HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: serafin@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Mike Serafin)
Subject: Re: Experiences with Pickups
Organization: TI Semiconductor Process and Design Center
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 21:32:22 GMT

In article <RRUSK.92Nov18145422@rcx1.ssd.csd.harris.com> rrusk@ssd.csd.harris.com writes:
>On Wed, 18 Nov 1992 17:37:31 GMT, serafin@epcot.spdc.ti.com (Mike Serafin) wrote:
>>In article <1992Nov17.210851.7324@medtron.medtronic.com> barham@medtronic.COM writes:
>>>I am planning to buy a used full-size pickup.  I am thinking about going with
>>>a diesel engine.  I would like to here about good and bad experiences with
>>>full-size pickups, gas and diesel.
>>>
>
>>I had a 1983 full size Blazer diesel.  Not quite a pick-up but close.  I was
>>satisfied with the Detroit Diesel that GM is using in their trucks.
>
>I think that you're stretching a bit to call the GM 6.2L diesel a "Detroit
>Diesel", but I may be wrong.  It doesn't have much in common with any
>Detroit I've ever seen.

I'll agree they didn't have much in common with the big Detroits, but this was
GM's big selling point back in those days.  Had to distinguish it from the
REALLY crappy converted Olds engines.

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: barros@Csli.Stanford.EDU (Jose Acacio de Barros)
Subject: Re: My new Saturn in the shop for new transmission
Keywords: Saturn reliability
Organization: Stanford University CSLI
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 17:14:33 GMT

In <1992Nov19.150711.14228@porthos.cc.bellcore.com> bobh@troy.cc.bellcore.com (hettmansperger,robert) writes:

>In article <1992Nov19.011448.11730@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> clee@praha.jpl.nasa.gov (Chang Lee) writes:
>>Two weeks ago, I put down 15K at the dealer for a new SL2.  500 miles and a 
>>week later, the car's back at the dealer for a new transmission.  Obviously,
>>I'm unhappy about the situation.  I bought the car partly because of claims
>>of quality and reliability, but this episode has me deeply worried.  So,
>>I'd appreciate feedback from Saturn owners regarding the reliability of their
>>car (or should I get a refund and buy a Civic?)
>>

As I understand, couldn't Chang Lee just change his car by a new one? 
At least that was what I heard from Saturn: if you are not completely 
satisfied with your vehicle you can change by another one or just have
your money back (all that within 30 days after the buy, which is much
more than two weeks). Am I missing something or this Saturn waranty does not
mean anything?

>I'm a Saturn owner for 1.5 years and 29,000 miles with no problems to date.
>I hope you don't go running to the Civic just because of one data point.  

>Civics are great, but can have problems, too (although the two that I owned 
>before my Saturn never did :-) ).

>-Bob

				Acacio.
-- 
-----
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mark@wdcwdc.sps.mot.com (Mark Shaw)
Subject: Re: shoud there be two different licences
Organization: Motorola Western MCU Design Center, Chandler Arizona
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 21:43:11 GMT

In article <1dttaqINNh69@armory.centerline.com>, jimf@centerline.com (Jim Frost) writes:

|> Personally I think if you're going to change the licensing system you
|> ought to make it such that you really must be proficient to get the
|> license rather than making lots of little restrictions.  Most testing
|> systems are ridiculously easy, both in the written and driving
|> portions.

Amen, brother!!
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jnielsen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John F Nielsen)
Subject: Re: Whining about buying American cars
Organization: The Ohio State University
Distribution: usa
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 1992 21:55:42 GMT


I am really getting sick and tired of all the whining by those who say
that it is patriotic to buy American cars.  I own a Japanese car and
am as American as anyone else.  I pay taxes, watch baseball once in a
while and like apple pie but I do not drive a Chevy.  What really
makes me mad is that I can come up with several ways that it is
"American" to buy a Japanese car.  Here is a short list:

[stuff deleted]
----------

Did you post this to support the opposite side? It sounds like
you are supporting buy Japanese but the arguments just look to
aid the buy American side. Believe it or not I am for neither.

Also if someone believes that Japanese car owners are either stupid
or too brainwashed to determine how reliable their car is, then
find an example in the ratings. Can it be that hard?

The one attempt I saw was very wrong, failing miserably.

-- 
John Nielsen   MAGNUS Consultant            ______   ______   __  __	
                                           /\  __ \ /\  ___\ /\ \/\ \
Back Off Man I'm a scientist!              \ \ \/\ \\ \___  \\ \ \_\ \
      -- Ghostbusters                       \ \_____\\/\_____\\ \_____\
From: jmmst53+@pitt.edu (Jason M. Mccloskey)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Jeep tops
Date: 23 Nov 92 16:38:35 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

J.C. Whitney is a viable source for parts for Jeeps.  I the past, however,
I have found the quality of the parts to generally be less than great,
and often times the pieces would not even come close to fitting (eg: 
wiper blades for a Volkswagen...).

I would suggest that you contact either Sears or another aftermarket 
top supplier directly, like Whitco, perhaps.

Remember that you will need all the hardware to support the soft top,
like the bows, and the winshield snaps.  These will all have to be 
installed after the hardtop is removed.  Aftermarket soft tops do
not come with this equipment.

I would like to say that Sears, to the best of my knowledge, sells
black Whitco soft tops (OEM) for about $330.  This is a decent price.

Jason
From: finnegan@invader.navo.navy.mil (Kenneth Finnegan)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Jeep Tips?
Date: 23 Nov 92 15:39:22 GMT
Reply-To: finnegan@navo.navy.mil
Organization: Grumman Data Systems
Nntp-Posting-Host-[nntpd-9579]: invader.navo.navy.mil

My brother just purchased a 1983 Jeep CJ7 w/ 58k orig miles on
it.  He bought it from the original owner who used it almost
exclusively as a hunting vehicle.  Despite this, it seems to
be in pretty good shape.  It has the 6cyl with a/c and a
hardtop. 

This biggest problem right now is that the softtop was never
used and is completely rotted from sitting out in the 
weather for 9 years.  Is JC Whipme still a good source
for Jeep parts, or are they in Chapter 11 again?  Any
other suggestions for parts sources for Jeeps?

Any info is greatly appreciated!

Kenneth
finnegan@navo.navy.mil
Xref: sparky rec.autos:27482 misc.consumers:19332 misc.kids:28913 talk.politics.medicine:59 sci.med:21303
From: kbeal@amber (Ken Beal)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,misc.consumers,misc.kids,talk.politics.medicine,sci.med
Subject: Re: Seat Belts Releasing in Crashes: Institute for Injury Reduction
Date: 20 Nov 1992 21:46:12 GMT
Organization: Harris CSD, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
NNTP-Posting-Host: amber.ssd.csd.harris.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

Charlie Preston (crpresto@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu) wrote:
:      BTW I do *not* want air bags in my vehicles!

	Why not?  I agree with your discussion of collision avoidance, but
I'd want as many backup systems keeping me alive as possible.  Yes, cars
should be computer-controlled to avoid many accidents, but if the computer
fails, I'd want human controls built in as a backup -- and the ability for
the operator to override the computer.

	Likewise, I'd want to have air bags as well as seat belts, and
a honeycomb design to increase strength, and a folding engine compartment
like Volvos have (so that *it* crushes, instead of the passenger
compartment).  It's simply a matter of redundancy in safety design, something
that we do all too little of (because the costs involved in redundancy
are prohibitive to remaining competetive; with nanotechnology, the costs
will be almost negligible and we'll have super-strong, super-safe EVERYTHING.
See sci.nanotech, and _Engines of Creation_ by K. Eric Drexler for more
on nanotechnology).

	I can understand you saying "I don't want air bags because the
simple act of creating them is taking development away from other safety
systems," but it's what we've got now -- you've gotta work with the
technology at hand.  If I could afford a new car :-), it would have air bags
in it.
--
Kenneth L. Beal, Jr.  kbeal@amber.ssd.csd.harris.com | Use OS/2 2.0! :-) often.
"I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!" - MST3k  | Learn.  Keep moving.
"Street person my responsibility." - Indigo Girls    | Better yourself.
The opinions expressed above are shared.  The preceding sentence is false.

Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: rjwade@rainbow.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert J. Wade)
Subject: Re: HOW TO AVOID HITTING THE WALL IN GARAGE
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 21:35:38 GMT

In article <1992Nov19.020843.4524@attila.weitek.COM> ehsan@attila.UUCP () 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.

here's a crazy trick i have learned...as i drive into the garage i look out
thru the windshield at the wall and the front of the car and i *stop* before
 the front of the car gets to the wall.  may sound weird...but try it...it 
really works!

Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
From: jdouglas@MITRE.org (Jason Douglas)
Subject: Re: URGENT! engine rpm goes up to 5000
Organization: The MITRE Corporation
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 18:05:00 GMT

In article <BxtDH5.3Gy@acsu.buffalo.edu> jchen@acsu.buffalo.edu (Jonathan 
Chen) writes:
> I bought a 86 VW Golf Wolfburg edition with 69000 miles on it and
>         experience no problem until now.  It is a 5-spd stick,...,

> So I shifted to neutral.  Wow! 5000rpm as idle speed??? I couldn't 
> believe it!

I once had a problem with a gas pedal sticking in a position nearly flat 
on the floor (82 German spec Audi 100).  Needless to say, the effect was 
somewhat startling the first time it happened, but pumping of the pedal 
released it.  The problem was the cable/linkage catching on one of the 
braided lines running from the fuel distributor to the fuel injectors.  
Look for minute distortion of the braiding anywhere near the linkage / cable.  If there's none, or the the linkage / cable doesn't go near one of the lines 
your problem's something else.


Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Mike Mshar)
Subject: Re: Fast Japanese Sports Cars
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 15:54:59 GMT

> tedebear@leland.Stanford.EDU (Theodore Chen) writes:
 
[much deleted]

>is simpler than modifiying a 300ZX turbo.  think about it this way:
>drive the vette for 100K miles and beat the hell out of the engine.
>when it needs a rebuild, have it bored to 383, change the cam, etc.
>the lingenfelter vette is bored to 383 and kicks out 440 bhp.  not too bad.

You cannot bore a 350 out to make it displace 383 cubic inches. The only
way to make a 383 chevy small-block engine is to put a crank from a 400
cubic inch engine in it. This crank has a longer stroke, and thus it will
have more displacement. The most you can get from boring the cylinders in a
350 is about a .060 inch diameter increase, which gives a final
displacement of around 360 cubic inches.

-- 
|       Michael G. Mshar        | My Life-Long Goal: To keep common sense    |
|   mmshar@mn.ecn.purdue.edu    | alive and keep the idiots from taking over.|
|  mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu   |     \\President, Nice Guys Anonymous//     |
|____>>> United States Steel, Mechanical Engineer, Technical Services <<<____|
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mfolivo@sactoh0.sac.ca.us (Mark Newton-John)
Subject: Leather over "mouse fur" cloth
Organization: Sacramento Public Access Unix
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 92 08:41:36 GMT

Here is my ten yen to add about leather upholstery.

I've had my Audi turbo for some time now, and it has full leather
(not just on the seat surfaces) and I have had no complaints about
it. In the Central Valley (Sacramento) it gets over 100 in the
summer and 40 in the winter. No cracking or poor wear. Since the
Audi has climate control, I have not gotten out of my car with
sticky clothes due to the heat, or froze my tush in the winter.

I prefer it to the "mouse fur" that you find in a lot of cars these
days, less expensive Audis included. I find that most cloth cars
make it hard to enter and exit, because the cloth acts like velcro,
and in winter, you can get a nasty static shock, as you slide
across the fabric, and touch the outside of your car. (ouch!
dammit!)

My only complaint with leather is the stuff that they use in some
Japanese cars. In the Lexus (don't get me wrong, GREAT car) the
leather has the consistancy of..... plastic. The smell is there,
the look is there, but since it is treated to withstand Death
Valley summers, when you touch it, it's like plastic. And one some
cars, they only have leather on the seating surface, vinyl on the
sides, like cheap lambskin covers (lambskin on the front, acrylic
on the back and sides)

As far as maintenance is concerned, I just clean it one in a while
with a leather cleaner, and the leather stays in good condition.

Well, there is cloth for those rabid animal rights fanatics. (Hey,
a funny! Rabid animal rightists....)


-- 
#############################################################
# Scaramento Public Access UNIX     sactoh0.SAC.CA.US       #  
#  (916) 649-0161, 722-6516 & 722-5068    E-Mail & USENET   #
################## default .signature file ##################
Xref: sparky rec.autos:26940 rec.audio.car:4880
From: dunster@sdsu.edu (mark dunster)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.audio.car
Subject: Re: interest in car alarm group?
Date: 16 Nov 92 03:15:53 GMT
Organization: sdsu
NNTP-Posting-Host: mathfp13.sdsu.edu

In article <1992Nov12.084917.3596@spectrum.xerox.com>, hdavies@rx.xerox.com 
(Hugh J.E. Davies) writes:
> >
> >I too would be very interested. I own a VW Jetta ... enough said.
> >
> 
> "Enough said". Why?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Hugh.

In the U.S. VW Jettas are number two in the hit parade for car break-ins
and thefts (VW cars make up 7 of the top 10). This is because they are
notoriously easy to break-into/steal. (VW has made no attempt to rectify 
this, I wonder why???)  My Jetta has been broken into around eight times,
& stolen once. Hence my interest in a rec.autos.security. (I would prefer
the name rec.autos.castrate_auto_thieves_with_a_rusty_knife, but perhaps
that's a little too long).

Cheers, mark dunster (VW's: you either love 'em or hate 'em. I hate 'em).
From: qazi8906@ee.uwm.edu (Cindy Crawford)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Altima
Date: 23 Nov 1992 10:28:58 GMT
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.2.33


Have any of you even driven the Altima?  I did toss 
around an Altima SE, and the engine is much more civilized
than it was in the Stanza or the 240 SX.  No one ever commends
it for having an interior that looks as if it just came straight
out of an Audi 100, perhaps the classiest interior in the 
business.  It is much more of a driver's car than either
the Accord or the Camry, which looks like a football on wheels,
if you asked me.  It undercuts any comparably equipped Accord
or Camry by $1,500 to $2,000 with no sacrifice in quality.

The article sent by Paul Dean of the L.A. times (11/06) compared
the Altima GXE to the Camry, Accord, and Taurus.  However, did
any of you notice that the Altima GXE, which is supposed to 
be the volume seller of the line, is about $15,100, only $500
more than a comparably equipped Corolla LE or Civic EX!!!
Which of the three would YOU choose?  I think the answer is
rather obvious.

Chew on that one for a while.

--Aamir Qazi
  mail to: qazi@csd4.csd.uwm.edu



--
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From: keys@starchild.ncsl.nist.gov (Lawrence B. Keys)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: G20 vs. Altima, Fast vs. Slow
Date: 18 Nov 92 13:53:26 GMT
Organization: National Institute of Standards & Technology

In article <1992Nov17.192837.7711@oakhill.sps.mot.com> shantanu@oakhill.sps.mot.com (Shantanu Ganguly) writes:
>In article <Nov17.091859.12108@engr.washington.edu> eliot@lanmola.engr.washington.edu (eliot) writes:
>>In article <1992Nov17.082314.29660@leland.Stanford.EDU> tedebear@leland.Stanford.EDU (Theodore Chen) writes:
>
>>>i've said this before, but i don't think the integra's handling is
>>>as absymal as you say it is.
>>
>>i personally can't remember having driven anything worse. even some
>>el-cheapo econoboxes can serve up better damping than the integra.
>>the term "bad handling" is relative of course, which is why i
>>contrasted the integra's handling with the g20's.  night and day.
>>even a sentra se-r will put the integra to shame with its long travel
>>and firmly damped suspension.  i am outspoken about the integra
>>because:
>
>>2) the way it understeers given such generous rubber.  the subaru
>>legacy with skinny 175/70 tires will outcorner it handily.  so will
>>any vw; fox, golf, jetta.. you name it.
>
>While I haven't driven the G20, I have driven a Legacy for a week, and its
>handling simply does not compare with an Integra. With the exception of
>a GTI, I doubt if any of the above VWs will outcorner an Integra either.
>Heck, I can blow away Jettas and Foxes in my civic, leave alone an Integra.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Hey, i've got a Jetta that i'd like to see your Civic "blow away".  NOT!


That aside, i think that Eliot said "outcorner".  A Civic sedan will not
"outcorner" a Jetta or a Fox.

>Shantanu Ganguly
                                                  .              
                                                 /                
Larry                            __/    ______ /                  
keys@csmes.ncsl.nist.gov       /                \                 
                         _ _ _      __      _____  \------- ===   
            ---------- /  __ /    /  /    /__  __/            \   
         /            /  / ____  /  /       / /                |  
        |            / /___/  / /  /__   __/ /__              /   
        /_____       \______/  /_____ / /______/        --- ////   
             \_____           2 liter 16v       \_______/         
                                                                              
        Fahrvergnugen forever!
From: chmilar@Apple.COM (Michael Chmilar)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Fast Japanese Sports Cars
Date: 18 Nov 92 18:07:13 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA

In a nutshell:

3000 VR-4:  Ugly, ugly, and ugly.  Did I forget to mention:  it is U-G-L-Y?
            It gets my vote for grossest car of the '90's.  Whoever did the
            styling on this thing should be killed.

RX-7:       Brutal.  Some of the light weight is acheived by flimsy
            construction.  Check out:  Entire interior, door latches, inside
            of the wheel wells.  This is a $34,000 car?  If you drive on
            rough roads, make sure your health insurance covers rehabilitating
            bruised kidneys.  Looks nice and aggressive, but the R1 has
            that cheesy, ugly spoiler.  With the combo of stiff suspension
            and flimsy construction, it may well shake itself to pieces in
            a few years.  These cars are not selling well, so you can
            probably name your price for one.

300ZX:      Refined.  Elegant.  Best styling job that Japanese designers
            have ever done.  Also, goes like stink, and handles well.  Best
            interior too.  Control placement is nearly perfect, and quality
            is high.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: shun@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (shun.cheung)
Subject: Re: HOW TO AVOID HITTING THE WALL IN GARAGE
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 17:09:21 GMT

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?

Well, you can simply remove the wall. :-)

>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.

Seriously, that's what we have been using at home for several years now
and we like it. You won't end up with something hanging from the ceiling.
The only problem is that our "park block" is just laid on the ground
and it gets pushed by the car once in a while so that we need to adjust
its position occasionally.
-- 
-- Shun Cheung,    electronic: shun.cheung@att.com    voice: (908) 615-5135
     HR 1A-304, AT&T Bell Labs, 480 Red Hill Road, Middletown, NJ, 07748 USA