HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Flashing Headlights
Date: 10 Nov 92 16:49:01 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.BxIEpr.5ot
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana


In article <1992Nov6.202829.12266@ncsu.edu> bcrulifs@eos.ncsu.edu  writes:
>
>	My problem is that many people around either mis-intrepret my meaning
>or I just don't understand what I'm telling them.   Is this practice inherently
>rude?	Or does it purely depend on the perosn driving in front of you.

The latter. There seems to be two distinct tiers of drivers, at least in
the US: there are the enthusiast drivers, those who keep right except to
pass, never tailgate, drive "fast but safe," understand the language of
headlight flashing, etc. Then there are the Homer Melchromes
(unfortunately, Homer and his kin are the vast majority). Homer
Melchrome drives ploddingly and slowly, drives at 55MPH in the left
lane, passes other vehciles with a speed differential of 0.0001 MPH even
if there is a traffic backup a mile long behind him, and wouldn't
understand what your headlight flashes mean even if he were awake to
notice them.

An additional problem is the lack of standardization among the messages.
Ask any two drivers what sequence and duration of flashes to give fo
such things as "slow down, accident ahead!", "your lights are blinding
me, jerk!", "watch out for that cop!", "your headlights are off," "move
your lard butt out of the fast lane, you're blocking traffic," "I am
about to pass you," etc. and you'll always get different answers.

It is for these reasons that the "flash" feature on my car's headlights is
one of those which I use the least.
Organisation: European Space Operation Centre (E.S.O.C)
Date: Friday, 6 Nov 1992 08:19:52 CET
From: <SROWELL@ESOC.BITNET>
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Paying a Reasonable Price for Gas
 <1992Nov4.214147.3848@dg-rtp.dg.com>

In article <1992Nov4.214147.3848@dg-rtp.dg.com>, goudreau@batman.rtp.dg.com (Bob
Goudreau) says:
>>
>> In Germany a pride is taken in protecting the environment and the
>> US should do the same.
>
>Given all this German pride, why was the US the world leader in
>phasing out the use of leaded fuels?  And why does Germany still
>*subsidize* the production and use of coal?
>

a) Phasing Out Leaded Fuels

   Just because the US did it first (because your cities became all
   smogged up one day and somebody noticed!) does not make you a
   world leader I'm afraid. You just had to do it first because you
   had a problem. I'm sure if I said that the Germans were the world
   leader in car design because the car was invented here (which they
   were) I'd get some argument.

   In Germany a potential problem was AVERTED by the use of catalytic
   converters.

b) Subsidisies on Coal

   I'm surprised you picked coal (I thought it was rape oil seed these
   days). Subsidising an industry is an attempt to preserve the indutry
   and to preserve the thousands of jobs that are associated with it. It
   is not an attempt to screw up the US. In the UK, you may remember, the
   government attempted to shut 60% of all coal pits, killing off 30,000
   jobs. It brings it all into perspective doesn't it?

   The US seems paranoid (this'll get me some flack!). If it's not the
   Japanese out to get you, it's the Europeans! The US is quite happy when
   everybody is being nice to them and playing the game their way, but
   as soon as anybody else decides not to, there's all this furore about
   unfair trading and placing huge levies on French imports (I'm sure the
   wine connoisseurs in the US are going to be annoyed!).

Your turn.

Simon
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>Bob Goudreau                    Data General Corporation
>goudreau@dg-rtp.dg.com          62 Alexander Drive
>+1 919 248 6231                 Research Triangle Park, NC  27709, USA
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: maciuca@vehicle.Berkeley.EDU (Dragos Maciuca)
Subject: Re: WIDE turns
Reply-To: maciuca@vehicle.Berkeley.EDU.UUCP (Dragos Maciuca)
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 18:59:59 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.143435.22031@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> paula@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (paula.valley) writes:
>Could someone give me ANY feasible reason as to why someone who does
>not drive a semi need to swerve to the right when making a left turn
>or vice-versa.  It seems lately a lot of people are doing this even
>if the turn they are making is plenty wide enough to avoid swerving.
>That is, besides the fact that MANY people in this area (Metro) are
>totally inept at driving and parking.
>
>Sorry for the harshness.  Just a little aggrevated as a result of the
>drive in.
>
>Paula Borden


Maybe a rally driving techique called "pendulum turn"?   I doubt that that is
necessary at an average intersection in the city.

dragos

Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: jaa@hutcs.cs.hut.fi (Jari Alasuvanto)
Subject: Re: Braking distances.
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 07:47:21 GMT


Elementary physics (not counting the time to react):
		     2	
	umgs = 1/2 mv
		where 
			u is the coefficient for friction (depends on
			the road surface, tires etc. but not on the tire
			size (directly). Typically around 0.3 (dry road,
			good tires)
			m is the weight of the car (but it does NOT
			count as it can be eliminated)       2
			g is the gravitional constant 9.8 m/s
			s is breaking distance in meters.
			v is the velosity of the car in m/s
		yields 
	      2
	s = v/(2ug)

	So that breaking distance is dependent on the square of the
	speed and the friction between tires only.  So that if you are
	going 100 km/h (about 60 mph), the breaking distance is about
	131 m ( about 430 ft).  The distance for other speed is easy to
	calculate.  For instance 30 mph yields a little over 100 feet
	etc. 


--
Jari Alasuvanto		 ! Mail: jaa@hutcs.hut.fi ! Otakaari 1 A
Lab. of Info Proc. Sci   ! Tel: +358-0-451 3245   ! 02150 Espoo
Helsinki Univ. of Techn  ! Fax: +358-0-451 3293   ! Finland
From: tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: OK to drive 5 miles without coolant?
Date: 10 Nov 92 16:49:15 GMT
Article-I.D.: news.BxIEq4.5pw
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana


In article <1992Nov9.175640.17551@cbfsb.cb.att.com> ashaw@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (andrew.shaw) writes:
>This is a (technical) driving question, so I'll ask it here.  Sorry if
>it annoys, but I don't read the other.
>
>My wife's 4-cyl Hyundai Excel (no more jokes, please) developed a
>coolant leak in the passenger compartment.  The seal around the
>piston that goes up and down to control the coolant flow behind
>the dash (heater valve?) presumably no longer seals.  To keep this
>from flooding the interior, I drained the radiator.  Now I want
>to take it to be fixed.  Can I drive ~5 miles to the shop without
>coolant (ambient temp about 45F), or do I have to refill the radiator,
>drive it with a pan to catch the drips, and then drain it again?

I once had a coolant hose blow out while driving (please, no maintenance
flames ;-). I was only about 1/2 mile from work when it happened, so I
tried to keep going and get the car into the parking lot there rather
than leave it parked on a busy street blocking traffic. As you might
have guessed, I didn't make it - after a couple blocks I could feel the
engine starting to sieze up, so I pulled it over and parked it. There's
no way I could have driven that car 5 miles with no coolant.

>Alternatively, can I disconnect the hoses into the interior, or will
>all the coolant boil out of the hose ends if I do so?

Why not pull off both heater hoses, put a fitting between the two hose
ends, and clamp the two ends together in a butt joint, thereby bypassing
the heater core? All you'd need would be a hose coupler of the
appropriate diameter.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: Kirk.Smith@launchpad.unc.edu (Kirk Smith)
Subject: Re: ABS vs RADAR
Organization: University of North Carolina Extended Bulletin Board Service
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 21:43:30 GMT

In article <b_+qysb@dixie.com> jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) writes:
>Kirk.Smith@launchpad.unc.edu (Kirk Smith) writes:
>
>>Does anyone have the exact frequencies that the various radar (ie: K, X,
>>and Ka) bands operate in?
>
>>I'm noticing false signals from STLs (radio studio-to-transmitter links)
>>pr{tty regularly.
>
>
>Radar oscillators are free running so the frequencies are approximate.
>X band is nominally 10.520 ghz.  K band is nominally 24.1 ghz.  Ka can
>be all over several ghz.  
>
>John
>-- 
>John De Armond, WD4OQC               |Interested in high performance mobility?  
>Performance Engineering Magazine (TM) |
>Marietta, Ga                         |Interested in high tech and computers? 
>jgd@dixie.com                        |Write me about PE Magazine
>Need Usenet public Access in Atlanta?  Write Me for info on Dixie.com.

Hummm...must be a harmonic then, as the STLs in question are around 950MHz.
Thanks for the info!

-ks

--
   The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the University of
     North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Campus Office for Information
        Technology, or the Experimental Bulletin Board Service.
           internet:  laUNChpad.unc.edu or 152.2.22.80
From: hasch@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Veljko Roskar)
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: ***Police intimidation ???
Date: 13 Nov 92 03:12:32 GMT
Reply-To: roskar@kavazi.uucp.jhu.edu (Veljko Roskar)
Organization: Acme Money Launderers, Inc.

->>In article <1992Nov11.033647.1875@unixland.natick.ma.us> bill@unixland.natick.ma.us (Bill Heiser) writes:
->>->
->>->'points'?  "disobeying a police officer" is a TRAFFIC offense?
->>->
I just ckecked today with the court. Thay apprarently consider it a traffic    
offense and give 1 (point) on your record.

This is for Maryland, please mind.
Newsgroups: rec.autos.driving
From: ashaw@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (andrew.shaw)
Subject: Re: Quick Poll
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:56:37 GMT

kenny@osf.org (Kenneth Crudup) writes:
>Quick poll- how many of you out there turn off *everything* in your car
>(radio, heater fan, etc.) before you shut the engine off?
>
>More importantly, why?
>

None of this may actually make sense, but:
1.	I turn off A/C, not wanting to turn compressor by battery on starting.
2.	Also, I turn off windshield wipers so as not to stretch the spring.
Fans, radio, and so on, are usually on low before I park to enable me
to better hear any scraping noises or screams that might ensue :->
From: c23st@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com (Spiros Triantafyllopoulos)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Japanese "inspections" (was Re: GM's sickness)
Date: 5 Nov 92 13:12:45 GMT
Organization: Delco Electronics Corp.

In article <5649@sumax.seattleu.edu> smorris@sumax.seattleu.edu (Steven A. Morris) writes:
>Now, there are specifications in Japan...but let's be realistic, the
>US has some of the toughest safety, emissions, cafe, luxury tax,
>import duties, etc. in the world.  To sell in the USA, you have to
>meet Federal smog requirments, and a separate requirement for one
>state (California.)  If TOYOTA had just complained about it ("it's too
>tough, they're unfair) they wouldn't be selling here.  

Minor detail.

The US does *not* inspect each and every Corolla that rolls from the ship
(or wherever). They certify ONE and the certification is good for all
cars of the type.( I believe this was one of the reasons the Nissan 
Altima/Stanza (?) kept both names). This is called Homologation. Hence,
we accept the manufacturers' word for the fact that it meets requiremens.

Second, the US standards are *far* stricter than Japanese standards in
pollution and safety measures. So if a car (ANY car) can be certified in
the US it is very likely it can meet anyone else's standards.

Unfortunately, (up until recently at least), Japanese insisted on inspecting
INDIVIDUAL cars. Winning this 'concession' was hailed as a major achievment
of last year's presidential trip.

Spiros (own opinions, of course :-))
-- 
Spiros Triantafyllopoulos                    c23st@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com
Software Technology, Delco Electronics       striantafyll@kosds1.gm.hac.com
GM Hughes Electronics, Kokomo, IN 46904      [A Different Kind of Disclaimer]
From: lmcstst@noah.ericsson.se (Stamos Stamos)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: importing cars
Date: 5 Nov 92 16:13:39 GMT
Organization: Ericsson Communications Inc. Montreal, Canada
X-Disclaimer: This article was posted by a user at Ericsson.
              Any opinions expressed are strictly those of the
              user and not necessarily those of Ericsson.

>
>Just a little tip - don't buy it in Britain - order it in Belgium - they're
>much cheaper (pre-tax). I think the danish prices are also v. cheap - or at 
>least they were for a BMW 318i a few years when I saw a comparison of prices 
>for different countries in Europe.
>
>kevinh@hasler.ascom.ch




There is a company "ShipSide" that deals in tax free cars/bikes.
They have offices in Belgium,Netherlans and the US.
The have a comprehensive service: US/Canadian/Euro specs, RHD..etc
They ship world wide.

To get a free catalog call

SHIPSIDE Tax Free Cars & Trading Corp.
600 B, Lake Street, Suite A
Ramsey, New Jersey 07446 USA
(201)818-0400 fax(201)8181525

Shipside Tax Free Cars Brussels NV
Boulevard Leopold II 184, Bus 15
1080 Brussels,Belgum
(02)6499062











--
Stamos <lmcstst@noah.ericsson.se>            ZZR11            Ellas
Ericsson, Cellular Design
Montreal, Canada.
From: shantanu@poseidon.oakhill.uucp (Shantanu Ganguly)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Mazda Protege: Problem with engaging 1st and rev. gear.
Date: 7 Nov 92 01:21:13 GMT
Article-I.D.: poseidon.SHANTANU.92Nov6172113
	<1992Nov5.221005.15533@leland.Stanford.EDU>
Organization: SPS CAD, Motorola Inc., Austin, Texas.

In article <1992Nov5.221005.15533@leland.Stanford.EDU> tedebear@leland.Stanford.EDU (Theodore Chen) writes:


   i also have occasional difficulty in engaging 1st and reverse in
   my integra.  i just shove it into one of the forward gears
   and then it goes into 1st/reverse easily when i try again (without
   releasing the clutch).  the idea is to use the greater mechanical
   advantage of higher gear synchros to slow down the shafts spinning
   inside your transmission.  i always select a forward gear before going
   to reverse since my car doesn't have synchros in reverse gear.
   if you occasionally get grinding noises when you go to reverse, try this.
   -teddy

If the shifter refuses to go into first or reverse, put it in neutral,
and lift the clutch. Then press the clutch again, and you will
be able to shift much more easily. 
--

Shantanu Ganguly
Somerset (Motorola) - Power PC Project

phone : (512) 795-7146                  Motorola Inc, Mail Drop OE 513
fax   : (512) 795-7511                  6501 William Cannon Drive W.
                                        Austin TX 78735-8598
email : shantanu%ibmoto.com@oakhill.sps.mot.com
From: sgupta@pint.ecn.purdue.edu (Sameer Gupta)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Italian Car Mailing list ??
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:00:02 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

How does one sign up for the italian car mailing list.  I sent a request to
the address in the FAQ last week, but have not received any mail yet.

address in FAQ - italian-cars-request@cabot.balltown.cam.com

If this address is incorrect, please send me the correct address.

Thanks,

Sameer Gupta
sgupta@ecn
From: rvkl60@aus18a25.sps.mot.com (Tom Mathes)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Survey impartiality
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:51:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: oakhill.1992Nov9.215144.11675
Distribution: usa
Organization: Motorola Inc, Austin, Texas

In article <1992Nov7.173420.12952@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> jnielsen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John F Nielsen) writes:
>
>If you think the results of the questionaire in CU are baised against
>Americans and for Japanese because we are essenitally told by society
>how to think about our car then:
>
>john
>
>-- 
>-------------------------------------------------------------------
>John Nielsen   MAGNUS Consultant            ______   ______   __  __	
>"I can't compete with you physically,      /\  __ \ /\  ___\ /\ \/\ \
>and you're no match for my brains."   	   \ \ \/\ \\ \___  \\ \ \_\ \


I have a really good example of CU's bias.  Look at "badge" engineered
cars, such as the Ford Explorer/Mazda Navajo, or the Mistubishi
Eclipse/Chrysler Laser.  The Japanese car will get a better reliability
rating than the American counterpart, *even though both cars are
identical*.  That cut it for me that CU is biased towards Japanese
cars.

Tom
From: nbucknor@rpwmadhu.gmr.com (Norman Bucknor)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Geo Prizm; where is the engine made
Date: 10 Nov 92 19:34:23 GMT
Organization: GM Research Labs, Warren, MI

In article <BxI5Jw.362.2@cs.cmu.edu> murthy+@EDRC.CMU.EDU (Sesh Murthy) writes:
>I am considering buying a 1993 Geo Prizm.  
>Could someone tell me 
>a. Where is the engine made.

It's a Toyota engine. Probably made in Japan (previous models were).

>b. What percentage american parts does it have.  How does this 
>compare to a Honda for example.

Don't know. As you're probably aware, there's been a big flap about U.S.
content and how much of what part should be counted as 'U.S.' If you go
by Honda's accounting,(with some or all of the engine made in the U.S.), 
it probably has more domestic content than the Prizm when you take the 
engine into account.

>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.

Don't know the gov't figures on crash tests. The Prizm
doesn't have a moving seatbelt. It's the fixed door-mounted shoulder/lap-belt
combo. I think this may still be true even though the car has an airbag
now. ABS is an option.

>
>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.

If you want the Prizm, buy it! Don't worry about how much domestic
content it has, GM will still get some of the profit from the sale :).
The last thing U.S. auto manufacturers need is people posting tales
of woe to this or any other forum on how they wanted to be patriotic 
but got screwed instead.

>
>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.

Great! As long as you're happy with it, who cares what the other
guys think.

>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)

Norman Bucknor

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: rajiv@hilltop.mitre.org (Rajiv Kohli)
Subject: What do you do when Mitsubishi's Customer Relations says "F*** O**"
Keywords: Diamante
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, Bedford, MA
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 21:26:03 GMT

I have had a Diamante 92 for the past 10 months. Since day 1 it has
had a rattle from the stereo and from within the console.

Mitsubishi Regional Manager authorized 5 different stereo sets to
replacements over the 10 month period. The rattle is still there
and is now probably worse.

So I report it to his Boss and the VP of Mitsubishi Motors of
America in CA office. The VP office refers it back to NJ. So there is
another day scheduled to check it out. I take another person
along with me so we can make sure there this time the regional
manager doesn't say again that it is the "shock absorber". This
person has such an attitude that he thinks that customers are the
stupidous people around and one can throw anything at them.
Right in front of everybody he says, "Yes, there is a rattle and
I am going to get in touch with my engineers and get back to you"
Infact, he replaces 3 buttons on the stereo that were rattling
too

The next day, today, his boss calls back and says that in our
Regional Managers expert opinion there is no rattle and hence
this case is closed.

Conversation:	[Not exact]
Boss of Regional Manager:	Mr. Kohli we don't think there is
				anymore rattle
Me:	But there still is, I have people who will testify to that
Boss:	But our Regional Manager is an expert on this and he
	doesn't think there is any
Me:	So you are saying that he is right and the
	customer is wrong
Boss:	No, I am saying that he has concluded that there is
	nomore problem
Me:	Why don't you come and be a judge
Boss:	I wish I had the time
Me:	What is your Boss's name?
Boss:	I am the authority
Me:	But your Regional Manager is lying or is not qualified
Boss:	If he was not he wouldn't be working for us
...
..

What do I do? I have sent a letter to Japan by Fed Express and it
has probably reached them today.
From: 01ksdavis@leo.bsuvc.bsu.edu (Rebel without a clue.)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Profits to Japan?-answer to age old dillemma
Date: 6 Nov 92 19:21:07 GMT
Organization: The Corporation.


	This is only my opinion of the infamous "Profits go to Japan" line.  I
have recognized this as the ever-popular "Be American, Buy American or DIE!!!"
controversy.  The guy who got laid off from "Generous Motors" likes to place
the blame on th executive who bought a Japanese label car, even if it was made
in Ohio.  The guy who got laid off counters with the fact that the profits are
going to Japan.
	The guy who bought the Japanese car counters with the fact that he
"thinks he would buy a Generous Motors car if they built them reliable enough."

	The culprit that nobody has ever failed to mention even once for this
problem (the trade deficit with Japan) is the one that is hiding underneath
everybody's noses-Generous Motors themselves.

	Why, do you ask?  Let me tell you of a few "American" cars.  The Chevy
Nova-from the eighties, the Chevy Spectrum, same decade.  These cars all have
an "American" label.  Yet, open up the hood, and take a gander at some of the
writing on the parts!  That isn't American!  Shoot, it ain't even Apache,
Sioux, or other true American languages either.  

	These cars were not made here.  GM sells them to us as "American" cars. 
This is where I have a problem with it.  GM should practice what they freaking
preach.  I mean, really.  The people who drive around in these cars don't have
to worry about prejudice on the streets or in the parking lots because of the
label, while their car happens to be every bit as foreign as my car is.  (An
old VW, the reason why I have it is because I was looking for an air-cooled
station wagon.  Sure, Corvair made a station wagon, but I know one guy who owns
one and he wouldn't part with it for a million dollars.)

	So, these cars get off scot-free while my car has been keyed, defaced,
and even threatened on the road by other drivers.

	The only reason why GM is in trouble is because they (as a corporation)
couldn't cut good management decisions.)  I have nothing against the cars that
GM actually builds.  I like the Saturn.  I like the Corvette.  Right now I can
afford neither one, though.

	Just my $.02 
-- 

 ______________________________________________________________________________
|Kyle S. Davis	     
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jjn@cbjjn.cb.att.com (Jeff Nappi)
Subject: Re: Rotary vs. Piston Engines
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 14:31:16 GMT

In article <antkasx.721417575@gsusgi1.gsu.edu>, antkasx@gsusgi2.gsu.edu (Ken A. Sturrock) writes:
|> 
|> as well as quieting down the noise. one of the problems with the original
                                ^^^^^^
Obviously you you have never heard one of the racing RX7 at full song, there
is not a sweeter sound. Kind of a cross between a 12 cylinder Jaguar and a
banshee at full scream.-)
-- 
Jeff Nappi
Columbus Bell Labs
jjn@cbjjn.att.com