Congress to start new investigation - sudden acceleration of Mercedes cars

[Peter Gibbons]

while going in reverse:

http://i.imgur.com/NUq4P.jpg


http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/12391667_BG2.jpg

[Aussie]

Mercedes.....sudden acceleration in reverse?  Is it followed by a bootlegger turn ?

Yoost zwei gut alte boyz,
Vouldn't change if zey could,
Fightink der systeme like zwei modern tag Robin Hoodz.

[pxsant]

Makes you wonder whether Mercedes buys their car computer modules from the same sub as Toyota.

[Richardk]

That's a good question since aren't many of the items that we depend on made by only a handful of companies worldwide?

Like memory, disk drives, washers, refrigerators, etc? A lot of companies do final assembly and branding but I believe the underlying technology comes from only a handful of suppliers in many cases.

[Richardk]

The driver of the Mercedes told police he somehow got his foot stuck under the gas pedal.  He says that caused the car to zoom across the parking garage in reverse and slam into the outer wall.

I guess this will start a new foot recall similar to Toyota's floor mat one. 'All feet will be replaced with newer models less likely to get stuck under pedals.' 

[Fortune Green]

Funny how there's virtually no damage to the rear end......

[codger]

As I recall, in 1987, Audi had an accelerator problem too. There were many instances where people ended up driving through their garage doors and through the back walls of them. It almost destroyed the Audi NA organization. I don't remember how they handled the problem, but they're still here. I seem to remember comments made about Audi owners not knowing how to drive.

In the current accelerator situation with Toyota and Mercedes, I wouldn't be surprised if they had a common source for accelerator parts or software.

I'm old school. The gas pedal should be mechanically connected to the throttle via a rod or cable. No fly-by-wire. Autos are not made to the exacting quality/reliability standards of fighter aircraft.

[The Original Henry]

I'm old school. The gas pedal should be mechanically connected to the throttle via a rod or cable.

I'm almost there with you. I don't mind the drive-by-wire, but what I find entirely unacceptable is the computer getting in the middle and overriding my inputs. The only accident I've ever had that was my fault was caused by the anti-lock brakes. A 20 foot skid mark would have prevented the accident, but the computer knew better, overrode my input, and wrecked 3 cars instead.

My Toyota thinks it's so smart that its traction control system gets my car stuck on flat pavement with only a dusting of snow. And the Toyota engineers think they know more than I do, so they removed the button to disengage the system. If there is any snow or slush on the ground and I get stopped at a stop light I have to turn off the engine and do this to get going again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMN-WEWM5IE (that's not me in the video). Damned ridiculous is what it is, never mind that I'm now in danger of being rear-ended myself while I'm trying to tap-dance in my car.

Drive-by-wire is fine as long the machine does what it's told instead of always trying to out-think me.

[Aussie]

Ironically, it's the old Mercedes Mark 4 and 5 buses that are vastly preferred to the Volvo B10 and th Volgren B12B that replaced them.  The Mercs are mostly mechanical, while the Volvo have dammfool computer chips in them.  The bloody Volvo speedometer has a little trick whereby the 100km/h speed limiter slowly and progressively drops the limit, until the bus is virtually crawling along, then it stops completely.  The instructors don't always remember to tell you that.  The solution is fairly simple, you turn everything off, including the ignition, and start up again.  Give me the Mercs any day.

[Peter Gibbons]

There is no investigation - just a driver error

I was trying to be funny. I will keep my daytime contract 

[The Gorn]

while going in reverse:

http://i.imgur.com/NUq4P.jpg


http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/12391667_BG2.jpg

FAIL!