JoeRockhead:
I suppose it was to be expected.
"The bottom line is that the Porsche Carrera GT is a dangerous car,” Meadow’s lawyer, Jeff Milam, told TMZ. “It doesn't belong on the street. And we shouldn't be without Paul Walker or his friend, Roger Rodas."
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/paul-walkers-daughter-meadow-sues-porsche-over-actors-wrongful-death-2015289#ixzz3n5RBG7On
Every car is dangerous if the driver lacks skills. The Carrera GT is not a dangerous car, it is just a car which needs an experienced driver at the wheel and one which isn't driven by emotions but his brain. Roger Rodas was way too fast (I think the police had already established this) and apparently he lost control of the car. According to my information, the car was technically in a good shape. I do not know why Rodas was that fast but as a professional driver, he should have known better.
I guess the lawyer tries to use the fact that the Carrera GT has no ESP system to get money from Porsche. No ESP can replace a brain. He may also present other accidents with the Carrera GT as proof and very likely even comments made on the internet in car forums and of course what Carrera GT customers may say about this car. In the end, the Carrera GT will still remain a very nice sports car for experienced drivers but of course there will be some idiots who will claim that they sold the Carrera GT because they couldn't handle it.
I love cars. When I was young, I was doing many stupid things in cars, up to a level, where people would think I am insane. I was lucky that I survived this period of time. At age 30 and older, I started to be more focused on my driving per se and not my driving skills. I also tried to be more focused on traffic and the car itself, rather than just relying on myself and my driving skills. Drivers evolve over time and yes, at a certain age (I am 50 right now), fear adds to the mix, it is a natural process which evolves out of experience.
That said, I have a lot of respect towards the Carrera GT but I would always enjoy driving one or even owning one. It is a fantastic car and fun to drive. Dangerous? A gun can be fun on the shooting range but in the hands of a killer, it can kill people and destroy things. Same goes to the Carrera GT or in fact any car out there.
Remember Ben and his deadly accident? We all know what stupid things he did with that car but nobody wanted to say anything out of respect to his family and his memory. I will never forget the video he once posted, showing him drifting one handed(!) through a curve in an urban area and talking on the phone on the other hand. He already had a small kid at that time, why would people do that?
The lawyer is just trying to do his job, I get it and I feel sorry for Meadow Walker because I know how important I am as a father to my daughter and how horrible it must be to loose a parent. However, the only one to be blamed here is Roger Rodas, the driver of the car. He did act irresponsible because you do not drive that way he did with a friend (or any other person) in a car.
I get it, the Walker family doesn't seem to want to go after Rodas' estate, there are his kids involved but going after Porsche, just because it is a company and wouldn't "hurt" anyone getting some money from them, is ridiculous. I do not see even the slightest blame with Porsche.
Unfortunately we have a saying in Germany: On trial and on the high seas, you're on your own and only god knows what happens. I feel sorry for Porsche because they do not deserve this. This is only about money.
--
RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, Porsche Macan Turbo, Ford Mustang GT500 Shelby SVT (2014), Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT (2014)