HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: rat@erg.sri.com (Ray Trent)
Subject: Re: Strike at Saturn?
Reply-To: rat@erg.sri.com (Ray Trent)
Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 92 18:58:37 GMT

In an article, alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu (Amy Young Leith) writes:
>It was also wrong in it's assumption of my point.  My point was that
>even with a drop in prices, I did not believe that American car sales
>would rise significantly in Japan, this based on the opinions voiced
>by those who were from there. 

This is a very difficult determination to make. For one thing, people
will often object loudly that they would never buy product X, because
the quality is so low, but when you actually try selling it, the lower
price is often enticing enough that greed overcomes pride.

The Japanese may well not buy American cars even if they manage to get
to a position where they can compete fairly, but it's rather a bit too
convenient to use that as an excuse.

Japanese people in Japan often claim that tarriffs aren't important
since they wouldn't buy California rice anyway, because the quality is
lower.  Strangely, Japanese people that move to America don't (as a
rule) buy imported Japanese rice, they buy the 700% cheaper domestic
rice. In fact, I've talked to a few of them that claim California rice
is *better* than anything they had back at home...now that they've
actually tried it for a while.

Psychology is a funny thing. Americans often buy Japanese cars because
of perceived quality even when it might be more cost effective in the
long run to buy 2 domestic cars (even assuming the quality perception
is accurate).
-- 
"When you're down, it's a long way up
 When you're up, it's a long way down
 It's all the same thing
 And it's no new tale to tell"                      ../ray\..
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: behanna@phoenix.syl.nj.nec.com (Chris BeHanna)
Subject: Re: What's a DOD number ?
Organization: NEC Systems Laboratory, Inc.
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 16:18:18 GMT

In article <shiv.715534460@cs.man.ac.uk> shiv@cs.man.ac.uk (Shiv Sikand) writes:
>Forgive my ignorance, but what is a DOD number often quoted by people and
>what is its relevance to other people ?

	I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you...
-
-- 
Chris BeHanna	DoD# 114   1983 Harley-Davidson FXWG Wide Glide (She lives!)
behanna@syl.nj.nec.com	   (I need another bike for this space!)

Disclaimer:  Now why would NEC agree with any of this anyway?
From: sy@.sbil.co.uk
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: C&D Review of Prelude
Date: 28 Aug 92 18:27:28 GMT
Organization: Salomon Brothers International Limited


Car & Driver ranked the 8 four-cylinder two-plus-two's
as follows: (from 1992 Road Test Annual, pages 38-47)

	rank    car
	----    ----------------
	8	Isuzu Impulse RS
	7	Toyota Celica GT-S
	5(tie)	Volkswagen Corrado G60
	5(tie)	Ford Probe GT
	4	Nissan 240SX SE
	3	Acura Integra GS-R
	2	Honda Prelude Si
	1	Eagle Talon TSi AWD		

The following is quoted from Car & Driver Magazine,
1992 Road Test Annual, pages 45-46.
--------------------------------------------------
* Hona Prelude Si *

How much do we love this car?  A look at the voting chart
reveals that the Prelude won or tied for the first in every
category but brakes, utility, and value.  And it missed top
honors by just one point.

Despite its mediocre value rating, the Honda Prelude's
$19,540 entry fee buys a lot of car.  The new 2.3-liter engine
is a masterpiece - smooth, powerful (160 hp), and eager to rev.
"This thing sounds so great I'd drive just to listen", gushed
one editor.  "Engine is marvelous - a little extra oomph is 
always available," wrote another.

Also spectacular is the Prelude's chasis.  From the logbook:
"Poise over bumps and yumps is about perfect," and 
"suspension balances ride and handling admirably," and "Near-
perfect balance- I find myself having to concentrate less
to keep an accurate line through turns."  No wonder, then,
that the Honda scored a perfect 10 in the fun-to-drive
category.

There was also praise for the Prelude's stubby shifter, its
standard driver-side airbag, and its styling- which, though
controversial, grew on most of us as the trip progressed.
And although we don't particularly like what Honda has done
to the Prelude's instrument panel- stretching it across the
dash in American luxury-car fashion- after our drive we had 
to admit that it worked just fine.

Also worth noting: the Prelude delivered 22 mpg during our
test drive - just 1mpg behind the fuel-sipping Integra.

The Prelude may not be the flat-out fastest two-plus-two on 
the market, but there is not a sweeter-driving, more refined
car in this class.

-------------------------------------------------------------
From: carl@Cayman.COM (Carl Heinzl)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Law regarding speeding ticket ?
Date: 27 Aug 92 02:34:44 GMT
	<1992Aug21.215137.11673@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Cayman Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA
In-reply-to: mperlman@nyx.cs.du.edu's message of 21 Aug 92 21:51:37 GMT
bcc: carl


>after 6months...the cop won't goto court...becuase in that amount of time..
>he won't remember

>worked for me..and i won <but it wasn't for reck. driving.it was speeding>

Wanna bet?!  I was pulled over a couple of years ago (1988) and a
ticket from 1979 showed up!!!  I had to go to court for it and the cop
was there!!!  Of course it was nice that the judge was actually amused
and so he threw out the two most serious infractions and only made me
pay court costs on the last one.  For the curious among us (who isn't)
the infractions were (remember, I was just a college student) 1) no
registration 2) no insurance and of course 3) no inspection sticker).
So, 9 years later and I only had to pay $25.  I count myself lucky.

-Carl-
--
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jcuculo@unity.ncsu.edu (John Cuculo)
Subject: Help with cloth rag top cars?
Organization: North Carolina State University Computing Center
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 14:59:38 GMT

Can any one give me information on the advisability of buying a car with a cloth 
rag top? Are thet durable? How difficult are they to keep clean?  Thanks.




Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 10:58:51 -0400 
From: Janviere S Thuman <jt3u+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Old Jeeps

I am in the process of restoring a 1974 Jeep CJ-5. I am having trouble
locating a few parts. Does anyone have any advice or sources? Some of
the things I need are:
-skid plate for the gas tank
-original steering wheel
-used soft top (and doors) to fit that model year
-original Jeep knobs and accessories for the controls eg,heat,temp,air.
Thanks.
Shellie
From: tardif@chicoutimi.ulaval.ca (Pierre-Martin Tardif)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Ford Escort Break LX 1991
Date: 1 Sep 92 15:23:20 GMT
Organization: Universite Laval

It is just a survey for my-self but does anyone
had any problems with this car ???

I bought mine in august 1991 and I ran thru several
misfunctions.  It started with the A/C conditionner
who failed at least three times.  The last time I
had to go about three time to get it fixed and I
waited 1 month for the compressor... Don't you think
it is a kind of piece to keep in inventory ???

The second bug came from the fan.  It was during the
month of january 1992.  I tried to start my car and nothing...
They came to get it and it took tow days to get it partialy fixed.
They warn me that my car could fail at anytime if it was getting 
cold again... they toild me my fan was running too often !!!
After one week, they receive the part to replace and I never
had any trouble with this again...

The last one happened yesterday.  My car was running fine in the day.
I went to see a film and when I came back, the starter was working
but I couldn't get the car start.  I know there is a special fuel
cutout switch in the trunk but it was ok...  Now they have my car,
on which the  bumper-to-bumper waranty was finished the 14th of august
and I hope it will not cost too much...

I am really disappointed and I wonder if anybody else had that kind
of story with this car... or any other one ?

DON'T YOU THINK A NEW CAR SHALL BE BETTER THAN THIS... I WAS PREFFERING
AN AMERICAN CAR OVER THE JAPANESE ONES BUT NOW, I CHANGED MY MIND...


						PMT
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

-- 
Pierre-Martin Tardif, etudiant gradue  (email: tardif@gel.ulaval.ca)
Laboratoire de Vision et Systemes Numeriques
Universite Laval, Pavillon Adrien-Pouliot, local 00100-I, Ste-Foy, Quebec,
Canada, G1K 7P4         (418-656-2131, ext 4848)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: pv9955@albnyvms.bitnet
Subject: Datsun 280 ZX
Reply-To: pv9955@albnyvms.bitnet
Organization: University of NY at Albany
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 92 04:59:36 GMT

I am acquiring my uncle's 1981 280ZX.
I know a little about the car, but not too much.
For example, I know it is a 6cyl with approx 130hp.  But I do not know its
weight and performance specs.
I know it has 225-60-hr14 Dunlop tires, but i know nothing of the
suspension and handling.
I know the car has 120k miles on it, and the engine was rebuilt at 60k. 
And I know the transmission is being rebuilt as you read this, but I don;t 
really know how good the transmission is, or the engine for that matter.

If I am going to be driving this car, I would really like to know some 
information on the vehicle.
Also, if anybody has any suggestions on maintaing this used car, I would
love to hear them.  eg, I need to check the brakes, steering, timing belt...
What else do I need to do before I subject it to my driving habits?

And what after-market options are available and recomended... like a 
sport exhaust, which I am looking into.  What else ?

If anybody has ANYTHING to offer, I would love to hear it!
Also, if you have a 280zx or have driven one, I would like some performance 
numbers (specs), and I would also like to hear some subjective opinions.

Thank you all in advance,
Peter "Zorro" Volpe

PS  Reply via EMAIL, as I cannot read this board-- only write to it.
(our VAX is really screwed up).
My EMail address is PV9955@ALBNYVMS.BITNET

Thanks again
Pete
From: samuels@mcclb0.med.nyu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Lexus SC300
Date: 4 Sep 92 12:26:06 GMT
Organization: NYU Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA

I looked at the SC300 when it first came out and was not that
impressed.  The car lacks the handling of a true sports car and lacks
the utility of a sedan.  If you are more than 5' 10" the car is
uncomfortable.  Even with the drivers seat all the way back, the
parking brake release lever digs into the fight thigh.  The amount
of space for the driver with the seat fully back in the SC300 is not
significantly different than a Mazda Miata.  When the front seats are
fully back there is virtually no leg room in the back seats.  The car
is actually classified as a sub-compact.  Also there is virtually no
trunk space.  Considering that, the car is very overpriced (there are
no base models for sale and all come packaged with leather seats and a
CD player for about 37,000 with luxary tax and destination charges. 
For that amout of money you can ge a real and not pseudo sports car
(e.g. Nissan 300ZX 2+2) which has the same space as the SC300.  You
could also get a Porsche 968 for about the same price with a
reasonable discount which also has two rudamentary rear seats as
well.  Also, the BMW 325 coupe is much less expensive, handles
exceptionally well, is as fast as the SC300, and has much more rear
seat and trunk room.
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: oil pressure and temp gauges
Keywords: gauges
Date: 4 Sep 92 01:17:12 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA
Originator: daemon@sword.eng.pyramid.com

In article <1217@tekgen.bv.tek.com> netops@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Randy King) writes:
>I just noticed the Temp and Oil Pressure gauges on my 1988 Nissan Maxima going high and low. The TEMP gauge goes up about 3/4 up and getting close to H. 
     Does this happen on a hot humid day when you've got the A/C on
     and are driving real slow in real heavy traffic....or when you
     are cruising down the freeway at 60 mph and 60-70 degrees
     outside temp?

     One is normal, the other isn't.

>The 
>OIL pressure is going down below the 10. This doesn't happen at the same time
     Does this happen at engine speeds over 1500 rpm or only when
     the car is idling?  

>Is this going to be a big problem?
     
     Depends on WHEN these are happening....it could be VERY
     expensive.

>What is going on? Can somebody tell me what to expect once I decide to have it
>checked.
     There's this little dipstick under the hood you can check for
     the oil.  Let the engine set for 5 minutes after running, then
     check your oil level.  If you find it is low right after an oil
     change, I'd crucify the service manager.   

     Maxima's don't normally burn oil between changes...

     As far as temperature, take a quick look at the overflow
     container and make sure it has coolant in it.  Most other
     checks require a bit more knowledge.  Old radiator caps
     (which can't maintain pressure) are a common source of high
     temperatures....but this is something that you shouldn't let go
     if it happens under all but the most severe idling, A/C, and
     outdoor temperature conditions.  That Maxima engine is verrry
     expensive to rebuild.
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.driving,rec.autos.sport,rec.autos.tech
From: plm@reggae.cam (Paul L. Mowatt)
Subject: Acura Vigor CD Changer Info Wanted!!!
Organization: /bdfs/users/plm/.organization
Distribution: rec
Date: 1 Sep 92 13:58:04

I've figured out that the CD Changer that Acura sells for the Vigor is
made by Alpine.  What I can't figure out is how to get the factory radio
to go into CD mode.  I know the controls are built into the radio.  The
dealer told me that once the CD changer is plugged in the buttons on the radio
perform a dual function.  Yesterday I went to a stereo shop and had them hookup
a Alpine changer.  There was power to the unit (the Vigor comes pre-wired for
a CD changer), but we could not figure out how to get the radio to switch
to CD mode!

Has anyone installed a CD changer in a Vigor?  If so can you provide me with
information on how to switch the radio to CD mode.

Thanks for any info.
--
_______________________________________________________________________________
|Paul Mowatt               plm@reggae.cam.bellcore.com  "Materialism is wrong,|
|Bellcore, RRC 5H-127      plm@czar.bellcore.com         only when it's not   |
|444 Hoes Lane             (W) (908) 699-6947            evenly distributed." |
|Piscataway, NJ 08855-1342 (H) (908) 220-0570                                 |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: beuf@wpi.WPI.EDU (Richard J Fuller)
Subject: PRICE per POUND
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 20:17:14 GMT






here at work we thought it would be funny to compare the price per pound of all of
our vechiles....


my Geo Storm hit $4.13 a lb
   Ford Probe (1990 GT) $5.50 a lb
   Blazer $3.50 a lb
   Ford F10 $2,35
   Mitsubishi 3000GT $10.32 a lb
   Mercedes 300E $13.33 a lb
   Nissan Pulsar $5.17 a lb
   10 speed bike $37.50 a lb
   pair of Sneakers $30 a lb
   

anyone care to add their rates...I thought it was funny to compare
these to lunch meat
Geo Storm imported Ham
Blazer    Domestic Ham
Probe    Roast Beef
3000GT    Raw Shrimp
Mercedes   Lobster
Plsar     Turkey Breast
Bike      Caviar
Sneakers   Immitation Caviar

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: cbh@windsurf.scd.ucar.edu (Cris Hannu)
Subject: Re: Mitsubishi 3000GT-VR4, Toyota MR-2 Turbo
Reply-To: cbh@windsurf.scd.ucar.edu (Cris Hannu)
Organization: NCAR / Scientific Computing Division, Boulder CO.
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1992 19:05:51 GMT

In article <CRUM.92Aug28130541@fcom.cc.utah.edu>, crum@fcom.cc.utah.edu (Gary Crum) writes:
> I'd like to hear of experiences with the Mitsubishi 3000GT-VR4, Dodge
> Stealth R/T Turbo, and Toyota MR-2 Turbo cars.  They look great to me.
> 
> The four wheel drive and four wheel steering of the VR4 and R/T Turbo
> are particularly interesting features, to me.  Does anyone know of
> other powerful car models out now or being designed with similar drive
> systems?
> 
> And, for example, does anyone have purchase experiences to share,
> hopefully with a detailed example of a good price that someone bought
> one for?  This is the sort of thing that USENET quite valuable for.
> It looks like the list prices are around $35000 for the
> Mitsubishi/Dodge and $2100 for the Toyota.  What would a dealer be
> willing to sell a Mitsubishi/Dodge for, say, a 1992 model given
> several such cars on the lot?  $25000 by any chance?
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^V^^^^^^^^^^^^^^    ^^^^^ is about what *they* pay for them.
  I don't think I've been to any dealer that had *several* of these on
  the lot in the first place, but I paid $27,000 (list 30,500) for my '92
  3000GT SL (notice non-VR4, mr. insurance man wants to reem me too badly for
  the VR$$) with all the toys.
  IMHO the 3000GT is still the best looking ride on the road for the $, and
  the SL scoots along just fine.

  Cris
From: erich.lim@cutting.hou.tx.us (Erich Lim) 
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: RE: BMW M3 VS. BMW 325
Date: 27 Aug 92 18:38:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The Cutting Edge - Houston, TX - 713-466-1525
Reply-To: erich.lim@cutting.hou.tx.us (Erich Lim) 

   Well, the BMW M# is faster than the 325.

 welty@cabot.balltown.bma.COM (Richard Welty) writes:
-> this is kind of like saying that a Porsche 911 turbo is faster than a
-> Chevette.  the M3 is in a completely different performance class than
-> the other 3-series cars.
->
-> in essence:  the regular 3-series are very nice, well made sports
-> sedans and coupes, with a dash of performance, but not gobs of it.
-> they are excellent daily drivers, but my 2.5L Alfa Milano is faster
-> than any of them, both in a straight line and in cornering.
->
-> the M3 is a whole different ball game; if i have an M3 on my tail, i
-> just get out of the way.

       No joke!, the M3 is a totally diff. car and is raced in
autocross, Solo, Escort, and all those events.  I was just making a
simple explanation to the guy that an M3 is faster than a plain 325.  If
you didn't know that much about cars and the technical stuff about it,
wouldn't you just want a simple explanation of which model is faster,
etc..??


   That's What I Thought!


.rich Lim
From: eli@spdcc.com (Steve Elias)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: HONDA CIVIC awesomeness CONTINUES
Date: 31 Aug 92 16:33:18 GMT
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA


 eli@spdcc.com (Steve Elias) writes:
>the bottom o line BMW really isn't that expensive, given
>what new cars cost today.

this info might be out of date -- do they still sell that
318i model for around $20k?

>> Yeah, no power anything, no A/C, no radio, etc. 

i consider no A/C to be an advantage -- why buy an AC system
made with "orphaned" freon technology?  if it's worth $1000 
to have a system with 3 or 4 year lifetime, sure...

/eli



-- 
/* eli@spdcc.com */
From: sayano@micro.caltech.edu (Masahiro Sayano)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Dealing with dealers
Date: 27 Aug 92 16:09:37 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena

Here's my $.02 regarding auto dealers:

Since I'm entering the real world (and anticipating making some money),
I decided to get a car.  My first one, BTW.  I went looking through some
car magazines, books, and Consumer Reports, and settled on one of three
cars, depending on price, drivability, etc.  All three choices were Nissan
models.

I'm going to buy my car through a fleet dealer / broker, so there's little
or no haggling involved; also, it helps when my father is an acquaintance
of the broker.

But, the two Nissan dealers I went to were miles apart:  Rusnak Nissan in
Pasadena let me look in their cars, sit in them, test drive them (I really
worked over the brakes and gas---the salesman was white-knuckled, I think.)
and take my time.  They wrote me up an offer at retail price and promised
to knock off at least 12% off of it.  They didn't give me a firm offer, and
I didn't counter-offer them.  But then, neither of us were really in the
negotiating stage yet.  OK, not a red carpet treatment, but reasonable.

Nissan of LaCrescenta, however, didn't seem to want my business.  I was refused
requests to test drive a car, and the salesman was aggressively trying to
force a commitment to buy from him---today.  Like I'm gonna buy it right now,
and without a test drive, I say.  (He didn't know I had test-driven any cars.)
He gets an attitude that he's being polite to me even though I'm being
unreasonable because he's a nice guy.  There's a Toyota dealer across the
street---It's beginning to look good.  He doesn't take the hint.

So, guess who doesn't get my recommendation on where to go for better treatment?

MS
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: goudreau@batman.rtp.dg.com (Bob Goudreau)
Subject: Re: Toyota Camry Lock-in/Lock-out
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 17:03:37 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Data General Corporation, RTP, NC.

In article <40597@gremlin.nrtc.northrop.com> jslee@nrtc.nrtc.northrop.com (John Lee <jslee>) writes:
>
> It will be curious to see how Consumer Reports will downplay this
> important defect, since they are the perennial Japanese car advocate.

Are you kidding?  CR is the organization that broke the story in
the first place!  Check out the latest (Sept.?) issue; it's about
a half or two-thirds page story near the front.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
From: rajan@octel.com (Rajan Ranga)
Subject: 1970 Cougar X-R7 for sale
Keywords: 351 Clevand V-8  
Organization: Octel Communications Inc., Milpitas Ca.
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 01:06:46 GMT

For sale 1970 Cougar X-R7

	recently rebuilt 351 Clevand V-8 (250 hp  ~355 ft-lb torque)
	new automatic tranmission (3-speed)
	excellent paint work ($2500 job)
	bucket seats (leather surfaces)
	power steering
	air conditioning
	AM/FM stereo cassette player
	new tires
	all repair records
	original manual
	1 owner

Price $8,000/o.b.o

Also for sale:
	original 1970 Ford shop manuals (complete set)
	
Make me an offer.

Either call me at (408)321-5193 or E-mail me at: rajan@octel.com

Xref: sparky rec.autos:20842 rec.autos.tech:11795