@rox – interesting! Thank you – so it could potentially have been my dodgy foot?! Turns out I had Spontaneous Adult Onset Avascular Necrosis in that foot (my good foot then!) and my talonavicular joint was disintegrating quietly but I hadn’t realised.
At the time, we were told something about the Orlando being classed as a “mini-van” in USA terms and it was rated to carry 7 full sized adults. It was a big, comfortable car.
As such, it had a sensor that modulated brake force depending on the weight it was carrying. Apparently, there was a known issue in the States where the sensor incorrectly decided that the car was at full weight – 7 adults plus luggage – and applied maximum brake assist for emergency stops every time!
I don’t know if this is true – IIRC it was a legal executive at the firm deaaling with a road traffic accident who told me this. As the car was gone, I never bothered checking or taking it any further.