HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: greg@cherokee.b23b.ingr.com (Greg Moritz)
Subject: Re: More clunker pollution statistics
Reply-To: greg@cherokee.b23b.ingr.com (Greg Moritz)
Organization: Dazix, An Intergraph Company
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 22:00:47 GMT

I wrote:
|>       The total US auto fleet is reported to be 99 million.

kevinh@hslrswi.hasler.ascom.ch (kevinh) added:
> The number of cars and estate-cars in circulation 
> in Jan 1990 was 144,375,000.

I'm not sure what an estate-car is.  Can you define this?

I think that the number 99 million was referring only to automobiles,
but not trucks, vans, etc.  At least that is how I interpret that number
which seemed low to me also.

Trucks, and perhaps vans, are not subject to the same CAFE restrictions,
safety restrictions, and pollution restrictions that automobiles are.

I would imagine that that is the reason for the non-inclusion.

If all the trucks were thrown into the 'pool' the percentage of vehicles
built before 1980 would be even less.  However, the percentage of 
pollution from older vehicles might be less than the 87% quoted if trucks 
are included in the total vehicle pool.  It depends on how many of them
there are and how well they are tuned and how much pollution they are
designed to emit.

Oh well, one can't make decisions based on only one statistic anyway.

> Thanks for the post, interesting info.

No.  Thank *you* for the addition/correction.   :^)
From: lee@hsh.com (Lee Havemann)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Toyota Long Bed Pickups Cargo
Date: 9 Dec 92 02:10:58 GMT
 <Byn836.33w@news.cso.uiuc.edu> <1g0lgrINNk8v@agate.berkeley.edu> <1992Dec8.163651.7079@berlioz.nsc.com>
Organization: HSH Associates

In article <1g0lgrINNk8v@agate.berkeley.edu>, ferenc@hera.Berkeley.EDU (Ferenc L. Kovac) writes:
> This is a simple question:
> What is the best way to carry 4x8 sheetrock in the bed of a Toyota
> long bed pickup truck? 
> 

Take 3 or 4 2 X 4's with you and then just hang 'em out the gate and load the 
rock on top. You can carry about 20 sheets that way (without bottoming out the
truck :-).

Thats how I do it in my '79 long (rusted) bed..... :-(
-- 

 Lee Havemann, Sys_op       HSH Associates          (201) 838-3330 
 Internet: lee@hsh.com    Compuserve: 70410,3507    AOL: HSH Assoc
 "Any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of anyone else, 
  including myself."
From: bolman@cor.uucp (Cor management)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Entry-Level Programmer position, NYC, financial services
Date: 14 Dec 92 21:43:55 GMT
Organization: COR Management

A Major money center bank seeks a recent graduate with school and/or work 
experience programming in C under SUN/OS.  Your degree should be a BS in 
CS, EE, Math; from a top schools with a decently high GPA.  
Your interests should be to apply your progrsamming skills in th 
management and trading of securities.
I'm sorry, there will be no sponsoring, no relocation or interview 
expenses provided.
Contact:  COR Management Services, 420 Lexington Ave., NY  NY 10170
or fax to 212-599-3048
From: moscaritolos@merrimack.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: New car advice WANTED
Date: 11 Dec 92 11:44:39 GMT
Organization: Merrimack College, No. Andover, MA, USA

I am out of college in the next year or so and I have been thinking about
buying a new car....What I have been looking at are the new Jeep Wranglers,
the new Pontiac Grand Am's, and the Buick Reatta's.  Could you guys tell me
what you know about these babies...especially if someone owns one...

Thanks...Steve M.

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: cshafai@eeserv.ee.umanitoba.ca (Cyrus Shafai)
Subject: Re: WHAT GM to Buy?
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Date: Sat, 19 Dec 1992 20:51:22 GMT

Your father's friend sounds like my mother.

You could look at an Olds 88, or a Buick LeSabre if your critera are
ABS, airbag and a V6. The V6 in these cars is quite powerful (170HP) but
still gets good mileage.  They also handle quite well depending on what
suspention  you get.

For my mother we got the Olds '98.  If is quite similar to the 88 but a 
little more luxurious.  It has ABS, airbag, and the V6 mentioned above.
It also gets good mileage, 17-18 mph city/32 highway (US gallons).  The 
mileage is quite good for the size of the car.  The 98 has two suspention
modes, a soft and a firm.  When you accelerate, brake, or turn hard it 
switches into firm to give you good handling.  But the 98 may be a little
too expensive for her so look at the 88 or the Buick LeSabre.

Both are very roomy, and have similar mileage, and depending on options
are much cheaper.
You may also want to look at the Buick Regal.  Same engine and as the above
but no airbag availible.
There is also the Pontiac Bonneville, but this may be a little too aggressive
looking for her.

If you have any questions please ask by e-mail.

Cyrus Shafai
University of Manitoba.


--
-------------------------------------------------------------
Cyrus Shafai                        <cshafai@ee.umanitoba.ca>
The Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Laboratory  -  STM/AFM Lab
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada   ph. (204) 474-6007
From: hhtra@usho21.hou281.chevron.com (T.M.Haddock)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Garage Door opener. Rec. Needed
Date: 16 Dec 92 18:03:04 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: Chevron


 Yeah, I got the Stanley or Genie PREMIUM model
 found at Home Depot.  It's worth the extra $25.
 Trac-Drive is the best.

 If you or you car ever got hit by a garage door
 you'd have no question about the usefulness of 
 those automatic reversers.  Worth every penny!

 IMHO,

 TRAVIS
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: po-tai@hprisc-23.cae.wisc.edu (Po-Tai Cheng)
Subject: ACURA '88 LS
Distribution: usa
Date: 18 Dec 92 22:36:56 CST
Originator: po-tai@hprisc-23.cae.wisc.edu



Hi....... I am going to buy a used Acura Integra, '88, 75k miles, the 

engine still runs good. The owner ask $6500 for it. Is it reasonable?

Or is there anyone can tell me where to find a reference price list?

Thanks!! 

NEW COMER TO THIS COUNTRY
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mprisco@lynx.cat.syr.edu ()
Subject: a stupid tire question
Organization: Syracuse University
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 09:17:33 EST


Since I got such a good answer to my last question, here's another....
I was told that I needed to replace 2 of my tires (by a shop that
specializes in tires...) so I've scraped up the bucks to buy 'em
but wonder if I really need 'em.  Is there a good way to judge if
your tread is too low to 1. give you decent traction (I live in
the snow belt...) and 2. pass inspection.  Someone suggested the
penny method, so I stuck it in the tread and on the Eagle GTs
the tread come up just to, maybe a tad (technical term) over
Lincoln's head.  On the Invectas the tread on the outter parts
of the tire came well over the head but in the middle didn't 
cut it.  The GTs have about 10,000 more miles on 'em than the
Invectas.  Any ideas?  The easiest shop for me to get to is Goodyear
and of course they're gonna tell me I need tires!  Any help would
be appreciated....  like do I need 4 tires?  why is the tread on
the Invectas shallower in the middle?  The other consideration
is that I only want to keep the car ('87 Subaru) another 11 or
12 months....

Thanks
Margot (mprisco@cat.syr.edu)
--
--
"I think we're passing through here kind of fast,
  Did you think these tracks in the dust would last? "
                                         - David Crosby
Newsgroups: rec.autos,uk.misc
From: koziarz@halibut.nosc.mil (Walter A. Koziarz)
Subject: Re: Immobilising a diesel
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1992 16:08:34 GMT

In article <1992Dec17.122525.4488@linus.mitre.org> rll@frieda.mitre.org (Roberto L. Landrau) writes:
>>Eddie Rooney (eddie@cstr.ed.ac.uk) wrote:
>>: Is there an easy way of immobilizing a diesel engine, in the same way as you might
>>: remove the rotor arm on a petrol engine, or disconnect the coil?  Any ideas
>>: appreciated.

>In rec.autos wesf@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii) wrote:
>>Potato in the tailpipe?  Yank the glow plug wires (doesn't work as well in
>>the summer)?  Yank the fuel pump wires (if electric)?  Close the Jake Brake
>>(if it's got one)?  Obstruction in the air cleaner?  Remove the linkages
>>to the intake butterfly valve?

got to try to remove a perpetual misconception -- one does not close a 'Jake
Brake' (Jacobs Engine Brake); one closes a 'compression brake'.  A Jake Brake
is an electro-mechanical system installed in the overhead of a Diesel engine,
which unseats the exhaust valves at/near TDC on compression such that the work
expended to compress the air charge is lost and the Diesel will then provide
'engine braking' (see the long-past debate over why Diesels provide *NO* engine
braking for more details, if you can find it).  A compression brake is a large
butterfly valve in the exhaust system which, when closed, causes an increase in
exhaust back-pressure.  This also serves to provide engine braking.  Recall
that a Diesel *does not* provide engine braking, it 'freewheels' while coasting
since it has not intake throttle-butterfly to induce pumping-losses.

my best suggestion is related to the below suggestion of disconnecting the wire
to the shut-down solenoid...  most (all that I have _seen_) pumps have a manual
(emergency) shut-down lever.  reverse the spring on this such that it is held
in the shut-down position, rather than run position.  Far less obvious than
removed wires, especially since most solenoids will open with a 9V battery
anyway.

Walt 'death-before-gas-pigs' K.


>>Somehow you've got to cut off the air, fuel or exhaust.  If it's a GM
>>rig then most of these are done for you automatically...   ;-)

>There is usually an electric solenoid that blocks the fuel intake to
>the fuel injection pump.  The solenoid is normally closed and if power
>is removed to it no fuel will enter the pump (that's how you shut the
>engine off, by the way).
From: rambler@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Dan Meyer)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Federal Seat Belt Blackmail (Re: Seat Belts Releaseing in Crashes
Date: 15 Dec 92 23:45:05 GMT
Organization: People-Net [pnet51], Minneapolis, MN.

crpresto@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Charlie Preston) writes:
>In article <8769@orbit.cts.com> rambler@pnet51.orb.mn.org (Dan Meyer) writes:
>>
>>But the real question is: Is *ANY* state loosing funds due to non-
>>compliance with federal regulations?
>>
>Not really.  The 'penalties' consist of transfering some highway construction
>funds to safety programs which meet certain requirements.  To receive the
>construction money a state must pay for a certain percentage of the costs of
>the construction project.  The state doesn't need to spend any of its money to
>receive the money for safety programs.
>
>There are a few states that do not have seat belt laws currently--Kentucky,
>Massachusetts, and one (or both) of the Dakotas.  The law that requires state
>seat belt laws also requires motorcycle helmet laws. Currently only about half
>of the states have helmet laws for all motorcyclists.
>
>

It's no small wonder to me that this country is in the condition that it is.
Maybe if the politicians got paid half of the amount that they save us in 
taxes......well never mind...

-- Dan Meyer

Remember: " Buffalo never Oink " Seen on a South Dakota travel brocure.
Advertisment: Try the Railway Post Office , a railfan BBS ! (612) 377-2197.
UUCP: {crash tcnet}!orbit!pnet51!rambler
INET: rambler@pnet51.orb.mn.org
From: twong@civil.ubc.ca (Thomas Wong)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Four wheel drive Autos
Date: 17 Dec 1992 17:54:59 GMT
Organization: Dept. of Civil Engineering, U.B.C., Vancouver, B.C., Canada
NNTP-Posting-Host: sam.civil.ubc.ca

In article <1992Dec16.223054.29459@icd.teradyne.com> rvn@icd.teradyne.com writes:
>>From feinberg@icd.teradyne.com (Mike)
>>...Mitsu Eclipse, on the other hand, is a bit more 
>>sporty (if you get a turbo 4wd model) but I can hardly make a trip from Boston
>>to Vermont (120 miles) without backcramps. I am 6'2'' and swim for the last 8 
>>year - the car just does not have enough leg and shoulder room for me. 
>
>	Well I'm 5'11" and find the car very confortable (more than my '90
>Honda Prelude), and I kind of like the laid-back seating position.  
>....


Well, I have an Eagle Talon which is the sister car of the Eclipse.
And over the last couple of years, I've driven for weeks around the 
States for my vacation (I live in Vancouver, very close to the 
Canadian/US border so I often goes for drives as my summer vacation 
plans). On my trips, I mostly go on scenic routes meaning I might stop
at a national park here and there, get out and take pictures of the
spectacular views around the Columbia River Gorge...etc. But it's
mostly driving and I've been VERY comfortable in my car. I'm about 5'10"
and about 180lb. Average joe. And I too enjoy the lean back and enjoy
the scenary seating position. Very comfortable epsecially with the way
the seats is hugs your body (lumbar support and so forth).'

Thomas.
From: jacob@SWDC.Stratus.COM (Jacob Shen)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Ford Explorer AC problem
Keywords: Explorer, AC, Heater, Coolant
Date: 12 Dec 92 01:07:02 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc., San Jose, CA

Explorer owners ...

My '92 EB has recently develped three annoying problems:

Problem 1:

After AC or DEFROST (which turns on AC) is used and turned off,
a few minutes later, there is this musty odor coming out the vent
holes.  If I keep the blower (fan) running, the odor disappears
afetr 5-6 minutes.  If the AC/DEFROST was on before I stop the
car for the day, I am almost guaranteed to get the musty odor
in the morning.  The dealer disinfected the chamber and the problem
went away for about a month.  It is now back.

Problem 2:

Say if I went to the market to pick up something ... I stopped the car
and re-entered the car in say, 10 minutes, hot air would continue to
blow out of the vent hole for a good 5 minutes before the airflow
cooled down to normal.  Dealer adjusted the cabling that controls how
much airflow goes through the heater unit -- it didn't help.

Problem 3:

Coolant level (cold) has been dropping.  No visible sign of leaks beneath
the vehicle.

Seem like related problems?  I would like to hear from you if you had
experienced the same and had success fixing some of these problems.

Send mail to jacob@swdc.stratus.com.  Thanks.
From: seghers@hpkslx.mayfield.HP.COM (David Seghers)
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1992 19:03:51 GMT
Subject: Re: Bridgestone Turanza tires?
Organization: HP Response Center Lab
Newsgroups: rec.autos

>
>My favorite tire salesman recommends Bridgestone Turanzas, a new all-
>weather tire with less road noise and longer treadlife than GT+4's.
>I've never heard of them before.  My size, 215/65R15 comes in S and H
>ratings, at $70 and $86 from Tire Rack; corresponding GT+4's run
>66, 116, and 122 in U, H, and V ratings.
>Mr. Salesman says that Turanzas (in appropriate higher speed ratings) are
>now used as OEM equipment on Legends and LS400s.
>
>Anybody heard anything one way or another about Bridgestone Turanzas?
>Anybody replaced GT+4's with something different that was better in every
>way?
>-- 
>
>David Hough
>dgh@validgh.com
>----------
I had the same sales pitch.  I got two Turanzas for the front of my
88 Integra.  They wouldn't balance, even after several visits to the
tire shop.  They were replaced after I complained several times.  
The handling is OK, but nothing special.  They squeal more at the 
limit than I like, and they don't feel as precise as the GT +4 s
that I got when the rears had a sudden failure, you guessed it, 
from nails.  I swapped the Turanzas to the back, and am MUCH happier
with the GT+4s in the front!  They are a bit noisier, but not enough
to be objectionable.  As to tread wear - they both have a treadwear 
rating of 240, but Bridgestone is offering a 50K miles warranty, good
for new Bridgestones...

Your mileage WILL vary,


David Seghers (seghers@hpcc01.HP.COM) 415-691-3730

************************************************************************
Solipsist Society, Founding Member  (I think, therefore you are.)

Charter member of the "I HATE vi!" Club.
************************************************************************
The statements and opinions above are my own, entirely my own, and no one
else's.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Four wheel drive Autos
From: erkamp@janus (Bob Erkamp)
Date: 17 Dec 92 15:39:37 MDT
Reply-To: erkamp@janus
Organization: Alberta Research Council

In article <92349.151334CJOHNSON@MAINE.MAINE.EDU>, <CJOHNSON@MAINE.MAINE.EDU> writes:
>We are thinking of selling our 4 x 4 truck, and Prelude Honda auto. And buying
>a full time Four wheel Drive auto,some thing that is sporty and rides nice
>but has four wheel drive. What we want to know is who makes such a car. I think
>Audi does who else.

Here are a few possibilites:

Eagle Talon AWD
Dodge Stealth R/T AWD
Most (all?) Subaru's have 4WD
There used to be a Toyota Celica with 4WD
I remember seeing in C&D or R&T that Porsche had an AWD vehicle (911?)

If you don't have to have a car there are many new vans now that are availble 
with 4WD. Or you can get a Suzuki Sidekick (sorry I had to put a plug in for 
this as it's what I drive).

Bob
From: tut@cairo.Eng.Sun.COM (Bill "Bill" Tuthill)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: 1990 Audi 100 SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!e+10
Date: 16 Dec 1992 22:35:25 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems Inc., Mountain View, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: cairo

qazi@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Aamir Hafeez Qazi) writes:
> 
> --It's silly of you not to buy an Audi nowadays because of your experience
>   with your 1970 100LS.  A company can change itself in 22 years you know!!
>   Japanese cars were not the paragons of reliability that they are know.

You must be young, or have a poor memory.  Japanese cars from the 1970s had
excellent reliability, which is why consumers stayed with them.  For example,
the Toyota Corolla from the late 1970s was one of two ultra-reliable cars
listed by Consumer Reports in 1980 (the other was the Mercedes 300 series).
We still own a 1974 Corolla with 250k miles, original engine/transmission.
It is crude in comparison with today's cars, but refuses to die.  Hondas of
that vintage had excellent reliability until about 100k miles, but Toyotas
were probably more durable over the next 100k miles.  If anything, Japanese
cars are less reliable than they were in the 1970s, perhaps because there's
more stuff to go wrong.

Recent Audi models have not had particularly good repair records, according
to Consumer Reports.  There is insufficient data on the new models.
From: dean@cbmvax.commodore.com (Jeff Dean - LSI Test)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Ford Explorer Vibration Help Needed
Date: 10 Dec 92 14:15:57 GMT
Organization: Commodore

In article <51300047@hpscit.sc.hp.com> ck@hpscit.sc.hp.com 
(Chris Kiessling) writes:
>I have a 1992 Ford Explorer.  When I go about 35 miles per hour, something
>vibrates VERY loudly.  Going any faster or slower stops the noise.  The
>vibration sound is coming from the roof area.  I think it may be

I notice an engine harmonic vibration at around 3krpm, but have never heard
anything from the roof.  I've driven two other Explorers too, which didn't
make any such noise.

BUT!!!  Allow me to remind everybody about the Explorer surface rust near
the front body-to-frame mounts.  Email me if you have questions...


-- 
==============================================================================
|   |\ /|                                               Commodore Technology |
|   'O O`   Jeffrey Dean                                   1200 Wilson Drive |
|   > v <   VLSI Test and Design Assurance            West Chester, PA 19380 |
|     ^                                                   dean@commodore.com |
==============================================================================
From: qazi@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Aamir Hafeez Qazi)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: WHAT GM to Buy?
Date: 18 Dec 1992 17:09:08 GMT
Organization: Computing Services Division, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4

In article <1992Dec18.025053.1@vax.sonoma.edu> oberland@vax.sonoma.edu writes:
>I need help.
>
>My father has a friend who is in her 70's(should be around for 10-15 more
>years, though).  She wants a nice car.
>Problems:
>She will only consider GM cars.
>V-6 is a plus
>Luxury cars are OUT, as she wants to spend as little as possible.
>Small cars are out as well, a are sporty cars(she's no rece-car driver,
>BUT she still drives competantly.
>
>She needs a vehicle that will last 10 years, or about as long as she will.
>
>15-18K is an acceptable range.(not including tax and such)ie:price without
>a ton of options/avg price
>
>Anti-lock brakes and Air-bag are a MAJOR plus to her.
>
>Must be able to get out of its own way, but no hot-rod.
>
>Any suggestions?(I told her to get an import or a 1-2 year old Volvo sedan)
>She won't buy an import, and won't buy anything but GM.
>
>Thanks, and I need ideas before the 24th(vax here goes down for 2 weeks).
>Joe


--Too bad.  She's throwing out the Taurus and the LH out the window.
  What a mistake.  

  She could go with a Chevy Corsica V6, which comes with the airbag, but
  I don't know if it can be equipped with ABS.

  The GM10's (Lumina/Cutlass Supreme/Regal/Grand Prix) don't have airbags,
  I don't think.  This car could be a good bet if they do.

  The next model up is the Olds 88/Buick LeSabre.  This is the best choice
  if she is willing to pay $18-20K.

  The Buick Century/Olds Ciera are large, reliable, and cheap, but they are
  older designs, and I don't know if they come with ABS or airbags.

--Keep trying to convince her to look at the Chrysler LH's.  The GM cars
  listed are compromises in comparison.

--Aamir Qazi
-- 

Aamir Qazi
qazi@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
--Why should I care?  I'd rather watch drying paint.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: Tom Wetzel <twetzel@ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: hit and run accident
Organization: Indiana University
X-Useragent: Nuntius v1.1
     <1992Dec12.195254.25145@rchland.ibm.com>
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 20:52:10 GMT

In article <1992Dec11.205814.25137@iscnvx.lmsc.lockheed.com> Sharen A.
Rund, sharen@iscnvx.lmsc.lockheed.com writes:
>In article <1992Dec11.190109.17162@unocal.com> stsshol@st.unocal.COM
(Herb Lam) writes:
>>
>>My girlfriend was involved in a hit and run accident couple months
>>back.  Her light had just turned green so she started to make a left.
>>A pickup ran a red light had hit her front left end.  At first, the
>>two men claimed that it was her fault, but a couple behind the pickup
>>was nice enough to stop and said that the pickup ran a red light.  
>>The two men then said they had no license or insurance and walked away 
>>from the accident, leaving the pickup there.  [Funny story here is that 
>>the woman (newlywed copule) told her husband, "Honey, they're getting 
>>away, go get them."  He just said, "What do you want me to do?"]  
>>
>>The police haven't caught the guys yet but have the pickup.  My 
>>girlfriend just got her car back recently but had to pay a $500 
>>deductible.  Is there anything she can do to get some of the $500
>>back?  If the police gets lucky and catch the guys (the guys left 
>>their name tags from work and car registration in the pickup, though 
>>the pickup may not be theirs), should she prosecute?