VT state senator crashes an Impreza
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VT state senator crashes an Impreza
This story reminds me of how Audi was reamed by Consumer Reports back in the 80s? (Yeah I know this is probably ancient history given the average age of members here)
People complained about "mysterious sudden acceleration" when they intended to brake. Audi's rep took a nosedive. The pedals were too close for the average Audi buyer in America.
People complained about "mysterious sudden acceleration" when they intended to brake. Audi's rep took a nosedive. The pedals were too close for the average Audi buyer in America.
State Sen. William Doyle wreaks havoc on car lot during test drive
Published: Tuesday, August 7, 2007
The Associated Press
MONTPELIER — A state lawmaker lost control of a car he was test driving at a dealership, crashing it into three other vehicles.
State Sen. William Doyle wasn’t hurt in the mishap, which occurred at Twin City Subaru on Thursday.
“I’ve been here 25 years. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said general sales manager George Koulouris.
Doyle, 81, went to the car dealership to test drive cars but didn’t have his driver’s license with him and was told he wouldn’t be able to drive off the lot. He drove two cars before climbing into a Subaru Impreza, which he accidentally drove through bushes before ramming three used cars.
Neither he nor the salesman riding with him were hurt. No damage estimate was immediately available. Doyle, who is responsible for the damages, said the brake and gas pedals were closer together in the car and that his wide shoe size made it difficult to negotiate the pedals.
“When they’re so close together I just couldn’t brake,” he said. “I just thought it would be a piece of cake,” said Doyle, R-Washington.
Doyle, who underwent back surgery six weeks ago, declined medical attention when an ambulance arrived at the scene. He was embarrassed by the incident.
“To be honest, I was not scared. I was embarrassed,” Doyle said Monday. “I felt badly for the Subaru people.”
Published: Tuesday, August 7, 2007
The Associated Press
MONTPELIER — A state lawmaker lost control of a car he was test driving at a dealership, crashing it into three other vehicles.
State Sen. William Doyle wasn’t hurt in the mishap, which occurred at Twin City Subaru on Thursday.
“I’ve been here 25 years. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said general sales manager George Koulouris.
Doyle, 81, went to the car dealership to test drive cars but didn’t have his driver’s license with him and was told he wouldn’t be able to drive off the lot. He drove two cars before climbing into a Subaru Impreza, which he accidentally drove through bushes before ramming three used cars.
Neither he nor the salesman riding with him were hurt. No damage estimate was immediately available. Doyle, who is responsible for the damages, said the brake and gas pedals were closer together in the car and that his wide shoe size made it difficult to negotiate the pedals.
“When they’re so close together I just couldn’t brake,” he said. “I just thought it would be a piece of cake,” said Doyle, R-Washington.
Doyle, who underwent back surgery six weeks ago, declined medical attention when an ambulance arrived at the scene. He was embarrassed by the incident.
“To be honest, I was not scared. I was embarrassed,” Doyle said Monday. “I felt badly for the Subaru people.”
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http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pb...11/1004/NEWS03
I guess the senator was not used to driving a car with pedals close enough for 'heel-and-toe' driving (or the side of the foot 
). It's fortunate that no one on the dealership lot was injured.
Originally Posted by the Rutland Herald (Rutland, Vermont)
Although seatmate Sen. Phil Scott is the professional race car driver in the Legislature, it was Sen. William Doyle who accidentally found himself in a Demolition Derby last week on the lot of Twin City Subaru in Montpelier.
Doyle said he visited the dealership on Thursday afternoon to test-drive some cars. On his final test drive, he had trouble with the brake and ended up speeding over bushes and then into three used cars on the lot, causing considerable damage. Doyle said an ambulance was called to the scene, but he waved off any medical attention.
"To be honest, I was not scared. I was embarrassed," Doyle said Monday, recounting the accident. "I felt badly for the Subaru people."
A salesman was in the car with Doyle at the time, but was not injured.
Doyle said he was having lunch with his wife, Olene, on Thursday and decided to test drive cars. The senator did not have his driver's license with him, and was told by Twin City sales staff that he could only drive vehicles on the dealership lot, not out on the road.
Twin City General Sales Manager George Koulouris, who confirmed the account, noted that the speed limit for testing a car on the lot is 10 miles per hour.
Doyle said he first drove two larger cars - an Outback and a Legacy - before asking to drive something smaller. He said the salesman suggested Doyle would be happier with the larger vehicles, but he pressed to drive the smaller Impreza.
"They said the larger car's a better fit for you," the senator recalled. "I was stubborn enough to say let me see the smaller one."
Doyle said the brake and accelerator pedals were located more closely together on the Impreza than in the larger vehicles. And he noted that his shoe size is unusually wide, making it more difficult to negotiate the pedal system.
"When they're so close together ... I just couldn't brake," he said. "I just thought it would be a piece of cake."
Doyle accelerated at an estimated 30 to 35 miles per hour - three times the limit on the lot - before driving over bushes and striking three used vehicles: an 2005 Outback, an 2004 Outback, and an 2003 Baha, Koulouris said.
"I've been here 25 years," said Koulouris, asked if there have been other accidents on the lot. "I've never seen anything like it."
Koulouris said the damage assessment on the vehicles was still under way, but damage was considered "heavy."
Doyle, who is responsible for the damage, sounded sheepish about the incident, and praised the Twin City staff for their response.
The senator had undergone back surgery about six weeks ago. He said the accident did not impact his recovery.
"I feel as strong as a bull moose," he said.
Doyle said he visited the dealership on Thursday afternoon to test-drive some cars. On his final test drive, he had trouble with the brake and ended up speeding over bushes and then into three used cars on the lot, causing considerable damage. Doyle said an ambulance was called to the scene, but he waved off any medical attention.
"To be honest, I was not scared. I was embarrassed," Doyle said Monday, recounting the accident. "I felt badly for the Subaru people."
A salesman was in the car with Doyle at the time, but was not injured.
Doyle said he was having lunch with his wife, Olene, on Thursday and decided to test drive cars. The senator did not have his driver's license with him, and was told by Twin City sales staff that he could only drive vehicles on the dealership lot, not out on the road.
Twin City General Sales Manager George Koulouris, who confirmed the account, noted that the speed limit for testing a car on the lot is 10 miles per hour.
Doyle said he first drove two larger cars - an Outback and a Legacy - before asking to drive something smaller. He said the salesman suggested Doyle would be happier with the larger vehicles, but he pressed to drive the smaller Impreza.
"They said the larger car's a better fit for you," the senator recalled. "I was stubborn enough to say let me see the smaller one."
Doyle said the brake and accelerator pedals were located more closely together on the Impreza than in the larger vehicles. And he noted that his shoe size is unusually wide, making it more difficult to negotiate the pedal system.
"When they're so close together ... I just couldn't brake," he said. "I just thought it would be a piece of cake."
Doyle accelerated at an estimated 30 to 35 miles per hour - three times the limit on the lot - before driving over bushes and striking three used vehicles: an 2005 Outback, an 2004 Outback, and an 2003 Baha, Koulouris said.
"I've been here 25 years," said Koulouris, asked if there have been other accidents on the lot. "I've never seen anything like it."
Koulouris said the damage assessment on the vehicles was still under way, but damage was considered "heavy."
Doyle, who is responsible for the damage, sounded sheepish about the incident, and praised the Twin City staff for their response.
The senator had undergone back surgery about six weeks ago. He said the accident did not impact his recovery.
"I feel as strong as a bull moose," he said.
). It's fortunate that no one on the dealership lot was injured.
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