I've looked into these hybrids... but you don't need one to have a car die on the Tpk.

My trusty, rusty 90 Corolla (presently with 320,000 miles) and I were motoing on the NE Extension.

Near Lehigh Valley exit, I moved to pass someone. I hit speeds in excess of 75 MPH when the car simply stalled.

No warning, no noise, just stalled. So I am hitting the right turn signal, dropping in to neutral, trying to merge WHILE simultaneously cranking the engine... nothing.

Imagine the astonishment of stalling while accelerating!

Turned out I snapped the timing belt (at that time, I was on 3rd one, somewhere around 220,000 miles).

So I can understand the analogy you presented in a big way!
Charlie on the PA Turnpike | Homepage | 05.21.05 - 10:55 pm | #

Charlie: Heh, death on the turnpike! Now 320K miles is nothing to sneeze at either so an occasional part failure is forgivable. I distinctly remember a sci-fi book I once read where all the chips manufactured by this one big company were tuned into a satillite and a shutdown code could be transmitted to bring the world to a halt. Some Russkies took over the company and were going to shut down the Technically superior USA ... Remember, this was the 80s. I wonder if Japan is still pissed about those 2 nukes.
mdmhvonpa | Homepage | 05.23.05 - 8:54 am | #