HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: evan@telly.on.ca (Evan Leibovitch)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: FLAME! Only a Manual!
Date: 7 Nov 92 21:57:36 GMT
Organization: Somewhere just far enough out of Toronto

In article <BxAuD9.8E4@cs.uiuc.edu> ward@cs.uiuc.edu (Christ Ward) writes:

>I just had to toss in my .02 here (it's worth what you paid for it).

>I think you should be concerned, lets say your in the middle of
>no place and get into a wreck.  Then lets say your car (auto) is 
>flipped but the other car (manual trany) is good to go, and the 
>other driver is near death...no phone, no C.B., no help...is this
>the time to learn to drive a manual?

And what if the other "car" is an 18-wheeler? Do I need to learn that,
too, just in case?

>You can say it would never   
>happen and your probably right.

No, I don't say it could never happen. That's why I try lessen the risk by:

- Keeping a celular phone (or CB) and first-aid kit in the car;

- Learning first aid and CPR;

>But, I've been out on that road
>and seen some strange stuff happen and a situation could arise
>were you NEED to drive a manual NOW.

There are a gazillion skills which can come in handy if the right
what-if situation occurs. I personally feel that basic first aid would
be more important in this particular situation. Not knowing first aid
might allow me to do something (like moving someone with a broken neck)
which could do far more harm than staying put and calling for help.

Knowing how to drive every other possible vehicle on the road can't help
if you don't know how to move the victim properly.

-- 
 Evan Leibovitch, Sound Software Ltd., located in beautiful Brampton, Ontario
         evan@telly.on.ca / uunet!utzoo!telly!evan / (416) 452-0504
         "IBM's three letters are probably EBCDIC for CYA" - Nik H.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: greg@cherokee.b23b.ingr.com (Greg Moritz)
Subject: Re: The real international car market numbers.
Reply-To: greg@cherokee.b23b.ingr.com (Greg Moritz)
Organization: Dazix, An Intergraph Company
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 15:27:49 GMT

goudreau@batman.rtp.dg.com (Bob Goudreau) discovers a typo:
> >Source:  Automotive News August 24, 1992
> > 
> >        Units sold (thousands)
> >        Twelve months ended
> >Country         July 31, 1992
> >-----------------------------
> > ...
> >Iceland              86.23
> 
> That entry is probably supposed to read "Ireland", which has about
> 3 million people.

Yup!  Ireland it is.  It was 4:30 am, so I was not seeing too clearly.
Xref: sparky rec.autos:25960 rec.autos.tech:15064
From: tpickett@auspex.com (Tom Pickett)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: Underdrive pullys - Any experiences?
Date: 6 Nov 92 19:19:09 GMT
Reply-To: tpickett@auspex.com (Tom Pickett)
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.  Engineering

In article <BxAyJF.654@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>, mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu 
(Mike Mshar) writes:
>  For example, the alternator will not be
> able to put out as much current, especially at low rpm's. This can have the
> effect of draining the battery, if the car is driven in city traffic. 

Excuse if I'm wrong on this, but doesn't an alternator put out about
the same amount of current at any speed?  Perhaps this is because they
put out more than is needed anyway, but it seems to me that I read that this
was true and one of the advantages to having an alternator over a generator?

I know in an airplane, where I usually have a load meter as well as
an ammeter to look at, I notice the ammeter does not vary when I'm
idling, or at full power.


Tom Pickett 
tpickett@auspex.com
SHO  GOZE
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Top 20 Selling Vehicles of 1992
Date: 10 Nov 92 01:07:09 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

In article <BxBBvy.AEK@scd.hp.com> klui@corp.hp.com (Kenneth K.F. Lui) writes:
>
>These cars are assembled in the US, but I'll bet many of its
>parts are manufactured in Japan (I don't think the seats, the
>stereo, windshield wipers, the ECU, etc are manufactured by an
>American company).  These Japanese cars that are qualified as
>"made in the USA" is just a technicality, IMHO.
>
   Are we talking about the "Ford" Probe here, or many of the
   GM hybrids?

   I take it you haven't looked under the hood of the typical
   'Ummerrrikun-by-Gawd" car lately.
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Underdrive pullys - Any experiences?
Date: 11 Nov 92 20:43:10 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

In article <15415@auspex-gw.auspex.com> tpickett@auspex.com (Tom Pickett) writes:
>
>What was decided off-line was that the alternator has excess power
>to offer, and so when at low RPM generally is still putting out 
>sufficient power.  Therefore, I imagine (don't know for sure) that
>with an underdrive pulley set, the alternator output is still 
>sufficient for automotive uses.
>
>
  An amazing decision.  Like most theoretical ones, it was wrong.
  Obviously the "off-line" deciders can't read the other postings
  from folks who've used underdrive pulleys and has all sorts of
  trouble with dead batteries.  [Of course the fix is that nice
  big Caddy alternator which DOES have high output at fairly low
  rpm...to match the typical Caddy driver's style...]
From: miller@FS1.cam.nist.gov (Bruce R. Miller)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Closed vs. Open Ratio Transmissions
Date: 6 Nov 92 19:21:23 GMT
Organization: NIST - Computing and Applied Mathematics Laboratory


In article <BxAz47.8oq@mentor.cc.purdue.edu>, Mike Mshar writes:
> Very simple question.
> 
> What is the difference between an open ratio manual transmission and a
> closed ratio manual transmission??
> 
> No one ever told me, and most of the cars I drove were autos, so I never
> really had an oppurtunity to find out.

I may be pulling an Emily Lattela (sp?), but...
Are you sure you dont mean "close ratio"?  That is a tranny with the
gear ratios closely spaced.  It would be good when you have a narrow
power band,  so you can keep the engine at a good rpm for any speed.
Then either you get zillions of speeds (like an 18 speed bike), or you
may sacrifice something on optimal 1st (for launch) or top gear (like
overdrive).

Like I say, I may be off the track, but I thought the opposite of close
ratio was more like wide ratio, rather than open ratio.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: denon@selway.umt.edu (Aaron Pratt)
Subject: CRX QUESTIONS
Reply-To: denon@selway.umt.edu (Aaron Pratt)
Organization: University of Montana
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 09:15:25 GMT

	I am the semi-proud owner of a 1984 Honda CRX 1500 (with the 12-valve
head).  The car currently has 132,000 miles on it, and burns not a drop of
oil between 3000 mile changes.  It still has quite a bit of power, although
I have not had a compression check since it was purchased in 1989.  Despite
returning relatively stellar performance and a constant 35-40 miles per
gallon on the highway @80 mph, I am putting together a plan of action for a
rebuild.
	I am asking for advice/opinion/facts about where and how the rebuild
should be done.  I would like to keep the original block if possible, and do
not mind crating the engine and sending it somewhere for a proper, professional
rebuild.  I would be doing most of the teardown myself, but would like the
rebuild to be of the utmost quality, possibly being done by a Honda specialty
shop, using the highest quality parts.
	I would also like any information available on Honda OEM parts, such
as trim pieces, emblems, floormats, interior trim, and any information or 
personal experience you may have on strut repacement.  I am also interested
in a Honda Owners/CRX club if one exists.
	For this cars relative impracticality, it has been an excellent car
for me, and I would like to treat it as best I can.  Any and all information
that you could give me would be much appreciated in getting this little 
rice-burner back into mint condition.
-- 
 Aaron Pratt                                              University of Montana
 denon@selway.umt.edu                                              Missoula, MT
                              "The man with Hand"
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: antkasx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu (Ken A. Sturrock)
Subject: Re: Rotary vs. Piston Engines
Organization: Georgia State University
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 20:53:52 GMT

lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell) writes:

>   Actually on a rotary, you need to get worried when oil
>   consumption is too low, it means the seals aren't being lubed
>   properly.   

It depends on the driver since the oil metering pump is connected
to the throttle. If you drive the motor *hard* and get very little
oil consumption, yes I'd check out the metering pump.

Check the manuals for the specifics on the engine involved or ask
other drivers what their oil consumption is.

				Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..........

						-ks
-- 

K. Sturrock
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of Anthropology, Georgia State University, ksturroc@gsu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: ssave@ole.cdac.com (The Devil Reincarnate)
Subject: Re: Quick radar question about traffic ticket
Organization: CDAC, WA
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 19:01:04 GMT

In article <1992Nov5.223420.11264@awdprime.austin.ibm.com> harsh@inetnode.austin.ibm.com (Harsh Sharma) writes:
>In article <1992Nov4.162441.26167@nntpd2.cxo.dec.com> mental@cntrol.enet.dec.com () writes:
>>	And I suppose if they're all going fast, the radar selects the RED
>>	car. 8^)
>>
>>	/ken
>>
>
> Especially if it's a sports car. I have just bought myself a sports car
> and am very cautious about not being caught. I bought a passport 3200 and
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
		   \__ maybe you ought to be very cautious about *being* caught.
    
> so far it has not let me down.
>
> How do the cops driving in the opposite direction (on the other side of
> the freeway) calculate the speed of the car? Do they subtract their car's
> speed from the reading they get? Does the radar take care of that by itself?
> What is the error in that?

  The speed of the cop's car is part of the equation when calculating the target
car's speed.  More often than not, they work in pairs or trios, with one cop 
going back and forth between two exits, radioing Code-27s about particular cars
that they think are speeding, so that the other two cops can instant-on them from
behind a tree (or something).  

  -S
  ssave@ole.cdac.com
>
>harsh-
>                   /* The views are and mine only */
                       Thank GOD!! :-)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: rjwade@rainbow.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J. Wade)
Subject: Re: Is GM going bankrupt ???
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 14:03:37 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


today they are issuing more stock to get some cash so i doubt they going to
go under...however there is much speculation that a division might get 
canned....oldsmobile is the one rumored to be on the block!
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jjolly@jjolly.b24b.ingr.com (Jack G. Jolly)
Subject: Re: Annoying film on windshield
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 16:39:32 GMT

I had problems with the wipers "chattering" on my '72 vette.

Was told that acetone is the strongest thing you can use to safely clean
the glass.  Bought some at K-Mart and cleaned glass.  It removed the
Rain-X I had applied earlier.  What happens now is that when first turned
on, the wipers chatter for the first few passes, then "settle down."  I
expect the chattering on the first passes will go away as the blades
get broken in.

JJ
------------

  ^^^^^^^^^          Jack Jolly  @  jjolly@jjolly.b24b.ingr.com
 (| 0   - |)
  |   *   |             Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville AL
  \_______/                AEC Project Management Support
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: wesf@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii)
Subject: Re: OPINION WANTED: Z-24
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 19:14:10 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Hewlett-Packard / Boise, Idaho
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

Hope it's put together better than the Cavalier RS that I rented about a
year ago.  This one had the worst handling/ride that I have experienced
in a long time.  The transmission hunted a lot and gearing was terrible.
I was reasonably disappointed with it.  

Cosmetically, it looked nice...

Wes Fujii

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Wes Fujii               *           JAPANESE BUSINESS MOTTO           *
* Boise, Idaho            *        You can buy anything you want        *
* wesf@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com *             with a lot of money             *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: dan@grok85.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM (Daniel Adams)
Subject: Re: Honda to move HQ to US
Reply-To: dan@Grok85.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM
Organization: NCR Corporation
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 17:49:43 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.135718.8950@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com>, c23st@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com (Spiros Triantafyllopoulos) writes:
|> In article <1992Nov11.031133.5352@dartvax.dartmouth.edu> geoffb@Dartmouth.EDU writes:
|> >Hey, the Vehicle Identification Number on my Civic starts with a "1" which
|> >means the US Govt. considers my car a domestic product as it was assembled
|> >in Ohio.
|> >I did buy American as far as I'm concerned.
|> 
|> Without commentary (I drive both a Saturn SL2 and a Honda Civic (college
|> days)) here's a little piece to help people determine domestic content.
|> 
|> The US dept of <whatever> accepts as 100% domestic content anything that
                                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What really amazes me is the way Honda is trying to convince Americans
that their products are American.  Not 5 years ago the biggest selling
point of Honda was that it was Japanese.  In fact there was major concern
of Honda-ites that the quality of American built Hondas would be lower 
than for Japanese built.  With the poor domestic economy over the past 
couple of years, there has been a resurgance of buy American, and 
Honda is taking steps to try to save their slipping sales.

I was listening to a report on NPR, in which they interviewed a Honda
plant worker (in Ohio) and the NA President for Honda (an American).
Both emphasis that their product was made in America.
If we turn back the history pages, the reason Honda built a plant in
America was to increase their profits, and NOT to add American 
jobs. 

Again, Honda is and has never been the best car on the market 
BUT it remains the best MARKETED car on the market.  

dan.adams
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: vjd11@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (virgil.j.duncan)
Subject: repair scratches on clearcoat paint
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 18:28:24 GMT
Keywords: car paint, silicone compound

I got a few scratches on my car. It looks like somebody used a sharp
object like a key. Fortunately it went only through the transparent
coat and not through the paint;

Has anybody been through this and can recommend some good
off-the shelf stuff?

thanks
virgil duncan

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: wwang@osf.org 
Subject: Q on 93 Toyota Corolla/ Geo Prizm
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 16:49:16 GMT


I'd like to find out what is new on these n32 93 model of Corolla and Geo Prizm. I know the the outlook has changed, and now airbag is standard. It is said to be larger than before? How larger? Other new features?

Better yet, if someone can post the invoice price for these two cars. Thanks.

ww
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: root@acpy01.att.com (System Administrator(CXNIXCN1))
Subject: Re: INFFINITI vs BMW
Organization: AT&T IMS - Piscataway, NJ (USA)
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 19:26:17 GMT

>The Q is not supposed to be a BMW...
>Dear, Nissan couldn't manage THAT one if they had to....
>It'd take the Q over a BMW any day..its more FUN TO DRIVE...and
>it is a hell of a lot more silent too

>And I suppose that is a good thing?  Will you think so when your Japanese
>engine starts making death noises and you don't notice?  Or when you don't
>hear a horn as you change lanes into another car?  If you want silence, sit in
>your living room with the TV off.  If you want to dive a car, don't endanger
>the rest of us by eliminating an important form of sensory input.
>My $0.02 worth
>MTC
>"Nothing says lovin' like something from Munich"

I think that Q45 is better value for your money than BMW535i or BMW735i.
There is no argument to the fact that Germans were making the best cars 
in the world ( for a price, of course).
But in the end of '89, when TOYOTA and NISSAN entered the luxury market
with LS400 and Q45 that ended that era.
Combination of performance, quality, comfort, reliability and price is 
what brought customers to them.
Just look at the numbers of cars sold by Germans before and after '90.
Also look into J.D.Powers customer satisfaction ratings.
Germans are fighting back. Look at 400E and 740i, but the new generation
of LEXUS and INFINITI is only 2 years away.
Most car magazines in the world agreed with the facts listed above. 

Just because something or somebody was the BEST at one time, doesn't
mean it will stay that way forever.......
( GM in '50s is one example ).
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (Rockville)
Subject: Re: Closed vs. Open Ratio Transmissions
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 20:03:29 GMT
Keywords: What is the difference?

mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Mike Mshar) writes:


>Very simple question.

>What is the difference between an open ratio manual transmission and a
>closed ratio manual transmission??

That sounds like the same thing as a wide-ratio and close-ratio transmission.
I could be wrong here, but here's the definition anyway:

wide (open) ratio  - short 1st gear, tall 5th (or 4th or 6th) gear, wider gaps
	between gears.  Generally most appropriate for normal city, highway,
	etc. driving.  The advantage of the wide-ratio 'box is that for all
	types of driving, it works well.  You can accelerate quickly from a
	stop, but still cruise at lower RPM's on the highway.  The downside
	is your acceleration through the gears will not be as quick as the 
	close-ratio gears will allow.

close (closed) ratio - tall 1st gear, short 4th/5th/6th gear, narrow gaps 
	between gears.  A close-ratio 'box is most often seen on racing cars
	where the majority of the driving will be at one known speed.  The
	advantage of having the ratios close together is that for a given
	(not too large) speed range, you always have a very-well-suited gear
	to use.  The downside is that outside of that speed range, your flex-
	ibility suffers.

I could be wrong as to whether open- and closed-ratio mean the same thing as
wide- and close-ratio.  If so, somebody please correct me (I'm sure you will :)

-- 
Michael T. Chaffee        |****COLORADO BOYCOTTER******|  ______    
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
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: agwiii@fang.att.com (Grayson Walker (660-7949)(12/92))
Subject: Re: Need Advice (URGENTLY)!!!!
Organization: AT&T Tax Systems Development, Maitland FL
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 16:14:29 GMT

To: mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu
Subject: Re: Need Advice (URGENTLY)!!!!
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Organization: AT&T Tax Systems Development, Maitland FL
Cc: 
Bcc: 

Don't even think about a used bi-turbo.  The new bi-turbos depreciated
VERY fast, worse than either the Quattroporte or BMW 750i.  I'm talking
about more than 50% the first year.  Service did not depreciate and the
bi-turbo's needed a lot of very careful attention.  Especially in the
frequency of oil and oil filter changes.  Unless the oil and filters 
were changed AT LEAST every 3,000 miles, TROUBLE$.

I don't remember when FI replaced carburetors, but the carburetted
bi-turbos tended to become almost undrivable.  The automatics were
better than the manuals, but heat and wear made it so that you could
make a nice racing start (lots of revs and dump the clutch), but you
could'nt pull away from a light next to a cop.  Lots of stuttering, 
clutch chatter, etc.

The bi-turbos always had a traction problem.  A combination of weight
distribution, suspension dynamics and turbo power curve.  I wouldn't
try it, but in the snow or ice it might be undrivable.  Especially if
you had a well-worn carburetted version.

The structural integrity was pretty good, but I'd worry about any
Italian bodywork in the salt belt unless I knew the steel panels were
galvanized (ala Ferrari).

On the other hand, the interior is the MOST wonderful, even decadent
place to sit.  Still, it's better than the Lambos in terms of overall
quality and reliability.

Good luck!

-- 
Grayson Walker                                           CHC, Maitland, Florida 
Forza!                                            Internet: agwiii@fang.att.com
Voice: 407 660 7949               ". . . big brown river . . ." Tuli Kupferberg
-- 
Grayson Walker                                           CHC, Maitland, Florida 
Forza!                                            Internet: agwiii@fang.att.com
Voice: 407 660 7949               ". . . big brown river . . ." Tuli Kupferberg
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Rotary vs. Piston Engines
Date: 5 Nov 92 19:54:22 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

In article <Nov05.024257.67708@yuma.ACNS.ColoState.EDU> cc433336@LANCE.ColoState.Edu (Constantinos A. Caroutas) writes:
>>For one reason, the Wankel engines achieve very poor gas mileage.
>
>Not any more, it seems.
>
   Since when?   The rotaries still give "much less than optimal"
   mileage compare to similar cars with equivalent power.  

>>Something to do with compressed/noncompressed ratios. My Mazda RX2 got
>>11mpg (automatic). Sure was smooth, though. And ***fast***>
>
>One of the main problems was fuel sticking to the inner walls because it
>does not get burned (it gets exhausted causing an emission problem). The
>inner wall area over displacement ratio of a rotary engine is higher than
>that of a piston engine.

    Has a slight advantage in catalyst equipped cars, the exhaust is
    already a bit rich, and doesn't need any extra in order to light
    off the convertor.   

    But I know of no one claiming decent gas mileage on a RX-7 in
    any model year...compared to similar other sports cars of about
    the same performance.   

    I usually mumble a lot when asked... >:-)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: basiji@stein.u.washington.edu (David Basiji)
Subject: Re: Rotary vs. Piston Engines
Organization: University of Washington
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 20:52:16 GMT

I always thought that the rotary design would do very well with
ceramic components.  You could run the thing hot enough to overcome
the drawbacks of high quench area.

Just a thought (TM).

David Basiji
UW Bioengineering
~