HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: smith@ctron.com (Larry Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Are all Americans Stupid???
Date: 15 Apr 92 14:02:53 GMT
Reply-To: smith@ctron.com
Distribution: na
Organization: Cabletron Systems, Inc.

In article <1992Apr14.160234.5818@aplcen.apl.jhu.edu>, dgg@llcn2.jhuapl.edu (Dave Gawron) writes:
>totally ignore the speed limit.  Where are your statistics regarding
>America's supposed fanatic compliance with speed limits?

I don't think he was claiming a fanatic *compliance* - I think he is just
wondering why Americans are idiots enough to allow a 55 mph national speed
limit and then ignore it, and have to play the traffic ticket lottery.
And frankly, he's got reason to wonder, and perhaps they Subject isn't so
abusive after all.  Occam's Razor, and all that.

Larry Smith (smith@ctron.com) No, I don't speak for Cabletron.
-------------------------------------------------------------
I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a "disgrace",
that two are called a "law firm", and that three or more become a "Congress".
From: mdrayton@hpmwtd.HP.COM (Mike Drayton)
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 20:52:59 GMT
Subject: Re: Oil recommendations sought.
Organization: HP Santa Rosa Site (NMD MTA MWTD). - Santa Rosa, Ca.
Newsgroups: rec.autos

 lsls00@iliad.kodak.com (Ilia Levi) writes:
>What brands of oil are good? I saw Havoline oil in the store for 77 cents per
>quart. Is it any worse than Penzoil or Castrol that cost more than $1/quart?
----------
About 3 years ago Consumer Reports published results of their work on
motor oil -- the only comparative study I've ever seen.  It indicated
that Castrol was the best choice in terms of retaining viscosity, in
particular.  Its weakness was being too heavy in cold temperatures,
which is fine with me in my climate -- Northern California.  Pennzoil
came in a close second.  Check out the article; I think it was Feb.
'89.  You can find it at your library, no doubt.

Mike Drayton 
mdrayton@sr.hp.com
From: dcg@mogun.UUCP (David Gunsul)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: <<< Mustang Powered Miata >>>
Date: 9 Apr 92 03:12:39 GMT
Organization: Hotrods `R' Us, Montgomery, IL

In article <1992Apr5.163125.19640@menudo.uh.edu>, kevin@taronga.taronga.com (Kevin Brown) writes:
> In article <135@mogun.UUCP> dcg@mogun.UUCP (David Gunsul) writes:
> >In article <1992Apr2.202224.1255@menudo.uh.edu>, kevin@taronga.taronga.com (Kevin Brown) writes:
> >> In article <133@mogun.UUCP> dcg@mogun.UUCP (David Gunsul) writes:
> >> >In article <960@xlnt.COM>, david@xlnt.com (David Johnson) writes:
> >> >
> 
> Okay.  By "performance" I take it you mean straight line performance?

Yes, but not excluding handling.

> So how much is required?  16 seconds to the 1/4 mile?  15?  14?

As I said before, I don't remember to much of the definition but IMHO I would
say about high 13 or very low 14.

> Nah.  Like I said, "sports car" is in the mind of the beholder.  That means
> it's *impossible* to be "wrong" about what a sports car is.  It's a subjective
> thing (IMHO, of course).

Hmmm, you may have a point there.

> >Unfortunely the cars I consider a sports car are to expensive for me to ever
> >get to drive. :-(
> 
> Man, can I sympathize!

  8^)

> >The reason for the ungodly amount was parts, pure and simple.
> 
> Sheesh.  Just how much of that was labor, though?

That's just the point, hardly any, they only worked on it for a couple of hours.

> I'm not saying that this is *definitely* what happens.  It's just a
> possible explanation.

That is a possible explanation for some of the American cars going bad as well.
People now-a-days just don't get into taking care of their cars like they did
a few years back so they run like crap.
It's a shame there used to be a time when the car was thought of as a friend and
not just another machine.

> >> No argument here!  Being an owner of a Mustang GT, I can attest to the fact
> >> that it's quite well-built (even if it has a little too much flex in the body.
> >> Fortunately, that's easy and inexpensive to fix with subframe connectors).

Sometimes I think people don't give enough credit to the Mustangs and Camaros,
everyones always pushing for improvement and don't get me wrong I like improvement
too but these cars are old "warriors" of the drag-strip that have survived the
toughest test of anything, time and have come out with dignity.

> 
> 		Kevin Brown (kevin@taronga.taronga.com)




                       David Gunsul 
                       dcg@mogun.uucp
                       

                       The information contained in the post above
                       may be unsuitable for younger or more sensitive
                       readers. This post was written as it happened,
                       nothing was reenacted.
From: moody@e4.ius.cs.cmu.edu (James Moody)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Using the horn
Date: 14 Apr 92 12:49:38 GMT
Reply-To: moody@cs.cmu.edu
Organization: CMU Vision and Autonomous Systems Center

In article <MATT.92Apr10133140@world.std.com>, matt@world.std.com (Matt Saucier) writes:
> 
> On a related note, I saw something REALLY odd the other day... 

   [ Story about some old people sitting through their entire
     green light. ]

This isn't that uncommon, but what's wierd is that it seems to happen more often
during evening rush hour when many other people are more, uh, finely tuned 
to the influences preventing them from getting home.  Perhaps it's just the 
boredom of the rush hour routine that causes some people to space out at
traffic lights.  They only move when their peripheral vision detects motion
(or when their auditory system detects a chorus of blaring horns behind them).

What gets me is some of the drivers down in God's Waiting Room (a.k.a., St. 
Petersburg, Florida).  My sister and her friend had been stopped at a red light
one day.  The cars behind them had been stopped, too.  All at once they receive
a bump from behind, the friend gets out to see what damage was done, and notices
in the car that hit his an old lady was poking her husband, trying to wake him up!

The old man had actually been able to fall asleep in the 20 seconds he was stopped, 
and his foot slipped off of the brake pedal, his over-stuffed land yacht drifted 
forward and clobbered the car ahead of him!

Oh no, have I started an "Old People Should Stay Off Of The Road" thread?

-- 
James E. Moody Jr.	The Robotics Institute		(412) 268-2847
			Carnegie Mellon (University)	      CMU-BUGS
			Schenley Park
moody@cs.cmu.edu	Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Xref: sparky rec.autos:10939 rec.autos.vw:2252
From: ae01045
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.vw
Subject: Re: Experience purchasing 1992 VW GTI 16v (long)
Date: 8 Apr 92 15:02:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: vx.8APR199210022846
Organization: University of Minnesota CIS
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Apr8.124847.26292@wpi.WPI.EDU>, jimk@wpi.WPI.EDU (James Matthew Kokernak) writes...
> 
>Not all North American VW's are assembled in Mexico. Look at the VIN.
>If it begins with a "W", then it was built in West(ern) Germany. The
>Fox is built in Brazil, all of the Jettas are built in Germany, some
>of the Golfs are built in Germany, some are built in Mexico, some might
>be built in U.S. (This is all as far as I can tell)
> 
>--Jim

This is not exactly true. Most of the Jettas are built in Mexico. Last time 
I was at my dealer I checked for the VIN of all cars on the lot. Only the
Jetta Diesel had a 'W'. All the Passats had that 'W' though. You do
not even have to bother reading the VIN. Just take a look at it. If it's
written in big letters and the letters are white then it is from Germany.
The mexican ones just stamp the letters and the size it's quite small.

Peter
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: eliot@stalfos.engr.washington.edu (Brutus Thornapple)
Subject: Re: Best Dashboard; Most quiet ride; Nominations?
Organization: clearer than blir
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 19:42:03 GMT

In article <3793@wet.UUCP> butch@wet.UUCP (Butch Katigbak) writes:
>I am changing my car and would appreciate recommendations from the net
>on which cars excite them most in terms of 
	       ^^^^^^
	
>Dashboard Design and a quiet ride.

Methinks that quietness and excitement are mutually exclusive.  The
Lexus LS400 probably takes the prize for being the most quiet car
there is, and at the same time, the most boring.  (Autoweek seems to
think so too) The new "S" Benz might be a shade quieter but is
obscenely expensive.  A used Jaguar might cut it if $$$ is a concern.

Dashboard design?

I personally like the new Audi 100s.  Oh, and the car is really
quiet too.


eliot
Xref: sparky rec.autos:11609 soc.culture.indian:14702
From: shuang@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Steven B Huang)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,soc.culture.indian
Subject: Re: Are all Americans stupid
Date: 16 Apr 92 23:14:13 GMT
Followup-To: rec.autos


In article <1992Apr15.171908.2190@linus.mitre.org> rajiv@mbunix.mitre.org (Kohli) writes:
>
>	Reply to: Are all Americans STUPID in rec.autos 
>
>	*) Who have a problem saying "Schedule" .. It is "sched-ule"
>
Seeing as Americans speak the ENGLISH language, I don't see how you can 
justify this point.

Everything else aside, the subject line was obviously written to start a
meaningless and idiotic argument.  So why doesn't everybody just quit proving
this theory correct (i.e. don't be so STUPID as to respond in the manner that
the original poster was looking for).  Do you really think that insulting the
entire British population has any sort of relevance to the matter at hand?  If
so, then maybe you really are STUPID, perhaps as much as the original poster.

The only comments you contributed to the rec.autos discussion came after 
screenfuls of nonsense.  Next time, trim the BS.  It gets so tiring to have
to weed through all these articles insulting various countries and
nationalities to find the ones that have something of substance.

Finally, I would like to ask a question.  What should I expect to pay for
insurance in a large city such as Philadelphia?  The car I would be driving
(hopefully) would be something along the lines of a Volkswagon Corrado SLC.
Can someone give me an estimate for a male under 25 years of age?  I realize
that Philadelphia supposedly has the highest rates for insurance in the
country, but, if things work out, perhaps I can afford to have a car and move
out of these awful dorms (and campus) into a quiter and more peaceful (and 
safer) neighbourhood.  I know that, in Vancouver, I would pay around $1300.
I'm never quite sure because of the ever increasing insurance rates.

Thanks.

				Steven B. Huang
				(shuang@eniac.seas.upenn.edu)



Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: hustler@u.washington.edu (Donald Heisler)
Subject: Re: Need feedback on Integra RS, Saturn SL2, Escort LXE/Tracer
Organization: University of Washington
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 21:40:26 GMT

In article <kubce7INN79g@male.EBay.Sun.COM>, jimj@cleanplate.EBay.Sun.COM (James D. Jones) writes:

> 
> 2.  The Saturn SL2's okay, but I wasn't quite sure about the handling.  It
> seems to have a tendency towards top-roll.  What are other peoples'
> experiences with Saturn handling on twisty roads at good speed?
> ????????????????????????????????????????????????

I have an SL2 and have never had a problem with top-roll etc. In fact, I have
found that the SL2 has one of the stiffist suspensions of any of the cars 
that I have driven.  The steering is very tight and the car rounds curves with 
drops, inclines etc.  with very vigerous energy and stability.  You of course
tried it on your "17" and felt these "tendencies", so I won't discredit your
feelings, but I have found my trips over mountain passes and small country 
roads to be very stimulating etc...

dh


> 3.  I wasn't even considering the Escort, but I read an excellent review of`
> the LXE in that "Edmund's 20 Best Cars for 1992."  The specs look good.
> Does anyone have experience with it? Do you like it?  How's the
> reliability been?
> 
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
> 
> Jim Jones
> 
> 
From: knotts@hpl-opus.hpl.hp.com (Tom Knotts)
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 20:20:27 GMT
Subject: Re: Japan could be skirting $30 billon in U.S. taxes annually
Organization: HP Labs, High Speed Electronics Dept., Palo Alto, CA
Newsgroups: rec.autos


>  Just goes to show that Japanese businessmen is not unlike any other
>businessmen.  :-)

The ":-)" in your response is not appropriate. It is a fact that most
businesses will get away with whatever they can to maximize profits.
This is human nature, and the reason why I am opposed to laissez-faire
capitalism. If we let market forces decide the outcome, then too many
people get hurt, not to mention the environment. What is needed is a
system with checks and balances.

The problem with Japan is that they are skirting the checks and balances
by hiring Washington lawyers, former trade negotiators, former IRS
commissioners, lobbyists, anyone they can, for $500K+/year salaries.
These people are selling off our future and the future of our kids while
they line their own greedy pockets.  As far as I'm concerned, these
people are traitors to our country.

I have been hearing this for a long time from Bill Wattenberg on KGO
radio. He is very conservative. I heard the same thing last Friday night
from Jesse Jackson on the ABC National Town Meeting program from
Stanford. He stated that as the jobs leave our country, and our standard
of living declines, the people with the power are scrambling to get
theirs while they can. Similar opinions from the Right and the Left.
That's always interesting.

Tom
From: lharris@hubcap.clemson.edu (Larry Harris)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: <<< Mustang Powered Miata >>>
Date: 13 Apr 92 04:22:50 GMT
Organization: Clemson University

kevin@taronga.taronga.com (Kevin Brown) writes:

>I suppose this is true, but do they *really* need to be technologically
>sophisticated mechanically in order to get high performance out of their
>cars?  Hot rodders are already able to get 12-13 second quarter mile times
>out of their modified Mustangs, and that's with a normally-aspirated
>engine (how driveable such a modified engine is, I don't know.  That's
>obviously something Ford will be concerned with).  I'm not sure I
>understand why they don't simply mass-produce the GT-40 heads and put
>them (and the appropriate manifolds, larger throttle-body, etc) on stock
>Mustangs.  I'd think that mass-producing these pieces would keep the
>prices down (maybe add about $1K to the total package price).

The problem here is that the Folks at Ford need to make these cars pass
emissions tests, and get respectable gas milage.  They've done quite
well in the gas milage dept so far.  My all time best with the doggy
2.73 rear, and constant highway use (never more than 65 with no stops)
has been an incredible 30 MPG!!!  

As far as mass producing and putting GT40 components on factory
Mustangs, see my decription of the '93 Cobra below!

>>I think the '93 Cobra Mustang should boost
>>sales to the whole line of Mustangs.

>I've not heard a thing about the '93 Cobra, unless it's the one with the
>modular V-8.  If it's not, could you describe it in more detail?

Ok, the '93 Cobra Mustang (5000 produced) will have...
1. Distinctive Spoilers/Badges.  The prototype has a running horse in
the grill!
2.  Very nice looking 7.5 X 17" turbine wheels wearing 245/45ZR17's.
The wheels look like they may be uni-directional to draw cooling air
into the breaks, but I can't tell, since They (Super Ford) only have
pictures of the left side.
3.  Tighter springs, bigger anti roll bars, better shocks and struts,
which have been partially developed with Jackie Stewart and Bob
Bondurant.
4.  Complete GT40 engine package, better fuel pump, 24 lb/hr
injecters...  should be good for at least 270 hp.
5.  Rear disk breaks!!!
Overall it looks and sounds mean enough to make the best of the blue
bowties very nervous!  They are also making a Boss truck with a GT40ized
351.  Should be an exciting year!

>		Kevin Brown (kevin@taronga.taronga.com)

-- 
-Larry Harris-                |  '86 Mustang lx 5.0 notchback
lharris@hubcap.clemson.edu    |  Meyer's Tow'd Dune Buggy
lharris@clemson.bitnet        |  OS-9, a leaner meaner UNIX
Clemson Computer Engineering  |  RUSH, YES, R.E.M, The Who
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: dschneid@jacquard.ece.wisc.edu (Dan Schneidewend)
Subject: Re: Sequential Multipoint Fuel Injection
Organization: /usr/local/lib/organization
Date: 10 Apr 92 10:39:26 CDT

In article <kspeicht.8@kilcom1.ucis.dal.ca> kspeicht@kilcom1.ucis.dal.ca (KEVIN SPEICHTS) writes:
>It has Sequential Multipoint Fuel Injection.  What 
>exactly is SMFI and how does SMFI differ from MFI? 

MFI is just multi-point injection, It means that you have (usually) one
injector for each cylinder. This is as opposed to Throttle Body injection
where the fuel is injected in the plenum by one large injector for
all cylinders.

Now for multi-point injection there are two methods that can be used -
simultaneous and sequential. In simultaneous all injectors are fired at
the same time (ussually once every 360 degrees -> twice per 4 stroke cycle).
In sequential injection, the injectors are fired one at a time and
try to deliver the fuel just as the air stream begins to flow on the
intake stroke.

As you might expect, sequential injection is usually better for standard
applications.  The matter is not quite that simple though and there
are a number of SAE papers on the subject.  At higher speeds especially
(>7000 RPM) and high transient driving, simultaneous injection is the
best choice.

Dan
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jreiser@scott.skidmore.edu (jason reiser)
Subject: Re: Are all Americans Stupid ??
Organization: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 1992 20:22:06 GMT

sh50+@andrew.cmu.edu (Sam Hui) writes:
> Hi,
> 
> Just thought I contribute my (US 2 cents) (UK 1 penny) to this subject.
> 
> Firstly, I have had the privelage of driving in both the UK and the US
> since my permanent home is in the UK and I am currently studying here in
> the US (3yrs).
> 
>  On average, UK drivers do drive much faster than US drivers on the
> highways. The offical speed limit in the UK is 70mph but as in the US
> (55/65mph), most people tend to ignore it and drive somewhat faster than
> the limit. The British driver will drive on average round about 90mph
> whereas in the US (speaking only from my personal experiences), people
> tend to cruise around the 70/75 mph mark.
> 
>  As for drivers education, I had to take a US driving test in order to
> obtain a PA licence and to be truthful, it was pretty lame. The English
> driving test is far tougher and you get to drive on a real road with
> other real drivers and real situations, not in an obstacle course (
> again, I am quoting from personal experience...this may not be the case
> for all states). I even went to take the advanced driver's course for
> fun and found that pretty unchallenging. However, having said all of
> that, the US has a far tougher written/multi-Choice test than the UK. 
>  Studying books on driving will not make one a better driver, so the
> point of all this is that, after basic driver's ed in both countries, I
> think that the average English driver is more skilled at DRIVING and
> parallel parking :) , than the average American. This does not in any
> way make Americans stupid but just shows an that American driver's ed is
> not on par with European Driver's Ed.
> 
> Best Wishes
> -Sam
> :))

	And just how is it that you come to the conclusion that UK
driver's ed is somehow better than it's US counterpart when you have
not taken both?  Thanks for showing us how logical reasoning works
over there.

				- Jason Reiser
From: phil@yogi.axion.bt.co.uk (Phil DNM44)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Engine Braking - what causes it?
Date: 8 Apr 92 11:09:56 GMT
Reply-To: phil@yogi.axion.bt.co.uk (Phil DNM44)
Organization: British Telecom Research Labs


Ever tried turning a petrol or diesel engine by hand?? compression strokes are hard work!!

diesels don't give a lot of braking because of the gearing, they rev much slower.
-- 
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
phil houseago         |So I asked my friend, 'where's all that black smoke  
phil@muppet.bt.co.uk  |coming from' - he just smiled and said,
		      |'You know, it might even snow some ...'
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: comptec90041@camins.camosun.bc.ca
Subject: Austin/Morris Minis!
Organization: Camosun College
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 03:04:20 GMT

Surely there must be some mini owners out there on the net?!?!  Perhaps 
there is even a mailing list somewhere...E-mail me if you have one of these 
great cars...Perhaps there is a mailing list?

Ian Hobday
COMPTEC90041@camins.Camosun.bc.ca
From: smith@ctron.com (Larry Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Mitsubitchy
Date: 6 Apr 92 14:37:37 GMT
Reply-To: smith@ctron.com
Organization: Cabletron Systems, Inc.

>>*What's the deal with Mitsubishi dealers?  I got kicked out of one when
>>*I was shopping for a car.  I was looking at an Eclipse (I ended up
>>*buying an Eagle Talon).  They kicked me out because I wasn't "serious
>>*about buying".

I've done a little homework on this outfit.  For those of you just tuning in,
the original post charged Nashua Mitsubishi not only with refusing to honor
the manufacturer warranty (for committing the unpardonable sin of buying the
car from another dealer) but also racial slurs and threats should be attempt
to force the matter.

I believe this outfit is 1400 Mitsubishi, and I believe they are owned by
the same outfit as 1400 Dodge, and 1400 Chrysler, among several others. Perhaps
the original poster could call one of these affiliated dealerships and complain
to THEIR general managers - such complaints might get past them and reach the
owners, who might NOT appreciate the lawsuit potential being exhibited at
Nashua Mitsubishi.

Larry Smith (smith@ctron.com) No, I don't speak for Cabletron.
-------------------------------------------------------------
I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a "disgrace",
that two are called a "law firm", and that three or more become a "Congress".