Comments for Sam Barer's Four Wheel Drift

Comment on Toyota Avalon Transmission Problems Expose Toyota’s Problem Reporting Problems by Bill

Bill — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:22:56 +0000

Just read the article about the transmission problem with my Toyota Avalon. Thank God! I thought I was the only one with the problem. I talked to the Service Rep at the dealership who said they had an update to the software to fix the problem. He lied. Problem still exists. I’ve tried everything to eleviate the problem including driving in the S mode and manually downshifting. I now drive in S mode when I’m in stop-and-go traffic. It does seem to help a little. But I’m probably ruining my transmission. I’m for the Class Action Suit, so deal me in.

Comment on The New King…Make That New -Queen- Of Collector Car Trivia by suemason

suemason — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:47:50 +0000

Thanks, Edmund for redressing the balance.
Tom Cahill had probably never baked a cake and taken it out of the oven too soon. I have and still do, some forty two years down the married road.

But now I dont spend time baking cakes, I blog about Jowetts.

http://www.jowett.wordpress.com

Comment on The New King…Make That New -Queen- Of Collector Car Trivia by Edmund Nankivell

Edmund Nankivell — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:37:51 +0000

I have known of Tom McCahill’s review of a Jupiter (not a Javelin) and it is quite hilarious. The Jupiter’s successes in 1951 competition including a great rally and race win in the USA, say it all. No other answer needed.
Class win Le Mans 1950-51-52. Class 1-2 Monte Carlo Rally 1951. Class 1-2 at the RAC-TT Race at Dundrod over 4 hours. Outright win of the Lisbon International Rally. Outright win of the lake FCCA Tahoe Rally in California. George Weaver’s win at Watkins Glen Sports Car race in an R1.

Comment on Toyota Avalon Transmission Problems Expose Toyota’s Problem Reporting Problems by Al Turner

Al Turner — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:41:59 +0000

We test drove a 2006 Avalon and did not buy it because of this problem. We went to Toyota because of the service we’ve had with our 1997 Camry which we still have. We have since bought a 2009 Camry XLE based on our experience with the ‘97. When asked about the abruptness (not severe, but there) of the accelerator the dealer said it was “drive by wire” so was not quite as smooth as a direct linkage. I didn’t like the idea, but we had already bought the car. That was a year ago and no problem so far. I have a strong suspicion that the current “floor mat” problem is actually a drive by wire problem which Toyota is not willing to admit since it appears to be ongoing and thy have no immediate solution. I have thoroughly inspected my floor mat installation and it is a real stretch (literally) to imagine it getting on top of the accelerator. I realize that some people are not particularly tidy, as reflected in the way they keep their cars, but a floor mat on top of the pedal would be rare even for those people. My vote goes to the drive by wire system as the actual culprit causing the wreck in California that prompted the recall.

Comment on So Long To Saturn — Its Rings Not Worth A Thing by David Zarkin

David Zarkin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:37:10 +0000

GM has always been a den of intrigue and the GM execs in the early days undermined the Saturn effort despite Roger Smith’s good intentions. What is massively amusing is that Saturn’s Aura may have been named for Emperor Ming’s daughter Aura in the Flash Gordon movie serial of 1934. You have to be old to comprehend the GM Flash Gordon connection but I love it. Keep up the good work. You are a hell of a great writer.
Also we had the electric car years ago and they were cheap except the extension cord cost $3,000.

Comment on Toyota Avalon Transmission Problems Expose Toyota’s Problem Reporting Problems by Phil Daniell

Phil Daniell — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:41:39 +0000

Mine is a 2007 Avalon Limited which I purchased new. Now two years and 25K miles old. Since day one tranny slips or “seeks” after slowing to 10 to 15 mph, and then asking for power. Dealer, MY TOYOTA in Muskegon, Michigan. Service Mgr told me, “live with it.” and mechanic told me it would learn my driving. I described the problem on the Q’aire the Co sent me after the purchase. Did not hear back.

Comment on Toyota Avalon Transmission Problems Expose Toyota’s Problem Reporting Problems by Kris

Kris — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:00:15 +0000

I have a 2004 Sienna XLE and the VSC keeps coming on. The first time they replaced the chip then they replaced a sensor and now ??? Anybody having these problems. They have hooked it up to their computer and they have no codes. If anyone is having problems please let me know…..

Comment on About “Sam Barer’s Four Wheel Drift” by Darrell Witten

Darrell Witten — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:53:41 +0000

I read the article on the 2006 Toyota Avalon transmission problem and have had issues as well on a car with less than 25000 miles. I believe a followup article is warranted.

Comment on Electric Car Ideas That Are Bound To Fail by amigaboy

amigaboy — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:44:14 +0000

Ah, los coches electricos – my comments to this would be:

1) for the immediate and likely forseeable future, longer-range isn’t viable. To me, the best compromise is ‘in-town’ electric commuter type car (which would arguably have the best impact because most people’s car use is very short range and local) – take out those emissions and you have a decent whack off the pollution take;

2) stricter regulation of power plant emissions (to address where the electricity ultimately comes from) along with NO nukes, and more investment (both installation and R&D long term) in alternative energy generation – if we spent probably 20% of the $$, war effort and car/highway subsidy we currently blow on conventional tech on alternative energy research and infrastructure we’d have been there looooong ago;

3) alterna-fuels such as biodiesel (there are non-food oil sources here, and they can be grown locally – it’s already in the works) – which work with long-established tech (diesel engines) together with stricter emissions on gas engines (which despite the perpetual whining from most notably the American car industry – does in fact drive innovation – talk to Honda about the CVCC engine in the late 70s/early 80s, for example – mult-valve engines for more complete combustion – there are a lot of other such examples if US car execs pull their head out of their whiny ostrich holes…

4) simply drive less, and when you do drive, pack more errands into the driving! Everyone can do that one with simply THINKING and about 10 sec. of planning? Not rocket science

I agree that hybrids are a ‘feel good’ tech at best – and I stil wonder what all those used-car lots are going to do when there’s a lot more of them on the market at 80-100K miles? Hopefully all those batteries aren’t ending up in the dump – that would be as bad as the current lame practices around shipping computer waste on barges to Africa..

amigaboy

Comment on Color Me Crazy – The Best and Worst Paint Names by Wayne A

Wayne A — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:55:19 +0000

This post reminds of the movie “Joe Dirt”. He was looking at a auto trader and he couldn’t believe they would let a charger go that was Plum Crazy Purple. I had a good laugh reading some of the other names that were used also.