Associated Press

Your 15 minutes of fame.

Tom

 

Nice interview, Scott. Thanks for posting video. You're famous now!

 

They contacted my by email asking for an interview and I chose to not respond.

My take is it is a problem that should be fixed but it is by no means reason to park the car, as some on PC have suggested they are doing. The media frenzy makes me sick the way they are going after Toyota and I don't have any interest in playing into it. I thought about doing it and using it as an opportunity to try to change the perception non-owners have of the problem but I know I can't control the editors and they will find a way to spin it their way.

I also chose not to participate due to where I live as there are too many of the most viscous Prius/Toyota haters around here.

 

Good for you! I feel the same way. I did see a brief report on NBC Nightly News last night re the recalls. They did announce other manufacturers major recalls in the mix right now - including large ones from Honda, GM, and Ford. Apparently they do not have to announce them, or the Press goes easy on stories, if there were no fatalities and it's "voluntary".

But this pile-onto Toyota has been completely out of control. It's a combination of media bias (foreign owner), NHSTA CYA, and slow actions by Toyota. It's amazing how far general public perception has (apparently-if you listen to media) decreased in a few weeks. When was the last time there was a "product sell hold due to quality" of a major item as an auto?

I have had the brake issue occur 3 times -minor IMO. I would NOT add to the media frenzy by agreeing to an interview. I HATE when some media call it "BRAKE FAILURE" or "BRAKING LOSS FOR SECONDS". Disgraceful.

 

I was also contacted for an interview and had the exact same thought process. They'd take words out of context and make it look like I was some kind of chicken little, when in reality I considered it a minor issue - one that I'm glad they addressed, but hardly something to park your car or set your hair on fire over. So I also declined.

 

BTW Scott - hope you realize that in the shot of your car, they DID NOT cover your front license plate - number is clearly visible. But -luckily- they did cover the rear one in the same scene...

Personally I would be livid at AP for allowing that - any nut can locate you down now....

 

Perhaps not paranoid, but careful. I would "request" from AP that they at least modify the video on uTube even though the horse is out of the barn.

 

Even he's easily located from his public profile, but he's at least safe from the crazies of this forum as they can't get to him while their cars are parked in the garage pending the recall fix.

 

Maybe being the center of attention gives the nutjobs out there a focus point. How is the AP tracking down Prius owners anyway?

 

Be mindful that if you, as a level-headed Prius owner, turn down the offer of an interview, you open the door for some attention-seeking hysterical individual to take your place. With some minimal rules in mind (e.g., don't be tricked into repeating a negative statement said by the reporter, beware of sentences where a partial quote could be damning, etc.), it is possible to use the interview process to communicate your perspective. If they choose to use someone more "entertaining" in the end, then at least you tried. Those of us who think that this whole situation has been overblown should be on the front lines volunteering to be interviewed rather than turning our back on the process. I talked to a reporter the other day who actually was apologetic about all the hoopla.

 

I'm disappointed that Toyota did not attempt to mount any kind of info-commercials to counter all the mis-information that's been put out there by the media, and web sites such as this. After reading numerous articles about the prius braking problem, including several in the Washington Post, I'm absolutley shocked that toyota has done nothing to correct, or clarify all the factually incorrect information regarding this issue. Toyota is just getting pummeled on TV and in the press, and Toyota's response is, "we're sorry, we'll do better next time". Absolutley lame.

I've seen Toyota's one national commercial saying "they were sorry, blah, blah"...but have not seen any commercials that attempt to explain the facts regarding all these recalls. Maybe those that do "damage control" for a business have told Toyota not to attempt any info-commercials. But it does anger this Prius owner that because there is so much mis-information out there, that Toyota and the Prius brand (in particular), has taken a huge beating on this. I've gotten calls from friends, neighbors and relatives "worried" that I'm driving such a "dangerous" vehicle. They only hear what the news outlets put out there, and know nothing of the actual facts...

I got a call this weekend from my 90 year old dad in San Diego who was genuinely concerned "for my safety". It took me over 1/2 hour to calm him down and to assure him there was nothing to worry about. I'm pissed at the press for all the hype and hysteria, but I'm equally pissed off at toyota for the way they DIDN'T handle this.

This is one Toyota owner who is very disappointed by Toyota...not only because they chose to ignore consumer complaints, and were slow to react when finally caught with their pants down...but (also) because they have not developed any significant "damage control" efforts. Toyota's response is: "We're sorry and will do better in the future". This is so lame, and so weak. Why should any future Toyota buyer believe anything Toyota has to say?

My next car will NOT be a Toyota, that's for sure.