HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: carl@Cayman.COM (Carl Heinzl)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Objectivity of Motorweek (...I like Driver's Seat)
Date: 8 Apr 92 19:43:42 GMT
Organization: Cayman Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: howp@skyfox.usask.ca's message of 7 Apr 92 22:04:43 GMT
bcc: carl


>>Ah, yes.  I believe the show is "Driver's Seat."  I don't like this one
>>as nearly as much as MotorWeek (and I do believe it's from
>>Canada...american-like, but strange pronounciation of words like
>>"Mazda").  There's an Australian-sounding guy on it, right?

>Yes, that's the show with Ted Large-Turning-Radius and Baloney Whitney :).
>Ted Laturnus (sp?) is the fat, bald guy and Tony Whitney is the stuffy, tall

What these two guy lack in knowledge they make up for with their
totally unobjective viewpoints (heavy sarcasm for those so impaired).

I often find it amazing how they fit so well into some of the smaller
cars they test yet complain about room in some of the larger ones
(that DO have larger interior dimensions and more real room inside).

-Carl-
--
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: klee@wsl.dec.com (Ken Lee)
Subject: Re: Car Wax Recommendations
Reply-To: klee@wsl.dec.com
Organization: DEC Western Software Laboratory
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 92 18:22:48 GMT

A year or so ago, Consumer Reports studied popular car waxes.  They concluded
that Nu Finish lasted the longest, but that Meguire's was the least
abraisive.  Minimizing abraisiveness is especially important with the clear
coat finishes found on most new cars.

By the way, Consumer's Digest studied some of those waxes advertised on TV
(Liquid Lustre, Auri).  They found these to be extremely abraisive, but no
more protective than the popular brands.

-- 
Ken Lee
DEC Western Software Laboratory, Palo Alto, Calif.
Internet: klee@wsl.dec.com
uucp: uunet!decwrl!klee
From: carl@Cayman.COM (Carl Heinzl)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: CRX [was: Re: Future Honda Accords]
Date: 9 Apr 92 15:24:57 GMT
	<1992Apr8.194630.23989@eff.org>
Organization: Cayman Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: peterco@eff.org's message of 8 Apr 92 19:46:30 GMT
bcc: carl


>On a related note, an AutoWeek editorial recently wondered whether or not
>one Toyota designer was doing the body design for all Japanese
>manufacturers...after seeing the Pontiac Bonneville SSEi, I've got to
>wonder if that designer hasn't been hired by GM, too...

As someone once replied to a posting of mind.  When you put cars in a
wind tunnel and try to reduce the drag, bodies BEGIN to look more and
more similar.  Don't you wonder why *most* airplanes LOOK strikingly
similar?

-Carl-
--
From: sontakke@helix.enet.dec.com (Vikas Sontakke)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.vw
Subject: Re: Experience purchasing 1992 VW GTI 16v (long)
Date: 6 Apr 92 15:12:41 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <Apr06.063846.13588@engr.washington.edu>, eliot@lanmola.engr.washington.edu (Brutus Thornapple) writes...
>In article <1992Apr5.232338.25432@rdr.com> randy%rdr.com@uu.psi.com (Randy Tidd) writes:
> 
>>Also the coolant idiot  
>>light flickerd once or twice (4-5 seconds) when the car was started cold.   

You missed the part where the dealer replaced the head gasket!  That's MAJOR
repair on a brand new car.

Either the dealer is extremely incompetent or very dishonest.  Something tells
me that the dealer just charged VW the cost of new head gasket.

I am really surprised that VW would authorize such a repair unless they knew
that particular model had a history of head gasket failures.  I know VW is
pretty generous when it comes to doing engine rebuilds, such as to fix the
dreaded piston slap.

(I disconnected the coolant light sensor after it stopped turning itself off.
 Typical Ford solid state sensor behaviour :-)

Vikas Sontakke		Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard MA.
Internet:		sontakke@helix.enet.dec.com
    uucp:		{decvax,ucbvax,allegra}!decwrl!helix.enet!sontakke
			sontakke%helix.enet@decwrl.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: ganapath@tahoe.qualcomm.com (Chinnappa Ganapathy)
Subject: Re: Where did these teardrop headlights come from? (was Re: CRX )
Organization: Qualcomm, Inc., San Diego, CA
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 23:21:26 GMT

In article <rt045INNcsr@agate.berkeley.edu> neff@diva.Berkeley.EDU (Robert Neff) writes:
>These teardrop shaped, bulging headlight style, with a low hood 
                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>in between.  Where did it really come from?  It is on all the new 
 ^^^^^^^^^^
>Mazdas (MX3 especially), though I have not noticed it as much 
>on the Lexus.  I thought it was first on the Viper prototypes, 
>and then on the Mazdas, and now Hondas?  Is that the right 
>order of appearance?
>-- Robert

Long live the Porshe 911

-- 
Chinnappa Ganapathy    |      People who claim they don't let little
ganapath@qualcomm.com  |      things bother them have never slept
QUALCO/\/\/\/\         |      in a room with a single mosquito.
From: cm@cci632.cci.com (Carl Mercer)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Need info on 4x4's
Keywords: Winter car
Date: 16 Apr 92 13:32:09 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Computer Consoles Incorporated




I need to buy a winter car.  I want to get a 4x4 since the truck I just
sold was Toyota 4x4.  I also don't want to spend much more than $3000.

I've been looking at old Toyota's, chevy's(S10, S15, Jimmy, Blazer), 
Ford's, (Bronco II, Ranger), and Jeeps (CJ7).  To get into the price
range I'm looking for I have to look at 1985 thru 1982 trucks.

I've noticed that a large number of S10/Blazer trucks in the paper from
those years have new or rebuilt engines.  Is the expected life of a 2.8L
engine 8 years?  Should I avoid those trucks?

I'm really interested in a Jeep CJ7. I don't know anything about these
4x4's, I'd like any information anyone has on these.

Other than the rust problems on old Toyots's, is there any other problems
with them?  What engine is good/bad?

I know nothing about the Ford's either.  

Basicly I'm just looking to find out anything about these trucks.  If you
have any stories please Email me.


                                    Thanks
				    Carl Mercer
			            cm@cci.com
From: carl@Cayman.COM (Carl Heinzl)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: 300ZX vs SVX
Date: 6 Apr 92 18:01:41 GMT
	<1992Apr4.020546.16994@nas.nasa.gov>
Organization: Cayman Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: dwallach@wilbur.nas.nasa.gov's message of 4 Apr 92 02:05:46 GMT
bcc: carl


>Generally speaking, both cars seem comparable.  You should go and
>test-drive both.  The Subaru marketing pitch seems to emphasize the
>SVX being generally more pleasant (having a usable back seat -- the
>300ZX 2+2, and its predecessors are usable only by children, or for
>short distances).

I don't know what SVX back seat YOU were sitting in, but the only
adults that would be comfortable in that seat would be midgets (no
offense meant to any midgets reading this group).  You have to be a
contortionist to get into the back seat of ANY car like this including
the Stealth, 300ZX, SVX.  Useable is NOT a word that would come to
mind when describing the SVX's rear seat...

-Carl-
--
From: "tom neumann" <tom.neumann@canrem.com>
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: engine braking - what
Date: 17 Apr 92 01:57:36 EST
Reply-To: "tom neumann" <tom.neumann@canrem.com>
Distribution: rec
Organization: Canada Remote Systems


in: Message-ID: <5337#nosc.NOSC.MIL>
    koziarz@halibut.nosc.mil (Walter A. Koziarz) writes:

WA>ah, but you make the same error that *everyone* else in this discussion, except
WA>the Diesel-drivers make...  while it is true that a fair amount of work is
WA>performed in *compressing* the the cylinder contents, *any* downward travel of
WA>that cylinder's piston will return virtually *all* of the work (to a first
WA>approximation) -- EVEN WITHOUT ANY FUEL BEING BURNED, hence the only
WA>restriction is internal friction in the engine in a Diesel and the attempt to
WA>pump air past a closed throttle plus internal friction in a gasoline engine...

Out of curiousity: how much loss of that compressed air occurs as a
result of blow-by into the crankcase? How much thermal loss occurs in
the transfer of heat to the cylinder and cylinder head?

Could either of the above be a factor in engine braking?

WA>'passenger-car' case...  I tend to agree with Alan Hepburn that VW and Mercedes
WA>do *something else* to instill an artificial sensation of engine braking in
WA>their Diesels because there is no physical mechanism that accounts for this in
WA>normal Diesel operation...  a Diesel freewheels, period...

I don't know about Mercedes, but I cannot think of ANYTHING in a
Volkswagen diesel engine that could account for any artificial
sensation of engine braking. (I'm sure that the vacuum pump wouldn't
account for it, especially since some of the early Rabbit diesels
without assisted brakes didn't have it, and THEY sure slowed down
when you lifted off of the accelerator pedal.)

Tom Neumann
---
  DeLuxe 1.21 #350  I sell Volkswagens.
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario/Detroit, MI
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
From: neilw@informix.com (Neil Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Using the horn
Date: 16 Apr 92 00:49:23 GMT
Organization: Informix Software, Inc.

In article <1992Apr7.231849.6667@koko.csustan.edu> james@koko.csustan.edu (Jonas Grumpy) writes:
>In article <9204071012.aa02239@Bonnie.ics.uci.edu> davida@Bonnie.ICS.UCI.EDU (David Andersen (Yo! that's an E---not an O!) ) writes:
>Lines: 22
>
>>
>>In article <rqa6jINNks6@sixgun.East.Sun.COM> mike@gilligan.Sun.COM (Mike Roncadori - Information Resources) writes:
>>>
>>>Here in the New York Virginia (Northern Virginia) area,
>>>I have noticed that a person at the head of a line of cars
>>>can sit at a red light for 5 or more seconds, after it has
>>>changed to green. During this time, nobody will give so much
>>>as a toot of the horn, and politely ask that he/she move along.
>>
>>Laying on the horn, "honnnnk" or "hooonnnnnnnk hoonnnnnnnk" is considered
>>rude and aggressive.  It shows that you are in a bigger rush than the
>>rest of us nice, honest people.  You wish to put your desire for an extra
>
>   I found another way of getting someones attention is to rev your engine
>out to around 5000 rpm. This works especially well if your driving an old 
>Alfa Romeo or a harley davidson. Never try this with an automatic though.

I do this when I come up behind pedestrians in parking lots that
are walking down the middle of the lane.  Not up to 5k, I just rev
it up to 3k or so to get their attention.  Fun to watch them jump,
if I've crawled up pretty close behind them and they haven't noticed
me.  I guess revving the engine is slightly more polite than the
horn in this case, as the horn would probably cause a heart-attack :-)

--Neil
From: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: 1991 Lincoln Continental.
Date: 8 Apr 92 01:12:12 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

In article <1992Apr6.144834.21460@neocad.com> thomas@neocad.com (Thomas Weis) writes:
>
>While we're at it, lets start putting right hand drive on agricultural 
>products too.  
>
     Would that be "oooom" instead of "moo"?
From: koziarz@halibut.nosc.mil (Walter A. Koziarz)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Engine Braking - what causes it?
Date: 10 Apr 92 13:37:22 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego

In article <9389@vice.ICO.TEK.COM> philw@vice.ICO.TEK.COM (Philip White) writes:


>Isn't that Cummins a TURBO-diesel?  I would expect the compression ratio
>of the cylinder-piston-valve-rod-crank system to be lower than for a
>non-turbo diesel.  In other words, if your Cummins' turbo was removed
>it's compression ratio would be what, 11:1?  15:1?  Therefore any braking

actually, it's alledged to be 17.5:1...

>obtained from compression (and heating) of air would be less than with
>a same-size diesel of 23:1 compression ratio.  The turbo will not be
>doing much under engine braking.
 
agreed, other than providing a minimal exhaust back-pressure...

>All I have experienced is engine braking in gas engines, turbo and
>non-turbo.  Non-turbo have more braking, due to higher compression
>ratio I think.  No doubt there is some power dissappated across a
>gas engine's throttle, but I think (not based on actual calculations)
>that the compression takes more power than the throttling.

>Also, different diesels might have different valve timings, which
>would give different amounts of compression braking.  (Eg. Cummins
>turbo vs. VW car diesels.)

very distinct possibility...

>If the turbo diesels do have less compression braking than the 
>non-turbos, that might explain the installation of "Jake" brakes
>(also known as "compression" or "exhaust" brakes) on large
>truck tractors.
 
minor nit -- a 'Jacobs Engine Brake' (which *should* be the complete name for
'Jake-Brake') doesn't install in the exhaust system at all it installs in the
exhaust-valve train.  Compression brakes (Blue Ox is one vendor) do function as
you mention and *are* often called 'Jake-Brake'...

>Usually you're right on the money Walt, but I'm not sure I agree
>on this one.

Thanks for the 'vote-of-confidence'...  I, too, was beginning to have second
thoughts until Alan Hepburn echoed my assertion...  He, as most recall, drives
a Ford with Navistar V8 non-turbocharged Diesel.  The owner/operators of
tractor-trailers I cited all have turbocharged engines, as well....  Alan is,
therefore, a 'referee' in the discussion... 7.3 liter, V8, non-turbo and still
insignificant engine braking...

Walt K.
From: csilva@maestro.mitre.org
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: 76 Cadillac FOR SALE...MINT
Date: 16 Apr 92 13:06:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: linus.1992Apr16.130647.10755
Reply-To: csilva@maestro.mitre.org
Organization: The MITRE Corporation, McLean, Va

*****************
Cadillac FOR SALE
*****************

Year:  1976
Model:	Coupe DeVille
Miles: 	19,000
One Owner
All Original
A/C
P/B
P/W
AM/FM
Leather
Color:	Cream

CALL:	301-942-8555

*****************************
PRICE:	$9,000.....Make offer
*****************************

This Car is mint.  It has always been garaged and looks like new.  The body is perfect and so is the engine.  It is not a daily driver as you can see by the original miles.  It is very CLEAN!!!!!!

CALL TODAY!
Xref: sparky rec.autos:11044 rec.autos.driving:2265
From: rinehart@aramis.rutgers.edu (Mark J. Rinehart)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: Parking diagonally on an incline?
Date: 9 Apr 92 18:37:44 GMT
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

In article <1992Apr9.162519.16619@eff.org> peterco@eff.org (Peter A. Cohen) writes:

> Please help settle an argument between two friends:  what's the best way
> to park diagonally on an incline?
> In other words, you are driving up a steep grade, and there are parking
> spaces set diagonally on your side of the road:
> |             /|
> |            / | <--- Here's the parking space (there _is_ a curb)
> |             /|
> |            / |
> |              |
> |      +-+     |
> |      |^| <------Here's your car
> |      +-+     |
> How do you park?  Specifically, which direction should you turn the
> wheels, and should you leave your car in gear (if it's a stick)?
> - Peter


Given this diagram, going uphill, I would park the car headon in the
space, leaving the front wheels turned to the left - although I don't
know if it really matters which direction the wheels are turned, as
long as they are not left straight. In any case, I always leave a
stick shift car in 1st gear or reverse, no matter where I'm parked. If
it's an automatic, I'd leave it in Park, with the emergency brake on,
on a hill - I generally don't use the emergency brake in a car with
automatic, except on hills.  




Mark







n
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: kenny@world.std.com (Kenneth R Crudup)
Subject: Re: Engine Braking - what causes it?
Organization: Software Tool&Die, (Boston), MA
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1992 16:32:13 GMT

For those who say that diesels freewheel- were you driving a slushbox or a
stick? Shushboxes freewheel easily. I have heard that if a diesel suddenly
dies, esp. on slippery pavement, that the sudden engine braking can cause
the driver to lose control.

-- 
Kenny Crudup, Unix Systems Consultant	kenny@world.std.com
16 Plainfield St. Jamaica Plain, (Boston), MA 02130-3633
Home +1 617 524 5929 	Home Fax +1 617 983 9410
							Lick Bush in '92!
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: chilton@crc.ricoh.com (Jeff Chilton)
Subject: Re: Are all Americans Stupid???
Organization: RICOH California Research Center
Date: Wed, 15 Apr 92 21:07:29 GMT

kerrat@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk (Adrian T Kerr) writes:
> Well where do I start?
> 
> Perhaps the title is a bit abusive but from the articles I have read here and elsewhere I have not seen anything to suggest the average American has an IQ higher than your average chimp!
>  
> Where are the statistics that say 55mph is the safest maximum speed a four wheeled vehicle can travel at? In Britain the maximum allowable speed on motorways is 70mph and this is woefully slow! In Germany there is a recommended speed limit of 80mph but if the conditions permit then it is lawful to travel at any speed your vihicle is capable of. In a recent article in a European motoring magazine a Lambourghini Diamblo was driven legally at 204mph on a German autobhan.To be honest I don't need to be able 


to
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  drive at 200mph but it is reasonably safe then why not? A limit of 90mph however would seem a very acceptable limit for modern European cars ( not bloody automobiles as stupid Americans splutter on about ) capable of cruising at 100mph very safely ( I have personal experience of this since on most journeys on British motorways I travel above 80mph in as much safety as the other road user's ).
> 
> Surely my sense of homour has momentarily disappeared but I am sure someone in one of the auto news groups was disscussing how to put her lipstick on whilst riding her motorbike! 
> 
> Other articles relating to engine braking and such nonsense are plain ridiculous. If you remove your foot from the accelerator then believe it or not you will go slower!
> 
> I would have continued this assualt on you national pride but I have to go for some coffee now.Keep up your good work it gives us a great laugh!    
> .
From: romeu@acsu.buffalo.edu (Jorgeluis Romeu)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: American engines oversized,underpowered ?
Date: 16 Apr 92 15:43:24 GMT
Organization: UB

In article <1992Apr16.125337.3943@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk> kerrat@dcs.glasgow.ac.uk (Adrian T Kerr) writes:
>In Britain it is widely believed that American's drive oversized cars with
>ridiculously huge engines. Since I know that recently the Honda accord (perhaps
>known as something different in America) was the number 1 selling American
>car ,and Japanese cars are becomeing more popular in America , are engine sizes
>of typical family saloons getting smaller?

on the contrary, cars are generally getting bigger.
>
>I own a Fiat Tipo with a 1.4 litre engine. This is reasonably powered for
>everyday driving (I've managed an indicated 120mph on a journey to Edinburgh).
some cars here with a 5 liter (litre) engine cannot go that fast.
(station wagons, linconlns, etc.)

>It is also one of the roomiest cars I've ever travelled in ,able to seat 5 in
>comfort. The interior decor is nothing to speak of but is pleasant.
however, american cars are about as roomy as they come.

>
>If cars in America ARE as ridiculously large as we are led to believe is it not
>about time that "Yank tanks" were designed more sensibly.

people wont buy them.  when chevettes and omnies came out, they were small,
and very bad (design)...IMHO...
>
>I saw an article in a magazine reviewing the cadallac seville. It did sound
>like it was indeed an exellent car ,however it was enormous. Is this the normal
>size of your average American sedan? My Fiat Tipo has a 100 inch wheelbase and
>is roughly 120 inches long and has enough interior room even for a quartet of 
>large 6 foot 2 adults.
>
>My Fiat has an antiquated engine ,unlike HondaUs latest batch of VTEC engines, and
>only has 2 valves per cylinder but manages a creditable 78bhp and similar torque
>coupled to around 35 - 40 mpg. Some French 1.4 litre engines have a much higher
>ouput from the same basic specification , are American engines as efficient from 
>low capacities? Do American engines have to be so large to move rather oversize
>and overwieght cars?

they are large because of the idea that larger is better.  (also, old people
love HUGE cars. they are the ones buying up the cadillacs and such
>
>I wait with interest for some answers.
>
>Thanks Aidy.


jorge         
Xref: sparky rec.autos:11111 rec.autos.tech:5695
From: carl@Cayman.COM (Carl Heinzl)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: Mitsubishi Galant VR4 clutch
Date: 10 Apr 92 15:24:54 GMT
	<1992Apr7.220611.29101@awdprime.austin.ibm.com>
Followup-To: rec.autos
Organization: Cayman Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: jnissen@jnissen.austin.ibm.com's message of 7 Apr 92 22:06:11 GMT
bcc: carl


>I heard of problems like this before.  Take the chance on the
>aftermarket clutch.  Most likely the factory	 did not get the
>original clutch setup correctly, therefore, it wore out very fast.
>You will have a hard 	 time getting the dealer to repair it under
>warantee.  They are in the business of making money on repairs	 and
>sales.  I would spend the money on the aftermarket clutch and take the
>risk.  Sounds like it's a simple	 slipping clutch.

It should be pointed out that dealers are compensated directly by the
manufacturer for warranty work.  It's not like they're NOT getting
paid to do that.  Balance that against the fact that if they piss too
many people off their sales will fall.  Witness the fact that I would
NEVER go anywhere near Nashua Mitsubishi after having heard the recent
problems that someone had in this newsgroup.  While not everyone has
net access, everyone has word of mouth and that travels too!  There
are other dealers that I didn't even visit due to the recanting of bad
experiences from people whose opinions that I trust.

-Carl-
--
From: ac579@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (G.C.J. Timm)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: There ain't no substitute..
Date: 12 Apr 92 00:12:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: usenet.1992Apr12.001256.24083
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)


Friends,
Are you tired of tired old engines?
Are you tired of Jetta ECO diesels knocking on your back
door down the Interstate on ramp?
Are you tired of your next door neighbor and his turbo
terrific Volvo station wagon blowing your doors off?
 
Well Hold Your Head Up High!
 
This is America!
 
American Ingenuity Comes to the Rescue!
 
Grab your phone and Call Ryan Falconer at 408-758-8434!
 
For UNDER $50,000 dollars you can turn your tired old
Detroit Iron into something out of Ralph Nadars Nightmares!
 
It's the Falconer V-12 to the RESCUE!
 
An aluminum block copy of a small block Chevy and a Half!
 
Can you say "SIX HUNDRED CUBIC INCHES?"
 
Can you say "SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY SIX HORSEPOWER?"
 
Can you say "SIX HUNDRED EIGHTY POUND-FEET OF
*T*O*R*Q*U*E*??"
 
And all for only 8.8 inches added to the length of the
standard V-8!  At virtually the same weight!
 
Drop that in your 1966 Nova!
 
Sorry I couldn't resist.  But seriously, this engine
exists.  It was profiled in "Conan the Corvette" Pg 33,
Motor Trend May 1992.
 
Welllll, maybe if I win the lottery, I'll build a BLITZING
BLAZER to do the trip out to my club in the boondocks.
 
Make that the second time I win the lottery...
 
Jeff