A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article on BestCashCow that Toyota is entering a death spiral. I continue to think that Toyota's problems are real and are just beginning. Their refusal to address the sudden acceleration issue as an electronics problem - instead opting to satiate customers by moving the pedals around - is doing dramatic damage to the brand from which the company will never recover. To boot, Toyota was, as I predicted, poorly prepared in front of Congress two weeks ago. I drive a Lexus. My next car will be an Infiniti.
Putting the marketing damage aside, I am amazed by the parallels between this case and the Ford Pinto cases in the 1970s which led to the development of product liability tort law in the US. We give large product liability awards in the US in order to stop manufucturers from putting low values on human lives and producing products that may kill people. That gets manufacturers to fix problems rather than than treat them as inconsequential. A couple of large awards will take down Toyota. I am short Toyota stock and long very long-dated Toyota puts.
But this situation two nights ago with James Sikes and his Prius is really bugging me. It seems like the guy is piling on to a news story. He was too prepared to go straight to the media. He called 911 before trying to pull the emergency brake. Sikes, according to published reports, is a 61-year old real estate executive and longtime lottery player who won $55,000 and was selected in 2006 to appear on a California Lottery TV game show. This smells to me like a washed up Californian angling to be a plaintiff in a lawsuit or to be on the Amazing Race 18.
If it happened in Iowa or Kansas maybe I'd believe it, but these days anything coming out of California just seems scripted for Hollywood.
Comments
Robert Zimmerman
March 18, 2010
You don't need a weatherman to see which way the wind blows!!!
Is this review helpful? Yes:0 / No: 0
Hummer Lvr
March 18, 2010
How does this creep go out in pubic?????????
Is this review helpful? Yes:0 / No: 0
Gustav
March 18, 2010
James Sikes attempted to join the San Diego Corvette Club but was rejected after several members complained he was soliciting them for investments.
Is this review helpful? Yes:0 / No: 0
Brittany
March 18, 2010
Knowing Mr. Sikes this is no surprise. He would sell his mother and kids for fame and fortune.
Is this review helpful? Yes:0 / No: 0
P.T. Barnum
March 18, 2010
You can fool some of the people all the time.....You cam fool all the people some of the time.....But you can't fool all the people all of the time.
Is this review helpful? Yes:0 / No: 0
j.d. Hatfield
March 18, 2010
Maybe next time Mr. Sikes is on a curvy mountain road his gas pedal really does get stuck and he runs his sorry ass off a cliff!!
Is this review helpful? Yes:0 / No: 0
Vern
March 18, 2010
I'm a certified Audio Analyst for the California Board of Weights and Measures and considered an expert witness in voice Identification and stress evaluation.
I heard Mr. Sikes 911 call and in my opinion his stress level and fear are contrived. The short breaths, stuttering and monotone are all indications of deception.
Is this review helpful? Yes:0 / No: 0
Dr. Hook
March 18, 2010
Honesty is the best policy ...unless you're an exceptionally good liar!!
Is this review helpful? Yes:0 / No: 0
Everett McGill
March 19, 2010
It's a fool who looks for answers in the chambers of the human heart.
Is this review helpful? Yes:0 / No: 0
George Custer VI
March 19, 2010
I wish Mr. Sikes was with the 7th at the Little Big Horn!!!
Is this review helpful? Yes:0 / No: 0
Add your Comment
or use your BestCashCow account