Back in the early 80's of the prior century, the Audi 5000 was the 'poster child' of the sudden unintended acceleration (SUA) after four reported deaths and 175 motorists injured-- with over 1,000 alleged complaints of SUA. I was living in the northern California Sierras at the time and felt safe leasing and driving BMWs: first the 320i and then the 633csi. At the same time, Audi's business in the USA came to a standstill. She did all she could to lure buyers back: with free maintenance deals for the 'life' of the vehicle: free oil changes, checkups, front hood to tail warranty including all engine and transmission components. She fought her way back. So that today, she is the poster child for the car 'to have and to drive' here in Connecticut.
Then came the infamous 'J' cars built by GM in the 80's and and early 90's: the Cadillac Cimarron, the Chevy Cavalier, the Pontiac Sunfire, etc. By way of illustration, I had recently returned to the East Coast in the late 80's when I fielded a phone call from my uncle that my dad's Cimarron had accelerated over the railing of an outdoor staircase in the parking lot of his Synagogue and the car was now being photographed by the local police department in a vertical position on the staircase leading to the basement. Miraculously dad was extracted from the driver's seat without a scratch to his body. And he had not been wearing a seat belt.
While this recall may be a temporary boon to the sagging sales of GM and Chrysler (yes, they doing their best to lure Toyota buyers into their showrooms with $1000 rebates, etc), no doubt Toyota will recover in due time. Though a driver of Fords, Triumphs, Mercedes, Renaults and BMWs, I have not only sold Toyotas during the recession (virtually the only business making money in Eugene, Oregon and we sold dozens of Corollas, Tercels, Cressidas and Coronas) of the early 80's in severely depressed Oregon, but have owned and leased 5 of them over the last 30 years. They are here to stay.
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