waashk/20ng huggingface dataset:
In a previous article, george.howell%goucher@wb3ffv.ampr.org (George Howell) says:  >GM has always screwed the rest of the divisions in favor of the >Corvette. The current platform is no exception. The "detuned" Camaro and >Firebird is a load of crap to keep people from realizing that they can >buy one of these instead of a Corvette and save about $10,000. > >I like the idea of an Impala SS, but if they really wanted to impress >me, they would throw in a big phat 454. Imagine the cops in their Taurus >police package 3.0 and 3.8 litres as they stare at your taillights...   gimme a break!  you KNOW chevy'd screw that up just like that almost great truck with the "big phat 454".  Have you ever seen the mufflers on that  thing??it's amazing it moves....(which isn't to say it's not a good idea, but i'm quite sure chevy'd screw it up the same way)
In article <C5K9M5.7Ku@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu> callison@uokmax.ecn.uoknor.edu (James P. Callison) writes: > >If I hear someone screwing with my car (ie, setting off the alarm) and >taunting me to come out, you can be damn sure that my Colt Delta Elite >will also be coming with me. It's not the screwing with the car that'd >get them shot, it's the potential physical danger. If they're >taunting like that, it's very possible that they also intend to rob >me and/or do other physically harmful things.
Remember roads in America are NOT designed for speeds above 80 meaning they would be safe at 55-65. Roads like the Autobahn are smoother, straiter, wider and slightly banked.   Example: A few months back I was traveling late at  night ( 3:00 am or so) and I was changing highways at a bent crosssing. It  curved off to the south east becoming hidden by trees after about 1,000 ft and continued to the left strait north. I wanted to turn north, checked the south lane, rolled into the crossing and checked the north lane. Nevertheless there wasn't  a car in sight, so I took one last look and pulled into the left hand lane. Now my car isn't a 5 sec 0-60 performer but I was in the corect lane and  over 40 in decent time, even at 3:00 I wasn't wasting time. It was then that I checked my mirror and saw a Mustang closing in my lane *FAST*, he  had just turned the corner and was just noticing me. Luckly he saw me and  changed lanes in time, I estamate he was moving in excess of 90 or so. I was just a by stander, I had no chance of runing from him, or moving out  of his way. I'm glad he saw my brake lights in time. I shudder to  think of what would have happened had I wainted to pull out and not  left the time he needed to dodge me.  Rule: Just because your car can do 100+, and  your way is clear, don't assume it will stay that way.
Before we get into another discussion on the relative merits of a car alarm, let's go on the assumption that one is desired.  The question then remains, which one?  I've owned a Hornet, and was satisfied, but not enough to get another for my new car.  The Alpine has been highly recommended, but what about Clifford and VSE's Derringer 2?  Any others?  I want all of the standard stuff; door lock interface, starter kill, light flash, LED, valet mode, passive/active, shock/motion sensor, etc...  Thanks for the advice!
I consulted with someone working on an electronic odometer.  The design was to use a microprocessor based system to write a somewhat ofuscated pattern into an EEPROM.  The idea was to make the circuit difficult to program arbitrary values into the EEPROM.  The secondary purpose, acutally the primary purpose from the standpoint of practicality, was to distributed the writes so as to avoid exceeing the maximum number of writes fof the EEPROM being used. The microprocessor also ignored pulses coming from the Hall effect at a rate any higher than 110 MPH so as to make spoofing the reading by bench pulsing at least somewhat undesirable.  This was for an automobile that was not expected to ever exceed 110 MPH in operation.  The case, of course, might not be the same for your 1993 RX-7!  The ECM modules of some cars do indeed store info about conditions under which cars have been operated.  Since steering angle and velocity data, etc is available it would not be difficult to collect all sorts of interesting demographic information about the drivers' use of the car.  I am not aware of any manufacturer currently trying to enforce warranty restrictions based on reading out use data from the ECM.  While it could be a potential invasion of your privacy for manufacturers to have access to data about your driving style, it could also provide valuable information from actual field use conditions to help engineer more appropriate cars. I personally wouldn't mind the dealer collecting my driving demographics as long as it is done in an anonymous fashion.
In article <CONRADIE.49.735390036@firga.sun.ac.za> CONRADIE@firga.sun.ac.za (Gerrit Conradie) writes:  [Much discussion about economics of safety deleted]  >Safety is an important criterium for me when buying a car. I won't buy a  >small car like a Civic or whatever. > >Great = Safety + Handling + Speed  -  for me > >Seems to me that you would be more "dead" in a small car than a large car  >after an accident.  This is a very simplistic view of safety. Assuming that you are in a collision (less likely with a more agile smaller car), then the important factor is how well does the car sacrifice itself to save you. This is why a thousand pound F1 car can hit a wall at 200 and the driver walks out and why everybody dies when a Suburban hits a wall at 35 (as I recall for the last generation Suburban HIC numbers).   As an aside, just what is the point of an airbag? It seems to me that seatbelts with pretensioners (Audi et al), or a good tight 5 point belt  will prevent you every moving far enough to hit the airbag. You might be  saved from some flyign glass? Or is an airbag just a lowest common denominator safety device that is of some use in a head on collision when you are wearing no seat belt?
hanguyen@megatest.com (Ha Nguyen) writes:  >In article <1993Apr14.203800.12566@progress.com> damelio@progress.COM (Stephen D'Amelio) writes: >>bmoss@grinch.sim.es.com (Brent "Woody" Moss) writes: >> >>>You could take a screw driver and hammer and start punching holes in >>>various locations and when some black slippery stuff starts pouring >>>out then you would know that the oil drain plug is nearby (within a foot >>>or two anyway). Close the holes with toilet paper before refileing with oil >>>though. >> >>You have to *refill* the engine with oil! Wow, no wonder I can't get >>an engine to last more than my first oil change. Don't forget to >>punch holes in the radiator too, it will spray nice refreshing water >                    ^^^^^^^^ >>on the engine and keep it nice & cool. ;-) >> >>-Steve  >Gee, you really make me confused.  What is radiator?  Where is it located? >What does it look like?  Will it release any radiation (since it sounds  >like radia-tion genera-tor) when you punch holes?   Of course it releases radiation! Thats why your car goes faster when you punch the holes in it. All that radiation gets on your engine and gives it "pep" (scientific term). You get more horsepower & torque too! If you don't know what HP & torque are, you can read mile long threads on the subject, but they are all wrong. Horsepower is how much power a horse can make pulling a Subaru, and torque is a name invented by Craftsman for a wrench.
A list of options that would be useful. They can be existing options on a car, or things you'd like to have...  1) Tripmeter, great little gadget. Lets you keep rough track of    mileage, makes a good second guesser for your gas gauge...  2) Full size spare  3) Built in mountings and power systems for radar detectors.  4) a fitting that allows you to generate household current with the engine running, and plug ins in the trunk, engine compartment and cabin.  Feel free to add on...  Regards, Charles x
In article <1qk5m9$pbe@news.ysu.edu> ak296@yfn.ysu.edu (John R. Daker) writes: >> >>I was worried about someone stealing my oil once also. I finally  >>decided to just have my drain plug welded shut. It works great ! >>I figure that when I add three or four quarts when the oil light >>comes on every month or so that it's just as good or better than >>the old wives tale of changing the oil AND filter every 3000 miles. >>Works for me, I must say.  >> > >I did the same thing to my drain plug for the same reasons.  I was wondering >how you filled your crankcase though as I welded my hood shut also out of fear >that somebody might steal my air-filter.  Oh come on, Silly, all you have to do is cut a hole in your hood and  put a tube there so you can get to the oil fill hole.  What do you think all those big air intake things are for on those hot-rod cars? They're just for looks only...little does anyone know, they provide access to the oil-fill hole.
In a previous article, dwjz@bnr.ca (Doug Zolmer) says:  >In article <1993Apr21.100149.1501@rtsg.mot.com>, kissane@black.Berkeley.EDU (John G. Kissane) writes: >|> As a matter of interest does anyone know why autos are so popular in the US while  >|> here in Europe they are rare??? Just wondering..... > >In many of our cities, there are traffic signals every 100 feet (unsynchronised, >of course (well here in Ottawa anyway)) and the roads are so congested that  >shifting manually is a real pain in the left foot.  Also, most Canadians are >too stupid to learn how to shift manually (gee, I gotta co-ordinate my two >feet on the clutch, brake _and_ accelerator, and I gotta steer, shift _and_ >operate the signals (optional) and radio with my two hands... duh... it   [i agree wholeheartedly!!]  >can't be done).  Also, most North American made cars come with the automatic  >as standard equipment, so why bother with a manual when the car can shift  >for you for no addition money.  not sure about there in CA, but here in US, the manuals are quite often the standard equipment.  Of course, FINDING a car with one might be hard, but if you read the sticker on the window, there is usally an additional 2k or so tacked on for that lousy  tranny.  So you actually ARE paying more, just that it's sometimes hard to find one that is equipped "standard".  (this applies to MOST cars, but not to the luxoyachts..eg caddilac, licolns, etc..)
tobias@convex.com (Allen Tobias) writes:  >In article <1993Apr15.024246.8076@Virginia.EDU> ejv2j@Virginia.EDU ("Erik Velapoldi") writes: >>This happened about a year ago on the Washington DC Beltway. >>Snot nosed drunken kids decided it would be really cool to >>throw huge rocks down on cars from an overpass.  Four or five >>cars were hit.  There were several serious injuries, and sadly >>a small girl sitting in the front seat of one of them was struck  >>in the head by one of the larger rocks.  I don't recall if she  >>made it, but I think she was comatose for a month or so and  >>doctors weren't holding out hope that she'd live.  	The girl's OK, actually, and she recovered well enough to go home.  I don't know if she has any permanent damage, though.  Just in case anybody was concerned...  >> >>What the hell is happening to this great country of ours?  I >>can see boyhood pranks of peeing off of bridges and such, but >>20 pound rocks??!  Has our society really stooped this low?? >> >>Erik velapold  	If people start forcing others to take responsibility for their actions things like this wouldn't happen.  Untill we stop blaming outside causes, and start blaming the criminals, we will continue to let things like this happen.
I have manual transmission 5 speed. It difficult to engage gear. Does xmission oil change improve this situation? What do you think about the most favorable xmission oil change period?
In article <1993Apr5.212645.15988@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>   kenyon@xqzmoi.enet.dec.com (Doug Kenyon (Stardog Champion)) writes: >  > It's great that all these other cars can out-handle, out-corner, and   out- > accelerate an Integra. >  > But, you've got to ask yourself one question: do all these other cars   have > a moonroof with a sliding sunshade?  No wimpy pop-up sunroofs or power > sliding roofs that are opaque.  A moonroof that can be opened to the   air, > closed to let just light in, or shaded so that nothing comes in. >  > You've just got to know what's important :^). >  > -Doug > '93 Integra GS hahaha ... my sentiments exactly.
In article <1r1vofINN871@usenet.pa.dec.com> tomacj@opco.enet.dec.com (THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO !!!) writes: >	Are there any MR2 owners or motor-head gurus out there, that know why >my MR2's engine sounds noisy? The MR2's engine is noisy at the best of times,  >but not even a nice nose - it's one of those very ugly noises.   assuming yours is a non turbo MR2, the gruffness is characteristic of a large inline 4 that doesn't have balance shafts.  i guess toyota didn't care about "little" details like that when they can brag about the mid engine configuration and the flashy styling.  myself, i automatically cross out any car from consideration (or recommendation) which has an inline 4 larger than 2 liters and no balance shafts..  it is a good rule of thumb to keep in mind if you ever want a halfway decent engine.    if the noise really bugs you, there is nothing else that you can do except to sell it and get a V6.
Antonio L. Balsamo (Save the wails) (balsamo@stargl.enet.dec.com) wrote:  : From: OPDBS@vm.cc.latech.edu : Subject: Taurus/Sable rotor recall  :        My '92 Taurus GL with only 26k on the clock also has rotor warp. :    Apparently they HAVEN'T fixed the problem yet.  But try convincing the Ford :    service person to fix it for free...Right!!!  :    Tony   Gads, I have heard so many horror stories with Taurus and Sable cars!  I thought these were premium American automobiles.  The way they sell, you'd think so. Is Ford really no better than in the late '70s when it was turning out tin cans like the Granada and the Fairmount?  Which would you get, a Taurus or  a Camry or Accord?
: Ford and his automobile.  I need information on whether Ford is : partially responsible for all of the car accidents and the depletion of : the ozone layer.  Also, any other additional information will be greatly : appreciated.  Thanks.  :  SSSSSoooooooooooo!!!!! Its all HIS fault!! Thank God Louis Chevrolet is  innocent! and that guy Diesel, HE otto feel guilty!
In article <1993Apr17.014638.56998@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu>, rwf2@ns1.cc.lehigh.edu (R OBERT WILLIAM FUSI) writes: >In article <23056.74.uupcb@cutting.hou.tx.us>, david.bonds@cutting.hou.tx.us (D a >vid Bonds) writes: >>In rec.autos, CPKJP@vm.cc.latech.edu (Kevin Parker) writes: >> I'd like to get some feedback on a car with most bang for the buck in the >> $13000 to 16,000 price range. I'm looking for a car with enough civility to b e >> driven every day, or even on long trips, but when I hit the gas, I want to fe e >l >> >>Take a look at a '91 Taurus SHO - they can be found for ~13k, and are the >>ultimate in 4 door sports cars.  Performance similar to a Mustang, but >>quite civil and comfortable...  Try to get a late model 91 for the better >>shifter. >> >> > >>---- >>The Cutting Edge BBS (cutting.hou.tx.us)   A PCBoard 14.5a system >>Houston, Texas, USA   +1.713.466.1525          running uuPCB > >>Well, you could always go with a 5.0 Mustang LX with a pleasant V8, but the >diamond star cars (Talon/Eclipse/Laser) put out 190 hp in the turbo models, >and 195 hp in the AWD turbo models,  These cars also have handling to match >the muscle, and are civil in regular driving conditions, rather than having a >harsh, stiff ride....The AWD Turbo is clearly the better choice of the two >(because of all that torque steer on the front drive model), but you may have >to go with a leftover or "slightly" used model for that price range....tough >decision... > >        Rob Fusi >        rwf2@lehigh.edu > >-- > Car and Driver did a test with the same basic idea and chose the Ford Probe GT (5sp of course) >
wrat@unisql.UUCP (wharfie) writes:  $ [...] $ 	Actually, you want a Checker Special if you can find one.  $ 	Good luck.  I'm sorry I let mine go...  I grew up in New York City so I rode in many Checker cabs.  The jump seats were fun as a kid.  Although the cars were roomy -- a good trait for a taxi -- they had a design flaw that I don't understand they never fixed: the rear passengers tended to fall out of their seats when the driver braked.  I wouldn't want to take a long ride in the back seat of one of these vehicles.  Why did you like yours?  I never drove one, so I have to ask.
In article <C5JoIt.E31@bcstec.ca.boeing.com> neil@bcstec.ca.boeing.com (Neil Williams) writes: >As long as we're on the subject... Several years ago myself and two others >were riding in the front of a Toyota pickup heading south on Interstate 5 >north of Seattle, WA. Someone threw a rock of an overpass and hit our >windshield. Not by accident I'm sure, it was impossible to get up to the >overpass quickly to see who did it. We figured it was kids, reported it and >left. >A couple of years ago it happend again and killed a guy at my company. He was >in his mid-fourties and left behind a wife and children. Turned out there was >a reformatory for juviniles a few blocks away. They caught the 14 year old >that did it. They put a cover over the overpass, what else could they do?  Execute the juvi on the grounds of the reformatory, required attendendence by the rest of the inmates, as soon as possible after the incident and a quick sure trial.  I am quite serious.  Cause and effect.  Nothing else will ever make a dent.  >I don't think I'll over forget this story. >Neil Williams, Boeing Computer Services, Bellevue WA.  Me neither.
In article 6126@midway.uchicago.edu, buzy@quads.uchicago.edu (Len Buzyna) writes: >Hi there, >I've recently been toying with the idea of purchasing an old 914. The going >rate seems to be about $4000 for cars with anywhere from 40-80K Mi. >My question is this- what should I expect at this price? Should I expect to >have extensive body work done? What about engine & transmission- should I >likewise expect to have both virtually replaced? Along those lines, >does anyone have the names & addresses of any mail-order parts >suppliers for everything from engine to body parts? I'm completely new >to the area of restoring cars, and as I don't actually do any work with >cars, most of the work would have to be professionally done- what sould >I expect the cost of upgrading a 914 to a rust-free, mechanically >sound automobile? >Thanks in advance, >Andre  >.. >  True 914 enthusiasts will be able to give you a better answer then this but I'll dump my impressions.  I've wanted to own a 914 for about 10 years now; came close once but I ended up buying a Fiero instead (biggest mistake of my life!)  Anyway, for $4000 you should be able to get a nice car but your also set in the price range to get taken by a nice looker that is a pile of shit. The most common total failure for the car would be frame rust between the engine and passenger compartment.  Also look for chassis welded together here.  Oh yeah, the price range you are talking about must be the 4 banger; a 6 (if you could find one) would be mucho more bucks.  Parts for the engine are pretty easy to come by (for an old car) and you can even locate crude in the JC Whitney catalog if you have too.  The machine itself is pretty simple (they use the spare tire for windshild washer instead of a pump fer chris sake!) so getting it fixed by a good bug/porsche mechanic would be easy.  Since it is mid-engine you may spend more on labor for any mechanical work.
CHINTS@ISCS.NUS.SG writes: > Here are "another" ten reasons why we should all love CR > 10. Car salesmen love their new car buying service > [...] > 7. Car Salesmen/rec.auto readers turned into "expert" statistics critics > [...] > 5. Lucky owners of CR unreliable cars who say "Mine never had a problem" > 4. Those same owners joining the sceptics a few months later > 3. And later subscribing to CR and taking it soooo seriously > 2. And later on buying a CR "idealized family sedan"  And my number 1:  1. The spectacle of the religious fervour of the CR "true believers".
In article <1993Apr24.145353.8006@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> bqueiser@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Brian J Queiser) writes:  On the subject of the upcoming new Mustang:  >I do not put much stock in the mag rags' "inside" information, or even >Ford rep quotes.  The Taurus was pretty much a surprise when it was >finally disclosed in it's entirety.  "Inside" information had the >Taurus with a V8 and rear-wheel drive at one point.  I wouldn't look >for a simple re-paneled Mustang, folks; you may be cheating yourself >if you do.  There's a lot of potential.  Ford hasn't released a new >car without a 4-wheel IS in 7 years.  The Mustang project has been >brewing for at least 4, right?  A 4-wheel IS could happen.  Those >modular V8's are out there, too.  In the interest of CAFE and >competition, don't rule those out, either.   Your ignorant if you do. >And there are so many spy shots and artist renderings out there, >who really knows what it'll look like?  The Mach III?  Doubt it. >Highly. > >The next Mustang will be Ford's highest profile car.  It attracts >way more attention than the Camaro/Firebird because it's heritage >is more embedded in the general public.  Don't lie to yourself and >believe Ford will forfeit that.   The car magazines have printed a lot of information about the new Mustang and the consensus about what to believe in my "car circle" is that the  suspension pieces and tuning will be almost identical to the current Cobra, but on a stiffer body structure which will improve its behavior. After the MN12 (Thunderbird) cost and weight debacle, Ford decided  independent rear suspension with rear wheel drive won't be tried again in  a volume car.    The current 4.9l V-8 will soldier on for about two years.  A version of the 32 valve modular V-8 in the Mark VIII could be offered then.  Ford is spending big money tooling up for 2.5l and 3.5l V-6 engines which will power most of their cars in the immediate future, and therefore probably do not consider volume production of 300 hp V-8 engines a priority.   Undisguised, the car looks OK, but not nearly as exciting as the new Camaro/Firebird, IMO.    I suspect Ford will produce their car with higher quality than GM will  achieve with the Camaro/ Firebird.  The way GM loses money, the temptation to "just get them out the door" for the sake of positive cash flow will be  great once demand really takes off.
parr@acs.ucalgary.ca (Charles Parr) writes:  >>>My TOP 10 list of dumbest automotive concepts ever >>> >>>9. Back-up lights on Corvette - they're on the sides of the car! >>              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ >>Sure would be interested to know what year(s) this was! >>I don't seem to recall ANY car with back-up lights on the sides, much >>less any Corvette.  I suppose I could be mis-interpreting what you are >>trying to say here.....  >Just a quick comment. Backup lights mounted on the side >would actually be *extremely* useful for people backing out of >parking stalls...  While I can't think of any Corvettes with side mounted backup lights, I know that Saab started using them about 15 years ago.  My 1975 Saab 99 didn't have them, but a friend's 1978 Saab 99 certainly did.  In addition to the confentional tail-light mounted backup lights, they had another set integrated into the front turn signal assembly.  For those of you who don't remember, Saabs of that vintage had an enormous multicoloured plastic growth, about the size of a _National Geographic_ magazine, sticking out of the front fender, which incorporated amber "parking lights", amber side marker lights/reflectors, white "cornering lamps" (like American luxury cars) aimed towards the side of the road when you have your turn indicators on, and white "backup lights" aimed towards the back of the car when you have selected reverse gear.  The glossy brochure showed how these front mounted backup lights were useful for illuminating hazards (pot holes, kid's toys, etc) that would be run over by the front of the car if you had the wheels turned while backing up.