story arrives. IMO, much of the hype could have been easily avoided had Toyota gotten out in front of this (a common phrase often used here in Washington - ie, get out in front, and direct/lead where the PR is going). Toyota chose to do little, and now the media is leading this...who's to blame for toyota's inactions?

When I start new thread, after new thread on an old topic...then you can complain.

 

Which reminds me of the Vicar's wife who was a stripper...
BBC - Nottingham stripper vicar wife regrets nothing