HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: nbucknor@rpwmadhu.gmr.com (Norman Bucknor)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: saturn/OLDs speculation
Date: 5 Nov 92 16:06:07 GMT
Organization: GM Research Labs, Warren, MI

As usual on the internet, a little information is offered with a little
misinterpretation and before you know it, it's the gospel truth. There 
is no plan to merge Saturn with Olds. What has been said by Olds division
head John Rock is that he wants to pattern Olds on the Saturn model and
make it more like Saturn. I think the ultimate aim (at least with the
current thinking, which is constantly evolving) is to make Olds a division
which will be attractive to Saturn buyers when they want to move up to
a bigger car (this also means that Olds' car lines will also move away
from the way they are positioned now in terms of size and styling). You can 
certainly argue whether or not this will be a successful strategy. All of
this is public knowledge by the way (e.g., read this week's TIME magazine).

Norman Bucknor

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw)
Subject: Re: Ethanol blended gasoline
Organization: Motorola Western MCU Design Center, Chandler Arizona
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 00:26:28 GMT

In article <1992Nov4.195708.29977@erg.sri.com>, rat@erg.sri.com (Ray Trent) writes:
|> In the referenced article, bob1@cos.com (Bob Blackshaw) writes:
|> >it not cutting pollution. It seems to me that the oxygen sensor sees
|> >a higher oxygen content and so calls for a richer mixture, hence the
|> >loss in mileage. Whether the final result is less CO I will soon know
|> 
|> Although this whole thing sounds like a scam to me too, remember that
|> the majority of pollution comes from vehicles that are old enough that
|> they probably don't *have* oxygen sensors.
|> 
|> Whether or not an oxygen sensor would detect the "oxygenated" fuel in
|> question is another matter.
|> 
|> Also note that if, as the Subject implies, we are talking about
|> Ethanol blended gasoline, the decreased efficiency may simply be due
|> to the lower energy content of ethanol vs. gasoline (primary hexane if
|> I remember correctly). The "emissions" may or may not go up, depending
|> on what you consider "emissions".

Most oxygenated fuel campaigns are aimed at the older cars (usually pre-1982)
which do not have closed-loop fuel control.  The local emissions regulation
office has essentially admitted that it has little effect on the emissions
from the newer cars, but it can reduce CO from an older uncontrolled car by
as much as 20%.  

The problem with the alcohol blend is that it also increases the formaldehyde
emissions, which currently have no offical limits (despite being known
carcinegens).  They are also more likely to cause problems for older cars
with carbureators and dirty fuel systems.

Mark
From: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: ++'89-'91 PONTIAC LeMANS-Info Needed.++
Date: 5 Nov 1992 03:11:56 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, mgarber@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Max D Garber) says:

>I have recently found interest in the '89 to '91 models on the Pontiac LeMans.
>I have seen two in town here and here is the run down:
>     1991 LeMans Four-Door: Auto, 16K miles, Silver
>          Sign Says "Books at $7200, yours for $5600!" (And they recently
>dropped the price to $5300)
>
>     1989 LeMans Two-Door: I thought it was a 4 speed, he said it was a 5 (I 
>didn't get inside), 30K miles, Red.  Sticker is $3900!!
>
>Let me know what kind of cars these are.  I like the hatchback style car and 
>this will incorporate my speaker box nicely as well.
>
my bro had one..about an 89, i think, but do not know for sure.  he liked it.
no problems, ran like a bat ouf of hell for the penny motors they have, he
sez he used to run his at abt 90 steadily on freeway...(i do NOT know, i 
was NOT there, and i imagine his speedo stopped at 85 anyhow!)...he sold it
because his wife was buying a VW Cabriolet....and he was tired of it, but
i do not recall his having any legitimate complaints about it..he loved 
the mpg too...
DREW
-- 
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????????-----whatever!
From: zampicem@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Mike Zampiceni)
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:19:45 GMT
Subject: Re: 1955 mercury station wagons
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server
Newsgroups: rec.autos

Try posting your inquiry to alt.autos.antique to contact those involved 
in the old car hobby.
From: jws@billy.mlb.semi.harris.com (James W. Swonger)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Underdrive pullys - Any experiences?
Date: 9 Nov 92 14:48:33 GMT
Organization: Harris Semiconductor, Melbourne FL


 Alternators in cars include a regulator which maintains output voltage by
controlling field current. If you underdrive the shaft, the regulator will
compensate by running more current. Where does this current come from? From
shaft power. Any benefit? Hardly. In fact, if you consistently have to run
excess field current, it's harder on the regulator pass transistor and
the brushes.

 The water pump is another matter, and things may be improved -or worsened -
by underdriving that. It depends on whether you have too much cooling
capacity, whether your pump is cavitating at high RPM, etc.

 All in all, it looks like the only benefit is the appearance (and the
marginal improvement in acceleration due to less weight in your wallet).
-- 
##########################################################################
#Irresponsible rantings of the author alone. Any resemblance to persons  #
#living or dead then yer bummin. May cause drowsiness. Alcohol may inten-#
#sify this effect. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Billy!#
From: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Fiero GT performance
Date: 10 Nov 1992 00:26:43 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, thenor@acsu.buffalo.edu (Leonid Thenor) says:

>
>I have a few questions for some of the knowlegeable individuals on this net.
>I own an '86 Fiero Gt and I would really like to improve performance (at a
>reasonable cost). I would like to know the following:
>
>	1) How much improvement can I expect from free-flowing exhausts
>		and intakes? Can you suggest any brands?
>	2) What other GM engines will fit the Fiero with little (prefably
>		no) modifications?

heard tell of the buick v6 fitting in quite nicely..along with another
chevy v6..but i do not recall what it was called...check around..this is
a popular thing for the earlier fieros w/o a "real" motor ;-)
DREW

>	3) I saw a twin-turbo ad in 'Kit Car' magazine, but can't seem to 
>		find it again; has anyone else seen this?
>
>
>
>	@leo
>
-- 
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??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????????-----whatever!
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
From: deanf@chips.com (Dean Frazier)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Analog Brake Light
Keywords: brake light deceleration
Date: 10 Nov 92 01:10:16 GMT
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: Chips and Technologies, San Jose, CA

Has anyone seen or heard of a brake light system that indicates the degree
of deceleration of the vehicle?   Maybe a different number of lights, or
increasing light intensity, or flashing lights, etc.

It sure would be nice to have such a device during rush-hour traffic!

If you've heard of anything like this please e-mail me (or post if you
think others would be interested...)

Thanks,
Dean
Xref: sparky rec.autos:26516 alt.autos.antique:2183
From: rxkgre@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au (Geof Evans)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,alt.autos.antique
Subject: Need a car for trans USA trip.
Summary: cheap fersure.
Keywords: Convertable (yeah !)
Date: 12 Nov 92 09:16:17 GMT
Organization: RMIT Computer Centre
NNTP-Posting-Host: minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au

We are travelling thruout the US in January/February and will be looking
to buy a (very) cheap car to do it in. Any old Pontiac,Dodge,big ol'bus
will be fine so long as the brakes work and it goes. Obviously we would 
prefer a ragtop for when we get down south. We will be arriving in NY
and we know it will be *freezing* but hey...what the heck ! We want to 
stay under a grand (paintwork is not important 8->...) so any ideas ?
Really...as long as it goes for ten weeks that's all we need.

                                          ciao for now...
                                                         Bigfoot.

-- 
  ___________________________________________________________________  
|| Geof Evans                 | DOMAIN: rxkgre@minyos.xx.rmit.oz.au  ||
||   If they *really* wanna know...tell 'em that God was drunk.      ||
  -------------------------------------------------------------------
From: smorris@sumax.seattleu.edu (Steven A. Morris)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Geo Prizm; where is the engine made
Date: 10 Nov 92 22:14:50 GMT
Organization: Addiction Studies Program, Seattle University

In article <BxI5Jw.362.2@cs.cmu.edu> murthy+@EDRC.CMU.EDU (Sesh Murthy) writes:
>I am considering buying a 1993 Geo Prizm.  
>Could someone tell me 
>a. Where is the engine made.
The engine is made in Japan by TOYOTA.

>b. What percentage american parts does it have.  How does this 
>compare to a Honda for example.

I am not certain as to the percentage of American content.  The PRIZM
has some GM parts, such as a delco radio, Harrison GM radiator, US
sourced tires, etc.  I suspect that the body and interior are
domestic, but that the total content is NOT as high as the HONDA
ACCORD.
>c. How safe is this car.  Can I get it without the
>moving seatbelts and with an airbag and ABS.  I was
>thinking of the Achieva till it rated so low on the 
>safety tests.
The 1993 PRIZM has an airbag, GM sourced.
As far as other safety factors, I cannot state.
>

The PRIZM is essentially the same as the TOYOTA COROLLA, a car that
has always had a good reputation for value and reliability (bot not
necessarily for safety).

There are not many American cars among it's competitors.  The Ford
Escort and SATURN are both American made alternatives, but the DODGE
COLT, NISSAN SENTRA, HONDA CIVIC, etc. are either imported or
transplants assembled in the US by japanese companies.

-- 
Steve Morris, M.A.    : Internet: smorris@sumax.seattleu.edu
Addiction Studies Pgm : uucp    :{uw-beaver,uunet!gtenmc!dataio}!sumax!smorris
Seattle University    : Phone   : (206) 296-5350 (dept) or 296-5351 (direct)
Seattle, WA 98122_____:________________________________________________________
Xref: sparky rec.autos:26368 rec.autos.driving:6532
From: blu@cellar.org (Dan Reed)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.driving
Subject: Hella Quartz Brake Light Conver. Kit.
Date: 10 Nov 92 19:12:33 GMT
Organization: The Cellar BBS and public access system

(this is for the people who wanted to know where to get, halogen brake 
lights... here's the info.. I do not work for APS, Hella, or anyone else liek 
that..)

This high intensity brake light kit will quickly get the attention of anyone 
behind you, and for the max. safety in rain, snow, or fog conditions.  The 
quartz bulbs are 20 watt SINGLE FILAMENT with primary use as stop lights, but 
may also be used for back-up lights, flashers, etc...  NOT FOR CONTINUOUS 
USE!  Installs in seconds in place of standard bulb.  Kit included two 
adapters, and bulbs...

PART NUMBER - 6-81140 ($19.85)
Spare Bulb PART NUMBER - 6-78165 ($6.95)

1464 North Hundley Street
Anaheim, California 92806-1382

1-800-423-3623

Have a nice day

--
Dan Reed AKA Blu Max - blu@cellar.org - AnalCADGeek! - Industrial Music Maker
    68' Cougar XR-7, 89' VW Golf, 74' Honda CL360t, Vextrex Unit Lover
-Legal in California only for racing use, never to be used on a highway.-
From: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Ethanol blended gasoline
Date: 9 Nov 1992 23:52:20 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, dcg@mogun.UUCP (David Gunsul) says:

>In article <1992Nov5.040209.4665@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>, sborders@nyx.cs.du.edu (Scott Borders) writes:
>> 
>> In my opinion, we should 
>> concentrate first on fixing/removing those autos that pollute the most.
>
>Well in my opinion, I think we should get rid of every
>polluting big mouth that wants to remove all of the *fun* cars
>from the road.


and just who the hell are you to say that anything w/o a bigblock and
no mufflers(oh..pardon..cherry bombs;-)  is not fun??...i find it 
interesting that todays technologies actually make cars faster, better,
and more reliable than the inadept carbs and run-richers of yesteryear
while allowing for the same performance, and, sometimes, better..read on

>
>> Just my $1.19/gallon worth :-).
> 
>Just my 396/cubic inch worth :^)
>
odd the way that in  the last post you were so worried about the factories.
sides, why cannot you have the best of both worlds?..the small blocks of 
today put out as much HP as yours did..they  just sound different, look 
different, and run cleaner in most respects...i have no problem with older
cars..but i do wish that someone (EPA..gvt..etc) would make it attractive
to put efi, cats, etc on retrorods like your 396..you could get the same
or maybe even better performance, and less polluting..the problem is that
these co$t so much...otherwise, more people probably would.
DREW
-- 
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????????-----whatever!
From: leonglaw@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com (Lawrence LEONG)
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 05:45:09 GMT
Subject: Re: Corvette's Passive Keyless Entry (PKE)
Organization: HP Singapore
Newsgroups: rec.autos

In rec.autos, bob@ncube.com (Bob Kehoe) writes:

|My '93 Corvette LT1 Coupe test this week ties in with the
|key subject being hashed over here.  This year, GM is offering
|for the first time it's passive keyless entry (PKE) system and
|it's really unique.
|
|PKE eliminates  the need to use the key to either lock or gain
|entry to the vehicle.  You can walk up to the car and open the
|door without any action on your part.  The same goes for locking
|the car and arming the security system.
|
   [deleted stuff about PKE]
|
|If you leave the key in the ignition and try to manually lock the doors,
|they will automatically unlock.  If you lock your keys and transmitter
|in the car by mistake and they are not in the ignition, you simply shake
|the car and the transmitter will "wake up" (it goes into a sleep mode
|after 25 seconds) and unlock the doors.
|
|It's a neat system that takes a short amount of time to get used to.

Neat?  If you forget and lock your keys in the car, you could also walk 
away and forget it (eg left on seat).  Someone comes along, shakes the car
awake, and drives off  (half) ;-).  Pity no one imports 'vettes here.  Could
do with one :-) :-)

lawrence

|I'm sure it will be offered on many more models in the upcoming years.
|
|Oh, by the way, the Corvette is terrific.  It's been many years since
|I've been exposed to one, but the magic is still there.  I've been in a
|lot of Japanese and European exotics this year, but there's just
|something about a Corvette they don't emulate.
|
|bob
|
From: tut@cairo.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill "Bill" Tuthill)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Leather Seats
Date: 12 Nov 92 20:07:12 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Inc., Mountain View, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: cairo

Leather seats seem to be increasingly popular nowadays.  Maybe
it's because more people are wearing Nikes and Reeboks these days,
shoes that often contain no leather.  So the cattle industry has
been forced to find a market for cowhide.

Anyway, what's the verdict on leather?  I've found cloth to be
much more durable and comfortable than vinyl (or leatherette, as
pseudo-luxury carmakers call it).  Leather furniture I've sat on
in the past has always made me sweaty.  Are carseats different?
Can leather be expected to outlast cloth?  How much maintenance
does leather require?  I remember reading a thread a few months
ago concerning leather treatment.  And I never even wash my car!

Thanks,
Bill
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
From: underdog@leland.Stanford.EDU (Dwight Joe)
Subject: Re: HYUNDAIS ON FIRE!!!
Organization: Miners for a Heart of Gold
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 92 02:01:40 GMT

In article <1992Nov13.231259.29391@u.washington.edu>
yongje@hardy.u.washington.edu (Yong Je Lim) writes:
>Actually, the correct name is "Pony" that has been exported to Canada and 
>some countries in Africa.  Well, we had bunch of them in Korea primarily for
>low-fair taxis during last 10 years.  They are pretty reliable and a best fit

Reliable?  Compared to what other cars in Korea?

The facts are that import restrictions in Korea are several orders of
magnitude worse than in Japan.  The cost of a Honda Accord in Korea is 
about $48,000.  Congressman Gephardt wasn't kidding when he said that
a Chrysler compact costs about that amount in Korea.

Compared to American makes and Japanese makes, Korean makes are much worse.
Consumer Report consistently rates Hyundai vehicles to be worse than
either their American or Japanese competitive vehicles.

Yes, there is a company that makes even worse vehicles than Chrysler.
That company is Hyundai.

>for the country like Korea, we had lots of unpaved road in country side, and
>I had never seen any of them on fire.  Well, Koreans use taxi as Americans use
>their own cars.  It is rare case as far as I know.

Defect rates of Korean-made vehicles are at least twice as high as
Japanese-made vehicles.

The only good thing that one can say about Hyundais and other Korean-makes
is that they are much cheaper than either American or Japanese vehicles.
The principal reason is that Korean workers are paid very cheaply, and
in the recent past, they have been sorely exploited by the Korean corporations.

Around 1987, the workers at the Hyundai factories could not even afford to
buy the cars that they were manufacturing for export to the USA & Canada.

------------------------------------------------------------------+------------
Jinsei no imi wa nan desu ka.                Sister, can you      |   \|  |`
Shitte itara oshiete kuremasen ka.           spare a coin?        |    | -+-
                                                                  |   /| / \
Copyright 1992.  Disclaimer:  1 + 1 = 3                           |
------------------------------------------------------------------+------------
From: jimf@centerline.com (Jim Frost)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Survey impartiality (was Re: Profits to Japan?)
Date: 10 Nov 92 18:14:28 GMT
Article-I.D.: armory.1dou64INNe7u
Organization: CenterLine Software, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: 140.239.3.202

jnielsen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John F Nielsen) writes:
>>>Why would the Suzuki Samauri, something CU trashed have an excellent
>>>reliability rating.
>>
>>CU trashed them as being unstable, not unreliable.  I was rather
>>surprised they did this since they never mentioned that all of the
>>open-air jeeps are likewise unstable.  That was when I decided CU
>>really wasn't impartial.

>Impartiality? Do you think they would hesiate to trash a Jeep
>Wrangler? It's an American product after all. Why would they
>pick on a Japanese product?

>What do you mean that CU doesn't talk about instability for those
>types of vechiles. They do mention that raised 4wd vechiles are less
>stable than a normal car. The Samuri was one where they expereinced
>it particularly bad. Is it not possible for the Samuri to have
>a worse roll over tendency than some of the other vechiles in it's
>class?

After all the hoopla (the news agencies went ape over that one) I went
and looked up the article because I figured the newspeople forgot to
mention the Jeep Cherokee, which is known to have real rollover
problems.  I was surprised to find that the article didn't mention the
Jeep or *any* other brand for that matter.  As you say it mentioned
(only once if I remember right) that these types of vehicles were
prone to rollover but didn't compare the Samurai to any other
vehicles.  In truth the Samurai is about average for that class of
vehicle, which they did *not* mention.

>Well, then I don't understand what your qualm is about. Granted you
>say it is not perfect, but you say it can be useful. So, then
>why don't you want to consult it?

I never said I wouldn't consult it (I did when I bought my car, in
fact).  I merely concurred with the initial thread that the CU results
were biased in some cases.

Happy hacking,

jim frost
jimf@centerline.com
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Mike Mshar)
Subject: Re: Powering Steering Question
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 21:35:13 GMT

> louislam@iastate.edu (Louis C Lam) writes:

>One day when I was driving to the grocery store and was parking my car,
>I turned off my key (just playing) before my car was completely in the parking
>space.  At the moment I turned of the ignition, the steering wheel locks up.
>I know this is normal since the PS needs some vacuum from the engine (right?)
>
>My question is, what if the car's engine stops running (an engine problem...) 
>while you're on the road?  The steeling wheel locks and you can't control 
>the car!

Ouch!! That was a bad question.

The power system works off of a belt driven pump that drives hydraulic
fluid. This pressurized fluid that comes from the power steering pump is
used to make steering movements easier. 

The power steering system DOES NOT use engine vacuum in anyway. The power
braking system does, however.

When the engine dies, you essentially lose power assist to your steering
system. The steering wheel will still turn, but it will take a lot more
effort. This effort is multiplied when the car is moving slowly; if the
car is stationary, it will take a great deal of effort to turn the wheels.
Just ask anyone who has a car with manual steering. 

The best advice I can give is that you use hand-over-hand steering when you
turn the wheel if the engine ever does quit. Remember, like you learned in
drivers` ed. 

If you had read the owner`s manual to your car, it would have probably told
you the same thing. Also, be careful about turning the key off before you
stop. If you turn it back too far, it will engage the anti-theft steering
wheel lock, which will render you helpless. If you are ever in a situation
where you need to kill the ignition, just turn the key far enough to shut
off the ignition, but not all the way back to the lock position. If you do,
you will be in deep doody.

Mike


-- 
|       Michael G. Mshar        | My Life-Long Goal: To keep common sense    |
|   mmshar@mn.ecn.purdue.edu    | alive and keep the idiots from taking over.|
|  mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu   |     \\President, Nice Guys Anonymous//     |
|____>>> United States Steel, Mechanical Engineer, Technical Services <<<____|