James Sikes and His Toyota Prius Acceleration Problem: Too Much Hollywood Script?

Even I don't like this guy!!

I knew Patty before she married James and found her to be very pleasant, attractive and considerate.

After the marriage it was apparent she was headed down the wrong path with this loser.

I know they quickly fell out of our social circle and spent the next 10 years trying get- rich- quick schemes and shady dealings.

I bet Mr. Sikes was a little weasel in high school who eveyone beat up for amusement.

When I first saw this news clip I had my doubts. Then when Sikes "explained" what happened I had no doubt! How can the lamestream news swallow this fabrication with no questions???????

My wife drives a 2008 Prius similar to the Sikes car and when I heard this story I was obviously concerned for her safety. I gave her my Lexus to drive and I took the Prius and have driven it for the last two weeks with no problems.
Yesterday I finally had the chance to test Mr Sikes' story. We live in Arizona so it was easy to find a lonely stretch on Hwy #86 west of Tucson.
I accelerated to 94 MPH ( no easy task !! ) on a flat stretch of highway and SLOWLY applied the Brakes with even steady pressue while keeping my foot firmly planted on the accelerator. I have never done this and didn't know what to expect and to my surprise the car stopped easily with no drama whatsoever!!!!
My friend, who's an automotive expert, explained to me later that at 94 MPH the Prius is virtually out of power to accelerate and will stop very easly with the oversize brakes and moderate pressure.
Next I again accelerated to 94 Mph and set the cruise control. By the way 94 sounds fast, but on a lonely hwy it feels slow and you have plenty of time to react and think of solutions while driving the car with one hand.
At 94 I easily flipped the transmission gear shift lever ( it's right next to the steering wheel and can be done without removing your hands from the wheel) and the car slowed easliy to a stop....again no drama.
Next, I again took the Prius to 94 MPH and pushed the "OFF" button and held it for 3 seconds or so and the car silently came to a stop in a few 100 feet...again no drama!!
Summation: Admitedly I was alert and thinking at the time of my test and not surprised by sudden acceleration like Mr Sikes had claimed... BUT, the Prius acceleration is SO SLOOOOOW you have plenty of time to react long before it gets to 94 MPH!!!!!!!
It has since come to light that Mr. Sikes isn't a confused helpless "old man" as the media had portrayed him , but a heady wheeler-dealer who was also a car enthusiast with plenty of experience driving high performance cars. One would think he could figure out to move the gear shiftlever during his "ordeal".
Toyota can't find a problem with unintended acceleration because there is no problem to find!!!
The only real case was the unfortunate family of the state trooper who lost their lives in a runaway lexus. In that case he was driving an unfamiliar loaner car when the pedal jammed and he kept pressing the "OFF" button not knowing it takes 3 seconds of constant pressure to turn the car off . Unfortunately he failed to realize the brakes can easliy overpower the engine power and had he simply "jammed" the brakes the car would come to a stop, but when the "off" button wouldn't work he froze and disaster stook only a few seconds.
The clincher in the Sikes story is the fact he ignored the 911 operator's plea to flip the car to neutral or hold the "OFF" button". Don't forget Sikes has owned this car for two years and was VERY familiar with the controls!!!!! Sikes' claim of being "too scared" to remove his hands from the wheel" simply doesn't make sense since he admits to holding the cell phone with one hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it's safe to say Mr. Sikes is lying and here's a summary of facts against him :
1) unintended accleration involves a few seconds of
panic NOT 23 minutes of telephone conversation
2) He is a car enthusiast very familiar with his car 3) the brakes were applied 250 times on ansd off at light pressure NOT a heavy push as Mr. Sikes claimed 4) He has sordid past of deception

All I can say is Greedy America once Again.....

This guy is trailer trash.

He seems very honest and forthcoming to me

Even in my old lifted Cherokee with no sway bars, 94 mph is not THAT scary... What an idiot...

I haven't seen anything on this guy on the Net since March 11. Did he just go away? Any follow up prosecution for attempted fraud? He should at least get a speeding ticket.