Drew Dowdell

Toyota officials under investigation for recall negligence The Associated Press is reporting that three Toyota officials are under criminal investigation for allegedly avoiding a recall for eight years, during which time the defective part in question may have caused an accident. The story goes like this. On August 12, 2004, five people were injured in a head-on crash in Japan that was caused when the steering of a 1993 Toyota Hilux Surf failed. Toyota then carried out a small recall in October of 2004 for 330,000 Hilux Surf SUVs built between 1988 and 1996 for a part used in the steering system that could fail. The Hilux Surf that caused the accident was built in 1993. The investigation seems to revolve around the fact that Toyota officials had already accumulated five reports of steering problems way back in 1996, but didn't recall any vehicles because problems were "limited to repeatedly turning the wheel during parking." After the accident and additional problems were reported in 2004, Toyota decided to do a major recall of 1.2 million potentially affected vehicles sold in 180 nations. Only that one accident has ever been attributed to the problematic steering part. The three officials, of which only two are still working for the company, oversaw quality control at Toyota during the period under investigation. The formal charges against these officials were filed today with prosecutors in southern Japan. This type of publicity is the last thing Toyota needs as questions about the company's ability to maintain its impeccable quality standards amidst rapid growth are being asked as the number of recalls it has risen dramatically in recent years.

MLS books are a thing of the past. The MLS databases online let you pick *very* precise search criteria.... down to the specific street if need be.

I see a yellow lancer wagon all the time around here. it's how I keep my weight down....

the concept looks like an anime character

and if the UAW weren't there they could be hired at $18 and hour plus co-insurance. Does any non-unionized company pick up the entire tab for healthcare anymore?

Thank you for that. Very interesting read.

Trina, when you do start looking around get yourself a buyer's agent. They'll run all this interferance for you. You tell them what areas you are looking in and what you are looking for in a home. Interview some of them. Never go with the person standing at the open house. I have an excellent buyer's agent that knows the type of investment property that I look for. I've purchased 3 properties where he represented me. The only time I hear from him is if he spots something new on the market that he thinks I'd want. He works very hard to make the transactions go smoother. My last property has been a complete nightmare and I would have gone crazy if I'd had to do it all myself. That said, there are annoying ones out there.... just call around till you find one you like. And not to sound sexist, but get a male agent, they seem <from my observations> to be lower key.

I am interested in the history here fly... any place I can read more about this?

Oddly, the Cutllass coupe and convertible weren't as bad in the rear as the rest of them. I know the GP had very poor headroom. And the legroom in the Lumina wasn't great. But the back seat of my 2+2 Cutlass convertible was one of the most comfortable rides I've owned. and in the summertime, you had all the headroom in the world. Add to that, the DOHC 3.4 was a great performer..... smoother than the 3.1 or 3.8s and could easily break the front tires loose in second gear. My convertible only did about 27mph highway, but it was by far the heaviest of the W-bodies at the time. The 3.4 DOHC coupes did better I hear.

there ya go!

You have 3 B-bodies.... why on earth would you need a suburban for hauling also. I count about 19,000 lbs of towing capacity there in your sig.

ya guys.... stuff that isn't inherantly car related or a stylistic accesory... like a... child seat in a Lambo a green peace bumper sticker on a hummer an oxygen supply tank in a Fiero

Name a car and an item that don't go together..... but *NOT* something that is routinely part of the car or a particular car design <glares at 68>. For example. An Aveo with a radar detector. A corvette with a box of magnum XLs

I agree.....and that price in the low-$40's for the TWIN-turbo, 300hp 335Ci sounds like a GREAT deal to me......that means that a loaded 335Ci should still be well under $50K.... It sounds like an awesome car......and much better looking in the ass end than the 3-Series sedan. 164961[/snapback] or spend 5 to 7 grand more and get a CTS-V with an oh so tunable 400hp.

68, you need to give less information. I knew the answer before I clicked on the thread.

but won't a DTS with vogues, a carriage roof, gold package and extra hood ornament reflect badly on you as a CTS driver?

'88 Regal coupe

I installed a set of Bosche Icon structureless blades on my CTS. They work very well.

They appear to be backing away from that plan for the 3-series.... waaaay too much brand equity in having a 3-series

I get this fairly often..... 3 times this morning so far.

Link This gives the upcoming CTS Coupe some breathing room in regards to price.....

Sheetz anounces E85 to be available in Western PA this is pretty big for us in Pittsburgh. Sheetz is one of the largest gas chains/Fast food restraunts in the area <with ooooh so good shmuffins>. The other major chain which is trying to compete with Sheetz on food is GetGo. I'm hoping they'll respond and add E85 capability as well.

Oh, sorry. You mentioned you were taking pics earlier in the thread and I thought those were the pics you took. my bad

uhm, the platinum one is a V8

dumb move GM. This should be a Cadillac KLR. Make it a baby XLR with a HF 2.8 litre and a HF 3.6 litre KLR-V. Since the 3.6 is getting direct injection, that could me a factory stock Kappa with 300hp.