HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: ndallen@r-node.gts.org (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Re: Seat Belts Releasing in Crashes: Institute for Injury Reduction
Organization: Echo Beach, Toronto
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 11:47:29 GMT


>In article <1992Nov19.065603.19747@r-node.gts.org>, ndallen@r-node.gts.org 
>(Nigel Allen) writes:
>>    This is entirely consistent with NHTSA's shirking of its safety
>> duties under the Reagan-Bush Administration's anti-regulation
>> policies in the past NHTSA has declared as safe the following, to
>> name just a few examples;
>>    Cars without air bags, cars without rear shoulder belts, roll-
>> over prone utility vehicles, rupture-prone fuel tanks, child
>> restraints without side impact protection, door-mounted seat belts
>> that open in crashes, non-adjustable shoulder belt anchorages,
>> lacerating windshields, collapsing seat backs, slack-inducing belts
>> and antilock brakes.
>
In article <15572@auspex-gw.auspex.com> tpickett@auspex.com (Tom Pickett) writes:
>What is wrong with anti-lock brakes?

As far as I know, nothing.  I didn't write the original press release,
but I suspect that the original authors were objecting to brakes that
were not antilock.

My apologies for the confusion.

I should add that I consider travel by bus, train or streetcar to be 
significantly safer than auto travel under normal circumstances
(that is, when the bus driver is selected and trained to the standards
of a large Canadian urban transit operation).
From: ehsan@attila.weitek.COM (Ehsan Kalami)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: HOW TO AVOID HITTING THE WALL IN GARAGE
Date: 19 Nov 92 02:08:43 GMT
Reply-To: ehsan@attila.UUCP ()
Organization: WEITEK, Sunnyvale CA


hi, I am sure a lot of people have a similar problem. Where can one buy
blocks of cement/concrete so that we know how far to drive a car into
garage. similar to one found in parking lots?
thanks.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: eliot@stalfos.engr.washington.edu (eliot)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: BMW/Servotronic
Date: 23 Nov 92 23:39:27 GMT
Organization: clearer than blir

In article <1ero0vINN29f@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer) writes:
>i heard, i think, that Dinan has a chip out to override this...
>but am not for sure..i do KNOW that he has a chip out to override
>SOME BMW's variable steering, to make it linear rate, and, i think,
>stiffer than stock...
>DREW

servotronic is not chip controlled.  where are you going to put
the upgrade chip?


eliot
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: cka52397@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Slartibartfast)
Subject: Re: Fast Japanese Sports Cars
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Distribution: rec
Date: Tue, 24 Nov 1992 02:24:40 GMT

In article <ALAVIGNE.92Nov23155157@bmerh930.bnr.ca> alavigne@bmerh930.bnr.ca (Andrew Lavigne) writes:
>
>(Slartibartfast) writes:
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>etc.... I'd still rather get a NSX, but I wouldn't mind waiting for
>>the VTEC version out next year! :-)
>
>Already is VTEC.
>
>Andrew

	Just like to say that I didn't write that...  :-)


-- 
THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, AT URBANA CHAMPAIGN.  6-4-1 THE HOLIDAY BOWL 12/30!
|  @@@@TEMPORARY .SIG FILE@@@@  CAUTION   @@@TEMPORARY .SIG FILE@@@@  |8-^)>
|   Chintan Amin Department of EE  c-amin1@uiuc.edu   new .sig under const. ;-)
|"Truth is after all a moving target"  Neil Peart Rush, _HYF_, "Turn the Page"|
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: atovorni@engr.UVic.CA (Andreas  Tovornik)
Subject: '54 Lincoln Fish Story
Reply-To: atovorni@engr.UVic.CA
Organization: University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 01:39:17 GMT


While posting that last one, I thought about cars that my parents have
owned through the years. In '57(though I wasn't around yet) my dad had
a '54 Monarch(Canadian Lincoln Capri?)

The story goes someting like this: The folks went out on a picnic with 
some friends who drove an MG. On the way home, their friends were 
following them and tailgating as if wanting to pass. Dad had enough of this
nonsense and floored the thing. BTW, this is the type of car that did very
well in the Carrera Panamericana. The car accelerated until it hit an 
indicated 140 Mph(speedo error???) at which point Mom was praying to
St. Jude and Torque Monger Senior was holding the wheel with white
knuckles. 

They never saw that MG in the rearview again, that fine long-ago summer's day.
Dad mentioned that the drum brakes took a loooong time to slow the car back
down to cruising speed. :+)

Anyone out there own one of those mid 'fifties Lincolns?

Torque Monger Jr.
From: almanb@hpnmdla.sr.hp.com (Bob Alman)
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 21:32:43 GMT
Subject: Re: HOW TO AVOID HITTING THE WALL IN GARAGE
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Rosa, CA
Newsgroups: rec.autos

My friend's sister used the family room couch to judge where to stop. Too bad
it was on the wrong side of the wall!!!
Bob
From: chmilar@apple.com (Michael Chmilar)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: I want info on MBZ 4matic
Date: 17 Nov 92 02:52:28 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA

I have recently been considering buying a Mercedes-Benz 300E 4matic.  I would
like to hear from anyone who has had experience with these models.  I am
particularly interested in info or opinions on the following subjects:

1)  Is the 4matic troublesome for repairs?  It is a very complex system.
2)  How is handling and performance on 4matic cars?  In particular, how does
    it compare to a rear-drive 300E, and 3OO Sportline?
3)  Is it worth paying extra for the car and for car operation (ie. fuel
    and maintenance costs) under these conditions:  I will be driving it
    from the San Francisco area to ski at Tahoe 10-20 times a year, with
    potential nasty snow conditions, but most often clear and dry.  Beyond
    that, I seem to clock about 15,000 miles per year in dry conditions.
4)  Should I consider a 300E with traction control instead?
5)  What would be a fair price for a '90 with 25k miles, in very good cond?

I have heard from one person that the car "is a dog" in terms of handling
and performance, and that it should only be purchased if you are driving
a lot in bad conditions.

Please send me e-mail if you have some info.  Post if you think it is of
general interest, or you want to start a flame war with some satisfied or
unsatisfied 4matic owner  ;-)

--
Michael Chmilar
chmilar@apple.com
From: philg@zurich.ai.mit.edu (Philip Greenspun)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Help! Ford service disaster!!!
Date: 18 Nov 92 11:16:40
Organization: M.I.T. Artificial Intelligence Lab.
Reply-To: philg@martigny.ai.mit.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: zug.ai.mit.edu
In-reply-to: pacyga@rtsg.mot.com's message of Mon, 16 Nov 1992 16:42:22 GMT


In article <1992Nov16.164222.18530@rtsg.mot.com> pacyga@rtsg.mot.com (Jim Pacyga) writes:


   Now here is the stickler, they have had the car parked outside in the open
   (not the fenced in service parking lot) with the hood up and the engine on
   a set of wood hoists for any wanna be vandal to come and play with.  To my
   best guess the car has probably been this way since last Wednesday (now Mon.).

   I have taken pictures which are currently being developed.  I now have 
   no faith whatsoever in the longevity of the car or for that matter the
   confidence in it to rely on it for a long trip since every possible vital 
   part has been open to the weather and anybody else interested in it.

   Is there anything I can do about this other than make threats? 

If anything ever goes wrong with your car in the future, you can
demand that Ford and the dealership (their agent) pay and say that the
problem was caused by their negligence (this assumes of course that
the problem could have been caused by their leaving the engine
compartment exposed).

Another thing you can do is demand that they buy the car back, saying
that you have lost confidence in it.  If your loss of confidence is
"reasonable" (a question of fact for a jury), they may have to buy the
car back despite the fact that it "currently kind of works".  If you
look at Shepard's Causes of Action, volume 11, page 297 or so (a book
on how to sue that you'll find in a law library), there is precedent
where this theory was accepted by a court.


--

      -- Philip Greenspun

-------------------------------------------------------------
MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
545 Technology Square, Rm 433, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 253-8574
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: steven@syacus.acus.oz.au (Steven Malikoff)
Subject: Re: FLAME! Only a Manual!
Organization: ACUS Australian Centre for Unisys Software, Sydney
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 01:37:27 GMT

hhtra@usho21.hou281.chevron.com (T.M.Haddock) writes:
: (I wrote)
: |> PS.  A friend of mine, also with a WW2 left-hand drive jeep, has taught
: |> his nine year old neice to drive it. ..She has no trouble at all! 
: 
:  How does she reach the pedals?  None of the 9-10 year olds in my 
:  neighborhood can reach them and still see out the windshield.

Yes, that may be true for an ordinary american vehicle. The jeep has a
windscreen that you can lie flat on the bonnet (On my jeep it stays that
way all summer). Also, it is a fairly small car (actually a truck by defin-
ition!) and the clearance from the top of the seat (non-adjustable) to the
floor pan is around 8 or 9 inches (the seat sits on the petrol tank), and
from the front edge to the pedals about 14 inches or so. The height to the
top of the cowling is 4 feet (quite low).

  My friend's niece really can drive this (only on paddocks and vacant land)
and interestingly, it was not the clutch+shift action she found the most
difficult, but the proper control of the accelerator pedal - mostly she tends
to rev it far too much. She also doesn't like top gear (3rd).

  An interesting thing is that in this thread, someone mentioned the difficulty
they might experience in using the shift lever "on the wrong side". The first
time I took the jeep for a test drive, it took *no time* to adjust from our
usual stick-on-the-left position. I just hit the clutch, shifted to N,
released, clutch again and next gear (no synchro on first, unfortunately) and
hey presto! I was driving a left-hand-drive!

Steven Malikoff.
steven@syacus.acus.oz.au
PS. I should have thought out my question on racing cars never being automatic.
Perhaps I should have asked "how many competitive vehicles _are_ automatic?".
My guess (yes, try to avoid foot-in-mouth disease again) is, not very many
compared to manuals (yet).
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mperlman@nyx.cs.du.edu (Marshal "Airborne" Perlman)
Subject: Re: Florida Radar Speeding Ticket Help Please...
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 92 18:38:55 GMT

craig_p@verifone.com writes:

>Has anyone gotten a radar speeding ticket in Orlando, Florida?  While on
>vacation, my group was stopped by a Highway Patrol Car.  This patrol car was
>seen coming at us in the west bound lane of the "Bee Line" while we were
>heading west.  He crossed the median strip that is about 80 feet wide and
>headed to pull us over.  We were NOT the only car in the area.  There was a car
>ahead of us and a truck in the rear of us.  I have 3 witnesses that will
>testify that we were never alone on the highway.  The problem is that I may be
>at a loss since I will have to fight this ticket from Hawaii!  Has anyone been
>able to beat a ticket in this situation?  I know we were not speeding, but how
>will I be REALLY able to prove that we were NOT the ones "gunned"?
>Any ideas???

THE FHP likes to do those 'cool U-Turns', I've seen it a few times in my
short life in Florida (8 weeks now). THE FHP is the worst next to the CHP.
nd I am thinking that the FHP is worse almost, in California, you can't make
U-Turns like that, there is this little thing called a center divider.

Heh, I'll see what help I can get you... You sound sort of screwed, as long as
the point doesn't get on your DL, don't worry about it, just pay the fine.
OR better yet, call Florida and ask if you can take a traffic school
class in Hawaii (a Hawaii Approved one) and mail florida the copy of
the sheet that says you took the class.
--
|o| Marshal Perlman                             Internet: perlman@cs.fit.edu |o|
|o| Florida Institute of Technology                              IRC: Squawk |o|
|o| Melbourne, Florida                                   Private Pilot, ASEL |o|
|o| 407/768-8000 x8435                            Goodyear Blimp Club Member |o|
Xref: sparky rec.autos:27480 rec.autos.driving:6738
From: cbh@opus.mlb.semi.harris.com (Cherie Slasor)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.driving
Subject: Re: How To Drive the RIGHT way!
Date: 20 Nov 92 21:10:44 GMT
Organization: Harris Semiconductor, Melbourne FL

In article <1992Nov20.193218.19069@icd.ab.com> rgciccot@ibis.icd.ab.com (Rich G. Ciccotti) writes:
>Also (especially if you are a trucker), if you're in the slow lane
>heading into a traffic bottleneck two miles ahead, move over into
>the empty lane and crawl along at the same rate as the blocked lane. 
>You certainly can't have anyone travelling faster than YOU.
>
>Death to the self-appointed lane policemen. I get real tired of having
>to clean the mud off my vehicle after using the median strip or shoulder
>to get around these scumbags.



But I *never* get tired of passing a cop who's writing a ticket to the 
mud-covered car who roared past me on the median strip or shoulder
a few miles previously.....

:^)



-- 
====================================================================
Cherie Slasor			     |	Harris Semiconductor
Phone:    (407) 724-7607	     |	P.O. Box 883, MS #62B-022
          cbh@mlb.semi.harris.com    |  Melbourne, FL   32902-0883
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: crpresto@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Charlie Preston)
Subject: Re: Seat Belts Releasing in Crashes: Institute for Injury Reduction
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 15:19:17 GMT
Organization: Illinois State University

In article <1992Nov19.185500.7014@random.ccs.northeastern.edu> sgauch@ccs.northeastern.edu (Susan Gauch) writes:
>In article <1992Nov19.065603.19747@r-node.gts.org> ndallen@r-node.gts.org (Nigel Allen) writes:
>>Here is a press release from the Institute for Injury Reduction.
>>
>>   This is entirely consistent with NHTSA's shirking of its safety
>>duties under the Reagan-Bush Administration's anti-regulation
>>policies in the past NHTSA has declared as safe the following, to
>>name just a few examples;
>>   Cars without air bags, cars without rear shoulder belts, roll-
>>over prone utility vehicles, rupture-prone fuel tanks, child
>>restraints without side impact protection, door-mounted seat belts
>>that open in crashes, non-adjustable shoulder belt anchorages,
>>lacerating windshields, collapsing seat backs, slack-inducing belts
>>and antilock brakes.
>     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>
>Some of these are a bit weird (i.e. cars without air bags should be considered
>"unsafe". . .

A definition safe is without risk.  IMHO traffic safety is synonymous with
collision avoidance.  The traffic safety curriculum which I teach stresses
responsibilities of the vehicle operator:  to know her/his physical
limitations, the capabilities of the vehicle, and operate the vehicle within
those limits.
     Out of the devices listed above I found two items which may help a person
maintain control of a vehicle:  a seat belt helps to keep the operator behind
the steering wheel and anti-lock brakes may help maintain control under
emergency braking (but may not be effective on ice).  All other devices/
concerns are aimed toward collision survival.
     Why do some people think vehicles need to be collision proof?  Safety is
breached when a collision occurs.  Why isn't there more emphasis on collision
avoidence and getting incompetent people out of the driver's seat?
     BTW I do *not* want air bags in my vehicles!
-- 
Chas                         DoD #7769

"Oh, how can you be in two places at once when you're not anywhere at all?"
                                               - Firesign Theatre
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: bay@unislc.uucp (Bethanne Yukman)
Subject: Re: Help! Ford service disaster!!!
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Organization: Unisys Corporation SLC
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 22:20:57 GMT

If I were in your situation I would be furious.  I would first call and
complain to the manager of the dealership.  Then if I didn't get satisfaction
I would call the regional Ford office.  Next I would call the national
headquarters and talk to Ford's national customer service hotline.  If
you don't complain to people who can do something about the problem,
nothing will change.  

Good luck.



Newsgroups: rec.autos,alt.autos.rod-n-custom
From: tedebear@leland.Stanford.EDU (Theodore Chen)
Subject: Re: SEMA Show (some comments)
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 09:18:38 GMT

what about the chevy impala SS?
the 1993 caprice that got an LT1 engine and 275/40ZR17 tires?
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Fast Japanese Sports Cars
Date: 24 Nov 92 01:28:55 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Distribution: rec
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

>cka52397@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Slartibartfast) writes:
>
>>In article <1992Nov21.220007.25756@csi.uottawa.ca> kiisaka@csi.uottawa.ca (Ken Iisaka (the mad pianist)) writes:
>>>Oh, shut up and get a Honda NSX.  End of discussion.
>>                       ^^^^^^^^^
>
>>	If you're gonna spend that much, wait a while and get a Viper.
>
In article <1992Nov23.182017.16252@borland.com> jtteh@borland.com (J.T. Teh) writes:
>Yeah, sure, Vipers are currently selling at $120,000!!!! A Viper I saw
>at the Dodge dealer here had the mark-up to $150,000!!!! That's a 300%
>mark-up. And they don't have a/c, windows, ABS, airbag, power-steering,
>etc.... I'd still rather get a NSX, but I wouldn't mind waiting for
>the VTEC version out next year! :-)
>
   On the other hand, the good news is that Lamborghini is allegedly
   resorting to rebates..as is Lotus.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: kimnach@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (GREG KIMNACH)
Subject: Re: HOW TO AVOID HITTING THE WALL IN GARAGE
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Distribution: na
Date: 20 Nov 1992 11:41 EST  

In article <1992Nov19.220747.15373@noose.ecn.purdue.edu>, rjwade@rainbow.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J. Wade) writes...
>In article <19NOV199210181999@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov> kimnach@lims02.lerc.nasa.gov (GREG KIMNACH) writes:
>>In article <1992Nov19.092443.11468@scott.skidmore.edu>, jreiser@scott.skidmore.edu (Jason Reiser... Asleep) writes...
>>>ehsan@attila.weitek.COM (Ehsan Kalami) writes:
>>>> 
>>>> hi, I am sure a lot of people have a similar problem. Where can one buy
>>>> blocks of cement/concrete so that we know how far to drive a car into
>>>> garage. similar to one found in parking lots?
>>>> thanks.
>>> 
>>>I don't know where to get the real McCoy, but for something that's
>>>probably a lot less expensive, consider a "Park Block".  It's a
>>>plastic/rubber block that you stick to the garage floor and it stops
>>>the car as you roll in.  Available from Mid America Designs (Corvette
>>>place) for only $12.95 at 800-637-5533.
>>> 
>>>Of course, you could always construct something.... perhaps some
>>>wooden beams?
>>
>>Or you could simply suspend a tennis ball with a string from the ceiling 
>>so that it touches the windshield when you're in far enough.
>>
>my wife forced me to set up this system above our bed!  ;)
> 
But only one ball above the ed?  I would hope that you were lucky enough 
that she required at least five! 

Greg
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                         ED-Beta: Simply THE BEST!
"ED Beta is simply the best consumer videotape format available."
                                     --VIDEO Magazime, Nov. 1992, page 30.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mfrazer@scott.skidmore.edu (Earwax)
Subject: Re: highly desirable cars not sold in the US (was INFFINITI vs BMW
Organization: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 07:41:40 GMT

Paul Hagger (hagger@cs.umd.edu) wrote:
: 
: 
: The company is called "Sevens & Elans" and is located near Boston.
: The address (or at least a phone number) can be found in any issue
: of Hemmings Motor News at the End of the Lotus section
: (see "L cars for sale").

Also if you look through the alt.tv.prisoner the address is listed in
the FAQ I'll go looking for it later.

: 
: There is a long article reviewing the new Caterham 7 HPC (High
: Performance Course -- required before Caterham will sell you one in
: England) in the December 1991 issue of Sports Car International.
: The article lists the address of "Sevens & Elans".
: 
: Prices for the car are around $20k, sans engine.
: 
: Engine choices run from ~$3000 - ~$10,000 depending on power
: ($10k gets you about 200hp, making the 7 faster than almost anything
: this side of an F40 to get to 60mph).
: 
: -hagger
	Just a note, althought the car may be fast, it supposedly has
few other redeeming qualities. I was told by someone who knew someone
who owned one that it handled terribly, but this is not the HPC
perhaps that one is different. Maybe just how fast a car can go is not
enough, how fast it can be driven by a sane human being is also
important (read Testarossa).
--
===============================================================================
    "I was kind of dissapointed actually. I mean here he is the great and
    evil BOB and the worst thing he can do is squeeze a tube of toothpaste
                            out from the middle."
                   -Dennis Handly On The Finale Of Twin Peaks
Matthew Frazer              |   Matthew Frazer    | mfrazer@skidmore.edu 
Skidmore College            |   5 Stevens Way     |  My SAAB is not old
Saratoga Springs NY 12866   |   Durham NH 03824   |   It is experienced
===============================================================================
                              Be Seeing You!
===============================================================================

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: djr48312@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (X X)
Subject: 16" wheels on 89 Mustang possible?
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 20:22:53 GMT

I own an '89 mustang with "15 inch wheels.  I was wondering can I run "16 inch
wheels with a lower profile tires with out having to mess with the odometer.
From: ahh@orthanc.kgn.ibm.com (Andy Heffernan)
Subject: Re: HOW TO AVOID HITTING THE WALL IN GARAGE
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 92 08:39:04 GMT
Organization: Gizmonic Institute

In article <4224@unisql.UUCP> wrat@unisql.UUCP (wharfie) writes:
>In article <1992Nov19.020843.4524@attila.weitek.COM> ehsan@attila.UUCP () writes:
>>
>>blocks of cement/concrete so that we know how far to drive a car into
>>garage. similar to one found in parking lots?
>
>	Tie a tennis ball on a string from the garage door so that when the car is
>pulled into the garage exactly as far as it should be it will just brush the wind-
>shield.  Don't let it drag across the hood or you'll get scratches.  Fasten the
>string to the _inside_ of the door so that when the door is up it hangs down vertically.
>
>	This is better than a cement block 'cause if you go in too far you just
>hit the tennis ball and not cement.
>
>

I TRIED THE CEMENT BLOCK FOR A WHILE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS DIFFICULT
TO HANG FROM THE CEILING, BUT I KEPT SMASHING UP MY WINDSHIELDS.
SO NOW I HAVE A STUFFED PANDA BEAR HANGING DOWN.

-- 
Andy Heffernan                     andyh@kgnvmt.vnet.ibm.com
-- currently serving time          ahh@grape.haifa.ibm.com
   in the Middle East              ahh@orthanc.kgn.ibm.com
Newsgroups: rec.autos