HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (REAL LIFE?!?!  HA!!)
Subject: Re: Top 20 Selling Vehicles of 1992
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 05:59:07 GMT

underdog@leland.Stanford.EDU (Dwight Joe) writes:

>In article <3930142@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com> roger@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com
>>...
>>If you break the list into "cars" and "trucks", the list looks like this:
>>(Note: minivans are often classified as trucks.  But that's another story.).
>>Still, the US has more top selling vehicles than Japan, and European
>>vehicles are nowhere to be found (why is that?).
>>...

>Because no one wants to pay $13,000 for a car that only costs $9,000.
>For some people, the prestige of the nameplate isn't worth the extra
>4 thousand.

A lot of people would argue that the extra price goes towards more expensive 
production methods and therefore better cars.  I will happily say that German
cars are markedly superior to comparable American and Japanese cars, even
though (and in one sense BECAUSE) the German cars cost more.  The German
objective in car building is quality first, profit second.  The American and
Japanese objective is the reverse, that is, they expend more effort trying to
find cheaper ways to build a given part or car than they do making sure it is
reliable, durable, etc.  Look under a Japanese car sometime and compare what
you see to the underside of a comparable (but more expensive) German car.
You'll see what I mean.
For the majority of Americans, the standard approach is to not keep any one car
for more than three to five years.  American and Japanese cars are evolving to
the point where they are only in optimal condition for this timespan.  By con-
trast, Europeans tend to keep their cars for ten, even twenty years, so their
expectations of durability are significantly higher.  Why do you suppose the
BMW's and Mercedes are still outselling Lexinfinitis in every market except
the US and Japan?


>European productivity in auto manufacturing is much worse than 
>either American or Japanese productivity.

If you mean cars per day, then you're right. Is that bad?

-- 
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
From: Harv@cup.portal.com (Harv R Laser)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Why American cars have two keys ?
Date: Thu,  5 Nov 92 08:08:02 PDT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Distribution: usa

This is kind of a semi-tangential off topic thought about keys and
locks and such, but follow me with this, kids... :-)

Many cars have their door locks in their door handles. Others simply
have the locks in the door's sheet metal, away from the door handle.
Thieves who like to break into cars to steal radios and such seem
to have some kind of nasty tool that can grab a car door lock,
tumblers and all, and rip it right out of the sheet metal. This
happened to my (when I owned it) Mazda RX-3 once, in broad daylight,
parked in front of a former workplace (one of those industrial
type buildings with no windows facing the front-strip parking lots).
I went out to get into the car at lunchtime, held my key to the
door lock, and there was a roundish hole in the door where the lock
used to be. :( The entire lock assembly was sitting on the ground
near the car. 

At any rate, my earlier VW Bug had the door locks in the door 
handles, so when it was broken into (twice) they got in thru the
windwings. My later German Ford Capri also had the door locks in the
door handles and it got broken into once by the thieves pulling
one of the rear quarter flip-out windows right out of its frame and
then reaching inside and opening the door. 

My current Taurus wagon has the door locks built into the door
handles. There doesn't seem to be any kind of automotive company-wide
philosophy/design as to whether a certain model will have the
locks built into the handles or just shoved into the sheet metal.

Has anyone here ever seen/read any kind of stats as to whether
cars with the locks built into the door handles are less likely
to be broken into.. as in the thief runs up to the car with his
sheet-metal-lock-ripping-tool in hand, sees the lock in the handle,
and then runs to another car which might allow easier entry?

Or are their any stats on car-entry thieves who have been 
caught in the act, such that they might generally carry with
them a complete break-in toolkit, not only the lock ripper outer,
but slim jims, pry bars, and god knows what else.

Thanks, Harv
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: ycheah@hamp.hampshire.edu
Subject: Re: Exploding rear windshield
Organization: Hampshire College
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 02:26:39 GMT

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.  

I read in Popular Mechenics that the rear glass does not have the plastic 
polymer sandwiched in the middle like in the case of the front whindshield. The 
rear glass is therefore weaker. In fact, as I recall, Popular Mechenic advised
against working on the rear glass as they are likely to shatter in your face.

Yin-chai
From: grossman@bbn.com (Martin Grossman)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Is this a good car deal
Keywords: car dealer
Date: 9 Nov 92 00:34:04 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: star-trek.bbn.com

I might be buying (tomorrow) a 1989 Plymouth Grand Voyager
Its the Limited edition (ie all options) with 60250 miles
and in good condition.  The best price I have so far is
9300.00 without any trade in.

Just want a few opinions if this is a good deal or not!

Since I don't read this group, please send email to:
	grossman@bbn.com
From: shaig@Think.COM (Shai Guday)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Noise when turning left -- mitigates when applying brake. Huh?
Date: 9 Nov 1992 20:17:01 GMT
Organization: Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge MA, USA
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: galaxy.think.com

I have owned sevral front wheel drive automobiles, and one of the parts
that can often cause trouble is the rod which transfers power from the
drive to the wheel.  This rod is jointed, allowing it to follow the angle
of the wheel.  Some driving styles may cause more stress on this joint
than others. Hard acceleration with sharp wheel angles from a dead start
is one.

In any case, if the noise seems to be a "clacking" sound, this might
be your best bet.  Are you sure that this is engine noise and not
something like the above?

Incidentally, if anyone knows the name of the rod/joint in English, I would
appreciate them telling me.

	Shai
From: tpickett@auspex.com (Tom Pickett)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Underdrive pullys - Any experiences?
Date: 11 Nov 92 23:11:32 GMT
Reply-To: tpickett@auspex.com (Tom Pickett)
Organization: Auspex Systems, Inc.  Engineering

In article <184231@pyramid.pyramid.com>, lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com 
(Lon Stowell) writes:
>   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...]

What kind of cars were these?  Perhaps the alternator provided is the
problem and perhaps it wouldn't be a problem with a different car?

The context of the "decision" was a discussion about the fact that
i fly airplanes and noticed that the same voltage and load was
occuring with idle and cruise power.  In view of that, we theorized 
that at low RPM the alternator still put out sufficient power.

We weren't actually considering the question of the underdrive
pulley directly; we were considering the question of why I still
saw high power coming from an alternator.

I was in fact agreeing with your mail.  If you remember, I said:


>Therefore, I imagine (don't know for sure) that
>with an underdrive pulley set, the alternator output is still 
>sufficient for automotive uses.

Please note the use of the words "I imagine" and "(don't know for sure)"
before you condemn a discussion offline.

Perhaps it is not in some cases and is in some others.:-)


Tom Pickett 
tpickett@auspex.com or 74616.2237@compuserve.com
SHO  GOZE
From: dbernard@clesun.Central.Sun.COM (Dave Bernard)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Top 20 Selling Vehicles of 1992
Date: 6 Nov 92 17:27:38 GMT
Reply-To: dbernard@clesun.Central.Sun.COM
Organization: Sun Microsystems

Also note that some of the US cars are badged with more than one marque.
For example, if Sable (identical car) sales were bundled in with Taurus,
would Taurus beat out that other American car, the Accord?  What about
Lumina, Cavalier, etc. with its brethren?

Dave
From: jitloke@tekig5.pen.tek.com (Jit-Loke Lim)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: saturn/OLDs speculation
Date: 5 Nov 92 18:45:49 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.

In article <1992Nov4.162124.26981@noose.ecn.purdue.edu> rjwade@rainbow.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J. Wade) writes:
>saturn to learn the saturn way of doing business...OLDs sales have 
>plumeted from over a million in 1986 to roughly 435k last year...
>anyone care to comment on this???

Someone also needs to figure out what Olds stands for. For a while there, they
were the "not your father's Olds" company which pissed of older buyers. Now,
I see full page ads touting Achieva SCX racing successes. I think GM should
leave the "sport" with Pontiac, which has done well with that image. I'm not
quite sure what Olds should be, maybe the "not quite the image of Cadillac,
but better than Chevrolet, and not quite as sporty as Pontiac division." And
of course, they had to do the Bravada which makes no sense whatsoever to Olds, 
maybe perhaps die-hard Olds buyers who need a sport-ute.

Jit
From: klui@corp.hp.com (Kenneth K.F. Lui)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Honda to move HQ to US
Date: 10 Nov 92 01:04:51 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company

In article <1992Nov09.204536.17105@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu> crpresto@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Charlie Preston) writes:
>     Any company that has publicly traded stock can have stock holders (i.e.,
>owners) outside the U.S.  When other companies take jobs out of the U.S. it is
>kind of a relief that companies like Honda bring jobs to the U.S.  IMHO Honda
>is already more 'American' than some companies that claim to be 'American'.

Does anyone know how much Honda stock are in circulation?  If
what others say about Japanese companies is true, then there
will be a specific percentage of stock that are owned by Honda
and never publically traded.  The result of this practice is
Honda Motor Corporation does not have to listen to its stock
holders or fear a hostile takeover, making being publically
traded a formality.  Of course, there is a benefit for stock
holders--if Honda makes more money, so do the share holders.


Ken
#include <disclaimer>  My opinions do not reflect those of my employer
-- 
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: sew@philabs.philips.com (Scott E. Wakeman)
Subject: Re: BETTER? 92 Camaro or 92 Iroc Daytona?????
Originator: sew@condor
Reply-To: sew@philabs.philips.com (Scott E. Wakeman)
Organization: Philips Laboratories, Briarcliff, NY 10510
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 13:59:15 GMT


In article <1992Nov4.200129.28498@sol.UVic.CA>, atovorni@engr.UVic.CA (Andreas  Tovornik) writes:
|> 
|> 
|> CAMARO!
|> 
|> Just say NO to FWD!
|> 
|> Torque Monger
|> 


    Camaro ....definately!!!
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: cbh@windsurf.scd.ucar.edu (Cris Hannu)
Subject: Re: Annoying film on windshield
Organization: NCAR/UCAR
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 14:32:54 GMT

In article <1992Nov10.223251.6617@cbnewsm.cb.att.com>, nsw@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (Neil Weinstock) writes:
> In article <1992Nov10.174656.7155@newsgate.sps.mot.com> mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw) writes:
> >In article <64590096@hpl-opus.hpl.hp.com>, knotts@hpl-opus.hpl.hp.com (Tom Knotts) writes:
> >|> What about that icky film that builds up on the inside of the window?
> >|> It gets so bad that I can write my name from insude the car. How does
> >|> one remove this film?

This film is from the vinyl in the car *gassing* (sp?). Basically the vinyl
is slowly drying up (that's why they make amor-al, etc...) and the byproducts
end up on your windows, new cars are worse than older/used ones.

> >
> >Use only water and a soft rag with lots of elbow grease.  Avoid using glass
> >"cleaners" as many leave a film of their own.  Whenever I buy a used car it
> >takes several treatments like this before it will finally behave itself and
> >stay clean.
> 
> I have had good success recently with Windex and newspaper and the requisite
> elbow grease.  Thus far (around 3 weeks) the windshield has remained 100%
> clear, and I am thrilled with the results.
> 
I'll second the use of newspaper.  It really does work (make sure you don't
use the Sunday funnies though).  For a window cleaner, I use the mix that
Consumer Reports came up with (sometime last year).

Haven't ever had a problem with any film on the outside of the windshield.
I'd suggest a good grease cutting detergent as step 1 and then just straight
ammonia and water as step 2.


--Cris Hannu  
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond)
Subject: Re: Quick radar question about traffic ticket
Date: Thu, 05 Nov 92 09:24:05 GMT
Organization: Dixie Communications Public Access.  The Mouth of the South.

smith@ctron.com (Larry Smith) writes:

>Like most cops, he's dead wrong.  Traffic radar selects the _loudest_ signal.
>That may be the closest, or the largest, or neither of the above.  Most cars
>return the signal from their radiators (the tilted radiator in a Corvette plus
>the fiberglass body, which doesn't reflect microwaves very well, makes it
>something of a stealth car.  Not 100% though.)  Trucks always have huge upright
>radiators and they _always_ have the loudest signal, even if they are only
>barely visible a mile behind you.

Let me expand on this a bit.  I own the following radars:

Kustom HR-8 	K-band handheld
Kustom MR-7		X-band moving radar
MPH K88			x-band instant-on moving radar

What Larry says is generally true for X-band radar, particularly 
the older ones that use antenna horns.  For K-band, particularly
the units that use Fresnel lens to focus the beam, the units
are fairly selective and do not terribly much differentiate between
vehicles.  I can just about equally clock a truck or a Corvette with
my HR-8.  In either case, I can clock just about anything I can see.
I can fairly reliably pick an individual car out of a clump with the HR-8.
I do NOT believe it is reliable enough to base a court prosecution on.

My newest acquisition is the K88.  I'll be doing an "afteraction report" 
on the thing as soon as I test a few more things.  The executive summary
at this point is it is very short ranged in moving mode and is very
prone to false readings.  I can make it read random speeds by simply
keying my mobile 440 mhz amateur rig.  This is a very cheap and consequently
very common unit. 

>But cops are badly trained and have never programmed radar systems, and it's
>in their interests to lie anyway...

Yup.

John

PS:  Any other K88 owners out there?  I'm looking for a copy of the manual
and a wiring diagram for the instant-on connector on the back of the 
unit.
-- 
John De Armond, WD4OQC               |Interested in high performance mobility?  
Performance Engineering Magazine (TM) |
Marietta, Ga                         |Interested in high tech and computers? 
jgd@dixie.com                        |Write me about PE Magazine
Need Usenet public Access in Atlanta?  Write Me for info on Dixie.com.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: pngai@adobe.com (Phil Ngai)
Subject: Re: Cars for tall people
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 00:37:47 GMT

In article <1992Oct29.222655.4976@mwhhlaw.uucp> jim@mwhhlaw (James P. Cavanaugh III) writes:
>	My brother in law is 6'5" tall.  Yesterday, somebody pulled out  
>in front of him and totalled his 85 Civic wagon.  So, he needs to buy a  
>new car.  His problem is his height - most cars have him looking  

Consider the Mitsubishi Expo LRV. It seems to have plenty of headroom.
It's not low and sleek like a sports car but if you don't consider that
important, you might like the LRV. We have the full size Expo and
are really happy with it.

-- 
My opinions are my own.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (REAL LIFE?!?!  HA!!)
Subject: Re: shoud there be two different licences
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 19:17:31 GMT

ebuhwe@ebu.ericsson.se (Per Harwe) writes:

>In article 315@news.cso.uiuc.edu, mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (REAL LIFE?!?!  HA!!) writes:
>>
>>	Snow - Should people visiting Chicago from California be allowed to 
>>		drive in December?

>How many days of snow have you had in Chicago this season? We've already had
>a few, and those of us who want to sharpen our snow driving skills have already
>had the chance out here in the west.

Sorry.  Arizona.  ;)

Actually we haven't had any real snow yet.  Here's a thought:
	Imagine how much fun snow driving would be if it weren't for the other
	cars.
-- 
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
From: blu@cellar.org (Dan Reed)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Stick VS Auto.
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:02:31 GMT
Organization: The Cellar BBS and public access system

Ok, I prefer a stick over an auto ANYDAY!  They are flat out more fun to 
drive... HOWEVER...

autos should be used by ..

A> "new" drivers.  Learning the road with an auto can make one a bit more at 
ease.. as its one less thing you must do.  Later like a year or so down the 
road.. learn stick..

B> Old folks.  Less reflexs, more movement, perhaps hip problems...

C> People who are in traffic most of the time.

D> People who just dont ENJOY driving, or having TOTAL control over thier 
car.


--
Dan Reed AKA Blu Max - blu@cellar.org - AnalCADGeek! - Industrial Music Maker
    68' Cougar XR-7, 89' VW Golf, 74' Honda CL360t, Vextrex Unit Lover
-Legal in California only for racing use, never to be used on a highway.-
From: leonglaw@hpsgm2.sgp.hp.com (Lawrence LEONG)
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 09:08:55 GMT
Subject: Re: Annoying film on windshield
Organization: HP Singapore
Newsgroups: rec.autos

In rec.autos, knotts@hpl-opus.hpl.hp.com (Tom Knotts) writes:

|
|> I recently replaced my wiper blades and was distressed to find that my
|> wiper performance did not improve much.  There seems to be some sort of
|> film on the windshield which is fouling the wipers, and I don't know how to
|> get it off.
|
|What about that icky film that builds up on the inside of the window?
|It gets so bad that I can write my name from insude the car. How does
|one remove this film?
|
|Tom
|

I add a few tablespoons of white vinegar to 2-3 litres of water (concentration
not important, just want some real dilute stuff), soak a paper towel/rag/ball
of newspaper, wipe the insides, then dry off with a ball of dry newspaper.
Cuts thru the film, effect lasts for 6 months.  WFM YMMV.

lawrence
From: kenny@osf.org (Kenneth Crudup)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Exploding rear windshield
Keywords: shattered
Date: 5 Nov 92 02:02:31 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Open Software Foundation


I think you just had something thrown at your rear window. (Hell, it could
have been shot at!)

	-Kenny

-- 
Kenny Crudup, Contractor, OSF DCE QA
OSF, 11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142	+1 617 621 7306
kenny@osf.osf.org			OSF has nothing to do with this post.
	  Religion: The longest-running gag ever played on Mankind.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mxm1003@s22.msi.umn.edu (Ram V. Mohan)
Subject: 1989 Mazda 323 - 2 door
Summary: Experieces - How good a car is it?
Keywords: Your experiences 
Organization: University of Minnesota
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 23:09:43 GMT


I am interested in your opinions regarding 1989 Mazda 323 - 2 door 
I'd appreciate your experiences with this car.  Thanks

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: underdog@leland.Stanford.EDU (Dwight Joe)
Subject: Mailing Lists
Organization: Miners for a Heart of Gold
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 05:56:57 GMT

Could someone please post the auto-mailing lists?

I wish to be added to 1 mailing list.

As a side note, does anyone know the invoice price of a Honda Civic Coupe
(that's Coupe, not Sedan) with automatic transmission?  It's been nagging me.

------------------------------------------------------------------+------------
Jinsei no imi wa nan desu ka.                Sister, can you      |   \|  |`
Shitte itara oshiete kuremasen ka.           spare a coin?        |    | -+-
                                                                  |   /| / \
Copyright 1992.  Disclaimer:  1 + 1 = 3                           |
------------------------------------------------------------------+------------
Xref: sparky rec.autos:26060 rec.autos.tech:15106
From: jhaines@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Jason Haines)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: Underdrive pullys - Any experiences?
Date: 7 Nov 92 21:15:28 GMT
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: University of Pennsylvania



	At very low rpm, alternators don't create as much
power. Alternators are AC motors (and cheap ones at that)
and do not create the same 'power' at all rpms.  At very high
rpm - the current can also be too high and destroy the
diodes or destroy the windings.
	I believe most airplane atlernators use a transmission
or some type of electronic control to keep power output 
nearly constant (I know US fighter aircraft operate at 400 Hz
to allow minturization of the electronic components).


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jason R. Haines		     University of Pennsylvania (SEAS & Wharton)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Red '90 Mustang LX 5.0    /     Blue '71 Rotary Powered Datsun 510
(Recycle your toner cartridges)	           (^^^^^FOR SALE^^^^^)
------------------------------------------------------------------------