--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00000 Date: 02/09/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 06:57pm \/To: SEAN DUNBAR (Read 0 times) Subj: Vehicle Confiscation -=> Quoting Sean Dunbar to Alan Morrison <=- SD> in front of me read the 1st 3 lines. I was able to read those fine.. SD> then they had me TRY to read the next 2. I couldn't. Those are easy... Practice saying the correct number of letters in a rapid fashion. :-) Assumption is you see fine... Probably can't do it if you're license is already stamped. AM> Put my computer near a window and ask for a windowed office AM> at work. Someone told me you could get mild reading glasses SD> Windowless building. :( A good size mirror wil double the effective size of a room, allowing you to stretch your eyes occasionally. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00001 Date: 02/09/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 07:08pm \/To: ROY WITT (Read 0 times) Subj: Gordon RW> ... Jeff Gordon wins Rockingham - 2-23-1997, in a Chevy Monte Carlo. Jeff Gordon robbed at Daytona - 2-8-98, by NASCAR in a big glass building! Did you see this fiasco? The whole thing wreaked... Bud took over the sponsorship from Busch, and promptly barred the Busch sponsored car. They changed the layout from two back-to-back races, to a qualifying race, and then a measly 25 lap race... Same thing really except they saved money on TV time, and we didn't get to see the first 'race'. Didn't get to see Earnhardt either, so it looked like it was gonna be Wonder-Boy's day, unless the Fords were fast enough. It seems they are all quite equal again, although at times it appeared the new GM engines were strong. Did you notice the higher pitch on the SB2? So what is your take on that last restart? Did Jeffy make the sacrifice for Chevy teams and let Ford win, or just screw-up? Either way they should have waved for a restart... I bet they would have followed the rule here if it wasn't already over the allotted airtime! What a crock!! ... NASCAR - Needs A Stable Concept About Restarts --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00002 Date: 02/09/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 07:27pm \/To: KENNY HENDERSON (Read 0 times) Subj: 1999 Cars -=> Quoting Kenny Henderson to Roy Witt <=- KH> Grand Prixs were turboed as well, maybe for only 1 year. It was KH> around 1989 or so, they only made a handful. Alan, any idea what year, KH> and what motor was used? I kept an eye on the impressive AWD Turbo Syclone trucks, but didn't hear much about the GP's. On looking in the MT Review they show a couple. An '89 GP Turbo for $25,000 (same as the Syclone) with a 3.2 V6 making 205 HP @ 5200 RPM. 0-60 in 8.2 and 16.3 ET @ 84.9 MPH. In '90 it's a GP STE for $19,000 and a 3.1 V6 making the same HP but 400 lower RPM. A 0-60 of 7.7 and 15.6 ET @ 87.8 makes me think it got some more boost. By '91 they had the DOHC 3.4 V6 making near the same power (200 @ 5200) but it slowed to an 8.5 second 0-60 and 16.5 @ 86.1 MPH. Notice it made a bit of a top end charge compared to the torquey turbos. All these cars (like the 350 F-bodies of the era) had the Automatic trans, as did the '91 Syclone. The Syclone stepped up the size to the 90 degree 4.3 liter V6. For $25,500 they pumped it up to 280 HP @ 4200 RPM and an extra 140 lb/ft torque over the smaller V6's. With AWD and 360 lb/ft torque it ran 4.9 second 0-60 times. I heard it would outrun ZR1 Corvettes to sixty in the rain, and really haul. ;^) Syclones also managed to knock 2 to 3 seconds off the GP's 1/4 mile times with a 13.6 @ 98.6 MPH. It even handled a little better with 62.9 MPH Slalom speeds. The GP's biggest advantage was mileage which was 9-10 MPG above the trucks highway mileage. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00003 Date: 02/09/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 08:33pm \/To: SEAN DUNBAR (Read 0 times) Subj: Honda q's -=> Quoting Sean Dunbar to All <=- SD> As most everyone's seen by now, I'm now driving a 1988 Honda Accord SD> #1: The drivers side pop up headlight seems to bounce around a lot. You'll have to figure out where the looseness is. If the whole assembly moves around it may be where it rotates on a pin. Otherwise maybe just a loose or missing fastener. SD> #2: The tach seems to "stick" around 4500 RPM, and then basically goes SD> nuts above that. Does this car have a mechanical or electronic tach? SD> What would be causing this? (I'm figuring sticking cable, if it's SD> mechanical) I doubt it would be mechanical, but not sure. Look at what cables enter the firewall and see if there is more than one for the speedometer. I bet it is an electronic unit, and it may have some sort of condenser in the wire from the distributor. Check all these connections and clean and tighten them. If it has a condenser in the circuit, it may have gone bad or the wire may be routed near an ignition cable. SD> #3: What would be the best RPM range to keep it at while driving to SD> get the best mileage? At least better than the big old truck, eh? If properly designed it should be geared to get good mileage at normal highway speeds. I think you will find this just below where the power band comes on strong in lower gears. SD> #4: How hard is it to replace the lock for the fold down rear seat? SD> It seems to be stuck, or it takes another key (I only have 1 key for If the key doesn't go in you are missing a key. I think it may just have gotten wet or somehow corroded. If a little penetrant won't free it up, call a locksmith, or if possible remove it yourself and take it to one so he can rekey it. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00004 Date: 02/09/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 08:49pm \/To: JOHN FAERBER (Read 0 times) Subj: Oily Plugs -=> Quoting John Faerber to All <=- JF> I was asked to if I knew this, since I don't, I am posting this here. JF> What does it mean when a person pulls their plugs andd they are oily, JF> what would that mean? Big $$ repairs, or something simple to cure? Insufficient data. What make, model, engine, and mileage. Does it smoke all the time, or just when started? Were all the plugs oily or just one? Was it misfiring or even running? Were they black and wet looking on the insulator tip, or the threads?? So far all we know is it has oil on it for an unknown reason. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00005 Date: 02/09/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:41pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Minivans Once Around the Block - Toyota Previa All-Trac By Steven D. Gatt, Automotive Editor Most auto companies would be happy if their vehicle had only three faults. Not Toyota. At the end of the 1997 model year, the Previa is history. It will be replaced by a much more conservatively designed minivan: the Sienna. What are those three faults of the Previa? The overall exterior styling is just weird: it is often referred to as the egg-mobile. Second, the lack of a second driver's side, sliding door. The Previa was designed long before the fourth door craze. The third fault is the intrusive engine noise. From the short previews the press has been given of the Sienna, I expect all these faults to be corrected in the new minivan. The Sienna is based on the same solid platform as the hot-selling Camry. The Previa I test drove was well equipped with leather seating, quad- captain chairs, all-wheel drive and a supercharged 4 cylinder engine. With all these features, the Previa enters the high-end minivan category. The base price for this Previa was $32,838; total price as tested with discounts and destination was $35,853. The driving position of the Previa was high, similar to that of the old VW Bus. Even with the high ride height, the Previa did not feel tippy. It felt well grounded. Access to the interior wasn't difficult and once inside, the leather and other creature comforts made it feel like home. It is a good thing Toyota builds a quality vehicle because maintenance on the Previa is almost certainly only done at the dealership. Getting anywhere near the engine is a difficult and cumbersome task. Even changing the oil couldn't be done at home. The supercharged 4-cyclinder engine was underpowered for the chore of moving the Previa around. The All-Trac all-wheel drive system created drag on the system. Fortunately, the new Sienna minivan will have a V6 powerplant. The All-Trac system also had a negative impact on the fuel economy. Toyota reports to the EPA city mileage of 17 mpg and highway mileage of 20 mpg. During the week long test drive I achieved 19 mpg. Overall, the Previa is a good minivan. Unfortunately for Toyota, the public did not accept the looks of this minivan. Toyota learned quickly from the Previa and the forthcoming Sienna will surely solve their minivan woes. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00006 Date: 02/09/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 10:41pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Minivans Chevy Venture Minivan - The best minivan from GM, ever. By Steven D. Gatt, Automotive Editor Chevy certainly has something to boast about in their new Venture minivan. It is the best minivan General Motors has ever produced. In the past I've been disappointed by minivan performance; the Chevy Venture surprised even me. I actually like this minivan. The Chevy Venture evaluated here had excellent fit and finish, it was squeak and rattle free. Further, the quality of the materials used in construction was much above average. The use of quality materials makes all the difference in the world. The noise suppression in the rear seat area was notable; holding a conversation with rear passengers didn't become a shouting match. As you'd expect with a new minivan, the Venture has a plethora of features. The most important of which is the second sliding door, found only on the extended wheelbase Venture. It provides quick access to the rear seat area. This second sliding door option provides Chevy with a major advantage over the Ford Windstar. The quality of materials and sound suppression best the Plymouth Voyager. These facts lead me to believe, that the Chevy Venture is the best minivan available right now. Juice box and cupholders were found throughout the Venture; they total 17! Unique to the Chevy Venture was a small cargo net found between the front seats. This small net is a great place to throw CD cases, a planner, purse or cellular phone. One optional, integrated child safety seat was included in the evaluated Chevy Venture. A remote keyless entry system not only locked and unlocked the doors, but also activated the optional power-passenger sliding door. The total price as tested of $26,239, including options and destination. Some of the options are a rear window defroster, air conditioning (front and rear) and an upgraded AM/FM stereo cassette/CD player with speed compensating volume and separate rear seat audio tuner controls. Chevy and the EPA report mileage ratings of 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. During our week long experience, our average fuel economy was 21 mpg. I only had to fill the 25 gallon fuel tank once. Driving the Venture minivan was easy: the turning radius was surprisingly tight and the steering responded precisely to inputs. The suspension system performed well with the optional automatic leveling control. The ride was not hard or truck-like as previous generations of GM minivans have been. Visibility in traffic was great: the large windows and thin A, B, C and D pillars created no blind spots. The Venture was easy to park, even with the invisible nose common to minivans. Traction control, for added safety during wet or icy driving conditions, was included on the Venture I drove. Dual airbags and anti-lock brakes were some of the other safety features engineered into this generation of GM minivans. Chevy did their homework for this all-new minivan. It is easily the best minivan from GM ever. I enjoyed this minivan but that chrome front grille has got to go! If you're in the market for a new minivan, don't just assume that your only choice is a Dodge. The Genuine Chevy Store should be your first stop. --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00007 Date: 02/11/98 From: ALAN MORRISON Time: 02:14pm \/To: MARK LOGSDON (Read 0 times) Subj: Saturn Cars FAQ -=> Quoting Mark Logsdon to Alan Morrison <=- AM> Is Saturn part of General Motors? Yes; however, Saturn is a wholly AM> owned subsidiary and not a division of GM. ML> Huh? Why doesn't Saturn issue stock? I'm not much of the financier Mark, but maybe 'wholly owned' means they don't have stockholders. Just a guess, but they are a subsidiary of GM, whereas the other makes are divisions within GM. Subsidiaries include Electronic Data Systems, Hughes Aircraft, Packard Hughes Interconnect, And Saturn Cars. There is also different groups of GM, like Delphi Automotive Systems, Allison Transmission, GM Locomotive Group, and GM Powertrain. GMP is the consolidated BOC Engine Group, CPC Engine Group, and Hydramatic Transmission. Divisions within GM Automotive are Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC Truck, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and the less familiar operations of Holden, Opel, Saab, Vauxhall, and Delphi Harrison. Their is also joint operations and partial ownership of NUMMI, Isuzu, IBC Vehicles, Suzuki, etc. I'm not sure what the status of Lotus Cars is at present but they have a new V8 powered Esprit that has a twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32 valve 3.5 liter alloy V8 that pumps out 350 HP in a 3100 pound 2 passenger coupe. (Say that 3 times real fast) This makes it lighter and much more powerful than an Acura NSX which costs a little more. The Lotus is a little rarer here too with only about 200 cars a year imported. GM may have sold its interest in Lotus for that reason... Does anybody know the status of Lotus? --- Blue Wave/386 v2.20 [NR] * Origin: River Canyon Rd. BBS Chattanooga, Tn (1:362/627) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00008 Date: 02/12/98 From: ROY WITT Time: 07:59pm \/To: TOM WALKER (Read 0 times) Subj: Active Handling On, 10 Feb 98 at 10:43, TOM WALKER was overheard shouting over the engine noise, saying something to DEVIN DIMITRI about "Active Handling",: TW> ->> Anyway, what exactly is an ice plant? Just a grass ->> covered median? TW> TW> It is a relative of the Catus I believe. It's true that it's related to the cactus, but it's most often called a succulent...this one just so happens to grow on a vine instead of a stump like plant. TW> But is is a very drought tolerant plant that needs little care that TW> at one time was popular for out freeway off ramp areas. And in some TW> places totally lines toe off section of Freeways in populated areas. TW> It is a ground cover type of plant that is mostly water in content TW> like most cactus. It's used for a ground cover because it's fast growing and has plenty of water retention. This plant keeps the hillsides of the freeways from becoming mud -on- the freeway during the rainy season. TW> beautiful though. Incident;y the Ice Plant has a purple flower and TW> looks like purple blankets around the off ramps when they bloom. And those "iceplant" blooms, are the "wildflowers" you mentioned... ... Have you eaten any Chevy dust, lately? --- T(W)itt Filter Tossed v1.13 * Origin: Bow Tie Racers, #1, On or Off the Track! (1:202/909.13) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 246 AUTOMOTIVE Ref: F2K00009 Date: 02/12/98 From: ROY WITT Time: 08:06pm \/To: JOHN FAERBER (Read 0 times) Subj: Oily Plugs On, 08 Feb 98 at 21:37, John Faerber was overheard shouting over the engine noise, saying something to All about "Oily Plugs",: JF> I was asked to if I knew this, since I don't, I am posting this here. JF> JF> What does it mean when a person pulls their plugs andd they are oily, JF> what would that mean? Big $$ repairs, or something simple to cure? A compression check will tell you whether you have bad or broken rings or leaky valve stem seals... Hope that it's valve stem seals... T(W)itt-Filter Tossed v1.13 (1997) UNREG ... "All my dreams have come true." - Terry Labonte, 1996 Winston Cup --- --- T(W)itt Filter Tossed v1.13 * Origin: Bow Tie Racers, Been there, WON that! (1:202/909.13)