HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: philg@zurich.ai.mit.edu (Philip Greenspun)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Ford kicked my ass in court
Date: 19 Nov 92 22:43:57
Organization: M.I.T. Artificial Intelligence Lab.
Distribution: rec
Reply-To: philg@martigny.ai.mit.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: zug.ai.mit.edu
In-reply-to: norcott_bill@tandem.com's message of Thu, 19 Nov 1992 20:12:09 GMT

In article <1992Nov19.201209.9017@tandem.com> norcott_bill@tandem.com (Bill Norcott) writes:


   I have been following this David-and-Goliath story with interest,
   especially since you are representing yourself.  I am having trouble
   understanding why after the obvious trouble you have gone to preparing
   your case, you are willing to torpedo it now by posting every detail
   about what you thought of the judge and the opposing lawyer, the basis 
   for your next appeal, etc.  You are posting this stuff on the net.  
   You may meet that same judge again in your next court appearance: you
   are not doing yourself any favors.

Well, although it seems unlikely that either Massachusetts district
court judges or Ford's attorneys read rec.autos, I really don't have a
problem with anyone reading these postings.  Describing a 50ish woman
as 50ish is probably not going to offend her -- and even if it did I
have basic confidence in these judges; they are seem surly and
overworked but not vindictive or biased.  Describing Ford's lawyers as
pinheads isn't going to offend them any more than I already have by
reminding them that they are not Harvard Law School graduates.

Ditto for appeals.  Saying that I'm going to raise denial of discovery
in an appeal is pretty obvious.  I wouldn't have moved to compel
discovery if I didn't think it was important; why wouldn't you throw
the denial of something important into an appeal?




--

      -- Philip Greenspun

-------------------------------------------------------------
MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
545 Technology Square, Rm 433, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 253-8574
From: leonglaw@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com (Lawrence LEONG)
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 06:13:15 GMT
Subject: Re: Washers running off from the presure in the spare tire - Joke?
Organization: HP Singapore
Newsgroups: rec.autos

In rec.autos, Harv@cup.portal.com (Harv R Laser) writes:

[bug washer description deleted]

|
|And let's not even talk about VW Bug heating systems controls.
|Or having the car battery under the back seat cushion. 
               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1973 ('74?) Audi 100 too.  Same stable, eh?

lawrence

|And on and on.
|Yes, they were "cute." Yes they sold jillions of them. Yes I liked
|mine a lot for the first couple years I owned it. Yes there are still
|an amazing number of these little monsters running the roads today.
|But after mine was totalled in an under 5mph side collision, 
|I promised myself I would never own nor ride in another VW Bug.
|
|Harv
From: nhmas@gauss.med.harvard.edu (Mark Shneyder)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: COUGAR INFO
Date: 18 Nov 92 19:22:16 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: HMS

The following post is from a friend of mine who lives in Michigan :

I'm seeking parts and info on 1970 Cougar XR7. Please e-mail or
write to :

Kevin Lutz
6171 Cochise Drive
W.Bloomfield,MI 48322

Thanks in advance,

-Kevin
From: leonglaw@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com (Lawrence LEONG)
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 07:52:49 GMT
Subject: Re: Mech ABS retrofit (ABS-TRAX)
Organization: HP Singapore
Newsgroups: rec.autos

I forgot to mention, the company claims that you can get an insurance
reduction if this is fitted to your car.

lawrence


In rec.autos, leonglaw@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com (Lawrence LEONG) writes:

|I've just seen a mechanical ABS retrofit.  Its called "ABS-TRAX" and is
|supposed to be derived from aircraft systems.  Have you heard of it, and if
|so, any data-points or anecdotes?
|
|The system consists of a small pressurised chamber which fastens (one per 
|brake circuit) onto the master cylinder output, somewhat like a reserviour.
|The chamber contains a pressurised Nitrogen chamber and diagphram; when the
|brake fluid hits a pre-set pressure (supposed to be within 5-10% of lockup),
|a valve will actuate to relieve the pressure and keep the wheels on the 
|threshold of skidding (somewhat similar to threshold braking).  Under normal
|braking, it is supposed to not activate.
|
|There is no speed sensor like the electronic versions.  Since this device 
|works on a principle similar to threshold braking (I think), it appears to
|be better than electronic ABS, no?
|
|The sales guy could not tell me how/what was used to determine the threshold 
|nor the method of pressure relief.
|
|This system is supposed to in use on aircraft, and is supposed to reduce 
|braking distances by up to 30%.  Its also supposed to be DOT certified (for
|what its worth).  The company claims to have sold 15000 units in US alone.
|
|
|Does anyone have any experience with this?  Does this system sound viable? 
|Is this really used in aircraft?  Should I part with good money for this?
|
|(price is approx US$620, incl installation).
|
|comments/suggestions welcome.
|lawrence
|leonglaw@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com
|
|
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: dclayton@bnr.ca (Don Clayton)
Subject: Re: Whining about buying American cars
Reply-To: dclayton@bnr.ca (Don Clayton)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 23:06:42 GMT

In article <By301s.ABC@news.cso.uiuc.edu>, cka52397@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Slartibartfast) writes:
|> In article <1992Nov20.134043.16084@bnr.ca> dclayton@bnr.ca (Don Clayton) writes:
|> >In article <19NOV199209523290@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov>, kimnach@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (GREG KIMNACH) writes:
|> >|> In article <2179@shaman.wv.tek.com>, andrew@frip.wv.tek.com writes...
|> >|> >Let's drag it out into the sunlight.  You'd rather help feed a kid from
|> >|> >Detroit than a kid from Tsutsumi.  Is this not racism?
|> >|> 
|> >|> No, it's patriotism.
|> >
|> >Which is a far more dangerous problem than racism.
|> >
|> >Don Clayton
|> 
|> 	C'mon Don, wouldn't you rather feed a kid from Halifax NS than 
|> Halifax, NC?  All else being equal.  I would certainly favor kids in the US
|> to Canada in this case, all else equal again.  Nothing personal, just gotta
|> look out for #1 and all that.
|> 
|> 			Chintan Amin

Onto the soap box :

No, I'd rather feed all the kids.  Failing that I'll let the system (i.e. Capatalism
with some social programs) handle it.  I'm not going to selectively choose which ones
live and which ones die based on what flag they live under.  Look out for number one
means you, your family, your relatives, your friends, etc., not those that fly the
same flag.

Patriotism sucks!  It leads to wars, hate and racism.

Getting of the soap box.

Don Clayton
a.k.a. Admiral Maverick, DM of the Drow
My brain, my thoughts, my words.
If I had a million dollars, I'd buy you a K-car (a nice reliant automobile),
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC                                        CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC                   C                    CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC                   C                    CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC             CCCCCCCCCCCCC              CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC              CCCCCCCCCCC               CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC             CCCCCCCCCCCCC              CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC           CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC            CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC         CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC          CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC       CCCCCCC   CCCCC   CCCCCCC        CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC      C CCCCC   CCCCCCC   CCCCC C       CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC        CC  C   C CCC C   C  CC         CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC                   C                    CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCC                                        CCCCCCCCCCCCCC
               **** JAYS in 6 - WORLD CHAMPIONS! ****
From: smith@ctron.com (Lawrence C Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Cadillacs (WAS: INFFINITI vs BMW)
Date: 20 Nov 92 14:00:44 GMT
Reply-To: smith@ctron.com
Organization: Cabletron Systems, Inc.

In article <1992Nov19.092657.14420@hasler.ascom.ch>, kevinh@hslrswi.hasler.ascom.ch (kevinh) writes:
>CAR (J.K. Setright) did a sort of test of the Northstar equipped Allante, his
>closing sentence was something like "on the face of it the Allante competes
>with the Jag XJS and the Mercedes 300SL, on reflection it does nothing of the
>sort!". He was not exactly enamoured of the car in the rest of the article
>either.

While CAR and Setright can be a lot of fun to read for the cars that are not
available in the States, it is extremely obvious that it, and he, are the most
prejudiced reviewers of cars on the entire planet.  If it's English, it's
great, as far as they are concerned, and they don't like _any_ foreign comp-
etition for "their" types of cars.  I read the magazine for years, but even-
tually gave it up because this attitude was making comparisons of their
reviews with other sources completely impossible.  The final straw was the
Acura Legend, which CAR and Setright absolutely hated, and had no kind words
for at all.  This is the car the American press had no _bad_ words for, the
reviews were uniformly slatheringly good - almost embarrasingly so, sometimes
it seemed like Car & Driver went out of its way to mention how good the Legend
was in the midst of reviewing other cars.  Well, it's fine to have occasional
differences of opinion, but CAR absolutely _loved_ the Rover 827, which was
the exact same car with some suspension tuning and built by Rover in England.
They had nothing _bad_ to say about this car, it was _wonderful_.  Well, the
American press agreed with them, but _they_ were willing to point out that the
quality control of Rovers absolutely sucked, that it was not unusual to find
models _in_the_showroom_ with bits and pieces of plastic trim falling off,
and that only the drivetrain - made by Honda - was at all reliable.  None of
this was ever alluded to in CAR, it was always RAH, RAH, RAH English cars and
DAMN the competition.  It got to be irksome.

It is totally predictable that _any_ car Setright thinks might be competition
for the Jag would not be as good as the Jag, if it's not as good it has to be
slammed as hard and as thoroughly as possible as a piece of unmitigated crap.

Read CAR for the reviews and pictures of cars that will never come stateside,
but _never_ believe anything they print.  They are less objective than Motor
Trend.

Larry Smith (smith@ctron.com)  No, I don't speak for Cabletron.  Need you ask?
-
Liberty is not the freedom to do whatever we want,
it is the freedom to do whatever we are able.
From: MARK@wvnvm.wvnet.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Dealer Invoice Prices for Nissan Quest, Altima
Date: 17 Nov 92 14:37:18 GMT
Article-I.D.: wvnvm.92322.093718MARK

Does anybody know the dealer invoice prices for the above vehicles.



                Thanks,


                    Mark
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jreiser@scott.skidmore.edu (Jason Reiser... Asleep)
Subject: Re: HOW TO AVOID HITTING THE WALL IN GARAGE
Organization: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 09:24:43 GMT

ehsan@attila.weitek.COM (Ehsan Kalami) writes:
> 
> hi, I am sure a lot of people have a similar problem. Where can one buy
> blocks of cement/concrete so that we know how far to drive a car into
> garage. similar to one found in parking lots?
> thanks.

I don't know where to get the real McCoy, but for something that's
probably a lot less expensive, consider a "Park Block".  It's a
plastic/rubber block that you stick to the garage floor and it stops
the car as you roll in.  Available from Mid America Designs (Corvette
place) for only $12.95 at 800-637-5533.

Of course, you could always construct something.... perhaps some
wooden beams?

				- Jason
-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------
\ Jason A. Reiser  \ Send E-Mail to jreiser@scott.skidmore.edu \
 \ Skidmore College \ Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 \ 518-581-6580 \  
  \ It's a new Ice Age!  Hooray!!  Sled City!  - Calvin & Hobbes \
From: amiller@almaden.ibm.com (Alex Miller)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: MBZ 190E - when did headlights change to aero look?
Date: 18 Nov 1992 00:53:59 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

The 1984 and 1985 Mercedes 190E cars have standard 5 x 7" headlights.
What year did Mercedes switch to aero headlights?

Alex
amiller@almaden.ibm.com
From: tpickett@auspex.com (Tom Pickett)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Ford lemons
Date: 20 Nov 92 16:05:27 GMT
Reply-To: tpickett@auspex.com (Tom Pickett)
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.  Engineering

In article <1992Nov19.222623.3290@sura.net>, nunn@sura.net (Deborah Nunn) 
writes:
> I, too, used to drive a Ford.  It gives me the greatest pleasure in the
> world to say, when I hear "Have you driven a Ford lately"  **NO!  Hah!
> Got a Saturn instead!"


Seems a shame that Ford produces lemons, if they produced some
limes, at least I could use my Ford in a gin and tonic...


Tom Pickett 
tpickett@auspex.com or 74616.2237@compuserve.com
SHO  GOZE
Organization: Freshman, CIT general, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 00:13:01 -0500 
From: Jason Paul Togyer <jt3y+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Plymouth or Oldsmobile?

Okay, so here's my question:

Will Chrysler discontinue Plymouth before GM discontinues Oldsmobile?

Notice, first, that there is no Plymouth version of the LH, and second
that Plymouth now has no model that is not duplicated in another
Chrysler line.  I get the feeling that Plymouth's days are numbered.

Discussion?


--Jason Togyer
     Carnegie Institute of Technology
     Pittsburgh, Penn.

**"The moral of the story is: don't count your boobies before they've hatched."
       --James Thurber
            'THE UNICORN IN THE GARDEN'



Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: serafin@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Mike Serafin)
Subject: Re: LIDAR Demo on TV
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 1992 15:43:13 GMT

In article <1992Nov13.221829.27760@julian.uwo.ca> wlsmith@valve.heart.rri.uwo.ca (Wayne Smith) writes:
>
>Is the dot actually hitting the car?  Is the dot used for aiming, with
>the real beam coming from a more powerful IR laser source?  So I guess they
>shoot 2 beams at you?  How can they see the dot at 100 yards (a scope?)
>
>How are they using these Lidars on the highway (like in the usual stake-out
>positions; under overpasses, etc).
>
>I read that night-vision goggles are real good at picking up IR sources...
>And their getting cheap too.

The aiming dot is projected onto the display.  It is the equivalent of
crosshairs on a rifle scope.  It just gives better readability in low light
situations.  It is probably something like the Aimpoint rifle scopes.  It seems
to me that another reason for the necessity of waiting for the target to be
close is the fact that when sighted through the scope there will be some fixed
distance where the laser actually converges with the sighted point.
From: almanb@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Bob Alman)
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 20:16:38 GMT
Subject: Re: 1988 Saab Turbo 900S - Good used car??
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.autos

>          I have the chance to pickup a 1988 900 Turbo.  manual
>transmission.  70K miles.  The car seems to be in good condition
>and drives well.  This is a used car dealer purchase, they want
>$8900.00 for it.  I figure that this means 8K.
>          Anybody have anything bad to say about the 900 Turbo, in
>particular the '88 model.  For a 4 year old car it seems to be
>a pretty nice car...
>          Any SAAB owners willing to offer pre-purchase advice?

Beware of advice from SAAB owners. They tend to be fanatics about their cars:
they sometimes keep them for 200,000 or 300,000 or even more because they like
them so much. I get sick of hearing "I love this car! I've owned it for 15
years!" Don't they know the real truth about SAABs? I couldn't believe my eyes
when I read the following:

"i don't care what you say, wharfie, i still like saabs.

own three of 'em, in fact.

cheers,
  richard
--
richard welty                            518-393-7228
welty@cabot.balltown.cma.com"

Can you believe it?...three of them! 
Didn't he know that SAABs have some serious flaws:

1. When you leave the windows or sunroof open in heavy rain, they fill up 
   with water!
2. When you drive in rain or in a river without any doors, they fill up with
   water!
3. When you try to dry out the seats with the seat warmers, they catch fire!
4. When you break the vacuum lines under the dash, the vacuum system stops
   working!
5. When you break the ventilation fan wires, the fan stops working!
6. When you break pieces off the trim, the trim falls off!
7. When you break the wire for the dashboard lighting, the dashboard lighting
   doesn't work!
8. When you do a half-assed brake job, it has to be done over!
9. When you spill brake fluid on the paint, it peels!

How can you trust people who like their cars for thousands and thousands of
miles and year after year who don't even notice that their doors fell off.
Indeed, I have yet to hear of anyone admit to it, well, there was one and thank
god he stepped forward! And look at 20/20's report on roll-over safety! What a
joke! They tested a SAAB with ALL of the doors on; no wonder it wasn't
crushed!

after all: 
"S everely A bused  A utomobiles B reak down"
er, what I meant was:
"S wedish A utomobiles A lways B reak down"
Yeah, that's it!

Hope this helps!
Bob
>
>Thanks,
>Larry
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: klui@corp.hp.com (Kenneth K.F. Lui)
Subject: Re: Fast Japanese Sports Cars
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 22:37:16 GMT

In article <1992Nov18.210901.2050@ctp.com> bpita@ctp.com (Bob Pitas) writes:
>Given the choice, I'd actually buy the RX-7.  It *is* the ultimate sports
>car!

I would go for the McLaren F1.  You did say "ultimate."

Ken
-- 
Kenneth K.F. Lui, klui@corp.hp.com                  3000 Hanover Street MS20BJ
Corporate Administrative Information Systems        Palo Alto, CA  94304   USA
Core Application Technologies                1(415)857-3230 Fax 1(415)852-8026
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: hhm@cbnewsd.cb.att.com (herschel.h.mayo)
Subject: Re: Whining about buying American cars
Organization: Chicago Home for the Morally Challenged
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 17:12:45 GMT


> 
> 	Frankly, I'd like to think that is what everyone does.  Now, since
> you said that patriotism starts wars...  and you're Canadian:
> 
> "Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world,
> 	Than the pride that divides when a colourful rag is unfurled."
> 				----Neil Peart---
> 
> 	Ah, but only if life were as simple as a song...
> 
> (OFF SOAPBOX)
> Anyone want this soapbox...?
> 


Hmmm.  I guess if a few nations of the British commonwealth, and the USA, had
decided to do what the rest of the citizens of planet earth were doing in 1939,
we would have all lain down and received our foreign aid packages from Japan
and Germany.  Then this discussion would have never taken place. You might now be
living the carefree life of a slave laborer who on some cold night is huddled
in his cot dreaming of a flag of his own. 


                                             Larry
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: klui@corp.hp.com (Kenneth K.F. Lui)
Subject: Re: 3000GT hood bubbles (was Re: Fast Japanese Sports Cars)
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1992 01:26:37 GMT

In article <By70zH.2CB@news.cso.uiuc.edu> mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (REAL LIFE?!?!  HA!!) writes:
>                                      just how much DOES the RX7 weigh?  I
>can't remember exactly.

Mk3 RX-7s weigh in between high 2700- and low 2800-lbs.


Ken
-- 
Kenneth K.F. Lui, klui@corp.hp.com                  3000 Hanover Street MS20BJ
Corporate Administrative Information Systems        Palo Alto, CA  94304   USA
Core Application Technologies                1(415)857-3230 Fax 1(415)852-8026
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw)
Subject: Re: Fool of the Month
Organization: Motorola Western MCU Design Center, Chandler Arizona
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 22:27:30 GMT

In article <1992Nov13.041442.391@nmsu.edu>, bboswell@dante.NMSU.Edu (BOSWELL) writes:
|> In article <4108@unisql.UUCP> wrat@unisql.UUCP (wharfie) writes:

|> > 	The Fool of the Month award goes to whoever was piloting the........

|> Also an honorable mention to the idiot in a Yugo of almost the same description  
|> who thought he stood a chance in hell with me driving my Fiero between El Paso,  
|> TX and Las Cruces NM on I-10....

What we have here is a guy driving a car that nobody wants to buy and
a guy driving a car that nobody wants to build.  Are we to assume that
there can be a winner in a confrontation between two has-been's?
From: philg@zurich.ai.mit.edu (Philip Greenspun)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: HELP NEEDED FROM ENGLISH SCORPIO OWNER
Date: 18 Nov 92 19:04:38
Organization: M.I.T. Artificial Intelligence Lab.
Distribution: rec
Reply-To: philg@martigny.ai.mit.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: zug.ai.mit.edu


I just discovered that I'd done better in my motion to compel
discovery against Ford Motor Company here in the US than I thought.
I'm trying to prove that Ford knew the problems that I've experienced
were likely to occur.

Here is what I got:

    All manuals, procedures, service bulletins, service advisories and
    technical notes, both internal to Ford and distributed to dealers
    either in the United States or in Europe, pertaining to the problems
    [I] reported with [my] Scorpio.

My problems have been mostly in the areas of vibration, defective
tires, hesitation and stalling, bad throttle position sensors,
automatic ventilation system failures, fuel gauge failures, etc.

Ford is going to have to give me this stuff, but what they've done in
the past is to give me a few items, swearing that that is the limit of
what there is, but actually concealing lots of juicy stuff.

If you are in England, can you get a copy of anything that might be in
that category above?  If so, I'd be grateful because I can show it to
a judge here to prove that Ford isn't being responsive (assuming that
they haven't produced it themselves, which I expect they won't).

I'd really appreciate it.
--

      -- Philip Greenspun

-------------------------------------------------------------
MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
545 Technology Square, Rm 433, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 253-8574