16th Dec 2009, 13:58
Well this is quite interesting... a stunt driving therapist who can drive more safely at 150mph than the average male can at 40mph.. it sounds like a bad sitcom to me.
Now can we get back to discussing automobiles?
It seems as if you all have just found something else to get off track about.
16th Dec 2009, 16:47
How about new car bodies damaged at some car plants by robotic issues and malfunctions? And then redone and back to paint. And ones damaged in transport to the dealerships as well.
17th Dec 2009, 07:50
How many people need to drive any Toyota beyond 40 mph on a test drive? It's likely cupholders headroom and legroom. And mpg. I like driving so my consideration is more oriented into that aspect as well as far better styling and warranty than offered by Toyota or Honda.
17th Dec 2009, 11:13
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steven@carsurvey.org
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I think it's safe to say that this discussion about how best to test drive a car has run its productive course.
I'd appreciate it if people could resist the urge to pursue this discussion further, as it will almost certainly just result in a lot of repetition and inflammatory language. The important points about thoroughly testing the car, and the need to drive responsibly and within the law have been more than adequately made.
Steven Jackson, CSDO Media Limited.
13th Jan 2011, 04:44
I own the 2010 Corolla, and same things happen. The gas pedal somehow doesn't feel right. You can't really control the throttle. Sometimes it jumps, sometimes it has some delays. The steering wheel is too light weight, it's handy when parking, but not at high speed. You can adjust the steering weight if you want to.
21st Jan 2012, 13:32
Yes, let's blame the workers, they're only a tool for lackluster leadership. The Camry has been made in the US for years. It seems only now they are getting worse. Maybe they bit off more than they could chew, as far as gaining market share, or got lazy. The leaders are paid to be in charge and head off quality and other problems. Seems to me that's were the blame should go.
16th Dec 2009, 13:13
This whole statement only reinforces the point that there is NO NEED to test drive a car so abusively in order to get an accurate feel for how it is going to drive in the real world within the laws of traffic. "I DON'T generally break laws regarding traffic safety, nor do I endorse such behavior." Your statement.... "except on a test drive in someone else's car"... you should have added.
If you are so adamant about following the law and putting no one at risk, then why is this kind of abuse on a new car a "proper" test drive?
Plus, stunt driver or not, sliding up a ramp at 105 mph in a car you aren't familiar with is STILL unsafe. What if a deer jumped the rail in front of you? Crazy? maybe, but at that speed you'd have crashed for sure. You will never convince me that this type of behavior in a street driven car is necessary or using good judgement. Leave the hard testing to the pros in the magazines who have access to race tracks and such in order to do it safely. Also, they get permission from the car suppliers to run the cars to their limits.
Tell me this, how would you feel, as a dealer, if people were out beating on your cars to the breaking point and then coming back asking for another car to do the same to? Would you appreciate carrying insurance on people that drive 40 mph over the speed limit on test drives with your employees in the car? Who do you think is going to get sued if that salesman dies in a crash? These are all things you should be thinking about here, doing things in a car that you shouldn't be doing at ANY TIME anyhow.
Look at the other side of this too. What if the 5 people that drove the car before you bought it all did the same and suddenly you had engine issues or tranny failure because of improper break-in. That'd be great wouldn't it? Yes, cars don't need a 1,000 mile soft driven break-in period these days, but redlining it and speed shifting through the gears is not going to be very good for a brand new car of ANY make or model.
You should really reconsider why you buy certain types of cars and rethink your purposes for being on the road. Getting from point A to point B is most important, not the ability to do power slides and go well over 100 mph. Unfortunately driving is a right in this country instead of a hard earned privilege. More people would stay alive if the latter were true.