Picked up rental car for trip... gave me a Toyota Avalon! (car crash, vehicle)

[Tennesseestorm]

Sorry if this should be in the Toyota recall thread, but this is kinda different.

I had to rent a car to take a one day trip to take my nephew to his doctor in Knoxville... 110 miles away. My car is being serviced and the other is having brakes worked on and moms car is not large enough. We usually rent a car anyway for longer trips. I reserved a large car like I usually do. When I got there all they had was a Toyota Avalon as the large car. When he said they had me a Avalon... I thought, ut oh, but took it. Its a 2009 with 22K. In the door there is writing it was serviced on 2-12-10, so I am assuming the recall issue was addressed. It looks identical to the Avalon we rented back in October 08, but the license plate is different... must be different car. We had no issues with that Avalon, or the 2010 Camry we had in October, so I am not too concerned either way if it were myself, but we will have my 15 month old nephew in there, so I am going to be very cautious.

I was thinking rental centers had pulled Toyotas, but I am assuming this one has been repaired, which is why its on the fleet again?

[deepcynic]

Why the concern? You do know how to shift into neutral and turn the care off, don't you?

Besides, the chances of unintended acceleration are pretty slim.

I would drive any Toyota any day with out any worries, I do not buy into the hysteria.

[Chadro77]

Originally Posted by deepcynic

Why the concern? You do know how to shift into neutral and turn the care off, don't you?

Besides, the chances of unintended acceleration are pretty slim.

I would drive any Toyota any day with out any worries, I do not buy into the hysteria.

It's funny because I bet if were Chevrolet issuing this recall you'd be screaming from the hilltops how it's a huge deathtrap and people are crazy for driving them.

[whiteboyslo]

While I wouldn't be concerned, I do find it interesting that they're renting them again. I would ask about the recall, but more out of curiousity than anything else.

I can't imagine the rental company would open themselves up to that much liability. Our company mandated that all those with recalled Toyotas for company cars STOP driving them until further notice. They're renting them cars now. Just not worth the risk.

Mike

[Steve_TN]

If I was going to have a 15 month old in the car, I would demand they get me a different car. If it must be a Toyota, then one of the models not on the recall list. The precious life of a 15 month old cannot be compromised in any KNOWN way with ANY brand of car. If it wasn't for the child, I would just proceed with caution, but since a child is involved, it changes the situation completely.

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by Steve_TN

If I was going to have a 15 month old in the car, I would demand they get me a different car. If it must be a Toyota, then one of the models not on the recall list. The precious life of a 15 month old cannot be compromised in any KNOWN way with ANY brand of car. If it wasn't for the child, I would just proceed with caution, but since a child is involved, it changes the situation completely.

This is really silly. Cannot be compromised in any KNOWN way?

So if you had a 15 month old - would you feel safer in a superduty pickup? A 6000lb monster without a known but very small unintended acceleration risk? A truck that takes 25 ft. longer to stop from 60 MPH and carries a higher rollover risk?

Every vehicle has known and unknown risks.

[iTsLiKeAnEgG]

Getting into any vehicle increases your chances of injury and death.

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by hoffdano

This is really silly. Cannot be compromised in any KNOWN way?

So if you had a 15 month old - would you feel safer in a superduty pickup? A 6000lb monster without a known but very small unintended acceleration risk? A truck that takes 25 ft. longer to stop from 60 MPH and carries a higher rollover risk?

Every vehicle has known and unknown risks.

I wouldn't allow my 15 month old to ride in a car, such as a Toyota with a prevalent KNOWN EXISTING defect. That's just common sense.

[Steve_TN]

Originally Posted by iTsLiKeAnEgG

Getting into any vehicle increases your chances of injury and death.

True and so does crossing the street. These things are unavoidable risks. Having my 15 moth old ride in a Toyota model with a very apparent defect is different. If I choose a model without that known defect, at least I can say that I am doing all I possibly can to ensure the safety of the child.

[iTsLiKeAnEgG]

Originally Posted by Steve_TN

True and so does crossing the street. These things are unavoidable risks. Having my 15 moth old ride in a Toyota model with a very apparent defect is different. If I choose a model without that known defect, at least I can say that I am doing all I possibly can to ensure the safety of the child.

You're right but the chances of the defect actually showing itself are so slim that you would have a higher chance of dying in a car crash that day. Anyone who is remotely confident in their driving should have no trouble in the highly improbable case that the car accelerates. The risk is always there though, so I couldn't blame someone for thinking about their children. I'd drive the rental without issue but its up to the OP as to what he wants to do.