Recent runaway Prius driver runs swinger date site...

[warrencouple]

Saw this over on Jalopnik tonight:
Bankrupt Runaway Prius Driver Owns Adult Swinger Site - Toyota Recall - Jalopnik

[Chicup]

Needless to say people are thinking he faked the whole Prius thing too.

[SW_PA_Couple]

The way I read the Web report, they are not contenting he owned a swingers' dating site but rather a Web site where people can post messages about the swinging lifestyle

[ncmd_couple]

Some of the comments were amusing...

[CXXC]

I think the fact that the prius hit 90 mph is remarkable. The rest is par for the course in todays news!

[lovinher]

The fact that he didn't put it in neutral tells me is looking for a payout or is very stupid. My 9 year old grand daughter heard us talking about it and the first thing she said was "why didn't he take it out of gear?" It amazes me when people try to fake things like this or a finger in their french fries. You would think they would realize they would have to take a lie detector test. Not enough for court but it sure puts them on the hot seat.

[SW_PA_Couple]

Originally Posted by CXXC

I think the fact that the prius hit 90 mph is remarkable. The rest is par for the course in todays news!

Top-end speed for a Prius is 103 MPH. It is limited by a governor. JoAnn and I have confirmed this. With a clear road ahead, step down hard on the accelerator pedal and hold it, it goes to 103 MPH then backs off on the power when you get there. This is not RPM-limited like the governors on most automobiles. It is actually speed-limited.

[SW_PA_Couple]

Originally Posted by lovinher

The fact that he didn't put it in neutral tells me is looking for a payout or is very stupid. My 9 year old grand daughter heard us talking about it and the first thing she said was "why didn't he take it out of gear?" It amazes me when people try to fake things like this or a finger in their french fries. You would think they would realize they would have to take a lie detector test. Not enough for court but it sure puts them on the hot seat.

A Prius is not able to be put into "N" neutral unless it is moving at less than 30 MPH. Additionally, the "Start" button on the dash board does not function to turn the hybrid synergy drive on or off unless the speed is less than 30 MPH. If the accelerator petal became stuck (which I do not believe happend in the case of this San Diego clown), you would be unable to stop the automobile unless you managed to get it to a speed less than 30 -- service brake and parking brake combined or smacking into a brick wall.

[JustAskJulie]

This was the article I ran across on this story this morning:
Runaway Prius incident may have been a hoax

The way this one says it he runs a swinger website where people can share pics... who knows which site or what the purpose... what pissed me off was that the fact that he runs any sort of swinger website is enough to call into question his honesty.

[Chicup]

I heard he was broke in the mainstream press, but nothing about the swinger site prior to this one.

[SW_PA_Couple]

Originally Posted by JustAskJulie

. . . what pissed me off was that the fact that he runs any sort of swinger website is enough to call into question his honesty.

Yes, ma'am. It right next to grand theft One of the people who posted a reply at the palmettoscoop Web page called into question the relevance of the swinger website.

[interested-05]

so whATS wrong with turning off the key and putting it simply in the off position where it doesnt lock the stering wheel?

[SW_PA_Couple]

Originally Posted by interested-05

so whATS wrong with turning off the key and putting it simply in the off position where it doesnt lock the stering wheel?

A person would do that if he was able. With a Prius, the "key" is in your pocket or purse. The car "knows" simply whether the key is inside of the passanger compartment or outside. If inside, it allows you to "start" by pressing the big "START" button on the dash. Once the hybrid drive is started, pushing "START" again will shut down the hybrid drive but only if you have first engaged the "PARK" button and are not moving at any kind of significant speed. Pushing PARK while moving does nothing.

[lovers]

Actually, Jeremy Cato who is a well respected auto journalist in Canada has a story on whether his story is true or not:

Out-of-control Prius? Hmm ... - The Globe and Mail

Here's the key point:

"First, the braking system is more than capable of overcoming all the combined power of the hybrid drive system. I've tested this myself by planting my right foot on the floor of a Prius at 80 km/h, while at the same time braking with my left. The car came to an almost immediate halt.

On top of that, consider the other technology at play here. The Prius is powered by two electric motor-generators and a small gasoline engine, all connected by transmission gears. A computer determines what combination of motors is needed and which would be most efficient.

As part of that system, the Prius is equipped with what's called “regenerative braking.” That is, when the brakes are applied, the electric drive system essentially goes into reverse to charge the batteries.

Thus, the electric motor-generators are slowing the car. That's why taxi drivers using the Prius can go 125,000 kilometres between brake jobs; their cars are primarily being stopped by the electric drive.

Finally, the Prius comes with an emergency brake. If you apply it, even with the powertrain roaring away, the Prius will come to a stop. It works even better if the driver slips the car into neutral. "

[JustAskJulie]

It seems that every story I read on this lists the info pertaining to his swinger website differently... in one he runs a website where swingers post pictures (ala showmeyourwife) in another he runs a swinger dating site, and in another still he runs a swinger club.