HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: FLAME! Only a Manual!
Date: 13 Nov 92 00:19:09 GMT
Article-I.D.: usenet.1dus9tINNidp
Reply-To: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, hhtra@usho21.hou281.chevron.com (T.M.Haddock) says:

>In article <1992Nov10.233727.11527@syacus.acus.oz.au>, steven@syacus.acus.oz.au (Steven Malikoff) writes:
>|> A question for those who drive automatics: Have you *ever* seen a racing
>|> car (F1, Indy, Stock, Rally, etc.) that has an auto transmission?
>
> Drag racers do as well as several SCCA Showroon Stock classes.
>
>
> In a somewhat similar train of thought...
>
> Why did GM only put automatics in the Buick Grand Nationals and 
> the GMC Syclones and Typhoons?  I've always thought this strange.
my thoughts..no proof..

GN..popular at the time..everthing had one..
no reason to work on a stick.

Syclones and typhoons: autos are CHEAPER because they already had 
those that could take full throttle launches from the AWD and 280
horses(isn't that what they are?)..mose sticks can't take this..
(yeah..there are those.but they cost to convert to specific vehicles
like these, and for the limited run GMC was doing..would not have been
practicle..)...also, problems with the clutches in AWD cars with this
power..the stealths have been alleged to melt down after a couple 
launch attmepts at full throttle, even thought the trans will take it.
the eclipse, talon, laser lines are the only ones i've never heard any
thing bad about(but this doesn't mean nothing bad has been said..i've
just not heard it)

in other words..the bottom line..the GNs sold with the autos..why put
$$$ into a selling product, even to make it better(part of GM's current
problems, i think..but this is a debate i do not wish to get involved
in) and the syclones/typhoons were cheaper to make and didn't need to
sell that well that a stick would have been practicle (money wise) as
only a few were sold anyhow..

that is my guess..
(based loosely on some "facts" i seem to remember from some articles on
the typhoon/syclone line..but nothing but pure, unadulterated guessing
on the GN's!)
DREW
-- 
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????????-----whatever!
From: troberts@zia.aoc.nrao.edu (Timothy Roberts)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Advice - 1984 Pontiac Sunbird
Keywords: Advice, Pontiac, Sunbird, 2000
Date: 12 Nov 92 19:04:30 GMT
Organization: National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro NM

To whom it may concern,

	I am the owner of a 1982 Pontiac J2000 (sedan).  To date (
starting from purchase from original owner in 1989) I have made the 
following repairs:

1) Replace heater core - cost:~$200.00. It ruptured while I was
driving, in the winter, instantly covering my windshield with frost
from the DEfroster vent.  I was scared out of my mind to have the
windshield miraculously go opaque in seconds.

2) Muffler - cost: ~ $200.00.  Normal maintainence I figured.

3) Brakes - cost: ~ $250.00.  Simple brake job confounded by bad rear
bearing.  I opted for further repairs at a later date and simply got
pads and rotors, and a new bearing.

4) Transmission and entire radiator system - cost: $1245.00.  The
radiator loop inside the automatic transmission housing ruptured and
filled my transmission with water while driving down the highway.  I
lost the ability to move the car and immediately destroyed the entire
tranny.

5) Brakes - cost: ~ $300.00.  Finished the above brake job by
replacing the rest of the cylinders and parking brake cables.  Fixed
bad rotor installed by Midas.

6) Transmission - cost:  He wants $650.0, I say goodbye car.  The
exact same tranny overhaul needs to be done 19 months after the first
due to "overheating".  This is New Mexico.

Conclusion:  I hope GM goes down in flames.  I will never own another
american car, especially Pontiac.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From:  ()
Subject: Re: What Snow Tires Are Best ?
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: University of Oslo
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 09:41:36 GMT

Kelly!
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: c.oneill@trl.oz.au (Chris O'Neill)
Subject: Re: FLAME! Only a Manual!
Organization: Telecom Australia Research Laboratories
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 06:53:51 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.224349.14063@nezsdc.icl.co.nz> derek@nezsdc.icl.co.nz
(Derek Tearne) writes:
>In article <1992Nov10.233727.11527@syacus.acus.oz.au> steven@syacus.acus.oz.au
(Steven Malikoff) writes:

>>A question for those who drive automatics: Have you *ever* seen a racing
>>car (F1, Indy, Stock, Rally, etc.) that has an auto transmission?
>
>Don't Top fuel dragsters have a kind of automatic transmission?

Perhaps it makes a difference depending on whether you want to go around
corners or just go straight.

>Derek "Guess what type of transmission I learned to drive on" Tearne

Chris O'Neill
Telecom Australia Research Labs
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: seeree@neptune.ral.rpi.edu (Sanjeev Seereeram)
Subject: Re: Are there any Luxary AWD?
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 03:29:23 GMT

In article <sf026ie00iUx45tGpM@andrew.cmu.edu> Edward Rosales Bella <eb2b+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>I was just wondering what type of Luxary cars are out on the market
>today which would be good in the Snow.  I know there was the BMW 325IX
>but since they are not producing those anymore what is out there?  send
>e-mail to: eb2b@andrew.cmu.edu or post to the board.
>
>Thanks, 
>
>Ed



  Take a look at the big Audi's. Although they could be
  properly thought of as sport sedans, they do a pretty
  good job of tooling around as luxury sedans these days.

  If you are willing to stretch the classification a bit,
  the Range Rover is quite luxuriously appointed, esp.
  the limited edition models.


  Sanjeev
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: *** ANYTHING "BAD" WITH '89,'90,'91 FORD TAURUS ***
From: <KANTOLA@NDSUVM1.BITNET>
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 15:12:20 CST
 <1992Nov4.173626.7031@cbnewsl.cb.att.com><1992Nov6.212047.25802@ve6mgs.ampr.org>
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computer Network

In article <1992Nov6.212047.25802@ve6mgs.ampr.org>, mark@ve6mgs.ampr.org (Mark
Salyzyn) says:
>
>I had this done in 1988 to my 1987 Sable, It cost me $1200 in parts !!!
>It required the replacement of the rear shelf ($490) to put into place ...
>
>As far as Taurus(Bull)/Sable(Rodent) are concerned, you are pretty safe once
>you get into post 1989. I had two engines go on my '87, with a lot of BS from
>Ford not covering the warrantee on the second one. My 1989 (which I bought
>before the warrantee engine BS on my '87 unravelled) works fine.  But I want
>to unload it as soon as I can due to the bad taste in my mouth ...
>
>
>Ciao, -- Mark Salyzyn  mark@ve6mgs.ampr.org

     My parents own a 1989 Mercury Sable and I (being in high school when they
bought it) drove it a lot.  I really liked it and my parents liked it more.  It
has over 60,000 miles on it in three years of the freeways, hills, and winters
of Duluth, MN.  It has never failed to start and has never been in the shop
save oil changes and to fix the unretracting windshield wipers which the
dealership fixed for free even though the warranty expired.  So far it's been
a great car and both my parents and I wouldn't hesistate to by another.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jjolly@jjolly.b24b.ingr.com (Jack G. Jolly)
Subject: Re: Exploding rear windshield
Keywords: shattered
Organization: Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville, AL.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 16:44:19 GMT

Was it the night before Halloween ("Mischief Night", where I grew up)?

I remember someone hit my car with an egg once - the damn thing actually
put chips into the paint of the new Caprice I was driving at the time :-(

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

  ^^^^^^^^^          Jack Jolly  @  jjolly@jjolly.b24b.ingr.com
 (| 0   - |)
  |   *   |             Intergraph Corporation, Huntsville AL
  \_______/                AEC Project Management Support
Xref: sparky rec.autos:26616 rec.autos.tech:15362
From: djm48887@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Dan Moisson)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: GM Mastercard--Follow up!  READ!
Date: 7 Nov 92 23:37:04 GMT
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana

Some time ago, I posted a message saying how I got turned down
by GM's bank on my PRE-APPROVED credit card.  Anyway, I wrote back
to them saying that they had better reconsider and application
and re-review my credit history.  My credit history is great.  The
letter was not very pleasant and, to put it nicely, it was in their
best interest to listen to me, or else.     So...today I got a letter
back with my new card in it.  Now that is justice!  So, I encourage
all of you who are poor like me to write back to them and get your 
card too!  It helps to complain.  Anyway, I am just doing this
to help GM, not me.  I am not planning to buy a GM for a while.
I will stick to my very nice Nissan.  But meanwhile, anything I can
do to help out the ole' US of A I will do.  Drive on!
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: ahmad@norooz.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Ahmad Alavi)
Subject: Should I Pay for Dealer Prep?
Reply-To: ahmad@norooz.b17a.ingr.com
Organization: " "
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 18:01:01 GMT

Recently, I asked a car salesman if I could order a new car and
not to have any dealer prep job done on the car. He agreed to do
it but spent the next twenty minutes explaining how important the
sealant and fabric protection are. 

Now, I need experts opinions and suggestions on this subject.
If it is a FAQ, please tell me how to get the FAQ (tell me anyway).


Thanks

Ahmad Alavi
ahmad@norooz.b17a.ingr.com
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw)
Subject: Re: Ethanol blended gasoline
Organization: Motorola Western MCU Design Center, Chandler Arizona
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 00:43:48 GMT

In article <1da8pfINN5d1@bigboote.WPI.EDU>, walkerr@bigwpi.WPI.EDU (Robert A Walker) writes:
|> 
|> >With regard to pollution problems:  taking just *one* circa 1970
|> >car with bad emissions off the road is equivalent to removing
|> >*ten* newer cars from the highways.  In my opinion, we should 
|> >concentrate first on fixing/removing those autos that pollute the most.
|> >
|> >Just my $1.19/gallon worth :-).
|> 
|> 	Taking cars off the road just because they are old, why.  Do you
|> want to take away the cars that people need, some people can't just go out
|> and buy a newer car.  Besides, what about people who like to restore old
|> cars and drive them, were to they go, to hell.  

Why, do people get so bent out of shape on this topic?  True, I don't think
we need a program to go out and "hunt down and destroy" older cars, but 
what's wrong with changing the rules enough that there is an incentive
to buy a newer car instead of trying to keep an older one running?  

|>                                                  I personally wouldn't
|> drive any newer cars by choice, maybe in the future i might be driven
|> by practicality but new cars suck.  Give me a big old boat with a big over
|> bored over stroked engine pushing 600 horse power, and I'm happy.  Besides
|> any old car that is kept in decent condition has almost no emissions anyway.

Now there is a truly naive statement!  The pure chemistry of combustion does
not allow this to happen.  The only way an older car can have lower pollution
output is to keep the key in the "OFF" position.  Either that or the darn
thing won't run.  Where do people get this kind of dream (reading the back
of cereal boxes?)?

|> At least on an old car if the emissions is screwed up, all you have to do
|> is turn a screw and your problems are all set.  On these new engines that
|> are so complicated you need all the computers at MIT to figure out what is
|> wrong with it.  

All the newer cars I've owned (1982 or later with some form of fuel 
management system and O2 closed-loop control) just keep going and just keep
meeting the AZ emissions test without having to fiddle with them.  The last
carbureated "old" technology vehicle I had was a real pain in the rear to keep
tuned and still meet the emission test limits (which are about 2X higher than
the car should normally run).  

|>                Well that is my blab about why i like older cars and if you
|> don't like it, then tough.

Thanks for your open-minded sharing of thoughts ;-)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Geo Prizm; where is the engine made
From: murthy+@EDRC.CMU.EDU (Sesh Murthy)
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 13:31:08 GMT
Organization: Carnegie Mellon University

I am considering buying a 1993 Geo Prizm.  
Could someone tell me 
a. Where is the engine made.
b. What percentage american parts does it have.  How does this 
compare to a Honda for example.
c. How safe is this car.  Can I get it without the
moving seatbelts and with an airbag and ABS.  I was
thinking of the Achieva till it rated so low on the 
safety tests.

If you do not like the Prizm is there a comparable good
car.  I am looking for something under 20K and that is
safe, cheap, comfortable, looks good, and handles well 
with the constraint that it be American.

BTW has anyone driven the new Chrysler cars.  Are they
good.  Is there enough data on them to say if they are
reliable?  

Thank you.
Sesh Murthy
PS:  I got a lot of flames for saying I like my new
Bonneville.  Don't flame me for buying American.
I am not preaching to you so do not preach
to me.  I get my dose of religion on Sundays at 
the temple.
PPS: No problems yet with my Bonneville. (45 days
and 3000 miles)

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jailbird@next02wor.wam.umd.edu (serial killer)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: shoud there be two different licences
Date: 12 Nov 92 01:31:41 GMT
Article-I.D.: wam.1992Nov12.013141.7090
Organization: Workstations at Maryland, University of Maryland, College Park




Hey people,

What do you  think about this

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.  I'm asking this because I almost crashed in to someone  
who borrowed his friends car with a 5 speed which he didn't know how to  
drive at all. He was going about 50 in 4th gear and downshifted into first  
while his tires locked up.

Why should a person be allowed to drive a 5 speed unless he has proven he  
knows how to? This person could be endangering other people on the road we  
speak
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: ebiggles@nyx.cs.du.edu (ed biggles)
Subject: Re: OLDsmobile sales plunge
X-Disclaimer: Nyx is a public access Unix system run by the University
	of Denver for the Denver community.  The University has neither
	control over nor responsibility for the opinions of users.
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix at U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 92 21:18:29 GMT

>>cancelled.  sounds to me like some big changes are going on.  i would 
>>speculate that olds won't be around much longer in it's current form...maybe
>>a name change and some different models can keep it alive...they are 
>>supposedly going to have a 1994 model called the auroa which will be unique
>>to olds.  looks like olds buyers better look to buick now!
>>

	My brother-in-law (olds sales weasle) claims to have seen the
specs for the 'new' aurora. He says it incorporates polymer side body
panels just like you-know-who.

	You speak in strange whispers friend, are you not of the body ?


ed "prepare to be absorbed" biggles
From: thenor@acsu.buffalo.edu (Leonid Thenor)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Fiero GT performance
Keywords: Power Output
Date: 9 Nov 92 17:59:37 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: UB


I have a few questions for some of the knowlegeable individuals on this net.
I own an '86 Fiero Gt and I would really like to improve performance (at a
reasonable cost). I would like to know the following:

	1) How much improvement can I expect from free-flowing exhausts
		and intakes? Can you suggest any brands?
	2) What other GM engines will fit the Fiero with little (prefably
		no) modifications?
	3) I saw a twin-turbo ad in 'Kit Car' magazine, but can't seem to 
		find it again; has anyone else seen this?



	@leo
From: alan@lancaster.nsc.com (The Hepburn)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: AUTOMATICS CAN BE NICE! (Was Re: FLAME! Only a Manual!)
Date: 10 Nov 92 16:15:26 GMT
Organization: National Semiconductor Corporation

In article <184199@pyramid.pyramid.com>, lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell) writes:
|> In article <1dku0uINNm95@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer) writes:
|> >In a previous article, mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Mike Mshar) says:
|> >>>> atovorni@engr.UVic.CA writes:
|> 
|>    I really would like to see one of these children tell a certain
|>    Jim Hall, face to face, that he is a [portion of female anatomy,
|>    censored] because the Chaparral used an automatic.   
|>    Or maybe Daddy Don with one of his B+M modified Chrysler 
|>    Torque-Flites..?  
|> 
|>    But then some are so uncertain of their masculinity that any
|>    excuse to ATTEMPT to show same with "real he-man" blatherings
|>    simply can't be passed up.

You forgot to add the Patented Tool Time "ARR  ARRR ARRRR" after that! :-)

-- 
Alan Hepburn           "An ignorant person is one who doesn't know
National Semiconductor       what you have just found out."
Santa Clara, Ca              
alan@berlioz.nsc.com                              Will Rogers
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: atl@kpc.com (Drew Lynch)
Subject: Re: INFFINITI vs BMW vs Mustang
Organization: Kubota Pacific Computer
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 21:44:52 GMT

|> 535i's.  I think a Mustang owner is perhaps not the most qualified person to
|> comment on what is mediocre, seeing as how you actually put down money for a 
|> 30-year old chassis design with a big engine, wide tires, and little else.

  I traded in my BMW 320i on a 5.0 convertible Mustang, and I couldn't be happier.  IMHO BMWs are very well designed cars, and need very little skill to be driven well.  The Mustang on the other hand has much more to offer the enthusiast, and at a much lower price.

-- 
Andrew Lynch, atl@kpc.com
Kubota Pacific Computer Inc. Santa Clara, Ca.
(408)748-6345
Disclaimer: This is me, not them.
From: jimf@centerline.com (Jim Frost)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Survey impartiality (was Re: Profits to Japan?)
Date: 9 Nov 92 18:41:26 GMT
Organization: CenterLine Software, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: 140.239.3.202

jnielsen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John F Nielsen) writes:
>In article <1dlv33INNc3b@armory.centerline.com> jimf@centerline.com (Jim Frost) writes:
>>This doesn't invalidate the theory.  His theory was for minor defects,
>>not major ones (read it again, he's pretty explicit).
>I'll go reread it.

>Wait a sec. Then you agree CU reliability ratings
>can point out problems with cars? Why is it so useless then? And if
>the discrepency is only with minor stuff, then what is your point.
>It's the major stuff that matters.

I don't think that was the point, I thought the point was that given
cars of roughly equal quality you tend to report what you're expected
to report -- ie if you have a car with a couple of minor problems that
you expect to be high quality you say you liked it, but if you have a
car with a couple of minor problems that you expect to be low quality
you complain about it.  I feel that's a good paraphrase of what he was
theorizing.

Major problems don't enter into it.  I also don't agree that it's the
major stuff that matters -- the minor things are annoyances too and a
couple of minor things can be a real hassle.

One thing that nobody mentioned is that customer service might affect
the reports at least as much as general opinion.  If I have a couple
of minor problems but the dealer always fixes them correctly, quickly,
and the first time I'm much less likely to report that I've had
problems with the car than if I have a couple of minor problems that I
need to bring the car in half a dozen times to get fixed.

Given some of the dealers out there I'd believe that unnecessary
customer aggravation could certainly be the result of bad ratings on
some cars, and in my experience a lot of domestic dealers have pretty
bad customer service.

>>It's quite possible that most Crown Victoria owners are biased against
>>the Japanese (ask yourself which major age group owns Crown Vics, and
>>why they might be particularly anti-Japanese).  It works both ways.
>>
>I think you missed my point:

>Why would Chevy Caprice owners be any less biased? Those cars were very very
>similar competeting with the same population.

Perhaps the Caprice really has poorer quality.

jim frost
jimf@centerline.com
From: jmmst53+@pitt.edu (Jason M. Mccloskey)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: JEEPS
Date: 11 Nov 92 16:14:41 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

Anyone interested in starting a mailgroup ca,,ed Jeeps?
This list would encompass such issues as the repair and use of Jeeps.

Alternatively, if there is any person in the Pittsburgh area, like in OH,
Pa, or WV interested in off road trials or any type of trailriding, please reply to this address.

I drive a 1990 Wrangler with a H.D. electrical system, suspension, and a winch.
I belong to a club called the Triangle fourwheelers located here in the
Golden Triangle.  We trailride about once a month, but I am looking for 
people more in line with my style of off road fun....

If you own a Jeep, or any type of four wheel drive vehicle, I'd be interested in 
hearing from you.  E-mail or call and ask for Jason 412-661-8408.

thanks

A
From: rkim@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (Suro)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: GM's sickness
Date: 8 Nov 92 08:41:27 GMT
Organization: University of California, San Diego

In article <bob1.720735879@cos> bob1@cos.com (Bob Blackshaw) writes:
>
>GM's biggest problem was the warranty - Jack Smith seems to have
>changed that. By all reports, the quality is back and getting
>better. For all the folks that buy imports, have you stopped to
>think what the planned layoff of 75,000 people is going to do
>to our economy - not the Japanese economy - not the German
>economy - ours. They way I look at it, if I buy an import and
>put our own people out of work, I'll end up paying for it one
>way or another. Who knows, maybe some of those 75,000 people
>are my customers.
>
>Just a thought.
>
>Bob.

That also brings up a question.  What exactly, is an import?  If I
bought a Toyota Camry Wagon, which is made in Kentucky, is that
buying an import?  If I bought a Big 3 car made in Mexico, is that
buying domestic?  Well, forget Mexico, but say in Malaysia.

How would you consider Geo Prizm, which is essentially a Corolla?
Would NUMMI be an import plant?

Seems to me, you'll hurt those 75,000 people no matter what you
choose.  


-- 
Robert W. Kim                            rkim@ucsd.edu
University of California, San Diego.     suro@ucsd.edu
"I'd love to go out with you, but I'm teaching my ferret to yodel." 
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: bboswell@dante.NMSU.Edu (BOSWELL)
Subject: Re: Fool of the Month
Organization: New Mexico State University
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 04:14:42 GMT

In article <4108@unisql.UUCP> wrat@unisql.UUCP (wharfie) writes:
> 
> 	The Fool of the Month award goes to whoever was piloting the
> clapped-out off-white late 70's Honda Accord up northbound I-35 Saturday
> night in a blinding thunderstorm doing 35 miles an hour in the left
> lane ***WITH HIS DAMN LIGHTS OFF!!!***
> 
> 	"Duhh, gee, I can't see a thing, so I'd better turn off my lights
> and go drive real slow in the fast lane"

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....
Newsgroups: rec.autos