11-28-2009, 07:40 PM
NHTSA reported that prior investigations into the ES350 braking showed they lost a good portion of their power boost when the engine was operating at full throttle.
That's something most "experts" never think about. A lot of people assume that brakes will *always* overpower an engine.
WOT will cause brake fade (evidenced by the pitted rotors and brake material stuck to them) and no boost (or damn little) is developed under acceleration.
I've seen several reports that the loaner was a 2009 ES350, but none saying what the driver owned.
I don't know if the "black box" electronics can say whether or not the Power button was pushed.
Reading a few car forums (l know- generally a mistake) there's lots of speculation and conclusions, but little fact. Oh, and no shortage of bravado. But I did see a mention of not being able to put some cars in Neutral while under way. Naturally, nobody had any first hand experience, but there were a lot of "I think you can" and "I don't think you can" remarks.
Anybody own a 2009 ES350 and *know* if one can put the car in Neutral when in motion?
That's something most "experts" never think about. A lot of people assume that brakes will *always* overpower an engine.
WOT will cause brake fade (evidenced by the pitted rotors and brake material stuck to them) and no boost (or damn little) is developed under acceleration.
I've seen several reports that the loaner was a 2009 ES350, but none saying what the driver owned.
I don't know if the "black box" electronics can say whether or not the Power button was pushed.
Reading a few car forums (l know- generally a mistake) there's lots of speculation and conclusions, but little fact. Oh, and no shortage of bravado. But I did see a mention of not being able to put some cars in Neutral while under way. Naturally, nobody had any first hand experience, but there were a lot of "I think you can" and "I don't think you can" remarks.
Anybody own a 2009 ES350 and *know* if one can put the car in Neutral when in motion?