HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (Rockville)
Subject: Re: Dodge Intrepid Comments
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 19:55:38 GMT

mas@skcla.monsanto.com writes:

>Anyone test drive any of the LH sedans yet - particularly the Dodge Intrepid??

I haven't, but my mom (who did training work for Chrysler over the summer) got
to drive an Intrepid in a closed-course comparison.  Mom, who actually knows
a thing or two about driving, loved the thing!  Said it handled great, rode
well, accelerated, etc. etc.  In the comparison, she also got to run an Acura
Legend, Nissan Maxima, Mitsubishi Diamante, Ford Taurus, and Pontiac Bonneville
against it.  They lost.

I am still waiting for a chance to drive one myself, but all the reviews I've
read in car magazines seem to praise it highly as well.

$0.02
-- 
Michael T. Chaffee        |****COLORADO BOYCOTTER******|  ______    
mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu | Professional Slapthologist |  \    /     HATE
Member, Universal Life Church, Sect of Loons           |   \  /  can never be
Annoyance Theatre Platinum Member |     Evil Genius    |    \/  a FAMILY VALUE
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: atovorni@engr.UVic.CA (Andreas  Tovornik)
Subject: Re: Why American cars have two keys ?
Reply-To: atovorni@engr.UVic.CA
Organization: University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 23:54:38 GMT

In article 6643@dg-rtp.dg.com, goudreau@batman.rtp.dg.com (Bob Goudreau) writes:
>In article <1992Nov4.191056.25708@sol.UVic.CA> atovorni@engr.UVic.CA writes:
>>
>>> Although, I'm not sure what
>>> you mean by "transplants" (I'm not familiar with that term).
>>
>>Transplants are cars marketed by GM but built by other manufacturers.
>
>Funny, but all the auto-industry news stories I've every seen use
>the term "transplant" to refer to a foreign company's vehicles that
>were formerly imported but are now domestically produced.  For example,
>Honda's Ohio-build Accords or Toyota's Kentucky-built Camrys in the
>United States, or Nissan's English-built vehicles in Britain.

OK, so I was wrong...
 
>Cars like GM's various Geo models (built by Japanese or Korean
>makers, but sold under a domestic nameplate) are often referred
>to as "rebadged" models.

What would you call Diamond Star? Rebadged Transplants 
                                  or Transplanted Rebadgers ?

Sorry, These beasts don't interest me! :+)

Torque Monger
From: bob1@cos.com (Bob Blackshaw)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Ethanol blended gasoline
Date: 6 Nov 92 20:13:40 GMT
Article-I.D.: cos.bob1.721080820
Distribution: usa
Organization: Corporation for Open Systems

In <1992Nov5.040209.4665@mnemosyne.cs.du.edu> sborders@nyx.cs.du.edu (Scott Borders) writes:

>I'm surprised to see that ethanol blends are more expensive than
>pure gasoline in some areas.  Here in Omaha, Nebraska, ethanol
>is always a few cents cheaper than the equivalent octane
>gasoline.

>With regard to pollution problems:  taking just *one* circa 1970
>car with bad emissions off the road is equivalent to removing
>*ten* newer cars from the highways.  In my opinion, we should 
>concentrate first on fixing/removing those autos that pollute the most.

>Just my $1.19/gallon worth :-).

You may not have a choice if what I hear about emissions test limits
is true. Apparently they are upping the limits for older cars and
you will have to make the modifications to meet them.

As the guy cheerfully said, of course you will getter better
performance and gas mileage in return. Problem is, since my
wife rarely drives her 78 Monte Carlo, it would probably
take another 14 years to recover the costs in gas savings :-(
However, if the EPA is willing to spring for a new Crown Vic,
I'd be glad to get her one :-) Oh well, only another year of
payments on mine then its her turn. Its not that we lack
consumer confidence, its just that not enough trickled
down.

>--
>Scott Borders
>sborders@nyx.cs.du.edu
>borders_scott@tandem.com 
>--
REB
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: jnielsen@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (John F Nielsen)
Subject: Re: Survey impartiality (was Re: Profits to Japan?)
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 16:30:17 GMT

>These things come immediately to mind.
>
>>Why would the Suzuki Samauri, something CU trashed have an excellent
>>reliability rating.
>
>CU trashed them as being unstable, not unreliable.  I was rather
>surprised they did this since they never mentioned that all of the
>open-air jeeps are likewise unstable.  That was when I decided CU
>really wasn't impartial.

Impartiality? Do you think they would hesiate to trash a Jeep
Wrangler? It's an American product after all. Why would they
pick on a Japanese product?

What do you mean that CU doesn't talk about instability for those
types of vechiles. They do mention that raised 4wd vechiles are less
stable than a normal car. The Samuri was one where they expereinced
it particularly bad. Is it not possible for the Samuri to have
a worse roll over tendency than some of the other vechiles in it's
class?

But, independant of reliability and it's roll-over, they did
comment poorly on the quality of Samuri in general. You think
that would have changed people's impression for reliability.

 
>>As far as I can tell you at least grant that CU can provide a
>>general guide as to ow well a car will do. I have never said
>>it was perfect. But, if for example, the plymouth acclaim
>>had black for it's transmission for the last 5 years. Would you
>>even be concerned about it? 
>
>Certainly.  It's the "general reliability" question that I feel is
>subject to societal influence.
>
>>Do you think the informstion is sp biased that one might as well
>>not even look at it?
>
>Nope, just be careful not to take the general categories literally.

Of course.

Well, then I don't understand what your qualm is about. Granted you
say it is not perfect, but you say it can be useful. So, then
why don't you want to consult it?

john
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
John Nielsen   MAGNUS Consultant            ______   ______   __  __	
"I can't compete with you physically,      /\  __ \ /\  ___\ /\ \/\ \
and you're no match for my brains."   	   \ \ \/\ \\ \___  \\ \ \_\ \
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: wesf@boi.hp.com (Wes Fujii)
Subject: Re: INFO on Radar Det. and Window Tint
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 19:22:06 GMT
Organization: Hewlett-Packard / Boise, Idaho
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1.4 PL6]

$sawchukjr@brandonu.ca wrote:
: Also, I am very interested in what kind of laws there are in the
: different states in regards to window tint on vehicles.
: In Manitoba, there is no current law as to how dark you can go.
: But they are trying to propose a law which will restrict
: the percentage.  If this new law in our province does go
: through, what will happen to people who had their windows tinted
: before the law comes out?  Tinting is expensive to have done,
: and there would be a lot of pissed off individuals if they would
: have to remove it.

In Idaho, if your vehicle was tinted dark BEFORE the law went into
effect, you could get a waiver that allows you to keep it.  This
waiver can also be sold with the car so the new owner can have the
dark tint, too (dark and Limo are both too dark for the current law).
If you are stopped, you just have to produce the waiver (signed by
the Idaho State Patrol).  

Restrictions:

     1) If you ever have to have the glass replaced, you can only
        replace it with medium and lighter tint
     2) If you can not produce a waiver when stopped, you will be
        fined
     3) If you drive outside Idaho with your dark tint, the Idaho
        waiver will not protect you from tickets in surrounding
        states
     4) Factory tint darker than the limit are waived automatically

Wes Fujii

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Wes Fujii               *           JAPANESE BUSINESS MOTTO           *
* Boise, Idaho            *        You can buy anything you want        *
* wesf@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com *             with a lot of money             *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Xref: sparky rec.autos:26773 misc.consumers:19079
From: stanton@haas.berkeley.edu (Richard Stanton)
Newsgroups: rec.autos,misc.consumers
Subject: What radar detector should I buy?
Date: 14 Nov 1992 06:06:38 GMT
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: haas.berkeley.edu

I used to own a pretty cheap radar detector which I bought from DAK about
5 years ago. It saved me from at least 2 tickets on a 2 month cross country
trip (but I got zapped by a car sitting at the top of a freeway on-ramp).
However, it was a real pain in giving me false positive readings. In town, or
near a shopping mall, or just for no apparent reason, it would start to
squawk, I'd have a heart attack, then realise it was just a false alarm.
Setting it to "CITY" helped, but not enough.

Anyway, that got stolen. I'm thinking about getting another, and wonder what
to buy. Do I need a 3 band / laser model? Are some less prone to false alarms
than others, or do they all tend to go off about 10 times for each positive
police sighting? How much should I spend.

Thanks for any suggestions

Richard Stanton
From: sgerrell@ncratl.AtlantaGA.NCR.COM (Stephen Gerrells)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Ford F150 & Rangers - Which years to stay away from?
Date: 13 Nov 92 15:06:04 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: NCR Engineering and Manufacturing Atlanta -- Atlanta, GA

In article <LEE.92Nov10124201@ace.npac.syr.edu> lee@ace.npac.syr.edu (Lee C. Brink) writes:
>
>I looking to buy either a used F150 or a Ranger, and I would like to
>hear the opinion of the net.  As with any model, some years are worse than
>others.  Which years should I stay away from?
>
Opinions of a very biased reader !!!!

You don't say what you plan to use the truck for so I'll give you my
preferences.  
Any model Ford truck F100/F150 is good.  I prefer a short wheel base, V8,
automatic, with AC.  These tend to have a better resale value than some of the
others.  Both 2WD and 4WD are OK it depends on what you are looking for, but
expect to pay more than what is listed in most average retail books (or at
least that's the way it is here in North GA).  I would recommend staying away
from the mid 80's models with a V6.

The Rangers are also very good trucks.  Later models with Fuel injection, both
4 cyl. and 6 cyl. have substantially more power than earlier, non-fuel injected
trucks.  Automatics are harder to find but worth the extra price when you try toresale them.

Again I say, anything with Ford on the hood and a bed is a good truck !!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These opinions are mine and don't reflect those of my employer or anyne else !!

Stephen Gerrells
NCR E&M - Atlanta.
sgerrell@ncratl.AtlantaGA.NCR.COM
-- 
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: lcarr@gmuvax2.gmu.edu
Subject: Buying a used car
Organization: George Mason University
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 18:43:42 GMT



Hi.  
I am an avid reader of this newsgroup, but this is the first time 
I have posted.  I am getting ready to rid myself of my present
vehicle.  It's an 82 Nissan Stanza HB that has just begun to be too
much of a pain to keep up.  ( I believe this is more due to the previous
owner than the quality of the car.)

Anyway, I am thinking of buying a used car from an individual rather
than a dealer simply because I am a college student and feel that I 
could probably get a better deal that way.  

So, what I would like to know is does anyone have any suggestions
about how I should go about this?  I do plan on test driving and taking
the car to a mechanic to have it looked over.  I have also read about
running a magnet over the panels to test for body work. ( I assume this
really works.)

Right now I am interested in either a VW Golf or Jetta with manual transmission
between the years of 82 - 86.  Any information on the reliablity and possible
repair problems would be greatly appreciated.  

-lisa

  * email lcarr@gmuvax.gmu.edu preferred, however if you posting to the 
    newsgroup is fine too since I am a regular reader... 8)

  * sig in the works......

From: denny@hpscit.sc.hp.com (Trueman Denny)
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 21:18:51 GMT
Subject: Re: Analog Brake Light
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA
Newsgroups: rec.autos

Electronics magazine had an article on CHMSL brake lights.  The circuit used

a 555 timer and when you applied the brake it would make the CHMSL flash a

set number of times before the CHMSL would stay on.  I beleive it was about

two or three years ago that I saw the article.  The Cupertino Library carries

back issues.
From: cmfb@cray.com (Chris Bone)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: non OEM filters
Date: 9 Nov 92 21:33:44 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Cray Research Inc

If someone has the MoterWeek list of recommended non-OEM filters (plugs etc)
I would sure appreciate a summary.
Regards
-- 
           __
          /  ) /             
         /    /_  __  o _
        (__/ / /_/ (_/_/_)_ Z*Mail - Simm-City for all platforms
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Mike Mshar)
Subject: Re: FLAME! Only a Manual!
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 19:02:08 GMT

> steven@syacus.acus.oz.au (Steven Malikoff) writes:

>
>A question for those who drive automatics: Have you *ever* seen a racing
>car (F1, Indy, Stock, Rally, etc.) that has an auto transmission?

Have you ever seen a race car with real power, i.e. a drag car, with a
manual??


-- 
|       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 <<<____|
From: jtchew@csa3.lbl.gov (Ad absurdum per aspera)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Is GM going bankrupt ???
Date: 12 Nov 1992 12:14 PST
Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory - Berkeley, CA, USA
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: 128.3.254.198
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

It's too complex to go into here (your local public library or
B-school bookstore can refer you to a good text) but for businesses
larger than Kharkas Rug Emporium ("Serving the Metro Area since 1991"),
bankruptcy does not usually equate to "going out of business."  It's a
legal refuge from secured creditors who want to seize your assets or
otherwise force you to do things you wouldn't want to do in order to
please them, while you formulate a debt reorganization plan that satisfies
the bankruptcy court.  Think of it as a way to keep the buzzards from 
actually pecking at your flesh while you still think you can crawl to
the oasis.  Some examples may be found in the airline industry.

Bankruptcy WOULD be very traumatic for everybody -- employees, stock-
holders, the UAW, you name it -- but large elements of this huge and
somewhat diverse company would continue to exist, perhaps as part of
an altered GM, perhaps as spun-off independent companies, perhaps as
parts of other companies.  It's hard to imagine Hughes or the aero-
space version of Delco or Detroit Diesel/Allison disappearing simply
because somebody they never met couldn't sell enough Olds Achievas.

In fact, it's hard to imagine them not making cars, and those cars
would probably still use Saginaw steering gear, Delco ignition, etc.
They *do* have the ability to make cars, which is not as trivial as
it may seem (hello, Mr. DeLorean?  No answer.  Mr. Bricklin?) and
plainly can be profitable if it's done right.  

All this, of course, would be cold comfort to individual employees
whose jobs or entire plants were deemed superfluous.  But in some
form, much of GM would survive.

--Joe
"Just another personal opinion from the People's Republic of Berkeley"
From: lstowell@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Underdrive pullys - Any experiences?
Date: 14 Nov 92 02:02:59 GMT
Reply-To: lstowell@pyrnova.pyramid.com (Lon Stowell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA

In article <Bxnw3x.K7C@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> mshar@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Mike Mshar) writes:
>
>Now, a car engine has an operating range of someting on the order of 600
>rpm up to 4500-6500 rpm, depending on the engine. So, if the designers
>designed a car alternator like an aircraft alternator, the alternator would
>spin too fast at the high end of enigne speeds. This can lead to arcing in
>the alternator, mechanical failure, and other problems. So, the alternator
>must be made to turn slower at idle speed. This is why car alternators
>(like mine) do not put out much power at idle speeds, especially if any
>accessories are being used (rear defroster, A/C, etc). 
>
   Most idle speeds are in the 200 range.  And 7000 doesn't hurt it
   a bit.

   The problem is really only apparent on SOME cars....those with
   teeny alternators.  Some real name brands have only 30 ampere
   alternators.  Put some aftermarket lights on them with the fan on
   high and A/C on + an aftermarket stereo, and a VOLVO (34 ampere)
   will drain the battery.  Put a 80 ampere Delco alternator on it,
   and no problems.
From: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Stick VS Auto.
Date: 13 Nov 1992 01:46:51 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc5.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, derek@nezsdc.icl.co.nz (Derek Tearne) says:

>In article <1dn1s8INN6t5@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> aas7@po.CWRU.Edu (Andrew A. Spencer) writes:
>>
>>
>>WRONG!!...that is what drivers ed is for..this is why they should be taught
>>in sticks...after you learn to do it all in a stick..the autos are a piece
>    ^^^^^^
>Perhaps learning in cars would be a good idea :-)
>
>>of cake!...going auto to stick is quite a traumatizing experience..much more
>>so than going stick to auto.
>
>How much more traumatic do you think it is to learn _from scratch_ using
>a manual gearbox.  Many of us did just that and can vaguely remember, 
>you however, didn't.  
>

actually..it's a debate which i learned first..i learned to shift a stick
long before i ever touched an auto..i shifted for my mother..yeah..from
the right seat(that's the passanger seat for ye ol' non USeans readin'!)
.but the first car i ever "drove"(as in..manuvered on a public road) was
indeed an auto...but..i already knew the idosychrasis(sp) of the manual
that i drove after i'd shifted it for a couple years...even thogh i was
in the wrong seat..:-)  you decide which i learned to drive in...i don't
care which you want to claim i learned in..it is still easier to make 
the manual-auto conversion than vice versa...
DREW
-- 
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?????????????????????????????????-----whatever!
Newsgroups: rec.autos
From: mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu (Rockville)
Subject: Re: INFFINITI vs BMW vs Mustang
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 04:20:19 GMT

atl@kpc.com (Drew Lynch) writes:

>  I traded in my BMW 320i on a 5.0 convertible Mustang, and I couldn't be happier.  IMHO BMWs are very well designed cars, and need very little skill to be driven well.  The Mustang on the other hand has much more to offer the enthusiast, and at a much lower price.

Before somebody tries to kill me (thanks for restraining yourself Drew), let
me just say that the BMW and the Mustang are in fact apples and oranges.  I
must confess that I hate Mustangs, Camaros, etc.  because they are not amenable
to my style of driving.  Personally, I think the best of all worlds is still
a BMW 325i with an M5 engine stuffed in.  It has been done, and yes Virginia,
the thing kicks ass.
-- 
Michael T. Chaffee        |****COLORADO BOYCOTTER******|  ______    
mchaffee@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu | Professional Slapthologist |  \    /     HATE
Member, Universal Life Church, Sect of Loons           |   \  /  can never be
Annoyance Theatre Platinum Member |     Evil Genius    |    \/  a FAMILY VALUE
From: mtan@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (Maureen Tan)
From: c23st@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com (Spiros Triantafyllopoulos)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: saturn/OLDs speculation
Date: 5 Nov 92 20:05:43 GMT
Organization: Delco Electronics Corp.

In article <2097@shaman.wv.tek.com> andrew@frip.wv.tek.com writes:
>There's an interesting article on GM, with discussions of Saturn and
>Olds, in the 9 Nov 92 issue of Time magazine (in the U.S. at least).
>One fascinating tidbit: Saturns are priced *below* their burdened cost
>in an effort to jump-start the market.  ("We lose money on every sale,
>but we make it up in volume!")  This from a company that files suit
>whenever they perceive "dumping" by foreign competitors.

Gee. I guess the term 'N years to break even' has not occured to you.
If we believe the figures Business week and others have provided for
US Transplant plants, they're STILL losing money (some even after
10 years), and despite drastically lower labor costs, and despite
lower startup costs (since all transplant plants build models previously
designed/built somewhere else), plus lower tooling/etc costs since
no new technologies were used as opposed to Saturn. 

I do not remember the exact figure for losses of transplants but it was
a rather staggering amount. A little math will also show that at 250,000
cars a year (full production), each returning $1,000 to the FACTORY, 
that's 1,000 * 250,000 is 250,000,000 dollars/year. I'll throw in another
50,000,000 a year for parts. That's 300,000,000 a year. At this rate,
the 3,000,000,000 (3 Billion) dollars invested in Saturn will take
10 years at zero percent financing. Transplant factories (since they
do not design what they build and have no engineering or administrative
expenses are probably into the 300,000,000 dollars/plant for a decent
size plant. Even at that cost, transplants still lose money.

My calculator, my opinions. Obviously.

Spiros
-- 
Spiros Triantafyllopoulos                    c23st@kocrsv01.delcoelect.com
Software Technology, Delco Electronics       striantafyll@kosds1.gm.hac.com
GM Hughes Electronics, Kokomo, IN 46904      [A Different Kind of Disclaimer]
From: aj336@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Pat Weber)
Newsgroups: rec.autos
Subject: Re: Quick radar question about traffic ticket
Date: 12 Nov 1992 17:56:06 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc10.ins.cwru.edu


Let's face it, the speed laws on hiways are PRIMARILY designed to raise 
revenue for the sate. 
In the Cleveland area, they have hired dozens of hiway patrolmen
to 'stamp out' speeders even tho there's been are no increase in fatalities.
Further, guess when the State Hiway Revenuers are on patrol - late at
night picking up drunks? In the morning and afternoon protecting
our children getting on/off buses? NO! During rush hours! There's lots
of customers on the road. I've seen hiway patrol pull over cars as fast
as they can ticket one and pull over another - it's non stop. If so
many 'speed' then the law is wrong!
 
There's a local community that get's 85% of there city revenue from
speeding tickets - any conflict of interest here?
If the police were REALLY interested in safety & not the money, they's
divert all traffic fines to some charity. As is, the system is self 
serving and out of control.
Newsgroups: rec.autos