HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jtchew@csa3.lbl.gov (JOSEPH T CHEW)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: BMW Highway Patrol Car
Date: 19 Aug 92 23:07:07 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory - Berkeley, CA, USA
Reply-To: jtchew@csa3.lbl.gov
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.3.254.198
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4   

>the BMW M5.  It has a 5.7 Liter hand built engine 

Any Bimmerphiles know what goes in the M5?  I thought it was a
hotrod version of the 3.5-l straight 6 found in the 535i. I had
the impression that even their V12 is only offered in a 5-liter
size, though McLaren seems to have found an extra liter rattling
around in the same basic design.

>and would market for $65,000(US).  

That sounds more like the price for a regular, civilian M5, not for
some kind of "special" (see above).

>It registers to 180 mph but is expected to go more.  THe
>officer driving says he doubts it will be long before he is required to
>determine just how much more. 

Plausible, but if he makes a habit of exploring the how-much-more,
they'd better hope BMW's largesse extends to a lot of new engines.
One-eighty is serious speed for a production car, especially a good-
sized and aerodynamically dignified sedan like the 5-series. It's
achievable (the AMG Hammer comes to mind, and I wouldn't be surprised
if the owner of one of the Dinan-modified twin-turbo Bimmers had 
disabled the rev limiter and stuck his nose into that stratum) but 
neither cheap nor easy.  You can entertain yourself on a slow day 
by looking at the big yellow table in the back of Car and Driver and
plotting top speed versus sticker price -- what's that old crack 
about "speed costs money, how fast do you want to go"?  

(Then there are the, er, other aspects of having your typical state
trooper booming along at 180 mph.  Especially on a typical American
highway, a place more and more suitable for moon buggies after
every winter. I _do_ hope they'll send the lucky radar operator to
Skippy School or somesuch before encouraging him to rub elbows with
the guardrail at 180.  Sheesh.)

>The officer also said that driving it is
>hardly any different than the Mustang he was patrolling in except that
>it accelerates a lot smoother and faster.

Great.  They get a fantasy car for free and give it to some philistine
who would prefer the legroom and road-holding weight of a Crown Vic.

I wonder if full-throttle blasting out of a median-strip radar trap
on a cold engine a couple dozen times a day qualifies for the "Severe
Service" maintenance schedule.

They really should give that car to someone more deserving.  I'll 
trade 'em my Taurus wagon even-up, but they'd better hurry.

--Joe
"Just another personal opinion from the People's Republic of Berkeley"
Xref: sparky rec.autos:20209 rec.autos.tech:11354
From: smennitt@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Stuart Mennitt)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: TOYOTA's timing belt
Date: 19 Aug 92 12:41:26 GMT
Reply-To: smennitt@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Stuart Mennitt)
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: NavSurfWarCen, CarderockDiv (ex-"Taylor Model Basin")

In rec.autos.tech, jyri@faline..bellcore.com (Jyri Virkki) writes:
>
>It is rare for this to actually break, but it might. If it does, the camshaft
>will stop turning, so the pistons will hit the valves. Can you say MAJOR

    Maybe, maybe not.  Many car engines are what they call freewheeling:
the valves won't strike the pistons if the belt/chain breaks.  In such
an engine, the valve lift isn't enough to interfere with the pistons
at the top of their stroke.  I suspect only an honest mechanic, could
tell you for sure.  In general, higher performance engines are more
likely to be non-freewheeling due to higher valve lift and higher compression.
Note-turbocharged cars don't have high compression ratios usually.
--____________________________________________________
]      Stu Mennitt      smennitt@oasys.dt.navy.mil    [
]  NavSurfWarCen, CarderockDiv     Bethesda, Maryland [
]         was: David Taylor Research Center           [
]     was: David Taylor Naval Ship R&D Center         [
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: tcheung@gandalf.rutgers.edu (Tak Cheung)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: How to clean windshield ??
Date: 21 Aug 92 15:21:13 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

Can someone post or email me a good way to keep windshield clean ??

I alway have problem with grime like buildup on my car windshield.

I've tried Windex, Rain-X, soap, the wiper alway smudge up after
driving in the rain.  

What is the most effective cleaner for the windshield without going
to things like paint solvent ??  

Recently, I tried some laundry spot remover like Shout-It-Out and it
turns out pretty good.

Just want to know what "real" auto products out there I can use.

Thanks.
From: asberry@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kevin Asberry)
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 11:07:53 GMT
Subject: Re: Ford vs Chevy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Organization: the HP Corporate notes server
Newsgroups: rec.autos

  This probably won't help much (if at all), because I don't know if I still
have the magazine, but it may be of interest.
  I read an article a while back, where a 5.0L LX (with air, power steerin,
power brakes, stereo, etc.) was pitted against a limited edition Camaro.  This
Camaro was a special light weight hi-po model, with aluminum hood (I think)
and drive shaft.  All non essential items, such as air conditioning and stereo
were deleted for additional weight savings.  It also used a 5.0L engine if I'm
not mistaken.
  Well, in all acceleration tests, the Mustang was the leader (and a heavy-
weight luxury car in comparison).  In handling tests, the Chevy had a slight
advantage, though the author/tester said with better (read WIDER) rubber,
the Mustang would have faired better.  Let's hope for more meat on the next
generation 'Stang.
  Anyway, I found it interesting, that even a stripped down Camaro still didn't
have what it took to smoke Ford's Pony car.  If I find that mag, I'll let you
know.

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: belinda@searchtech.com (Belinda Hoshstrasser)
Subject: Alfa Spider Veloce
Organization: Search Technology, Inc.
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 13:08:18 GMT

Hi!  Does anyone have first hand experience with an Alfa Romeo
Spider Veloce?  I went out looking at cars this weekend and
fell in love with one!  

I am mainly concerned with reliability.  I take good care of
my cars and like to keep them for about 10 years.  Will the
Spider be in the shop a lot?

Any comments, both positive and negative from people who have
owned Alfa's will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

-- Belinda


-- 

  Belinda D. Hoshstrasser 
  belinda@searchtech.com
  Search Technology, Inc.
From: terst1+@pitt.edu (Timothy E. Rapp)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Ford's new family van?
Date: 12 Aug 92 14:08:46 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <1992Aug11.135745.15000@jarvis.csri.toronto.edu> mart@csri.toronto.edu (Mart Molle) writes:
.
.
.
>their while to make it.  (BTW, the Villager is already significantly
>larger than the short wheelbase Magic Wagon, and has a max tow rating
 ^^^^^^1             
>of at least 4000 lbs/ 2000 kg).
             ^^^^^^^^2
>
>Mart L. Molle
>Computer Systems Research Institute
>University of Toronto
>Toronto, Canada M5S 1A4
>(416)978-4928

1)  The Villager/Quest has measurements that almost mirror the short
    wheelbase Dodge Caravan.

2)  The base Villager/Quest has a max tow rating of 2500 lbs.  With a
    towing package, the max tow rating is upped to 3000 lbs.

The Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest is made by Ford using Nissan's 150 hp
V6 (also in the Maxima) with only minor cosmetic and package variations
being the difference between the two.

------------------------
Tim Rapp
terst1@unix.cis.pitt.edu
------------------------

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: rg@msel.unh.edu (Roger Gonzalez)
Subject: buying a new car
Organization: UNH Marine Systems Engineering Lab
Distribution: rec
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 19:12:06 GMT


I'm going to be buying my first new car at the end of the month, and am
looking for advice from the net community.

I think I've got a handle on many of the various schemes that they will use,
and I intend to stick to my (evolving) plan no matter what games they play.
The biggest piece of advice I need is an estimate of how much to give them
over their cost.  I have no idea how much a dealership expects to make on a
car.

The car I'm looking at is a mid-range Mitsu Eclipse, sticker price 15.5K, with
some options like AC and power package.

Please email!


Thanks in advance,
Roger
--
"The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting
 than the question of whether a submarine can swim" - Edsger W. Dijkstra 

Roger Gonzalez   -  rg@msel.unh.edu
Division of Bit Banging and Reluctant Robotics
UNH Marine Systems Engineering Laboratory, Durham, NH  03824-3525
(603) 862-4600 -4399 (fax)
From: rhsu@src.umd.edu (Richard T. Hsu)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Damark/Escort radar dectector--legit??
Summary: Damark's Escort--real deal or quick sham?
Keywords: Damark Escort
Date: 18 Aug 92 00:46:55 GMT
Organization: Systems Research Center, University of Maryland, College Park

I recently purchased a Cincinnati Microwave Escort radar detector from this 
company called Damark International in Minneapolis. Now it's true, their catalog
contains a lot of stuff which I would classify as JUNK, but this looked too good
to be true.

I talked to their sales rep, pointing out that CM only sells factory-direct, and
was this thing reconditioned, repaired, or what? She assured me they were
factory-new, but had a note in her files to "ignore any reference in the Owner's
manual to a device known as Digi-Key". So I knew that their Escort had no
Digi-Key (which is an anti-theft deterrent for you non-C.M. users).

I bought it, cost me $167 including handling. Looks like the digital Escort,
sounds like the digital Escort...their package included mounts, adaptors,
even an owners manual from C.M.--although strangely, it makes no mention at
all of the Digi-Key. Also, the leatherette case is non-CM (the real ones have
the name "Escort" in the leather.)

What I want to know is: did Cincinnati Micro make a special batch of Escorts 
without the Digi-Key? or are these all factory screwups in which the Digi-Key
just didn't work? or is Damark lying to me and these are factory repairs which
they disabled the Digi-Key because CM was too cheap to provide one?

If someone knows, please tell me. I wanna know if I should send it back.
Thanks.

Rich Hsu

BTW, it seems to work fine.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: dclayton@bnr.ca (Don Clayton)
Subject: Re: Saturn featured on cover of this weeks BUSINESS WEEK
Reply-To: dclayton@bnr.ca (Don Clayton)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 13:36:30 GMT

In article <2400033@hpsad.sad.hp.com>, eric@hpsad.sad.hp.com (Eric Lucas) writes:
|> 
|>   I just bought a 1992 SL2 and think its great.  GM has finally got its act
|> together.  If more companies would follow the philosophies that Saturn has,
|> the US car companies would be able to get out of the hole they've dug for
|> themselves.  I hope Saturn doesn't get a bum rap.

Well, lack of power and handling hasn't helped, but I think they'll do OK.
They are certainly better than the crapy Sunbirds.

|> 
|> 
|> Eric Lucas
|> Hewlett Packard
|> SAD 
|> Industrial Design
|> 
|> Buy American

No, buy Canadian, or better yet buy whatever you want.  Obviously our company
shouldn't have bought HP computers, they not built in Canada (BTW, we own 4,000+
in one site).

Some people just do not understand the international trade concept.  Why do you
think the NAFTA was signed?  Why do you think the EEC is forming?  Why do you
think you have a job?  God, think about it!  And post only to 'usa' distribution
if you're going to wave the flag.

Don
My brain, my thoughts, my words.
Let's pretend that protestants and catholics are friends.
   Northern Pikes
From: rmc1862@tm0006.lerc.nasa.gov (Rodger M. Cliff)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Mustang SVO
Date: 17 Aug 92 16:59:00 GMT
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center / Cleveland, Ohio
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41

In article <1992Aug13.175524.19588@leland.Stanford.EDU>, tedebear@leland.Stanford.EDU (Theodore Chen) writes...
> 
>hmm.  somebody put the SHO drivetrain into a festiva and called it a Shogun.

That somebody is Chuck Beck of Beck 550 Spyder fame (a Porsche 550 Spyder 
replica that is better that the original)(Porsche 550 Spyder, as in James Dean's
last ride).  I rode in the factory 550 "race car"; fastest thing I've ever been 
in.  A kit mag clocked 0-60 in 4.x(?) seconds.  (VW powered)
________________________________________________________________________________
Rodger Cliff                         |  
Analex Corporation                   |            My opinions
at NASA Lewis Research Center        |     are not those of Analex or NASA
Cleveland, OH                        |          and definitely not
                                     |             vice-versa!
(216) 433-8826                       |
________________________________________________________________________________
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: synth@deepthought.unm.edu (Synth F. Oberheim)
Subject: Re: Honda Civic Bashing continues...
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 92 00:44:29 GMT
Organization: SynthMedia Productions Ltd.: The Danes Call It Quality
	<1992Aug20.203505.8231@bnr.ca>
	<1992Aug21.200306.11526@mlb.semi.harris.com>
Distribution: na


cbh@opus.mlb.semi.harris.com (Cherie Slasor) writes:

Cherie> OK.  It seems to be about 50/50 on those pro-Civic and those
Cherie> anti-Civic.  It sounds like Hondas (at least the Civics) are
Cherie> like most other things you buy - some are made better than
Cherie> others.  Any more comments either for or against?

Sure.  I have an '85 CRX, which I will have owned for seven years next
month.  It has 115,000 miles.  Never had *any* problems with quality,
finish, fit or workmanship; in fact, I'm damn impressed how impeccably
the car has held up after so long.  Never had anything poop out on me.
If there's a more reliable car that's ever hit the road, I don't know
what it is -- my Civic has been absolutely wonderful.

Cherie> Actually, this is kind of interesting.  Are the pro-Civic'ers
Cherie> Democrats and anti-Civic'ers Republicans?  Just curious.... :^)

Well, I never inhaled.  :-)


===============================================================================
    :: :: :: :: ::     Synth F.    synth@deepthought.unm.edu    U S E N E T   
 :: :: :: :: :: :: ::  Oberheim    synth@yenta.alb.nm.us             in color!
===============================================================================
"Mom?  I've turned Hindu!"
From: seove@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (ERIC OVERTON)
Subject: Best motor oils?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Distribution: usa
Date: 20 Aug 1992 14:45 EDT  


I don't know if it's been 
discussed yet but what is the concensus on the top motor oils
out there?
Inquiring minds want to GROW.

Eric Overton
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jwg@iedv7.acd.com ( Jim Grey )
Subject: Re: HumVee 4 Sale??
Keywords: HumVee, AMC, LTV 
Organization: Applied Computing Devices, Inc., Terre Haute IN
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 13:14:33 GMT

In article <Bt749q.6JE@news.larc.nasa.gov> woods@sab46.larc.nasa.gov (Peter Woods) writes:
>|> AMC does NOT NOT NOT manufacture Hummers.  AMC is defunct, belly-up,
>				    ^^^^^^^
>|> jim grey
>
>	Finally!  Another person who calls it like it is!  HUMMER!  Not HumVee.
>	Whoever thought up HumVee anyway?  Ask anybody who worked at the
>	AM General plant in South Bend/Mishawaka.  It was originally dubbed 
>	the HUMMER.
>
>	Peter J. Woods
>


When AM General got the contract to build the Hummers (gosh, that seems like
a hundred years ago now), photos they showed on the evening news of the
prototype machines had little license plates on the front that read something
like "HMMWV".  IIt was the official military acronym for the beast.  I don't
remember exactly what the letters were, EXCEPT that you got the idea of "hum"
from them, AND that there was a V in there somewhere.  The local news media
took to calling them "Hummers", so even now residents of South Bend and
Mishawaka call them that.  Suddenly, during the Gulf War, national news and
even Doonesbury took to calling them "humvees".  Which sounds just as strange
to me as suddenly calling chickens "chickers" or something.  They're hummers,
dammit!
 
jim grey
jwg@acd4.acd.com
From: nhmas@gauss.med.harvard.edu (Mark Shneyder 432-4219)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Old topic:  Saturns
Date: 20 Aug 92 21:36:04 GMT
Organization: HMS

In article <1992Aug20.181932.19764@fid.morgan.com> joec@fid.morgan.com (Joe Collins) writes:
>
>Let me try - prices are estimated guesses
>SL   4 door entry model, 85 hp    8,500
>SL1  next model up, 85 hp         9,900
>SL2  4 door best sedan, 124 hp    11,000
>SC   2 door sports coupe, 124 hp  13,000
>
>Options include: sunroof, abs brakes, stereo upgrades. 

For 1993 :

They have SC1(85 hp) and  SC2(124hp). Also SW1 and  SW2 are new station
wagons with respective hp. 

In my honest opnion,SL2 4door sedan is the best deal for the money in terms of
money for power,style,and standard features.

-Mark
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mns6569@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Subject: Toyota sport seats for sale
Reply-To: mns6569@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 15:20:26 GMT

I have a pair of multiadjustable sports seats from '85 MR2 for sale. Both
are in excellent shape and adjust any wich way your hart desires. They are
black with blue inserts (those who'd seen the inside of MR2 will know)
They are currently attach to Celica brackets, so you can just bolt them right
into your Celica, or reuse the brackets from you Corolla, etc. They really
are infinitely better then any regular Toyota seats, plus they hold you in
place pretty well on twisty roads. I've had a few Toyotas, my back still
hurts after using '80 Corolla sets. So here's your chance to get better seats
for your Toyota, or just replace your worn-out seats. 
(Geez, I sound like a used car salesmen, sorry. I have to get them out of
the basement, though, and I do need money :-)

So, give any offer, you feel is reasonable. I can ship them UPS or pick-up
could be arranged within reasonable distance of Rochester,NY.

Oh, I also have another back-saving gizmo, inflatable lumbar support. Preatty
neat, pirated from junked Chrysler, have a bladder for the back and a 
separate bladder for the thighs. Can be installed into the seat or under
any seatcover.

The above gizmo will go to the first $25 offer, but any $$ will be considered

Please Email or call if more info is needed. 716-244-7914
Mike.S
From: eric@hpsad.sad.hp.com (Eric Lucas)
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 21:02:24 GMT
Subject: Re: Saturn featured on cover of this weeks BUSINESS WEEK
Organization: HP Signal Analysis Division - Rohnert Park, CA
Newsgroups: rec.autos


  I just bought a 1992 SL2 and think its great.  GM has finally got its act
together.  If more companies would follow the philosophies that Saturn has,
the US car companies would be able to get out of the hole they've dug for
themselves.  I hope Saturn doesn't get a bum rap.


Eric Lucas
Hewlett Packard
SAD 
Industrial Design

Buy American
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: rmc1862@tm0006.lerc.nasa.gov (Rodger M. Cliff)
Subject: Re: How Accurate is the Blue Book?
Summary: Have the dealers been lying to me?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center / Cleveland, Ohio
Distribution: usa
Date: 21 Aug 1992 14:21 EST  

In article <1992Aug19.171410.10431@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, jcasella@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Joseph A Casella) writes...

    [deleted story of dealing with used car dealers]
> 
>Is there any chance that these guys weren't lying to me--that their wholesale 
>prices were really higher than the blue book retail prices?  And, for that 
>matter, how much leverage does using book value give you in negotiations with 
>the dealer?  Should I let them know I know the prices or not?

I know someone who owns a "reputable" used car dealership.  He confirmed that 
NADA prices are only guidelines - a few cars will bring more at the auctions, 
a lot will bring less.  I found this out the hard way when I went to trade in
my Isuzu DIESEL several years ago.
________________________________________________________________________________
Rodger Cliff                         |  
Analex Corporation                   |            My opinions
at NASA Lewis Research Center        |     are not those of Analex or NASA
Cleveland, OH                        |          and definitely not
                                     |             vice-versa!
(216) 433-8826                       |
________________________________________________________________________________
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: nataraja@rtsg.mot.com (Kumaravel Natarajan)
Subject: Re: Mail Order Tires
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 13 Aug 1992 13:07:57 GMT

paul@maruba.tdd.sj.nec.com (Paul Gordon  x3856) writes:


>  I am think about order tires via mail order from The Tire Rack. My only
>concern is getting them mounted and balanced. Have other people used mail
>order for tires, and did they find their local tire stores would fit them?
>The two places I tried were not interested in doing it and instead attempted
>to sell me tires.

>  Thanks,

>    Paul


I JUST ordered a set Dunlop D40M2's last night from "The Tire Rack".  I paid
$115/tire for four 195/60VR15's.  Shipping cost $15 (for all 4).  When I
asked the guy how much the average shop should charge me per tire, he said
about $50 or so.  He even had a list of shops in my area who they do
direct wholesale sales to.  He gave me a nearby shop's name, address and number,
and told me he could ship the tires straight there.  He said they would
arrive by Friday (2 days) and I could call them and have them put on there.
It's going to cost me $15/tire for everything, like mounting, balancing,
weights, stems, removing the old tires, etc.  (So not too far off the $50
estimate I got.)

So the total cost was:
(4 tires * $115/tire) + ($15 shipping) + (mounting 4 tires * $15/tire) = $535.

So it cost me almost $134/tire for EVERYTHING.  I think the best in-store
price I could've gotten around here for just the tires would have been about
$140-$150/tire.  Now that doesn't include 7% sales tax and installation!

Even though I mail ordered, I didn't have to load my car up and lug the tires
to a garage to have them installed!!!  So ask the Tire Rack guy if he can
recommend any shops in your area.  It might save you a lot of hassle.
Good luck.

Vel
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vel Natarajan                    Motorola, Inc.
nataraja@rtsg.mot.com            Cellular Infrastructure Group
                                 Arlington Heights, IL