HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rjwade@rainbow.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J. Wade)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Survey impartiality (was Re: Profits to Japan?)
Date: 9 Nov 92 15:15:17 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <1992Nov6.214504.19231@newsgate.sps.mot.com> mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw) writes:
>In article (Dan Harling)write:
>>In article <2AF94D2A.3410@telly.on.ca> evan@telly.on.ca (Evan Leibovitch) writes:
>>>For years Consumer Reports has done surveys of owners to determine
>>>reliability and owner satisfacion. Do you think there's a mystique
>>>about Japanese cars that causes their owners to report fewer problems?
>
key is that they 'report' fewer problems...

>>Frankly, yes.  This is not as unbelievable as it sounds.  A very
>>thought-provoking discussion on this subject took place in the
>>rec.autos hierarchy several months ago.  In case you missed it, here is
>>a recap (as I remember it):
>
>>............ stuff deleted...........
>
>
>I agree whole-heartedly with this position.  One of the reasons I stopped
>taking Consumer Reports was the rather biased manner in which they gather
>data.  Most of their data stems from questionaires sent in from subscribers.
>You can bet that someone who thinks their car is junk is going to respond.
>In fact, the whole premise behind Consumer Reports is to look for the worst
>in a product.  Average users are not going to take the trouble to report.
>On the other hand someone who is riding their "Japanese horse" will also
>respond with glowing results (and will overlook the minor problems).  The
>only value of the Consumer Reports frequency of repair analysis is to
>identify the type of failures most reported.  This charts are not very
>good at predicting the overall quality that a new buyer might expect.
>
i have experienced this many times with people i know...i ask them about
their jap car and they say it is perfect no problems at all etc. and when 
i press and say have you had to do anything...then they say well...the rotors
where warped but they fixed that under warranty and it was defect...and 
i did have to take it in 3 times to have the dash lights fixed but other than
that...
but they will still claim no-problems....
>
>I have also owned or worked on several Japanese cars, and the general
>quality level is falling (at least in comparison to their competition).
>For example, I was appalled to be working under the dash of a Nissan
>Pulsar NX and found that all the structural metal was rusty due to no
>treated for corrosion!  I also owned a '75 Honda Civic that burned a
>quart of oil every 100 miles when it only had 55K miles on it!  
>
>In general, when it comes to cars, most people believe what they want
>to believe.  About the only thing you can get people to agree on about
>a specific car is what color it might be painted (then again, that is
>also up to interpretation!).
>
>Mark
From: ggg@hpsad.sad.hp.com (Gary Goodlund)
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 23:14:40 GMT
Subject: Re: Car Insurance Laws
Organization: HP Signal Analysis Division - Rohnert Park, CA
Newsgroups: rec.autos

  I don't know if there are states which don't require insurance but in 
every case that I've heard of, if the car is financed the leinholder does
require full coverage to guarentee protection of their investment.  
  If you own the car outright and you only drive it a couple of weeks a
year you can get a special type of insurance that allows only a limited
amount of mileage per year.  Some companies call it "Show Insurance".
Others probably have their own names for it.
  The best idea is probably to call your insurance agent and ask what 
he/she knows about it.

  'later,
     Gary
From: dan@grok85.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM (Daniel Adams)
Subject: Re: 1993 BMW 325is
Reply-To: dan@Grok85.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM
Organization: NCR Corporation
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 17:31:07 GMT

In article <2B0035F7.18050@news.service.uci.edu>, eabu288@orion.oac.uci.edu (Alvin Chiu-Wen Chen) writes:
|> Does anyone have any information on the 1993 BMW 325is?  I am getting one soon but I don't know when the new cars will arrive and the price.  Would someone pleae supply some information.
|> thanks in advance.
|> 

I was checking out the local (Columbia, SC) BMW dealer and I noticed he had
two 325i (4dr) and a 325is.  Most notable were the new rims, which look like
an interwoven version of the crossspoke rim, and the 225/55 VR 15 :-()
In addition, the price tag looked about 10% higher.  The two loaded
325i-s had dealer add-on prices around $34,500 :-(((

dan.adams
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.driving
From: jnielsen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John F Nielsen)
Subject: Re: CONSUMER REPORTS
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 19:02:21 GMT


As I said in the previous post, I am confused by your response
as well.

MY point about the numbers wsas tht,  the previous poster
said that theDiamond start twins just get started
around 17k when in fact the number is 7 grand less. IS that
a masitake or is it not?

Then you talk about different classes of cars. Well didn't you
realize that the Diamond star cars have 3 different classes??
So, using your own line of reasoning what you are saying does
not make sense. Would you compare a base Eclipse against
a Toyota Celica Supra or a Toyota Celica ST?

In other words my example in not extreme in the least, it just points
out that the Eclpise has different classes of cars just like the rest.

And watch out for the Talon the 93's come with that wimpy 92hp
like the rest.

john







-- 
John Nielsen   MAGNUS Consultant            ______   ______   __  __	
                                           /\  __ \ /\  ___\ /\ \/\ \
Back Off Man I'm a scientist!              \ \ \/\ \\ \___  \\ \ \_\ \
      -- Ghostbusters                       \ \_____\\/\_____\\ \_____\
From: hugo@bluehau.bubble.org (Hugo Bueno)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: How to prevent windshield washer fluid from freezing on the windshield
Keywords: fluid
Date: 11 Nov 92 02:32:02 GMT
Organization: The Blue House

sontakke@helix.enet.dec.com (Vikas Sontakke) says:
>
>Is there something that I can add to the fluid to make sure it does not freeze
>when I spray it on the glass?
>
>Vikas Sontakke          Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard MA.
>Internet:               sontakke@helix.enet.dec.com
>    uucp:               {decvax,ucbvax,allegra}!decwrl!helix.enet!sontakke
>                        sontakke%helix.enet@decwrl.dec.com

Sure, by a bottle of windshield washer fluid  :-)

It has alcohol which effectively lowers the freezing temperature.
By the way, DO NOT dilute it, use it full strength.

Works for me!
-- 
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Hugo Bueno ! Fanwood, NJ | hugo@bluehau.bubble.org
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: arb@progress.COM (Alan R Bell)
Subject: Re: What causes statics?
Keywords: static, electricity
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 17:28:27 GMT

One way to avoid getting a shock is to hold on to your door while getting
out of the car.  Make sure you do not let got until you are completely out
of the car otherwise you will get shocked.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 Alan R. Bell
 Progress Software Corp.
 14 Oak Park
 Bedford, MA 01730
 Email: Alan.Bell@progress.com
 

--
 Alan R. Bell        
 Progress Software Corp.                               
 14 Oak Park                                                            
 Bedford, MA 01730       Email: Alan.Bell@progress.com                         
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: norcott_bill@tandem.com (Bill Norcott)
Subject: Re: Tempos and Loyales, Info needed
Reply-To: norcott_bill@tandem.com (Bill Norcott)
Organization: Tandem Computers, Inc.
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 02:02:27 GMT

In article <92316.130138KXN2@psuvm.psu.edu>, Karl Nordstrom <KXN2@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
|> dtg@wvnvms.wvnet.edu says:
|> 
|> >I'm in the market for a 4 WD car with a good bit of space.  I would like some
|> >input on the Ford Tempo ('85, 24K mi).
|> 
|> >Also, I noticed a Subaru called the Loyale??  It's like a mini-wagon type of
|> >car.  I'd never heard of it before.  Anyone know anything about these???
|> 
|> >I am unexpectly having to get a car in the very near future (like a week and a
|> >half) and saw these models in a dealer's lot during my first tour.
|> 
|> Forget the Tempo from Hell the 2.3L engine shakes so hard that things break
|> left and right in the engine compartment.  The new V6 version maybe better.
|> The subaru Loyale is a better car, but they are both on demand, ie. part-time
|> four wheel drive systems.  Get an Audi 4000 Quattro.

This has not been my experience with the 2.3L HSC engine (I have a FWD
Topaz with ~85,000 miles).  I had to change an oxygen sensor which is
a normal maintenance item on any car.  The only unusual engine thing I
have had to change on it was the idle speed control motor.  You should
not have problems with this kind of emissions system stuff with only
24,000 miles on it.  The Legacy is nice but the Loyale is very cramped
inside when compared with the Ford.  I don't know much about the AWD
version of the Ford.  One thing to beware of on Subaru is the
obscenely high cost of the exhaust system, and places that have snow
also tend to have salt, i.e. rust.  You could completely rebuild a
Ford engine for less than the cost of a Subaru exhaust system.  This
is partly because of the "unique" engine design on the Subaru, a
horizontally opposed engine.  I can get a complete exhaust system for
the Topaz for < $100 installed.  

Parts for the Tempo are cheap and easy to find because it has been one
of the top 10 selling cars for many years.  For example, the transaxle
which is about 3x cheaper on the Ford.  I know some people swear by
Subaru but I have not been very impressed with them.  Other 4WD wagons
to consider are Honda and Toyota.

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bill Norcott			GUARDIAN POSIX project
Tandem Computers, Inc.		
10600 N. Tantau Avenue		PHONE:  (408) 285-3253
Cupertino, CA   95014		EMAIL: norcott_bill@tandem.com
From: jtchew@csa3.lbl.gov (Ad absurdum per aspera)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Eclipse Mailing List
Date: 9 Nov 1992 10:41 PST
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory - Berkeley, CA, USA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.3.254.198
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

>Does the talon/eclipse/laser mailing list still exist?  

Sure does.  People on it are involved at various levels, ranging
hacking the engine controls to debating polishes and waxes. Try
requesting a subscription from diginst!todd@radius.com and enjoy!

--Joe
"Just another personal opinion from the People's Republic of Berkeley"
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: donald@sq.sq.com (Donald Teed)
Subject: Re: Rustproofing: is it worth it?
Organization: SoftQuad Inc., Toronto, Canada
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 15:01:32 GMT

sami@bcarh13d.bnr.ca (Sami Boulos) writes:

>I have a 92 Honda Civic which I plan to keep for more than five years.
>Is it worth the expense to rustproof it? What are the kinds of rustproofing
>and which of them will void the warranty (e.g. it's my understanding that 
>drilling holes in the body is not recommended).           

The Automobile Protection Association recommends Crown Rust Control,
who offer a 10 year guarantee for 'new' vehicles.  The APA is
a member funded consumer advocacy organization.  The definition of
'new' is less that six months old AND less than 10,000 km.
I went to an outlet in Waterloo, and while I waited for my
job I saw some impressive evidence of the sucess of their formula.
The wall in the waiting room had many letters from organizations
and individuals who were impressed with the rust control method,
and included the DND, CN Rail, Waterloo Hydro, and a couple of townships
who brought in their SALT TRUCKS!  There was also a binder with a
study by a mechanical engineer at Mc Master University, where pieces
of metal from three kinds of automobiles were analyzed and
left suspended in a salt solution with and without a couple of types
of rust control.  Rust Check was the other brand.  Both were
deemed to be good with Crown coming out a little better.
Although I can't personally vouch for the long term sucess
of this application from experience, all the evidence
suggests that spending money on this will extend the life of
the body of your vehicle, especially if rust has not developed
yet on your vehicle (i.e. it is newish).  The only holes
drilled in the body are in the 'rocker panel' (I think that's the term),
under your doors in the floor of the vehicle.  This is to prevent the
most insidious form of rust, where condensation can invite rust
to eat your vehicle up from the inside out.  Always keep in mind
that the vehicle manufacturer has in their best interests that
they both keep you as a returning customer, and do not encourage you
to do something that will double the life of your vehicle.

--Donald Teed
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Car for Sale Central N.J.
From: jons@rigel.uucp (J. Salnick)
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 20:56:59 GMT
Distribution: regional
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Keywords: '79 Coupe DeVille LOW MILES


'79 Caddy, 72K orig miles, new top,tires, exhaust starter, overall cond't
is excellent. Wire wheels, pinstripe, must see to appreciate asking $2400

Call anytime (908) 542-0221
From: tys@cbnewse.cb.att.com (tzuoh-ying.su)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Help-Replace Camry Parking Light
Keywords: Camry Light
Date: 5 Nov 92 19:37:18 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: AT&T


I had difficulty to follow the car owner's guide to
replace a parking light bulb in the front of my '88
Camry wagon (I assume the light housing is identical
for sedan or wagon).  According to the instruction,
the plastic cover (with an amber area on a white L-shaped
piece) can be taken down after two screws at the
bottom edge (one faces the front, and the other faces
the side) are removed.  However, I could not yank the
piece after two screws had been removed; it appeared to 
be stucked on the middle (near the bend) of the top. 

Any tips on the subject is appreciated.

T.-Y. Su
att!attmail!ihlpl!tys
From: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Auto-stick
Date: 10 Nov 1992 00:47:05 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, wrat@unisql.UUCP (wharfie) says:

>In article <1992Nov6.135637.11563@bsu-ucs> 01ksdavis@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu (Rebel without a clue.) writes:
>>	It is known as the semi-automatic transmission.  Other names for it
>
>	A guy I used to know had a VW convertible with one of these.  AND
>an air-conditioner.  The semi-auto tranny had 2 gears, and you picked
>high or low depending on how fast the car was moving.  Between the 2 speed
>tranny, the air conditioning compressor, and the fact that those VW flat fours
>put out like 60 horsepower, this car was the slowest thing on 4 wheels.  I'd
              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~his must have been souped up!!!;-)
DREW


>driven forklifts that could out-accelerate it.  
>
>
-- 
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????????-----whatever!
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: nau@ssesco.com (William Nau)
Subject: Re: Corvette Turbo
Organization: SSESCO
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 23:10:04 GMT

In article <1992Nov7.070750.10546@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, ctoth@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Christopher M Toth) writes:
|> 	Do Corvette's come in Turbo form? I was wondering if I could
|> get a Corvette Turbo. Have they ever come with a Turbo?
|> 
|> Thanks!
|> 
|> 
|> -- 
|> Christopher M. Toth                   "With an Iron fist in a velvet glove
|> The Ohio State University              We are sheltered under the gun
|> Columbus State                         In the glory game on the power train
|> CIS/History Major                      Thy's kingdom's will be done."-Rush

Apparently 300hp and tons of torque isn't enough for this guy.  No they don't
come from the factory in turbo form.  There aftermarket places that will
do just about anything to the car for you though.  Calloway is (I bilieve)
the only place authorized by Chevy to put a turbo on a Corvette.

You may also consider the Corvette ZR-1.  It's got more horses yet, but no
turbo.
-- 
William R. Nau
Supercomputer Systems Engineering and Services Company (SSESCO)
511 11th Avenue South, Suite 216
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415-1536
(612) 342-0003

nau@SSESCO.com
From: cc@dcs.ed.ac.uk (Chris Cooke)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: shoud there be two different licences
Date: 13 Nov 92 12:18:06 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

In article <1992Nov12.013141.7090@wam.umd.edu> jailbird@next02wor.wam.umd.edu (serial killer) writes:

   Should we have a one licence to operate a manual transmisssion and one for  
   automatic, ecept if you know how to drive a mnual you can drive a auto  
   with no problem.

This is how it's been done here for decades.  It's a fine, sensible
arrangement which hasn't caused any problems.
--
	-- Chris. 	cc@dcs.ed.ac.uk   (on Janet, cc@uk.ac.ed.dcs)

		
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: wlsmith@valve.heart.rri.uwo.ca (Wayne Smith)
Subject: Re: Exploding rear windshield
Organization: The John P. Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 15:31:52 GMT
Keywords: shattered

In article <1992Nov6.145256.4304@hawk.cs.ukans.edu> stubbs@hawk.cs.ukans.edu (Jerry Stubbs) writes:
>
>Pretty hard to say, but I have heard that the rear's are MUCH weaker than
>the front, safety standards or something.  
>
>Once a windy storm came up between a couple of buildings where I worked,
>and a whole row of cars parked between the building had their rear windows
>shattered, sucked out by the wind, apparently.

If you look at car windows through polarized sun glassed you will see streaks
and blotches in the glass.  This is because the glass was treated with jets
of cold air while it was formed, and this caused permenent latent stresses
within the glass, and these stresses also seem to have light polarizing
properties.  The stresses serve to help the glass shatter into many small
pieces when an impact occurrs, unlike regular (un-stressed) glass that
brakes along only a few paths (and hence creates large sharp edges and
projections).  So your side and rear windows are really more sensitive
to externally applied stresses than "normal" glass.

Now I've never seen the polarized-sunglasses-mottled-window-effect in
the front windshields of cars, so I would assume that the plasic 
saftey sheet that is sandwhiched in the glass (a) keeps the window
together and prevents passenger ejection and (b) makes the glass 
crack and break into many small pieces, as if it were pre-stressed.
I think that they are toying with a plastic liner on the inside, so
you don't even get cut if you hit it.  But if (b) is true, then
the automakers could have put the plastic liner in all the glass,
and we'd all be safer, and the back window wouldn't need to be pre-
stressed, and wouldn't look so awful through polarized glasses, and
wouldn't be so prone to shattering for no reason...
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: sami@bcarh13d.bnr.ca (Sami Boulos)
Subject: Rustproofing: is it worth it?
Originator: sami@bcarh13d
Organization: Bell Northern Research, Ottawa, Canada
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 17:52:03 GMT

I have a 92 Honda Civic which I plan to keep for more than five years.
Is it worth the expense to rustproof it? What are the kinds of rustproofing
and which of them will void the warranty (e.g. it's my understanding that 
drilling holes in the body is not recommended).           
-- 
Sami Boulos  |  Bell-Northern Research           |  TEL: (613) 765-2108
             |  P.O. Box 3511, Stn. C            |  FAX: (613) 765-2854
sami@bnr.ca  |  Ottawa, Ontario  Canada K1Y 4H7  |  #include <disclaimer.h>
From: frankb@hpsad.sad.hp.com (Frank Ball)
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 00:40:03 GMT
Subject: Re: Analog Brake Light
Organization: HP Signal Analysis Division - Rohnert Park, CA
Newsgroups: rec.autos

In rec.autos, deanf@chips.com (Dean Frazier) writes:

*   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.

There was a product called "Cyberlight".  No longer available, which
flashed at a rate proportional to the rate of deceleration.  I think
it had an amber lense.  You have to start reading the motor vehicle
code very carefully when you start having ideas like this.  You can
pick up a copy at the CA DMV for $3.

Frank Ball   1UR-M          frankb@hpsad.sad.hp.com
Hewlett Packard             (707) 794-4168 work, (707) 538-3693 home
1212 Valley House Drive     (707) 794-3844 fax, IT175, XT350, Seca 750
Rohnert Park CA 94928-4999  KC6WUG, LAW, AMA, Dod #7566, I'm the NRA.
From: mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (REAL LIFE?!?!  HA!!)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Are there any Luxary AWD?
Date: 12 Nov 92 07:13:27 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.BxLDEI.6J7
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer) writes:
>sorry to be biased and not say anything about the audi..but 
>i know virtually nothing, except i can't see why more of them aren't on
>the road!..they have the power, the all wheel drive..good looks..i dunno..
>seems they'd be real popular in places like CO..)

Audis are damn nice cars, but I honestly believe they are still being hurt by
that absurd Consumer Reports scandal a few years back.  Remember that:
"Audi 5000's have the tendency to accelerate unexpectedly if their pinhead
owners depress the wrong pedal while engaging Drive or Reverse"

Also, Audi is not as much of a "status" name as BMW or Mercedes, and for many,
many people, a Subaru may just be enough; that seems to be THE dominant car
in places like Colorado and Montana.
-- 
Michael T. Chaffee        |******BOYCOTT COLORADO******|  ______    
mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu | Professional Slapthologist |  \    /     HATE
Member, Universal Life Church, Sect of Loons           |   \  /  can never be
Annoyance Theatre Platinum Member |     Evil Genius    |    \/  a FAMILY VALUE
Xref: sparky rec.autos:26343 rec.autos.tech:15231
From: chaoluo@northstar.dartmouth.edu (Chao Luo)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Driver's Manual For 87 Mazda B2000 B.U.
Keywords: driver's manual
Date: 10 Nov 92 18:24:48 GMT
Organization: Project NORTHSTAR, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH


I need a copy of the driver's manual (or user's manual) for
87 Mazda B2000 B.U. (2wd, long bed) pickup truck.
Would somebody in this net please let me know where I can
get one?
I've tried the Mazda dealer in the area where I'm living, they
don't have anything that old. (They only have 90 and up.)

I don't know if it is possible for somebody who has a copy of the
manual to lend me his/her copy so that I can make a copy of it and
send it back afterwords.  I will pay the mailing cost, of course.
Or better, if somebody has an extra copy to give away, I'm willing
to buy it.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: ajackson@ernie.Princeton.EDU (Andrew William Jackson)
Subject: Re: Is GM going bankrupt ???
Originator: news@nimaster
Organization: Princeton University
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 01:29:28 GMT

In article <1992Nov10.191832.11722@bsu-ucs> 00bndaniels@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu writes:
>I am curious to know if a rumor the GM is going bankrupt is true 
>or not?  I live in Indiana where GM is a very big employer.  I am 
>curious to know because if GM is going to go under, it could have 
>a devistating effect on the state's economy.
>Any insights greatly appreciated,
>Barron Daniels
>student at Ball State University,
>Muncie Indiana

Absolutey not true!

ajackson@ernie.princeton.edu



Newsgroups: rec.autos