HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: am728@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Randy L. Betke)
Subject: Need info on Pontiac Fiero
Reply-To: am728@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Randy L. Betke)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 92 22:39:48 GMT


Hi Gang ...

I'm interested in getting a Fiero and would like to know the difference
between the Fiero, Fiero GT and Fiero SE.  Could you get any of the three
with a V-6?  What was the first year and last that they were built?  Also,
I've heard the stories of them catching on fire, was this limited to certain
years or models?  Thanks for any information,

Randy

Randy Betke  am728@cleveland.freenet.edu


Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: aalis@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu (Al Bundy)
Subject: Re: THE DOOR HORROR
Organization: San Francisco State University
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 07:25:55 GMT

In article <1992Sep02.181220.29653%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu> mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu (Mike Suter) writes:
>>THE ANSWER:  Get a theft deterrant system like James Bond had in a Lotus - the car
>>blows up along with the cretin who touched it!  (Expensive, but fun!) :^)
>
>Or, a theft deterrant system like that on the Batmobile--arm the
>system, and the car is instantly covered in armor!
>
>Mike
>-- 
>mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu

Someone posted the cars/types of driver to avoid parking next to 
in order to protect your car from dings
1. Any dirty old clunker
2. Yuppies who treat their cars like appliance, change cars
   every so often, and don't care about yours
May I add
3. Cars with rental sticker on it -> It happened to mine :(

Regarding the Batman car armor, it would be nice if someday
somebody make an invisible shield around your car, like the
Star Trek movie.  It will make a great theft deterrent too !
BTW, is this possible at all ?  You can say that you read about
the idea here first when somebody finally come out with it :)
From: philg@zurich.ai.mit.edu (Philip Greenspun)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Trans. problem on 91 Lincoln TC
Date: 28 Aug 92 16:04:46 GMT
	<1992Aug27.152044.20485@mlb.semi.harris.com>
	<1992Aug27.162854.25897@ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM>
Reply-To: philg@martigny.ai.mit.edu
Distribution: na
Organization: M.I.T. Artificial Intelligence Lab.
In-reply-to: kent@lightnin.Columbia.NCR.COM's message of 27 Aug 92 16:28:53 GMT


In article <1992Aug27.162854.25897@ncrcae.ColumbiaSC.NCR.COM> kent@lightnin.Columbia.NCR.COM (Kent Richardson) writes:

	   1	Is this a known problem with the 91 Lincoln Town Car?

Yes, this is a known problem with Ford automatic transmission.  Just
call the NHTSA at (800) 424-9393 to request the Federal Government's
file on this vehicle and/or earlier models and I'm sure you'll see
enough reports in there to make it clear to a judge that Ford knew or
should have known about this problem.

	   2	If it is then was it enough of a problem that Lincoln will
		   fix the transmission for free?

My experience with Ford is that they will fix things for free when
ordered to do so by a judge.  Your local small claims court will be
helpful in restoring Ford's sense of responsibility.

	   3	If it is a known problem, could Lincoln be liable for fixing
		   the door?

They are liable pretty much whether it is a known problem or not under
implied warranties of merchantability and doctrines of strict
liability that were adopted in the 1960's.  Certainly the fact that
they knew of this problem and did not disclose it to you makes their
appearance in court likely to bring them grief.

Word of advice: Don't bother writing more than one letter to Ford.
They don't answer letters; they answer court summons.

Philip Greenspun
MIT Department of EE
From: bense@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Ron Bense)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Michelin MXV tire and its competitors
Date: 1 Sep 92 18:05:07 GMT
Reply-To: bense@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Ronald Bense)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In rec.autos, welty@cabot.balltown.cma.COM (richard welty) writes in
reponse to me:

#>As for hydroplaning at 45 with MXV's, did you have the V or H rated
#>tire? There seems to be *HUGE* differences in the performance of these
#>two tires.

>but hydroplaning is a property of the tread pattern, which is the same
>on both variants of the MXV, rather than of the tire compound, which is
>what is different between the two tires.  changes in tire compound
>can have a substantial effect, however, on stick to wet pavement
>w/o standing water on it.

Thanks for the info, but mine don't seem to have a hydroplaning problem,
so perhaps he had MXV2s, 3s, or 4s. They have different tread patterns,
I think. Also, I'd be willing to bet weight and weight distribution
would also factor into how soon a car hydroplanes. (It isn't up to the
tires alone, is it?)

Ron

Potassium Benzoate included as a preserver.
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Haggling with car dealers
Date: 29 Aug 92 00:34:05 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA
Originator: daemon@sword.eng.pyramid.com

In article <1992Aug28.114531.819@tcom.stc.co.uk> hale%mother@tcom.stc.co.uk writes:
>
>Does anyone have any effective techniques for haggling a car dealer in the hope of getting
>a discount? 

  Feet.  Be prepared to use them.

  Don't try to play mind games, thats about as stupid as any other
  amateur taking on a pro.  

  And be honest with yourself about what you really want.
From: erich.lim@cutting.hou.tx.us (Erich Lim) 
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: RE: HONDA CIVIC BASHING C
Date: 24 Aug 92 20:20:00 GMT
Distribution: world
Organization: The Cutting Edge - Houston, TX - 713-466-1525
Reply-To: erich.lim@cutting.hou.tx.us (Erich Lim) 

  Amy Young Leith (alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu) writes:
-> >Why buy a Civic?  Pay several thousand dollars more and get a car
-> with >personality and zip.  You'll see and use your car every day so
-> don't you >feel that it's worth the investment?  Buy a MX6 or a Probe
-> or a Talon>or a Mia
-> And you're a math and economics major???  =)
->
-> If I was able to "spend several thousands of dollars more" do you
-> think I would even CONSIDERED a Civic????
->
-> Hey, if you're going to buy a "MX6 or a Probe or a Talon or a Miate
-> or... you get the idea" why not spend just a few thousand more and
-> get a BMW or a Lotus or a... well, you get the idea.

   I agree 100% with you.  At my house I've got a BMW and an ACURA.
Paying the kind of money for top-of-the-line Talons, Probes, Integras,
Celicas are ridiculous.  For a little more, you can get the prestige and
-> Newsgroups: rec.autos
-> From: "Amy Young Leith" <alyoung@kiwi.ucs.indiana.edu>
quality of a BMW or any other European.  I've driven a 91' Iny0?...
From: craigm@chateau-rouge.ics.uci.edu (Craig MacFarlane)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: HONDA CIVIC BASHING C
Date: 31 Aug 92 16:43:01 GMT
Reply-To: craigm@ics.uci.edu (Craig MacFarlane)
Organization: Univ. of Calif., Irvine, Info. & Computer Sci. Dept.

In article <9471.74.uupcb@cutting.hou.tx.us> erich.lim@cutting.hou.tx.us (Erich Lim)  writes:
> Al, I agree with you, people think that for the price of BMW's, MB's,
>Jag's, and Porsche's they should be big, fast, comfortable, no maintance
>needed, and silent.  That's just a sterotype (some people are pretty
>ignorant).

Hey take a chill pill!!  I did as the previous poster told me to and
drove another one.  The wind noise was not apparent in the second one
I drove.  I really think you should be careful about calling people
ignorant on the net.  The purpose of all these newsgroups is the
dissemination of information.  Many people responded to my post and
provided useful information without resorting to ad hominem attacks.
Because of the information I have gathered here, and because I love the
way the car feels, I am going to purchase a 325is, as soon as I can
find a used one closer to twenty thousand than thirty thousand.

Does anybody know what factory invoice on a 325is is?

Thanks,
Craig

>Honda's are EXPENSIVE, a top of the line CIVIC costs
>$16,000!!  That's ridiculous and they always advertise them for $11,000.
> Yeah, no power anything, no A/C, no radio, etc.  Top of the line Accord
>costs $20,000 loaded, Prelude costs $24,000 (Si 4ws loaded), top of the
>line Integra GS-R costs $22,000.  The prices of Honda's are getting out
>of hand and I don't see how they can be affordable and cheap anymore.
>Even the 1991 models were quite a bit cheaper than the 92's.  Oh well,
>for all the people "FLAMING" me for my opinion on money spent on BMW's
>over Honda's,  put an end to it.  Or, I'll be flaming you also.
>
>
>Erich Lim
>
From: bense@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Ron Bense)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Solidity = Safety ?
Date: 1 Sep 92 13:10:06 GMT
Reply-To: bense@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Ronald Bense)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

In rec.autos, aalis@sfsuvax1.sfsu.edu (Al Bundy) writes:

>When I go to Auto Shows, I have a habit of slamming the car's door
>to see if it has a satisfying "thunk" when its closed.  At least
>this will give me an idea if the structure is solid or not when I
>don't have a chance to test drive it (unless the factory knows
>a way to make a tin-can car close its doors with "thunk" which I think
>won't happen because they might as well make the whole structure
>solid)

Honda, and several of the other Japaneese car makers design a solid
thunk sound into their doors, as this is what customers want to hear.
I believe they do this through sizing cavities, etc. Nothing solid about
that thunk, anymore. Sorry.

Ron

Potassium Benzoate included as a preserver.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mperlman@nyx.cs.du.edu (Marshal "Airborne" Perlman)
Subject: Re: Which car vax to use?
Organization: University of Denver, Dept. of Math & Comp. Sci.
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 92 02:57:37 GMT

tedebear@leland.Stanford.EDU (Theodore Chen) writes:

>In article <andchan.714612619@newton.amath.umanitoba.ca> andchan@newton.amath.umanitoba.ca (Andrew Chan) writes:
>>I have a relatively new (1991, non-metallic paint) car and am wondering
>>which car vax I should use.
>>
>>Plain old car vax?  NuFinish?  Luster 7?  Colorcote?

>well, for sheer selection you can't beat DEC.  they've been making
>VAXes for as long as i can remember, and they come in a bunch of sizes.
>or maybe you should try Finish 2001, which is what i've been using.  i
>wax my car about once a month, and it sits outside under trees (with all
>the bird droppings and random stuff that trees drop) all the time.
>the stuff is easy to buff off, which counts for something.
>-teddy

can this be it? the infamous CHAN VS CHEN?
--
No part of Marshal may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
translated, transcribed, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means manual,
electric, electronic, electromagnetic, mechanical, chemical, optical, or
otherwise, without prior explicit written permission from CPEX development.
Xref: sparky rec.autos:20939 rec.autos.tech:11851
From: ptfarre@afterlife.ncsc.mil (Peter Farrell)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: Some questions looking for answers
Summary: Buick questions
Date: 28 Aug 92 19:11:08 GMT
Organization: The Great Beyond

Hi, Hacksaw.

I can answer three of the many questions (to an extent).
I used to have a 1970's vintage car with a powerful V8, AC
and all that.

The 4.9 number refers to the size of the car's engine in terms
of the volume of the the cylenders. Together, the collective
volume of the engine's eight cylenders comes out to 4.9 CUBIC
liters of space. It's the metric way of doing what we used to
do when calling a car's engine size in cubic inches. The Ford
Mustangs of the 1960s often had small-block V8s lovingly called
289's because the engine cylender displacement came out to
(a relatively small) 289 cubic inches of space.

The AC system is tired and old and needs to be recharged, most
likely. The hoses and the freon it uses are factors in how chilly
it can make the car inside. With a nice big engine like that, a
properly recharged AC system ought to have you shaking in your
boots after just a little while.

Your instrument panel should probably be replaced with one that
has gauges, or you could try retro-fitting gauges alongside the
idiot lights.  It sounds to me like this would be way out of
your league at present - but if you get some good books and 
hang around with a sharp mechanic, you could probably tackle it
with some help later on.

Hope that helps.  Peter.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mns6569@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Subject: Re: Mail Order Tires
Reply-To: mns6569@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 13:12:25 GMT

Go to your (un)friendly BJ's Wholesale club. They'd mount a tire for $3.50 
and balance it for another $3.50, even if you bought tires elsewhere. They
do an OK job, if you watch them CLOSE. BTW, 4 tires would be $28. K-mart 
would charge $6 (mount) + $6 (balance) = $48 (4 tires)
And so on ad infinitum....
So, what I'm trying to say, just go or call any chain store selling tires, 
one of them will mount and balance your own tires for you. How do you think
people switch summer/winter rubber on their rims? :-)
Mike.S
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: tvervaek@col.hp.com (Tom Vervaeke)
Subject: Re: HELP!!! VANDALIZED!!!
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 16:17:22 GMT
Organization: HP Colorado Springs Division

Get a dozen disposalbe Gillette Trak-II Razors, some water,......

Good Luck.
From: daz1@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (DEMOSTHENIS A. ZEPPOS)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: RE: HONDA CIVIC BASHING C
Date: 3 Sep 92 00:07:11 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <1992Sep2.124903.28197@bnr.ca>, dclayton@bnr.ca (Don Clayton) writes:
>In article <9575.74.uupcb@cutting.hou.tx.us>, erich.lim@cutting.hou.tx.us (Eric
h Lim) writes:
>|> -> >ignorant).  Honda's are EXPENSIVE, a top of the line CIVIC costs
>|> -> >$16,000!!  That's ridiculous and they always advertise them for
>|> -> $11,000. > Yeah, no power anything, no A/C, no radio, etc.  Top of
>|> -> the line Accord >costs $20,000 loaded, Prelude costs $24,000 (Si 4ws
>|> -> loaded), top of the >line Integra GS-R costs $22,000.  The prices of
>|> -> Honda's are getting out >of hand...
>|> ->


Actually, Integras including the GS and GS-R come with without A/C.  (I know,
I just bought one and saw the sticker price and then the dealer installed
accesries.    Air Condition is a 1000 to 1300 dollar option which is what the Dealer will
usually not charge for when you haggle the price down.  Trying to lower the
price of an Ingtegra after the A/C deduction gets quite difficult, but not
impossible. Overall, I got my GS  hatchback with A/C for 17K, with taxes and tags and all.
>|> ->
                                           *DAZ*


L
>
From: billf@hpcvra.cv.hp.com (Bill Faus)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Opinions of Bronco II?
Date: 26 Aug 92 23:03:07 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Corvallis, OR, USA

I have an '84 with 120,000 miles.  I swapped in a new engine at 90K
due to oil leaking past the valve stem seals in the old motor.  
I immediately replaced the seals in the replacement motor
(wrecking yard unit...$600 with 60K miles) and haven't had
any more problems with oil consumption.  The 87 has the newer
2.9L fuel injected motor.  About 20 more horsepower. 

The short wheelbase makes this a dream car for parking
or maneuvering in tight spots.  It also detracts from
high-speed cornering ability as does the high center of gravity.

My transmission whines constantly but I've never had
any problems.  The seat position makes for relaxed 
driving.  A nice rig for ski trips, hauling the
dogs, camping, etc.  Although it would be considered
an econo vehicle compared to the current SUV's.

The motor is a revver which makes it a poor match
for an automatic.  The 5-speed gives excellent milage.

I have the version with 'shift on the fly' 4WD which
is really nice for our climate where snow and ice
come in patches.

-bill
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: crisar@rulcvx.LeidenUniv.nl (Anton van Rosmalen)
Subject: CHRYSLER LH
Organization: CRI, institute for telecommunication and computerservices.
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 09:35:26 GMT

During my stay in July in Cocoa-beach florida, i saw 2 eagle (vision) cars,
these were the badges on the cars, both  were lease cars,
after reading the road test and seeing 
photos in car-driver magazine (british) , i now know them to have
been the new Chrysler LH series..
I liked the design very much , they seemed to have huge interior space ,
good functional dashboard, all round a good design and integrated automobile.
i believe these cars have not yet been released in the states,
possible these were  test cars ....
From: wwein@scott.skidmore.edu (warren wein)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: The Lexus SC300, information wanted
Date: 3 Sep 92 19:05:03 GMT
Distribution: rec.autos
Organization: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY


	From my experiences with Lexus in New York, the cars usually
come fully equiped.  The only "option" being the cd player.  When I
was looking at the SC300 they weren't giving anything off the retail
price.  However if I were to get the car, Green would be the color.  It
is absolutely GORGEOUS!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warren Wein

'83 Audi 5000s: sport sedan from hell!!!
'86 Toyota MR2: a real sports car, fun! fun! and more FUN!
'90 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX: "Atomic M&M"  Is this thing glued to the
                                          road? 	

" Insurance in Brooklyn costs how much ?! "

e-mail: wwein@skidmore.edu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: dbinford@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (David Binford)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Old topic: Saturns
Date: 25 Aug 92 08:39:00 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin

In article <1992Aug23.194521.10423@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> mperlman@nyx.cs.du.edu 
(Marshal "Airborne" Perlman) writes:

|     wow..that saturns are well prices..

What?  Can someone translate this for the English-speaking?
--
 __^__                                                                  __^__
( ___ )----------------------------------------------------------------( ___ )
 | / |   J. David Binford   | e-mail: dbinford@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu       | \ |
 | / | 2818 Nueces St. #304 | Phone: (512) 478-5116         THIS SPACE  | \ |
 | / | Austin, Texas  78705 | Height: 6'1"  Shoe size: 11    FOR RENT   | \ |
 | / |------------------------------------------------------------------| \ |
 | / |     "If life were fair, the acquisition of a large bosom or a    | \ |
 | / | massive inheritance would have no bearing on your ability to at- | \ |
 | / | tract the opposite sex, and Dan Quayle would be making a living  | \ |
 | / | asking runny-nosed children, `Do you want fries with that?'"     | \ |
 |___|                                                   -- John Cleese |___|
(__ __)----------------------------------------------------------------(__ __)
   ^                                                                      ^
From: mikes@tellabs.com (Michael D. Schwartz)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: $758 for an oil chang
Date: 25 Aug 92 23:22:32 GMT
Article-I.D.: tellab5.1992Aug25.232232.17813
Organization: Tellabs, Inc., IL

In article <8703.74.uupcb@cutting.hou.tx.us> david.bonds@cutting.hou.tx.us (David Bonds)  writes:
>I got my '89 SHO used with 65k miles on the clock.  I got the timing belt
>(as well as all the other belts) replaced the day after I bought it.  Having
>a timing belt break will USUALLY bend most of the valves, or at least mess
>up SOMETHING, and I didn't want it to happen.  The other belts were frayed,
>so I wanted them replaced in any case.

The SHO motor is one of the engines which will not crash pistons into valves
if this happens. The worst that _should_ happen is the car will stop running.

>I replaced the plugs on mine yesterday, and after 66k miles, they looked mighty
>good.  There was minimal crud on the tip, and just a little caked in grit 
> ...
>matter of time and sweat.  Be sure to gap the new ones correctly before 
>installation, and make sure nothing falls into the cylinders (dirt, rings,
>bugs, etc) while the plugs are out.

The DIY book for the SHO indicates that the wires should also be replaced at
60,000 miles. They admonish caution in that the new wires must be routed 
exactly like the old wires were lest you suffer high-RPM cross-fire problems.

>One item of curiousity.  I installed plugs AGSP32PP from Ford (9 bucks a 
>plug, OUCH!), but the ones I pulled were all AGSP32C - I assume the PP 
>means Platinum, but what does the C mean?  Anybody?  These were OEM in
>the '89 SHO, as I was first to replace the plugs in this one.

$9 a plug is pretty good. The NGK platinum's in a friend's former Supra Turbo
were $12 a shot.

>The valve job looks like a bit more than I'm willing to get into at this point.
>I'm gonna let it slide for awhile, and get it done when I have the ~$300 to
>let the mechanic do it.

The SHO Registry had a pictorial "how to do it" on the 60K valve adjustment.
I am convinced that I will pay someone to do the job on mine.

>I'm going for the K&N from Hypertech sometime soon.  Saw the $47 price in 
>the Registry, and a friend said he thought they had them for $28 or so at 
>Hypertech.  The extra 6 HP or so you get out of it is worth the extra price,
>IMHO.

I'll stick with the paper filters. I had a K&N filter in my last car and it was
a pain in the butt (cleaning, drying, and oiling is a much longer cycle than
changing) and I couldn't tell a difference in power. Also, the K&N is rumored
to be not a great fit as well.

-- 
-

------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Schwartz     **    "What a waste it is to lose one's mind,
Tellabs, Inc.     **     or not to have a mind at all as being
Lisle, IL         **     very wasteful."
------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not sure whose opinions these are.
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: adb@geac.com (Anthony DeBoer)
Subject: Re: Caravan Advice needed
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 1992 21:18:16 GMT
Organization: Geac Canada Ltd.

In article <2820003@iftccu.boeing.com> dallen@iftccu.boeing.com (Donald Dallenbach) writes:
> ...  One more bit of information; the short 
>wheelbase Caravan is made in Canada and the Grand Caravan is made
>in St. Louis, Mo. U.S.A..  You make the call!

So as I understand it, what you're trying to say is I should make a patriotic
decision and buy the short wheelbase version?  ;-)
-- 
Anthony DeBoer       adb@geac.com | uunet!geac!adb | GEM: ANTHONY.DEBOER
Xref: sparky rec.autos:21174 rec.autos.tech:12037
From: netops@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Randy King)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,rec.autos.tech
Subject: ranger
Keywords: ranger
Date: 1 Sep 92 22:14:43 GMT
Followup-To: rec.autos
Distribution: usa
Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or.

Posting for a friend.

Specimen:

1983 Ford Ranger, 2.0 lter, YFAB/Carter carburetor, 120,000 miles, 5 spd.

Problem:

high idle. When finally goes to a normal idle, the tailpipe starts smoking.

Solution:
 ????
Newsgroups: rec.autos