HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rgolen@UMASSD.EDU
Subject: Using Brakes....a Clarification
Reply-To: rgolen@UMASSD.EDU
Organization: UMASS DARTMOUTH, NO. DARTMOUTH, MA.
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 22:16:29 GMT

In my earlier posting, the overall point I was making may
have gotten lost in my discussion about racing. So here's
the short version.

In competition (Showroom Stock, Improved Touring, and even
Pro Rallying, not CART, Formula 1), brakes are used to
the maximum. In these classes, you can't deviate too
much from stock components. But the brakes hold up under
these conditions.

Everyday driving is not that taxing on a car and its 
components, especially brakes. In the US we have 
"Big Brother" looking over our shoulders, attornies
waiting for the "big score". Do you actually think
car manufacturers and or DOT or NHSTA would allow cars
on the road with brakes that are not adequate for
everyday driving?

For 95% of driving, stopping is not that hard on your 
brakes. Why downshift? 

I admit, there are times when either you or your car
have exceeded their abilities, and you need some
help...then downshift. But downshifting everytime
you want to slowdown or stop is unnecessary.

Ric
From: elliey@abbott.mti.sgi.com (Ellie Yacovetta)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.vw
Subject: for sale:'70 Karmann Ghia Convert.
Date: 4 Jan 93 21:17:51 GMT
Reply-To: elliey@abbott.mti.sgi.com (Ellie Yacovetta)
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: abbott.mti.sgi.com

hi...

I have a '70 rebuilt Karmann Ghia convertible to sell...pretty good shape, cherry red, and really cute!

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, if you do too and are interested in knowing more about the car you can 
email me at elliey@mti.sgi.com, and I will be happy to furnish you with specifics.

thanks
From: haskins@mipps.myapc.com (Robert D. Haskins)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.vw
Subject: [W] '90 Passat with gear shifting problems
Summary: '90 Passat does not like to go into reverse
Keywords: Passat, transmission
Date: 7 Jan 93 17:17:47 GMT
Organization: Maine Yankee, Wiscasset, Maine  USA

I have noticed a problem with shifting into reverse, though not all of the time.
The vehicle will be stopped for at least 5 seconds (with my foot on the brake, 
obviously), at which time I attempt to place it into reverse.  I can hear the 
'grind' of the teeth. If I move the car a foot or so forward, and repeat the 
procedure, it shifts fine.

Has anyone else noticed this phenomena?  

Bob Haskins
haskins@mipps.myapc.com
...!uunet!mipps!haskins
Newsgroups: rec.autos.vw
From: dilmore@eastrg2.cray.com (Robert James Dilmore)
Subject: Re: Euro halogens $$$
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 12 Jan 93 10:18:28 CST

In article <1993Jan12.132242.25481@bmerh85.bnr.ca>, seymour@bnr.ca (Jeffrey Seymour) writes:
|> Does antone know of a cheap place to get European halogen bulbs?  I have a Passat that comes with the usual unimpressive lights and have heard the European bulbs are excellent but expensive ($500).  Any suggestions?
|> 



    APS sells the Euro setup. I seem to remember they are about 300$. The assy replaces the 
cornering lights, and the one single light with 2 h4 type lanterns. Be wary of going up too
high with the wattage cause you can fry your wiring. The other option you may want to try
first is to replace the bulbs with non-standard 9004s. They are available in 70/80 and 
70/90 wattages. They provide a much better pattern resolution and they only cost me 19.95
a peice. Have had no wiring fries and if they were irratating from another drivers standpoint
I am SURE I would have gotten a high beam nuke at least once in over 3 months of use. I am
however fanatical about making sure the are well aimed. 

Robert Dilmore
dilmore@cray.com
Newsgroups: rec.autos.vw
From: lagrangj@unvax.union.edu (Tom Petty)
Subject: My brakes are now Godlike!
Organization: Union College, Schenectady, NY
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 16:46:38 GMT

This is about my '63, a beautiful car that had absolutely no breaking power.
Installed a new master-cylinder, one which was the wrong size, but careful
calculation told us it would work.  Rebuilt the rear-wheel cylinders.
Major installation hassle with the master.  Finally, after 9 hours of
installation, we had installed the master and both rear-wheel cylinders.
No fluid came out of the right-rear valve.  We reasoned that the cylinder was
stuck.  At this point my friend and I had the wheel off, I stomped on the brake
pedal, and destroyed the wheel cylinder.  Another rebuild.  Finally got the
cylinder back in and put the wheel on (another hassle) and at 1:30 AM we 
finished bleeding the brakes!  Now the pedal is like a rock.  Thanks to all
who offered advice.
-Josh

-- 
Josh LaGrange                  *                    
lagrangj@unvax.union.edu       *           (cute stuff deleted  
Phone: (518) 370-6908          *
The views that I express are shared by very few responsible people.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.vw
Subject: Re: Vdub bugs
From: emd@ham.almanac.bc.ca
Date: Sat, 09 Jan 93 19:57:44 PST
Distribution: world
Organization: Robert Smits

garrett@Ingres.COM (WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, READ THE INSTRUCTIONS) writes:

> 	I've experienced a few things that I can't explain 
> with my super beetle and maybe someone could explain them.
> 
> 3. I remember seeing old commercials about Vdub bugs that show them floating
>    in water. But mine has 2 inches of water in the floorboards right now
>    when it's raining. It even leaks just when I wash it.
> 
> -Garrett 


Sure, they float. When they're reasonably new, and all the floorboards 
aren't rusted through and the seals still seal, and the doors aren't 
warped, etc. 

Even then, they wouldn't float forever, in spite of what the ads said.


Robert Smits            | Water? I don't need no steenking water!
emd@ham.almanac.bc.ca   |
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jmh@gnu.ai.mit.edu (Jeffrey M. Hoffmeister)
Subject: Re: Geo Prizm vs. Honda Civic
Organization: Free Software Foundation
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1993 12:46:54 GMT

In article <0fIRziK00UzxE37Ylp@andrew.cmu.edu> jr4q+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jason M. Roth) writes:
>This has been mentioned before, but not strongly enough for my tastes:
>check out Saturn! Among other things, since you're looking at 4-doors,
>I'm assuming size is an issue; Saturns are _much_ bigger on the inside
>than Geos or Civics (actually, almost as big as Accords, Honda's "big"
>car), and in every way wonderful. I'm 6'-1", and was comfy in the back
>behind my dad (6'-4") driving (who had no problems fitting). Plus,
>Saturn features many touches not available in this range (even from
>almighty Honda), such as the bags, the paint job, the traction control
>(pretty cheap, although of course requiring auto), etc. And the best
>dealers this side of $30k.
>
>JMR
>HSK
>
>'93 SL2, blue-green.

I have heard nothing but raves for the new Saturns, and I am delighted
that an american car company finally appears to have gotten somthign right.
About the only problem I can see with the new Saturns is the "unclean"
lines on the sedan body.  Unlike the Geo and the Honda, which have very
clean straight lines, Saturn opted for "swoopy curves" that just appear
to cluter the looks of an others wise well designed car.

No flames please. . . just my $.02

Jeff
jmh@gnu.ai.mit.edu

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: ralf@iqsc.COM (Ralf)
Subject: Re: Car dealers
Organization: IQ Software Corp.
Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1993 19:27:06 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.043301.23028@leland.Stanford.EDU> underdog@leland.Stanford.EDU (Dwight Joe) writes:
>In article <1993Jan5.010044.10439@tandem.com> ratan@stationd.storage.tandem.com
>(Ratan Tipirneni) writes:
>>...
>>	We spent about 10-15 minutes test driving the car and then went in to
>>negotiate the price.  The deal should have been very simple because I had 
         Bunch of stuff deleted..........

>>we just got up and were preparing to leave the dealership.  At this point the
>>manager said something very abusive to us and used foul language, which
>>really offended me and my wife.  
>
>>dealership that I am reffering to is Steven's Creek Toyota. The funny thing is
>>that 4 out of 5 friends to whom I narrated this incident to, complained of
>>similar problems with the SAME dealer.  I wonder how they are still in
>>Business?
>
>Because people keep buying bloody Toyotas.  In this past year, every company
>lost auto sales except Toyota.
>
>To a Toyota dealer, customers are a-dime-a-dozen.  If he loses your business,
>then he can always find other customers because Toyotas are so bloody
>popular.
>
>Of course, once you've bought the car, all the dealerships suck.  Service
>sucks--just plain sucks, no matter where you go.

  GUNN Nissan in San Antonio, Texas has always been good, bought two cars
there and the service is exceptional, I took my car in because some ugly noises
were coming from the front end,  they found a loose suspension bolt and
re-torqued the whole front end, and for free (The car is off of warranty        already). Some might say "You don't get something for nothing", thats true,
what they get is my return business! Not all dealers are corrupt, some are
good, the smart ones!

Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
From: norcott_bill@tandem.com (Bill Norcott)
Subject: Re: ++Head Gasket/Cracked Head Help!++
Reply-To: norcott_bill@tandem.com (Bill Norcott)
Organization: Tandem Computers, Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 20:56:20 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.151141.20168@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>, mgarber@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Max D Garber) writes:
|> I have an '83 Pontiac 2000 SE.  On New Year's Eve, it decided to blow the
|> Head Gasket and it might have put a crack in the Head itself.  I am looking
|> for ball-park estimates on what this might cost me to repair.  I am debating
|> either a new engine or a new car.  Would you know what a new engine would
|> cost me?

If it's just the gasket, it costs about $25 plus your time.  Even if
it's a cracked head you don't need a whole new engine.  You can get a
remanufactured head from JC Whitney for $300-400 + shipping and it
is pretty much a bolt-on replacement.
-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------|
Bill Norcott			GUARDIAN POSIX project
Tandem Computers, Inc.		
10600 N. Tantau Avenue		PHONE:  (408) 285-3253
Cupertino, CA   95014		EMAIL: norcott_bill@tandem.com
From: grant@pentagon-gw.army.mil (Pete Grant)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: How About that Ford!
Date: 6 Jan 93 23:48:04 GMT
Organization: U.S. Army Artificial Intelligence Center

The news is out and official:  Ford Taurus is the best selling
car in the United States, beating out Honda Accord that has
held this spot for nearly 10 years now.

Well done, Ford!
From: james@koko.csustan.edu (Jonas Grumpy)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Why is US engine technology so retrograde?
Date: 11 Jan 93 06:50:53 GMT
Organization: CSU Stanislaus

In article <issa.726714821@cwis> issa@cwis.unomaha.edu (Issa El-Hazin) writes:
>
>>>I agree that the tax on the engine size in many countries (a Maserati 
>>>with less than 2.0 litre V6 302bhp!! Italy's tax code penalizes cars 
>>>with engines of greater than 2.0-litre displacement) is a major factor 
>>>that is pushing other car makers to perform.
>
>>Don't get me wrong, but there's more to engines than the displacement
>>vs horsepower debate. Are you comparing exoticars vs. 200,000/year 
>>volume cars? 
>
>I wasn't. Don't put words in my mouth. Exoticars are not the only cars
>that come with great engines (with good hp/liter). 
>
>>A model airplane engine run on nitromethane develops
>>several horses out of a few CC's (not liters!). 
>
>Talking about airplanes, I read Toyota and Honda started to make 
>airplanes so they can use some of that technology in their cars.
>We have to wait and see if anything come out of this.
i
For what its worth to the argument, we already have had an engine
hit our shores, 50 state legal from the manufacturer that put out 170 hp/ltr
The Ferrari F40 was under 2.9 liters and put out over 500hp EPA certified.
If Ferrari decided to build a 2 liter Version it would probably put
out over 350hp 50 state legal. It would not /should not cost 
astronomical amounts of money to build such an engine. When you
buy the F40 your paying alot for the *opportunity* to buy it.
The current best from the Japanese is about 100hp/liter. btw
the F40 put out as much power per unit of disp as the little
model airplane engines running 15% Nitro!!
-- 
C MYSIG  ASIG4U 1RADSIG 2BADSIG SIG U 2     U R SIG   1SIGDOG    ADOTSIG
 				The above advice is not to be taken seriously!
From: gt0299d@prism.gatech.EDU (Curtis N. Sayre)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: reliability of Hyundais?
Date: 6 Jan 93 03:49:53 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

Well, my '90 Corsica was rear-ended and totalled  <<SIGH>> so my wife and I are
currently looking at new cars.  One that caught our eye was a Hyundai
Sonata, '92 vintage.  I figure that I might be able to get a good deal on this
car, especially since the '94s are going to get a facelift.  But I read
somewhere that J.D. Powers & Associates didn't think too highly of Hyundai.
In fact, it was rated dead last.  But I am assuming that that poll included
the entire car line, since it was by manufacturer's names, not car styles.
What I'd like to know from the internet is how are Hyundais?  Does anyone out
there have a Sonata, and if so, what do they think of it?

Just for the record, we're also looking at Dodge Colts/Eagle Summits/Mitsubishi
Mirages, Geo Prizm/Toyota Corrola, Mazada Protoge', and Honda Civics.  I would
also appreciate any rave reviews/horror stories on these cars also, even if it
was just something annoying like the rear defroster kept blowing fuses.

Thanks to any and all who reply,

Curt

-- 
Internet: gt0299d@prism.gatech.edu
"It is in the extremes that our philosophies are tested, and those of us who
are serious do not set aside our ethics merely because in some cases they have
become inconvenient or distasteful." - Piers Anthony
From: jacob@ruccs.rutgers.edu (Jacob Feldman)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Civic Wagon???
Summary: What to buy?
Date: 5 Jan 93 20:02:03 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

Hello,

  I am considering buying a new car to replace my aging Honda
Accord sedan. I would like a small wagon or (less preferably)
hatchback, and had my heart set on the Civic Wagon (sometimes
called the "wagovan"), which a friend of mine calls the "Swiss
Army Knife of cars". 

Now, it turns out the Civic Wagon has been discontinued. It was
rumored to be reintroduced sometime last year but wasn't. So,
two questions:

1. What similar cars should I be considering? (Eg. Corolla Wagon,
Subaru, etc.) I would consider $18k fully equipped my ceiling,
including ABS,AC,automatic transmission.

2. Does anybody know when the Civic Wagon is actually going to
be reintroduced?	


jacob@ruccs.rutgers.edu
Xref: sparky rec.autos:31256 rec.autos.tech:17567
From: khuber@ub.d.umn.edu (Kevin Huber)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Problems with 10W40 oil?
Date: 7 Jan 1993 22:54:57 -0600
Organization: University of Minnesota, Duluth
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: ub.d.umn.edu

I have heard rumors from various sources that the use of 10W40 engine oil
causes (excessive) gumming of engines.  Why would that be?  Are there some
"bad" additives?  Also, I've heard that this problem doesn't exist _anymore_
with 10W40.  Weird...

/--------------------------------------------------------------------------\
| >>>Kevin Huber<<<                                  <khuber@ub.d.umn.edu> |
|                        When politicians die,                             |
|   //\\                 they screw them into the ground.                  |
|  ||     -|- -|-                                                          |
|   \\//                 "You can't have any pudding if you                |
|                         don't eat your meat." - Pink Floyd (The Wall)    |
| (!pascal && !basic)                                                      |
\--------------------------------------------------------------------------/

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: hammen@vpnet.chi.il.us (Robert Hammen)
Subject: LH: Should I or Shouldn't I?
Organization: VGC Corp. - Minneapolis
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 06:17:04 GMT

OK, well I've test driven the Eagle Vision TSi. It seems like a
wonderful car, and it handles very well, particularly for a car as
large as it is (the car is deceptively large). It has all of the
safety features (ABS, Traction Control, Dual Airbags) that I want
and need (I do plenty of winter driving here in Minnesota, not to 
mention Iowa, Nebraska, and the Dakotas). And I really think that
you get a lot of car for the $$$ - a loaded TSi (leather, power
everything) is about $24k.

So what's holding me back from leasing one to replace my current
company car (a 1991 Pontiac Grand Prix SE sedan)? A niggling fear
of Chrysler products. Yes, I know this is a new breed of car. Yet,
I find it hard to trust a company that put out such crap as the
Omni, the Dynasty, and the Spirit (I've not had a lot of luck with
Chrysler rental cars). After all, this is the first year of a
brand new car line.

Maybe I'm better off getting the Grand Prix STE w/3.4l V6. My
current Grand Prix has been utterly reliable and dependable during
its 70,000 mile run. 

In any case,  I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I'd like to hear
from you if you're an LH owner, and if you had to overcome the
same kinds of apprehension that I have.

Thanks,

Robert
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: rjwade@rainbow.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J. Wade)
Subject: Re: pop-up lights
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 14:19:04 GMT

In article <1993Jan6.215344.10264@pony.Ingres.COM> daveb@lotus (Dave Brower, DBMS hack, [510] 748-3418) writes:
>The '62 Lotus Elan had true pop-ups, sucked up by a vacuum reservoir
>built into the chassis.  This is about the same time as the Stingray
>rotating lights.
>
>Can anyone think of an earlier post-war production car with pop ups?
>If not, we might chalk this one up to Colin Chapman's Lotus team.
>
>cheers,
>-dB
>-- 
>Windows/NT - the VMS of the 90s
>
and we all know that VMS=Vms Mostly Sucks(see...it recursively slams itself)


Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: eu507dac@pts.mot.com (DOUG CHRISTENSEN X3915 P6818)
Subject: Re: Any opinions on mini-vans?
Reply-To: eu507dac@pts.mot.com
Organization: Paging and Wireless Data Group
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 19:31:40 GMT

In article 55@aoldev.UUCP, george@aoldev.UUCP (George Browning) writes:
>Due to the impending arrival of my second child I am ready to
>dig into the dull world of mini-vans... (actually my wife is 
>alot readier than I :)  The two that we are leaning towards
>are the Nissan Quest/Mercury Villiager and the Toyota Previa.
>Any opinions that anyone has on these (or other similar vans)
>would be appreciated...
>
>Thanks
>George Browning
>george@aol.com

>
In an effort to reduce flamage, perhaps I can offer some things to look
at when considering a dull mini-van:

1)  Ingress, egress.  How easy is it to get in and out of the back seats.
Does it have back doors on both sides?  Is the back seat close enough to the
to the door to reduce back strain when loading and unloading children.  Do the
back seats recline?  Can a child open or close the door (3 year olds insist on 
this one).
2)  Cargo space.  Is there enough room from the back seat to the rear door.  With
the back set down/removed, is the floor flat enough to load large/bulky items
(bicycles).
3)  Is the nose of the van visible from the front seat or is it always sticking
out farther than expected (ouch!)?
4)  Wind noise.  Test drive it at speed.  Do the sun roof/windows make way too much
noise.  Wind noise does not cancel offspring noise.
5)  Good A/C and heat.  Is the climate control good enough to compensate for all the
windows.
6)  Is it easy to change the oil?  Is the engine accessable.  Does it have enough
power (ARHH, ARHH, ARHH)?
7)  Is it a car (station wagon) or a truck?  Trucks and Vans do not include some
of the safty items required on cars.

BTW, your desision to buy a van on the second child does not fit the 325`th rule
of parenting.  The 325'th rule states that you must purchase a new vehicle with
the addition of an odd number child (1,3,5,7...).  I guess you have a dog too. 
---
Doug Christensen    SCCA SSB Scirocco 16V + 1 dull Nissan Axxess
doug_christensen@pts.mot.com
     _____
   _/_|__|\__
  | _ |61| _ \
 <-(_)----(_)-^       "When I'm racing, I'm alive.  Everthing else
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^    is just waiting."  Steve McQueen, Le Mans.
From: awds_ltd@uhura.cc.rochester.edu (Adam Edwards)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: A couple questions...
Date: 4 Jan 93 20:51:41 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Rochester - Rochester, New York

In <bob1.726165785@cos> bob1@cos.com (Bob Blackshaw) writes:

>In <105947@bu.edu> heiser@acs.bu.edu (William Heiser) writes:

>>In article <C09Fs2.6Co@ns1.nodak.edu> mcelmury@plains.NoDak.edu (Michael McElmury) writes:
>>>1. Has anyone found the 1993 Ford Probe GT high to insure? I am
>>>   Family Insurance wanted to charge me $3,200 per year for full
>>>   coverage. This price would go down to $2,700 when I turn 25...

>>Wow!  Is that in North Dakota?  Do they typically have "very high" 
>>insurance costs?  I would have expected it to be "cheap" there since
>>it's not exactly densly populated :-)

>>If it really costs $2700 to insure the 93 Probe GT *there*, I am afraid
>>to think what it would cost in a place like Massachusetts or California,
>>where even rates on "ordinary" (older) cars are very high.

>Funny, my 89 Probe only costs me just under $600 a year in Maryland. It
>would be cheaper than that, but I drive over 15 miles to work (72 miles
>round trip, about half on the D.C. Beltway). Of course, I'm more than
>a bit over 25, so maybe they think the old silver fox doesn't drive
>fast.




-Must be nice, numerous quotes in Monroe County average around 3000$
for me(20 year-old) and my '88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe.  I had a clean
record until after the quotes were made(until after I got the car :) ).
That was for a 500$ deductable.  My age, sex, and marital status
are all against me, but I think I qualify for experienced driver(5years)
Just for kicks, I had my girlfriend call for rates on my car, then I called
for quotes if I were married.  In her case, rates were cut in half, in my
married case, rates would drop about 40%!



Adam
Newsgroups: rec.autos,alt.american.automobile.breakdown.breakdown.breakdown
From: dinh@kona.cs.ucla.edu (Dinh Le)
Subject: Info on the reliability of the Dodge RAM Series (150, 250, 350)
Keywords: reliability
Organization: UCLA, Computer Science Department
Distribution: usa,ca
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 93 05:14:30 GMT

I am thinking about purchasing a Dodge RAM and would like to know more
about its reliability.  I would appreciate comments from all people who
have had experience with these vans.

Thanks much,

Dinh
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: yyz@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (donald.w.coons)
Subject: BMW M3 info wanted
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 15:58:08 GMT

I am looking at buying either a 1989 or 1990 BMW M3 and was wondering if anyone
knew of major differences between these two model years. I guess I am looking 
for justification for the 3-4,000 dollar difference other than the car being
1 year newer. If anyone knows of any major differences (i.e better brakes,
ABS, traction control, more horsepower, etc.) please send me e-mail. If anyone
knows 0 to 60 times I would appreciate this information also. Please e-mail
any info.

 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------  "Lost in seas of smoke filled dreams, find questions but no answers...."

                     Don Coons    dwc@wnb3b2.att.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech