Last week, Toyota faced their first jury trial for unintended acceleration of a Toyota product. The plaintiff, Amir Sitafalwalla, claimed that his 2005 Scion accelerated out of control when he attempted to shift the car into park, ultimately getting up close and personal with a tree. His attorney tried to argue that an unsecured floor mat was to blame, despite the fact that the Scion in question was excluded from the floor mat entrapment recall. His attorney also unsuccessfully tried to blame the Scion’s Electronic Throttle Control System, despite having no evidence to back up his allegations. In a rare display of courtroom sanity, the jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning a verdict that favored the defendant, Toyota.

While the victory for the Japanese automaker is significant, I’d stop short of saying it sets a precedence. The car in question was never part of recalls for unintended acceleration, and the accident itself dated back to 2005. A lawsuit wasn’t even filed until 2008, which is unusual in cases where a victim has the public interest at heart. Given the virtual disappearance of ongoing unintended acceleration claims against Toyota, I’d like to think the hysteria is largely behind us. We’ll know for sure the next time a suit against Toyota for UA is brought before a jury.

Source: Left Lane News

As I was driving back from lunch today, I heard a radio spot for a program Toyota is offering called TRAC – Toyota Rent A Car. The gist is that you can go to your local participating dealership (per Toyota, in 85% of them) to rent one of several models either for traditional reasons (say, you’re going on a trip and need a minivan to haul your gear), for a short time if your car is in for repairs, or most interestingly, to try before you buy. In the last scenario, they’re offering terms as short as a few days or up to one month to be well and sure it’s the car for you.

A quick Google search brought me the information. It appears you may choose from the entire Toyota/Scion lineup, including hybrids which may help those who are on the fence about purchasing one, or would like maximum MPGs when taking their upcoming summer road trips. It is not immediately clear from the website if there are different trims available for the different models, or what models are actually even at your local dealership. You are directed to a form to contact them for more information, instead. Check out this snazzy video courtesy of Yellow Pages for a quick run-through.

I think this is a brilliant marketing move Toyota has made, and I hope to see other automakers follow suit. How often have you wanted to try out a car for longer than it takes to jaunt around the block on a typical test drive? Maybe see how it performs in the rain or at night? See if it’s a monster to park or check out what the real world gas mileage is? Obviously, it could get to be costly the longer you keep the car but if you’re the type who wants to know every detail before committing it may be money well-spent.

How about the thought of getting into a smelly, torn up, typical rental? Not very appealing right? I would venture a guess that Toyota will keep their vehicles more well-maintained than your mainstream outlets because, after all, they do want you to eventually buy one. Toyota claims their rates are competitive with traditional rental agencies but note that you must return the car to the original dealership (in other words, no one-way trips). If it turns out that you absolutely love the exact vehicle you rented, you have the option to purchase it also (though as we’ve seen it’s usually not a good idea to buy rental cars!)

I’m not exactly chomping at the bit to try out a current-model Toyota but hey, if that FT-86 ever comes to fruition, maybe I’ll have to check one out.

Toyota has seen the inside of a courtroom several times relating to the unintended acceleration (UA) of their cars. To date, three causes have been found for unintended acceleration: a sticking accelerator pedal, entrapment of the accelerator pedal by a floormat and driver error. Of the UA cases tried thus far, none have been brought before a jury, but that’s about to change: a New York jury will hear the case of Sitafalwalla versus Toyota this week. Amir Sitafalwalla, the plaintiff, claims that his 2005 Scion accelerated without driver input until it struck a tree. Sitafalwalla’s attorney claims the incident started when his client attempted to shift the car into park, at which time the vehicle “took off”. Toyota denies the claim and points out that the Scion in question was never part of any UA recall. Furthermore, the accident happened in 2005 but the lawsuit wasn’t filed until 2008.

Since the suit was filed three years after the accident, it’s unlikely that any data could be recovered from the vehicle, even if it were located. In the absence of concrete evidence, Toyota will argue that the crash was caused by the driver mistaking the gas for the brake while shifting into park. It’s not my call to make, since I’m not a member of the jury, but I’m inclined to side with Toyota on this one. It should be interesting to see if the jury feels the same way.

Source: Left Lane News

http://www.leftlanenews.com/toyotas-first-unintended-acceleration-case-to-reach-jury-trial-underway.html

There has been a lot of buzz recently about Toyota’s budget minded rear-wheel drive FT-86 sports coupe. Truth be told this is one nifty little bugger and if the rumors of a Subaru derived 305hp / 290 lb-ft turbo 4-cylinder are true, it’s also going to be an absolute pistol to drive. The FT-86 will be built under a joint venture between Toyota and Subaru. However according to Toyobaru.net, U.S. residents will be seeing the FT-86 badged under the Scion nameplate as the Scion FT-S when it eventually hits U.S. shores. There are also rumors of an AWD version to be released under the Subaru nameplate with a price tag that could be upwards of 40k… that’s big money for a little car that would be a pretty close competitor to Subaru’s own 4-door STI. Production of the Scion FT-S is rumored to begin in the 4th quarter of 2011, so stay tuned for more information.

Thumbs Up: Great stereo, comfortable interior, unique style.

Thumbs Down: More show than go.

Buy This Car If: You want an affordable, sporty coupe with Toyota reliability.

Have you ever pondered the difference between a strip-club bouncer and a Navy SEAL? Most bouncers, especially those working at gentleman’s clubs, are buildings with feet. They’ve got massive chests, bulging biceps and forearms that would do Popeye proud. Navy SEALs, on the other hand, tend to be average looking guys, with a wiry build and a predator’s eyes. The primary difference between the two groups is that
one looks menacing, while the second looks understated and truly is menacing. I’m not saying that the average bouncer can’t mix it up, but most aren’t trained fighters because they don’t need to be. The appearance of being able to twist you like a pretzel is usually good enough.

The 2011 Scion tC is a lot like that strip club bouncer, but I don’t mean that in a negative way. Take the aggressive styling, which doesn’t look like any other car on the road; or the superb sport seats which feature deep side and hip bolsters for spirited driving. Even the steering wheel, with its flat bottom and beefy diameter says “sports car”, as does the pleasingly loud exhaust note. Get behind the wheel and step on the gas, however, and you’ll soon realize that the Scion tC is more about the appearance of performance than it is about actual performance. That’s not a criticism, because speed costs money, and the Scion doesn’t have a high price of admission. Instead of high performance, the tC gives you high style, a great stereo, lots of interior room and the ability to increase horsepower and handling as your budget allows. As blank canvases go, the Scion tC is a very good starting point.

For 2011, Scion has restyled the tC, giving it a much more aggressive appearance than its predecessor. Up front, the grille has been enlarged and the fascia revised to give the car a more angular appearance. The roofline has been flattened, which makes the car look longer and adds to the tC’s unique exterior styling. Out back, last year’s smoked Altezza tail lights are gone, and the blend-into the background styling of the rear has been replaced by a much more visually appealing blend of angles and curves. Wheels are now 18” x 7.5”, as compared to the 17” x 7” wheels on last year’s model. The 2010 Scion tC was easy to lose in a parking lot; that’s simply not the case for the much bolder styling of the 2011 tC.

Inside, the sport coupe feel continues, and Toyota did a good job of creating a driver-friendly environment. Controls are angled toward the driver, making them easier to operate. The dash is an eye-pleasing blend of colors, shapes and textures, and the oversized steering wheel fit my hands perfectly. Instruments are minimal (tach, speedometer and fuel gauge only), but are cleanly styled and easy to read. The sport seats are covered in a visually appealing, durable fabric instead of fake leather. The audio system sounds better than any other car I can remember at this price point, and the tC even includes an oversized sunroof. That’s a lot of content in a car that stickers just north of the $20,000 mark (less if you opt for the six speed manual).

Getting back to those front seats for a moment, I wish more automakers would use seats like the Scion tC. They’re supportive without being intrusive on comfort, they look good, they’re warm in winter and you don’t stick to them in summer. Even the headrests didn’t cant my head forward unnecessarily, like so many new cars do to meet rear impact standards. No, the seats weren’t heated and they weren’t electronically adjustable. They didn’t have lumbar support, and they were adjustable for position, height (driver’s side only) and rake only, but I didn’t care. They’re exactly what I expect in a car with sporting intentions at this price point.

Rear seat passengers won’t complain much either, unless they get stuck in the middle position (not recommended) or are taller than about six foot two. Rear seat occupants get a deeply dished seat cushion and a decent amount of legroom, and getting into and out of the back isn’t bad. The tC is truly a four seat coupe, worth noting if you’re in the market for an inexpensive, sport coupe and have more than one other friend.

I like the interior layout and its emphasis on sport, but there are some clear cost-cutting measures on the inside. The sunroof slider is a roll-up vinyl shade, not an insulated, rigid cover. There’s a lot of hard plastic on the dash and center console, which may or may not remain rattle-resistant as the car ages. The center armrest is rigid plastic, which is fine for a few hours but will become a significant annoyance on a cross-country trip. Whether or not this is important depends on the buyer, and there are other entry level coupe choices with more luxurious interiors. That said, luxury isn’t what Scion is about, and those other cars cost more money than the tC.

Under the hood is a new engine for 2011, taken straight from the four cylinder Camry. Output is upped to 180 horsepower (from 161 in the 2010 tC) and 173 ft lb of torque (from 162), yet the new tC still manages better fuel economy than the one it replaces. The 2011 tC gets an EPA fuel economy estimate of 23 MPG city and 31 MPG highway; in my mix of city and highway driving, I saw 25.9 MPG, which is very close to the EPA’s combined rating of 26 MPG. Acceleration is reasonable, with zero to sixty coming up in just over eight seconds. The six speed manual is quicker, with zero to sixty times in the mid sevens. I wouldn’t call these sports car numbers, but they’re respectable enough for a sporty coupe. Though my tester came with the six speed automatic transmission, the best choice for those who like to drive remains the six speed manual.

Toyota tightened up the Scion tC’s handling for 2011, but the car still felt heavy to me. Compared to the Honda Civic Si, it was slower to turn in and had more pronounced understeer. Maybe that’s not a fair comparison, since the Honda sells for roughly 10% more, but it’s the most direct comparison I could think of. The trade off for crisp handling is improved ride quality, and the Scion was never unpleasant to drive, even on rough road surfaces. Others have complained that the new engine is harsh at high speeds, or that the exhaust note is loud, but I didn’t notice. If anything, the exhaust sounded good from the driver’s seat, which is really all that matters.

So is the Scion tC a good choice to shop? I’d have to say it depends entirely on your expectations. If you want luxury and comfort over handling, look elsewhere. If you want acceleration and handling only, there are better choices. If you’re looking for a reasonable blend of comfort, handling, hatchback versatility and unique style, I’d put the 2011 Scion tC near the top of your list in the $20k price range.

The 2011 Scion tC is currently available as a single model, with dealer installed options only. Base price on my tester was $20,060, including a destination charge of $785. The sole option on my tester was the $109 floor mat kit, for a total sticker price of $20,169. By comparison, a Kia Forte Coupe SX would sticker at $20,840, a Honda Civic EX Coupe would sticker at $21,155, a Honda Civic Si Coupe would sticker at $22,955 and a Nissan Altima Coupe 2.5 S would sticker at $24,220.

I first saw the Scion iQ concept a few years ago at the New York International Auto Show. It was small, yellow and looked like something that should come in a Happy Meal. The iQ is Scion’s entry into the mini-car world and is targeted at young urban buyers who like really little things. The cars were supposed to arrive on U.S. shores by March of this year, but now GreenCarReports.com is reporting that Toyota is delaying the launch because of delayed prototypes. Scion spokesman Greg Thome also noted that Scion wanted to give their newly redesigned 2012 TC more time to gain a foothold in the marketplace and not have its thunder stolen by its new little stablemate. When the iQ hits the U.S. sometime this summer it will be the first direct competitor to the Smart ForTwo. My advice, if you’re in the market for one of these little roller skates I’d hold off on that Smart Car until you can give the iQ a proper look.

Source: GreenCarReports.com

The redesigned Scion tC. Image: Toyota Motors

It’s no secret that the Scion brand has failed to live up to parent company Toyota’s expectations. Even refreshed versions of their tC and xB models failed to bring buyers into showrooms; worse yet, the customers that Scion seems to attract are at the opposite end of their “youth brand” demographic. Many critics are wondering when Toyota admit that the Scion experiment failed, and pull the plug before the division’s losses have a negative impact on the parent company.

Not so fast, says none other than Akio Toyoda, president of Toyota Motors. In a roundtable discussion with journalists on Monday, Toyoda was quoted by AutoWeek as saying, “There is no concern, no danger for Scion in the future.” Toyoda feels that the brand is feeling an exaggerated impact from the extended U.S. recession, as many under 30 potential buyers find themselves unemployed or underemployed. Tightened credit restrictions further limit the pool of potential Scion customers.

That said, it’s Toyoda’s position that the Scion brand must focus on fun-to-drive vehicles that feature, in his words, “exhilaration and excitement.” Maybe there is some truth to the rumor of a Scion branded FT-86 after all.

Source: Autoweek

Just a few weeks back we gave you a report on the most ticketed vehicles in America, based on data from ISO Quality Planning. Now, The Truth About Cars gives us a new list, this time from QPC, a division of Verisk Analytics. There are a lot of similarities between the lists, but the QPC data does include a few vehicles that the ISO Quality Planning list omitted. Do you drive a “spirited vehicle” (QPC’s term for a high risk car)? Read on to find out:

1. Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster

Ticketed: 404% of average, per 100K miles driven
On ISO Quality Planning Top 10?: No

2. Toyota Camry Solara

Ticketed: 349% of average, per 100K miles driven
On ISO Quality Planning Top 10?: Yes

3. Scion TC

Ticketed: 343% of average, per 100K miles driven
On ISO Quality Planning Top 10?: Yes

4. Hummer H2/H3

Ticketed: 292% of average, per 100K miles driven
On ISO Quality Planning Top 10?: Yes

5. Scion XB

Ticketed: 270% of average, per 100K miles driven
On ISO Quality Planning Top 10?: Yes

6. Mercedes-Benz CLS-63 AMG

Ticketed: 264% of average, per 100K miles driven
On ISO Quality Planning Top 10?: Yes

7. Acura Integra

Ticketed: 185% of average, per 100K miles driven
On ISO Quality Planning Top 10?: No

8. Pontiac Grand Prix

Ticketed: 182% of average, per 100K miles driven
On ISO Quality Planning Top 10?: No

9. Mercedes-Benz CLK-63 AMG

Ticketed: 179% of average, per 100K miles driven
On ISO Quality Planning Top 10?: Yes

10. Volkswagen GTI

Ticketed: 178% of average, per 100K miles driven
On ISO Quality Planning Top 10?: No

So what does this actually mean? I’m not sure, since it factors in mileage but doesn’t correct for time. How long will it take the owner of a Mercedes Benz SL roadster to hit 100k miles? Probably a lot longer than it takes the owner of a Scion TC, which means that a Mercedes Benz SL driver can go years between tickets, whereas a Scion driver may be racking up one ticket per month.

This is an insurance company sponsored survey, so chances are good it won’t work out in your favor regardless of what the real numbers are. My advice? If your car made both lists, you may want to think about trading it in on a new ride unless the cost of tickets and insurance rate hikes don’t worry you.

Toyota’s sporty budget brand Scion showed up with a bang over here in the United States when it was launched back in 2003. Aimed at younger buyers who wanted something small, fun and sporty these little cars have been racking up huge miles over the last 7 years. Up until recently Scions sportiest model was the TC, a small front drive coupe that was more show than go. Yes it looks good, but from a performance perspective it’s still pretty dismal. Toyota has now announced to The Wall Street Journal that their upcoming rear wheel drive FT-86 Concept will be released under the Scion nameplate, a move that Toyota hopes will boost the brands appeal.

Scion desperately needs to bring something new to the table as their current model line is getting a bit stale. The FT-86 is a car that was largely developed by Subaru which explains the 2.0-liter flat-four engine that will likely power it. Pricing is set to come in at around $25,000 which is pushing the limits for the Scion brand, but with rear wheel drive and aggressive styling the little FT-86 may just strike the cord with younger buyers that Toyota is looking for.

Source: Autoblog.com

ISO Quality Planning, whose research helps insurance companies estimate risk (and therefore determine how expensive your premiums are) has compiled a list of the most and least ticketed vehicles on U.S. roads. We are, of course, talking about speeding tickets here, the kind that come with points on your drivers license and increases to your insurance rates. Like herpes, they’re the gift that keeps on giving.

Hummer H2/H3, ticketed 4.63x more often than average

Lots of vertical surfaces to bounce laser or radar off of.

Scion tC, ticketed 4.6x more often than average

Since most tC drivers are young, think there's some profiling here?

Scion XB, ticketed 4.03x more often than average

Young drivers, lots of vertical surface = high ticket rate.

Mercedes Benz CLK63 AMG, ticketed 3.97x more often than average

At least CLK AMG drivers can afford the tickets.

Toyota Solara Coupe, ticketed 3.06x more often than average

Solara owners speed? None that I've ever seen.

Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG, ticketed 2.76x more often than average

Another ticket? Who cares, that's what lawyers are for.

Scion XA, ticketed 2.75x more often than average

Here's that profiling thing again.

Subaru Outback, ticketed 2.66x more often than average

You're supposed to drive them where there aren't any speed traps.

Audi A4, ticketed 2.64x more often than average

Explaining the car's racing heritage won't get you out of a ticket.

Toyota Matrix, ticketed 2,64x more often than average

Should have bought a Pontic Vibe; they didn't make the list.

Lifehacker quotes Raj Bhat, president of ISO Quality Planning, on his explanation of why Hummers topped the list:

“The sense of power that Hummer drivers derive from their vehicle may be directly correlated with the number of violations they incur, or perhaps Hummer drivers, by virtue of their driving position, are less likely to notice road hazards, signs, pedestrians and other drivers.”

It’s therefore a safe assumption that Mr. Bhat doesn’t drive a Hummer himself. In fact, I’d be willing to bet he drives a Jaguar XJ sedan, coincidentally the least ticketed car on the list. As you’d expect, nothing with entertainment value made the least ticketed list, proving once again that you have to pay to play.