Technophobes
My Citroen has a drive-by-wire throttle, but a direct-link braking system, which seems like a safe combo in my mind. The new Nissan 370Z has a really, really clever system, when the clutch is disengaged, the engine will drop throttle to match engine RPM with the transmission, allowing silk-smooth gearshifts and some truly phenomenal 0-100 times.
There are some other nice advantages to drive-by-wire, primarily in the ESP system. When I lose traction, the computer steps in and regulates the throttle, preventing wheelspin. This has proven extremely effective in snowy conditions, and it's relatively failure-safe. If it fails altogether, your car behaves as any other would when traction disappears. If it malfunctions, it's just clipping your throttle power. At any time if the car is misbehaving, I still have direct control of the steering, and I can stomp on the brakes and the car will stop. Similar systems on bikes is fine IMO.
I share the concern that electronic brakes aren't such a good idea, from a 'just in case' standpoint. I had to laugh at the Toyota faulty accelerators. Think about it for a second. Corollas are lunchboxes with a pissant economical engine, if anyone is caught off guard by 'sudden accelleration' and is actually put at risk by it, they'd have to be driving two gears lower than they should be, with about 6" room in front of them.
Regarding bump-starting EFI vehicles, it's fine, I have done it numerous times. The fuel injectors are always primed for the first squirt, and newer cars have a more efficient alternator allowing the injectors and spark plugs to fire. Just do a proper job of push starting it and you'll be fine.
Happy Birthday!
