Calling all car buffs...

[TransWarpDrive]

This thread is for anyone who likes cars. It doesn't matter whether you're old enough to drive; I was a car buff back in grade school (and we're talkin' some 40-odd years ago, folks), and had my favorites even then. Growing up, my favorite car makes were Ford and Volkswagen, mainly because those were the brands my parents owned. I still favor those two, although the only Ford model I currently like is the Mustang - very nice design, reminiscent of the Mustangs built between 1964 and 1968 (the best years, design-wise, for that car, IMHO). I also liked the Mercury Cougar, especially the ones built between 1967 and 1968 (Mercury's other cars back then weren't bad, either).
During the 70's, I came to like cars by Buick and Oldsmobile (my dad owned a '73 Buick Century that I eventually got); their early- to mid-70's designs I found very stylish.
Other brands I currently like: Audi (a division of VW), and Mercedes-Benz.
So, what are your favorite cars? I'd like to know.

(Ladies and gentlemen, start your keyboards!) :laugh:

[canuck31003]

Let's see, I was first interested in cars as a child -- Porsche, Jaguar, Ferrari, Lamborghini, et cetera. This tailed off about the time I had a realistic appreciation of the concept of money.

I didn't renew my interest until 5 or 6 years ago. I was strongly influenced by my brother who is also a big fan of cars, and who only sold his beloved Passat due to family considerations. That's probably why my first new car was a Volkswagen, a 1.8T GTI. I was happy with it, but one weekend I was bored and decided to test drive a VW R32. Big difference. I traded my GTI in for a R32 and that's what I'm driving now, after a few modifications along the way.

Whimsically thinking, my future vehicle will be a BMW 3-series, or Infiniti G35. And perhaps Audi if they ever get around to putting their nav on *top* of the dashboard, and not down low where it's difficult to see the road even with peripheral vision.

I like a lot of different makes, but my knowledge about them is pretty restricted to VW, and the R32 in particular.

[campy]

Vehicles I've owned include an AMC Pacer, VW Dasher, International Scout (a surplus USPS truck with right hand drive), Mazda pickup truck, 2 Honda Civics, and Pontiac minivan.

I like luxury cars now. I could never see myself trying to squeeze into a little sports car, even when I was young enough for one. (If I ever was. :laugh:)

I came close to buying a used Cadillac DeVille last year before I bought my current Toyota Avalon. I was looking at one with almost all the luxury options, including heated rear seats and power sunshades. It didn't have a moonroof, though, which I really like in my Avalon.

If I had unlimited fundage, I'd probably be driving an S-Class Mercedes or a Lexus LS, or maybe a Bentley.

[TransWarpDrive]

I still have the brochure from when my dad bought the 1973 Buick (he got a Century 4-door sedan, BTW). Every now and then, I pull it out and look through it. It's interesting to look back now and see how many different models, and how many variations of said models, one car maker offered back then.
That brochure also brings back a lot of memories for me - I was in junior high school (8th grade) when Dad bought that car. Good times; good times.... :)

[campy]

I still have the brochure from when my dad bought the 1973 Buick (he got a Century 4-door sedan, BTW). Every now and then, I pull it out and look through it.That's quite a collector's item. I still have a few of my brochures. I have my '79 Dasher one, the '83 Mazda, the '85 and '97 Civics, and the '04 Corolla.

I wish I had one for the Pacer. That would be a real classic. :rolleyes: Like the car itself.

All I remember about that car was that the parking break cable snapped twice while we were getting our state inspections, causing us to fail. And we practically never used the brake otherwise.

[TransWarpDrive]

I still have the brochure from when my dad bought the 1973 Buick (he got a Century 4-door sedan, BTW). Every now and then, I pull it out and look through it.That's quite a collector's item. I still have a few of my brochures. I have my '79 Dasher one, the '83 Mazda, the '85 and '97 Civics, and the '04 Corolla.

I wish I had one for the Pacer. That would be a real classic. :rolleyes: Like the car itself.

All I remember about that car was that the parking break cable snapped twice while we were getting our state inspections, causing us to fail. And we practically never used the brake otherwise.

Parking "break?" :laugh: Did you mean to spell it that way, or was it accidental? Either way, it's ironically fitting... :P
....I also have the brochures for my '98 Bug, and my '05 Passat.

[canuck31003]

The first car I remember is my dad's yellow '70-something VW Bug. I remember one road-trip we took it all the way from Canada to Yellowstone Park. A bear walked right up to my mom's window. Boy, she'd never rolled up her window faster than that! :laugh:

In hot weather the plastic/vinyl seats were terrible. If I was wearing shorts I'd keep my legs raised so I wouldn't burn my skin against the searing seats. :P I wish my dad had never sold it.

After the Bug we bought a blue Pontiac LeMans. That thing was like a tank. On another trip to the United States my mom was taking her turn driving, traveling at highway speeds. I was playing with my Star Wars figures when I heard a thump, and my mom was slowing down and pulling over. We'd hit an adult deer that had jumped out. On our front right there was a nice v-shaped indent and our radiator was a goner.

At the time I was too young to think anything of it, but afterward I was amazed that there wasn't any more damage. The LeMans was all steel, built in the 70s, and I never noticed the impact of the deer. We had the radiator fixed and we were on our merry way. If that happened with my plastic car it would be totaled.

[lunchmeat]

The first car my folks had was a Hudson Hornet, my dad wanted something with lots ofpower to pull our Spartan house trailer.

[campy]

Parking "break?" :laugh: Did you mean to spell it that way, or was it accidental? Either way, it's ironically fitting... :P
....I also have the brochures for my '98 Bug, and my '05 Passat.:hmm: Hmmm, I don't know how that happened. I even used the correct spelling in the next sentence. But I guess it does fit. :errr:

[jeriddian]

The first car my folks had was a Hudson Hornet, my dad wanted something with lots ofpower to pull our Spartan house trailer.

You mean like the old car that Paul Newman voiced in "Cars"........:D

[lunchmeat]

I think so, I've never seen the movie.

[TransWarpDrive]

The first car my folks had was a Hudson Hornet, my dad wanted something with lots of power to pull our Spartan house trailer.

You mean like the old car that Paul Newman voiced in "Cars"........:D

Yes, Mr. Newman's character was indeed a Hudson Hornet. :alumnus:

[TransWarpDrive]

A close friend of mine told me about a mid-70's Opel Manta coupe he bought as his first car. He loved the car, but it had one very weird problem: every now and then, the car wouldn't start - the starter wouldn't even turn over when my friend twisted the key in the ignition. Every time he took it in to the dealer to try and have it fixed under warranty, however, the car started right up. One day, several months into this problem, my friend got into his car to get to class on time (he was in college back then). Naturally, as you might have guessed by now, the car wouldn't start. He turned the key, and - *click* - nothing happened. This was the last straw. My friend got so mad, he started kicking the floorboard under the emergency-brake pedal, on the left side. After about five minutes of that, he stopped and turned the key, figuring he'd give it one last try before calling for a tow truck. Amazingly, the car started right up! When he examined the sitch later, my friend realized what had happened: the car's fuse box was located - you guessed it - on the floorboard, on the driver's side, under the emergency-brake pedal! :laugh: It turned out that the fuse that controlled the starter motor kept coming loose from time to time. By kicking the fuse box, my friend managed to push that fuse back in to where it made contact once more, allowing him to start his car. One time after that, he had a passenger in the car when the fuse wiggled loose again. When the car wouldn't start, my friend turned to his passenger and said, "Don't be alarmed by what you're about to see (or words to that effect)." He then proceeded to vigorously kick the fuse box several times, after which the car started right up. He told me the expression on his passenger's face was priceless....:laugh:
My friend never got the fuse problem fixed; in his words it was a "cheap anti-theft feature." :laugh::laugh:

[campy]

My friend never got the fuse problem fixed; in his words it was a "cheap anti-theft feature." :laugh::laugh:I never locked my old Pontiac the last 5 years I drove it. I figured a 1990 minivan with over 100K miles was its own anti-theft feature.

[TransWarpDrive]

My friend never got the fuse problem fixed; in his words it was a "cheap anti-theft feature." :laugh::laugh:I never locked my old Pontiac the last 5 years I drove it. I figured a 1990 minivan with over 100K miles was its own anti-theft feature.
:laugh:
They did a TV ad parody on "Saturday Night Live" once, where they promoted a luxury car that outwardly resembled a beat-up junker. The car's appearance was intended to deter thieves (like your minivan) ....:P
:laugh::laugh:

[TransWarpDrive]

Volkswagen's got a new car coming out: it's called the CC Coupe, even though it has four doors. Its design was inspired by Mercedes-Benz's CLS-Class four-door coupe, in that both cars have a sloping, "fastback"-style roofline on what's essentially a sedan. It's slightly larger that the current Passat; and, IMHO, much better-looking (VW changed the Passat's design for 2006, the year after I bought mine).
Right now, all they have about the car on their website is a photo gallery. Once it goes on sale here in the States, they should have put more info on the site.

[campy]

much better-looking (VW changed the Passat's design for 2006, the year after I bought mine).Isn't that so annoying? I remember right after I bought my '90 Pontiac, the '91s came out with a bigger engine, a four-speed transmission instead of a three and ABS brakes. And they improved the center console for '92, I think. :mad:

[TransWarpDrive]

much better-looking (VW changed the Passat's design for 2006, the year after I bought mine).Isn't that so annoying? I remember right after I bought my '90 Pontiac, the '91s came out with a bigger engine, a four-speed transmission instead of a three and ABS brakes. And they improved the center console for '92, I think. :mad:
Yeah; it's annoying when they make improvements like that after you buy a new car. I'm just glad I bought my Passat when I did, because its design is far superior to the current one.

[canuck31003]

My next job might be in Canada. If so, I'll have to sell my beloved R32. :sick: It will be 2019 before it can be insured in Canada. :(

If I do need a new car, I'm thinking a 3 series, G35 Sport, or a Mazdaspeed3. I'd consider a Cooper S except that they appear to be all backordered.

[TransWarpDrive]

My next job might be in Canada. If so, I'll have to sell my beloved R32. :sick: It will be 2019 before it can be insured in Canada. :(

If I do need a new car, I'm thinking a 3 series, G35 Sport, or a Mazdaspeed3. I'd consider a Cooper S except that they appear to be all backordered.

Sorry to hear you might have to sell your VW, canuck. Why the 11-year wait before your car can be insured up there, anyway? I've never heard of such a rule before.
As for me, I'm still waiting for VW to debut that new CC four-door "coupe" here in the U.S. So far, their website still only says that it's "coming this fall."
I did, however, get an invite from my local dealer to come test-drive the new Routan minivan.

[campy]

I did, however, get an invite from my local dealer to come test-drive the new Routan minivan.Aren't you missing something from the usual minivan buyer profile, TWD? Like the wife and pack of screaming kids? :huh:

[TransWarpDrive]

I did, however, get an invite from my local dealer to come test-drive the new Routan minivan.Aren't you missing something from the usual minivan buyer profile, TWD? Like the wife and pack of screaming kids? :huh:

:laugh::laugh:
Yes, I guess I am... :P
I think I got it because I'm on the dealer's mailing list. They send these things out to everyone on that list, regardless of marital or parental status.
So I guess you could say I'm the target of a mass mailing! :laugh:

[canuck31003]

Sorry to hear you might have to sell your VW, canuck. Why the 11-year wait before your car can be insured up there, anyway? I've never heard of such a rule before.
It's because VW was too cheap to send in safety paperwork to Canada, or make the R32 compliant with Canadian safety regulations, for that matter. It's not just a matter of changing the bumper. The R32 was never sold in Canada so VW didn't bother.

U.S. cars that don't meet Canadian safety regulations can be insured in Canada, however, after 15 years. So that's another 11 years for the R32. Until then, the R32 is completely inadmissible.

[campy]

Sorry to hear you might have to sell your VW, canuck. Why the 11-year wait before your car can be insured up there, anyway? I've never heard of such a rule before.
It's because VW was too cheap to send in safety paperwork to Canada, or make the R32 compliant with Canadian safety regulations, for that matter. It's not just a matter of changing the bumper. The R32 was never sold in Canada so VW didn't bother.

U.S. cars that don't meet Canadian safety regulations can be insured in Canada, however, after 15 years. So that's another 11 years for the R32. Until then, the R32 is completely inadmissible.Let's invade and take the place over. Then they'll have to let your VW in. :P

I'll look into this when I'm up there next week.

[TransWarpDrive]

Sorry to hear you might have to sell your VW, canuck. Why the 11-year wait before your car can be insured up there, anyway? I've never heard of such a rule before.
It's because VW was too cheap to send in safety paperwork to Canada, or make the R32 compliant with Canadian safety regulations, for that matter. It's not just a matter of changing the bumper. The R32 was never sold in Canada so VW didn't bother.

U.S. cars that don't meet Canadian safety regulations can be insured in Canada, however, after 15 years. So that's another 11 years for the R32. Until then, the R32 is completely inadmissible.Let's invade and take the place over. Then they'll have to let your VW in. :P



Send a memo to Drakken...he owes us a favor anyway. :laugh:

[canuck31003]

All Drakken would need to do is get a Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup. I'd line up behind him all the way until the start of next season. :P

[TransWarpDrive]

All Drakken would need to do is get a Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup. I'd line up behind him all the way until the start of next season. :P
:laugh::laugh:
Yeah, but who'd want to play on any sports team with Drakken as its head coach/manager? :P

[jeriddian]

All Drakken would need to do is get a Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup. I'd line up behind him all the way until the start of next season. :P
:laugh::laugh:
Yeah, but who'd want to play on any sports team with Drakken as its head coach/manager? :P

Well, maybe if you got Hank Perkins back in to manage the details...........:laugh:

[campy]

All Drakken would need to do is get a Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup. I'd line up behind him all the way until the start of next season. :P
:laugh::laugh:
Yeah, but who'd want to play on any sports team with Drakken as its head coach/manager? :P

Well, maybe if you got Hank Perkins back in to manage the details...........:laugh:If Shego's involved, he'd attract players no problem. :dribble:

[jeriddian]

All Drakken would need to do is get a Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup. I'd line up behind him all the way until the start of next season. :P
:laugh::laugh:
Yeah, but who'd want to play on any sports team with Drakken as its head coach/manager? :P

Well, maybe if you got Hank Perkins back in to manage the details...........:laugh:If Shego's involved, he'd attract players no problem. :dribble:

True............:rolleyes:......I can see it now. The team would be based in..........Whitehorse, Yukon................:blink:.............Well of course Drakken would want it to be as remote as possible, so he can continue his plans of world domination as undisturbed as possible. As to name of the club?...........................:hmm:............. .........Yep. It has to be the "Green Magic". :biggergrin:

Shego: I am not a mascot!
Drakken: But Shego! The costume looks great! The players all love it! it would inspire them to win! Then I could use the money from the championship to take over the world!
Shego: I wore more than that at the spa in Greece!.....in the sauna! And it's cold on that ice!
Drakken: But's that's why you use your powers! To keep warm and to...er....you know.....complete the costume?...............
Shego: DRAKKEN!!!!!!!
Drakken (ducking): Uh.....Don't you think you can use your powers to keep the players in line?.......uh...motivated?......too?............. .sort of like you did with my cousin?....................

................... (Kaboom) ...........................

EDIT: Yeah, I know, I'm off topic..... sorry....But I do have a soft spot for Shelby GT Mustangs, circa 1969:rolleyes:

[TransWarpDrive]

Jeriddian, after reading that last post of yours, I have to ask you this: Have you ever considered a career in comedy writing? You're a natural! :thumbup:
:laugh::laugh:

[Fireand'chutes77]

Shego: I wore more than that at the spa in Greece!.....in the sauna! And it's cold on that ice!
Drakken: But's that's why you use your powers! To keep warm and to...er....you know.....complete the costume?
Where's the roster signup, please? ;)

[TransWarpDrive]

Shego: I wore more than that at the spa in Greece!.....in the sauna! And it's cold on that ice!
Drakken: But's that's why you use your powers! To keep warm and to...er....you know.....complete the costume?
Where's the roster signup, please? ;)
:laugh::laugh:
Whoa there, 'chutes! Down, boy...go take a long, cold shower, son. :P:laugh:
EDIT: Getting back on-topic (again):
Has anyone seen the TV ads for the new VW Routan minivan starring Brooke Shields? They're odd, yet funny (IMHO). :laugh:
Oh, and VW's finally added the CC four-door "coupe" to the line-up on their website. The car's section now features pages for "See the car," "Features & Specs," and "Build (where you can select a car in the trim level, and featuring the options, you want)." In other words, the CC's finally here. :D
(Nice-looking car too, I might add.)

[jeriddian]

Jeriddian, after reading that last post of yours, I have to ask you this: Have you ever considered a career in comedy writing? You're a natural! :thumbup:
:laugh::laugh:

Thanks, much, TWD.....:rolleyes:

Actually I hope to put that to good use in a screenplay version of my story, although to be honest I don't really think I'm that good at it. I have my moments every now and then. MrDrP is quite a bit better IMHO.:)

ON topic: I have seen those Brooke shields commercials. A couple of them are really funny.....:laugh:

[TransWarpDrive]

ON topic: I have seen those Brooke shields commercials. A couple of them are really funny.....:laugh:

Yeah, and she's really cute, too...:innocent:

[canuck31003]

False alarm. The Canadian vehicle admissibility list was updated recently -- now I can keep my R. :)

It was a close call. I was just about to buy a new car.

[TransWarpDrive]

False alarm. The Canadian vehicle admissibility list was updated recently -- now I can keep my R. :)

It was a close call. I was just about to buy a new car.

See? All we had to do was mention turning Drakken loose on them, and Canada came to its senses. :P
Never underestimate the power of the GJA....
:laugh::laugh:

[canuck31003]

See? All we had to do was mention turning Drakken loose on them, and Canada came to its senses
This has probably been discussed in the KP forum, which ironically I haven't been visiting, but I wonder if Drakken after Graduation returned to his evil ways.

Anywhoo, yesterday I took a 2008 STI for a test drive. Not bad. :) My worries about turbo lag were for the most part unnecessary.

The STi handled well, though it didn't feel as sensitive as my R32 -- the steering wheel ratios are probably different.

I also think the STI was a little more subtle about going fast. My R32 is louder, so I can hear the engine when I get going. The STI's turbo is quieter than I'm used to so I was slightly surprised when I looked at the speedometer.

If I was selling my R (which I'm not) I'd probably replace it with 2008 STI -- it's a hatchback so I'd still have utility along with my fun.

[TransWarpDrive]

See? All we had to do was mention turning Drakken loose on them, and Canada came to its senses
This has probably been discussed in the KP forum, which ironically I haven't been visiting, but I wonder if Drakken after Graduation returned to his evil ways.

Anywhoo, yesterday I took a 2008 STI for a test drive. Not bad. :) My worries about turbo lag were for the most part unnecessary.

The STi handled well, though it didn't feel as sensitive as my R32 -- the steering wheel ratios are probably different.

I also think the STI was a little more subtle about going fast. My R32 is louder, so I can hear the engine when I get going. The STI's turbo is quieter than I'm used to so I was slightly surprised when I looked at the speedometer.

If I was selling my R (which I'm not) I'd probably replace it with 2008 STI -- it's a hatchback so I'd still have utility along with my fun.

My 2005 Passat has a 1.8 liter four-cylinder engine that's turbocharged. According to the service rep at the dealership I let work on it, the turbo kicks in starting at 10 MPH. Now, I'm not sure if my turbo's set up to give me high performance the way your R32 is, but I do feel a definite "kick" when I stomp on the gas pedal to accelerate on the highway. After thinking about it, though, I have to conclude that my turbo's set to produce the maximum boost possible while still giving me the best gas mileage.

[canuck31003]

I've been driving a 2007 Hyndai Elantra for the past few days, and I have to say there are some things I wish the R had.

The Elantra has some pretty amazing cupholders, and I'm saying this in all seriousness. They're large, but they have these little clips so that you can also put smaller cups in them.

The R has two cupholders in between the front seats, but one of them is so shallow no cup or beverage is going to survive without tipping over. Using the 2nd and only useful cupholder makes it awkward to use the parking brake.

Compared to my R, the Elantra has great ride comfort. Nightmarish speedbumps in my R turn into almost nothing in the Elantra. Of course, if you want comfort you sacrifice handling, and vice versa. Still, I think in a hypothetical next car I might lean slightly more towards the ride comfort side of the see-saw.

After thinking about it, though, I have to conclude that my turbo's set to produce the maximum boost possible while still giving me the best gas mileage.Around my area Minis are pretty much back-ordered, so I've read. No wonder with them getting 34mpg. I heard they're fun to drive, too.

[TransWarpDrive]

I've been driving a 2007 Hyndai Elantra for the past few days, and I have to say there are some things I wish the R had.

The Elantra has some pretty amazing cupholders, and I'm saying this in all seriousness. They're large, but they have these little clips so that you can also put smaller cups in them.

The R has two cupholders in between the front seats, but one of them is so shallow no cup or beverage is going to survive without tipping over. Using the 2nd and only useful cupholder makes it awkward to use the parking brake.

Compared to my R, the Elantra has great ride comfort. Nightmarish speedbumps in my R turn into almost nothing in the Elantra. Of course, if you want comfort you sacrifice handling, and vice versa. Still, I think in a hypothetical next car I might lean slightly more towards the ride comfort side of the see-saw.

After thinking about it, though, I have to conclude that my turbo's set to produce the maximum boost possible while still giving me the best gas mileage.Around my area Minis are pretty much back-ordered, so I've read. No wonder with them getting 34mpg. I heard they're fun to drive, too.

Are Minis turbocharged, similar to my Passat? Is that why you made that comparison? I'm a little confused....:errr:

[canuck31003]

After thinking about it, though, I have to conclude that my turbo's set to produce the maximum boost possible while still giving me the best gas mileage.
Around my area Minis are pretty much back-ordered, so I've read. No wonder with them getting 34mpg. I heard they're fun to drive, too.
Are Minis turbocharged, similar to my Passat? Is that why you made that comparison? I'm a little confused....
Sorry, my fault for a poor segue -- you mentioned "best gas mileage" and my mind went "Mini" because Minis have great fuel economy. I was thinking about mileage and not any Passant-Mini link (though Minis might have turbo -- I'm not positive, but anywhoo it wasn't what I was thinking about).

[campy]

I've been driving a 2007 Hyndai Elantra for the past few days, and I have to say there are some things I wish the R had. I kind of like the looks of Hyundai's new luxury sedan, the Genesis. From pictures, anyway; I haven't seen one in the flesh yet.

[BluetoothThePirate]

I drive a Chevy Cobalt LT, it's the first car I've ever bought for myself. I love it. It's not the fastest or the biggest or the greatest, but it keeps the fuel bills down and gets me where I need to go. I got it on a GM family discount and a five-year 0% loan, so I doubt I could have gotten a new American car for much cheaper.

i just wish it didn't run on gasoline. The new Volt is going to be about the same size, and it runs on electricity (and gas, as a backup). I'm glad that GM seems to be turning themselves around after being irresponsible and greedy for a long time, I live in Michigan and we need the auto industry to come back and be prosperous again. Just sucks about all those Chrysler people that might be out of work; things are going to get worse before they get better.

[TransWarpDrive]

Glad you like your new car, Bluetooth! :thumbup: Good luck with it!
And welcome back, old friend! It's been a while since we last heard from you. Hope you'll be staying with us for a while now.... :)

[campy]

Zero percent loan? That's a good deal. :thumbup:

We took out a 2.9% loan for Mrs. c's Corolla. The final payment is coming up in a couple of weeks. It'll be good to have no more car payments for awhile. (My Avalon is already paid for. :D)

[canuck31003]

I had 0% once... then I traded it in for something with 1.9%.... :errr:

[TransWarpDrive]

Zero percent loan? That's a good deal. :thumbup:

We took out a 2.9% loan for Mrs. c's Corolla. The final payment is coming up in a couple of weeks. It'll be good to have no more car payments for awhile. (My Avalon is already paid for. :D)

I've only got 11 or 10 payments left on my car loan...
This'll be the second new car loan I've paid off. :D :thumbup:

[campy]

This'll be the second new car loan I've paid off. :D :thumbup:I think it'll be our third; I'm not really sure. We try to pay cash, but don't always have the $ on hand.

I hope the Corolla lasts a few more years. It's at about 96,000 miles now.

[TransWarpDrive]

I ended up getting rid of my '98 New Beetle after only 76,000 miles, because stuff just started wearing out on that car all of a sudden. That year (2005), I replaced the air-conditioner's compressor and the clutch (manual transmission, so I expected this to go). In addition, I was hearing squeaky sounds from my left front wheel whenever I made a hard right turn; that meant the wheel bearings there were on their way out. The service department also informed me that my radiator was leaking and needed replacement - that alone would have set me back $750.00.
So by this time (late July, 2005) I decided enough was enough. The car was all paid for, and I wasn't about to keep paying for repairs when I could get a new car with a warranty. So I traded the Bug in for the '05 Passat I have now. Got a real good bargain, too; paid only $18,500.00 for a car whose sticker price was $26,030.00. :thumbup::cool:

[canuck31003]

Here's an amazing video of someone driving a 2006 Subaru WRX STI:

http://istargazer.blogspot.com/?video_id=9183.

If that doesn't work try this one (http://istargazer.blogspot.com/2008/11/ken-block-gymkhana-practice.html).

I wouldn't want to be the guy on the Segway! :P

[lunchmeat]

I don't think I retired any of my vehciles with less than 250,000 miles on them. Given my propensity for pick up trucks and Jeeps, it's probably not too surprising, they are more robust than passenger cars are.

[campy]

I don't think I retired any of my vehciles with less than 250,000 miles on them. Given my propensity for pick up trucks and Jeeps, it's probably not too surprising, they are more robust than passenger cars are.That's excellent. The most we've gotten is about 170 or 180K on the two Honda Civics and around 165K on the Pontiac minivan.

[jeriddian]

I don't think I retired any of my vehciles with less than 250,000 miles on them. Given my propensity for pick up trucks and Jeeps, it's probably not too surprising, they are more robust than passenger cars are.That's excellent. The most we've gotten is about 170 or 180K on the two Honda Civics and around 165K on the Pontiac minivan.

My 1996 Suburban SLT Trailways conversion has 160,000 miles on it. It still runs like a dream, with a brand new Clarion Audio/Video theatre system in it, running on the balanced 300 watt stereo system with 2 12" woofers. Of course, I always kept the maintainance up on it, plus I only rarely take it out these days, with gas costing the way it has been, although I'm thinking of running her a little more now. The paint is starting to peel a bit on the hood, so I'm going to have to get that taken care of. My 1999 Jimmy, that I gave to my niece, has 150,000 miles and runs just as good too. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep both vehicles running until 250,000 miles or better.:)

[campy]

Sorry for the grave digging, but I had to show off this great photo my sister sent me. It shows me with a true landmark of automotive history: my '76 AMC Pacer!

You can also see part of my dad's '70 Ford LTD in the garage.

This proves that the Pacer actually made it all the way from Mass. to Long Island in one piece. Amazing!

[Fireand'chutes77]

Sorry for the grave digging, but I had to show off this great photo my sister sent me. It shows me with a true landmark of automotive history: my '76 AMC Pacer!

You can also see part of my dad's '70 Ford LTD in the garage.

This proves that the Pacer actually made it all the way from Mass. to Long Island in one piece. Amazing!
Kim: What a piece of...
Mr. Possible: History!

:P :laugh:

Who's that in the background?

[campy]

Kim: What a piece of...
Mr. Possible: History!

:P :laugh:

Who's that in the background?To reiterate: [...] this great photo ... It shows me [...]
:alumnus:

[jeriddian]

Cool photo, campy! :D I remember those old AMC Pacers. So do still look pretty much the same?:P

EDIT: Now this is really interesting. Somebody had a virtual gold mine in theri garage.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2009/01/03/rare_1937_bugatti_supercar_found_in_english_garage/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Latest+news

[campy]

Cool photo, campy! :D I remember those old AMC Pacers. So do still look pretty much the same?:PA few wrinkles, a few gray hairs, a dozen pounds or so ... but recognizable!

[jeriddian]

Cool....wish I could say the same.:dubiety::rolleyes:

[kyojikasshu]

Sorry for the grave digging, but I had to show off this great photo my sister sent me. It shows me with a true landmark of automotive history: my '76 AMC Pacer!

You can also see part of my dad's '70 Ford LTD in the garage.

This proves that the Pacer actually made it all the way from Mass. to Long Island in one piece. Amazing!

Is that... a New York Islanders hat?

And did you ever rock out to "Bohemian Rhapsody" or refer to it as the "Mirthmobile"? :laugh:

[TransWarpDrive]

Nice photo, campy! Seeing both the Pacer and your dad's '70 LTD brings back a few memories for me.
For instance, when my dad ordered a new Pinto in the fall of '71, we encountered a unique problem the night we went to take delivery of the car: it wouldn't start. My parents, two brothers, and I waited for over three hours in the dealer's showroom while the mechanics worked on the car (given the many problems he later had with that Pinto, my dad admitted afterwards that he should have asked for another car instead of waiting for them to get that one fixed). We ended up going home that night without the new car. The salesman who sold Dad the car felt so bad about the whole sitch that he loaned his company car to Dad to use until the Pinto was fixed - and the salesman's car was a 1972 LTD two-door, much like your dad's car in the photo. I remember the "loaner" we had was a coppery-reddish color, with a black vinyl roof. Dad and I rode in that car one Saturday to a nearby store where I used my birthday money to buy a model kit I'd coveted for about a year: Monogram's 1/12 scale "Mean Maverick" funny-car model. The box it came in was so big (about 30"x 18" x 8"), we had to put it in the trunk to bring it home. And the LTD had a big trunk, let me tell you....
Well, Dad eventually received the Pinto after the dealer got it to run; only to trade it in for a new '73 Buick after only a year and a half (due to all the problems with the Pinto I mentioned earlier). I built the model, and I still have it today - it occupies a place of honor on an upper shelf in my room. Like the photo of your 70's cars, that model brings back a whole bunch of memories about those days in the early 70's.

[kyojikasshu]

Pinto

Bad memories... bad, bad memories.

My dad had a Pinto wagon once... he had it for a couple of years, and then one day while going to work, the inside of the instrument panel caught fire. Fortunately, as smoke started to come out, he had enough time to pull over to the side of Michigan Avenue and get out, just before the fire started spreading throughout the interior. In a matter of minutes, the entire inside of the car was up in flames, and by the time help arrived, it was a gutted hulk.

No wonder Detroit cars got such a bad rep.

[jeriddian]

Pinto

Bad memories... bad, bad memories.

My dad had a Pinto wagon once... he had it for a couple of years, and then one day while going to work, the inside of the instrument panel caught fire. Fortunately, as smoke started to come out, he had enough time to pull over to the side of Michigan Avenue and get out, just before the fire started spreading throughout the interior. In a matter of minutes, the entire inside of the car was up in flames, and by the time help arrived, it was a gutted hulk.

No wonder Detroit cars got such a bad rep.

That was back in the days when they let the quality go to hell in a handbasket. It took them years to get the quality back up to snuff again.

[lunchmeat]

Sorry for the grave digging, but I had to show off this great photo my sister sent me. It shows me with a true landmark of automotive history: my '76 AMC Pacer!

You can also see part of my dad's '70 Ford LTD in the garage.

This proves that the Pacer actually made it all the way from Mass. to Long Island in one piece. Amazing!

Where on Da Ilund were you and Garth headed?

[campy]

Is that... a New York Islanders hat?

And did you ever rock out to "Bohemian Rhapsody" or refer to it as the "Mirthmobile"? :laugh:I had a feeling you'd pick up on the hat. :laugh:

And I've never rocked out to anything in my life. Except maybe Wagner. :P

[campy]

Where on Da Ilund were you and Garth headed?I can tell you exactly where that photo was taken : 40° 39' 24.27" N, 73° 42' 26.39" W. :biggergrin:

[TransWarpDrive]

Pinto

Bad memories... bad, bad memories.

My dad had a Pinto wagon once... he had it for a couple of years, and then one day while going to work, the inside of the instrument panel caught fire. Fortunately, as smoke started to come out, he had enough time to pull over to the side of Michigan Avenue and get out, just before the fire started spreading throughout the interior. In a matter of minutes, the entire inside of the car was up in flames, and by the time help arrived, it was a gutted hulk.

No wonder Detroit cars got such a bad rep.

Caught fire...:blink: Wow.
Holy molars....
Our Pinto didn't catch fire, but it did have its share of problems. For instance, the horn blew all by itself whenever the outside temperature dropped below 20 degrees. The first time it happened, we were all eating dinner. Dad thought it was funny until he found out it was his car, then bolted out the door cursing a blue streak. He had to unplug the wires from the horn under the hood to stop it. Second time it happened, the car was in our garage. We couldn't hear it from in the house, but our neighbors to the south could, and came over that morning to ask if we could please shut it off.
The engine also "dieseled" when the ignition was switched off; that means that gasoline was still getting into the cylinders and detonating, causing the car to shake and rock while the engine ran roughly, making knocking noises.
The car's rear suspension never loosened up; anyone riding in the back seat was in for a real "kidney-puncher" of a ride - especially at highway speeds.
The muffler also bellowed at speeds over 65 MPH - again, a nightmare on the highway...
The gearshift lever once came out in my dad's hand, while he was driving at 55 MPH! It actually disconnected from the shifter mechanism, but still inside the leather boot at the lever's base. Dad pulled over to the shoulder, and managed to reinsert the lever into the shift mechanism by feel, and crept along the side of the road in first gear until he arrived at a Ford dealer where he got the car fixed.
I actually heard my dad finally say, "AAH! This $#@&!! thing's a lemon! I'm getting rid of it!" one afternoon after the Pinto acted up once again. So finally, in March of 1973, he traded it in for the 1973 Buick sedan I mentioned in my previous post. Now that was a wonderful car....(*Sigh*) :rolleyes:

[jeriddian]

Is that... a New York Islanders hat?

And did you ever rock out to "Bohemian Rhapsody" or refer to it as the "Mirthmobile"? :laugh:I had a feeling you'd pick up on the hat. :laugh:

And I've never rocked out to anything in my life. Except maybe Wagner. :P

And Wagner good to rock to!:biggergrin: Especially the Ring Cycle.:laugh:

[TransWarpDrive]

Getting back on-topic:
Today in the mail I received the latest copy of "DasAuto," a magazine Volkswagen sends out to VW owners. This issue has articles on winter driving and car care, as well as pieces on their two newest vehicles, the Routan mini-van, and the CC four-door "coupe."
The magazine also mentioned that, in addition to being Europe's best-selling car maker, VW is also the #3 best-selling automaker in the world, pushing Ford Motor Co. back to fourth place (based on sales during the first six months of 2008).
Not bad for the company that gave us the humble little "bug," huh? :biggergrin::thumbup:

[lunchmeat]

Now that's some wheels:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1265.html

[jeriddian]

Nice rig there, Lunchmeat. I like this a little better though.....:laugh:

http://www.teslamotors.com/

[Fireand'chutes77]

Nice rig there, Lunchmeat. I like this a little better though.....:laugh:

http://www.teslamotors.com/
Oo-rah! :thumbup:

Still, they'd have some trouble strapping a Tesla to a rocket. :laugh:


---

People who say that we're throwing money away in space don't seem to realize that once we've sent human-built machinery hurtling up through the atmosphere at several times the speed of a bullet, dipped it in a deep-fry of solar radiation, suffocated it in a hard vacuum, pelted it with microscopic, electromagnetic, razor-sharp motes of dust, and placed it in a highway of hypersonic little bits of space rock......... Earth's problems suddenly look like a piece of cake. ;) :cool:

[jeriddian]

Oo-rah! :thumbup:

Still, they'd have some trouble strapping a Tesla to a rocket. :laugh:

Well, top speed of 125 MPH. 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds. One speed transmission. Range of 240 to 270 miles, (depending) on one charge. Recharge time of 3.5 hours. All the full luxuries of a vehicle costing that much, which includes stereo, video, and everything inbetween you can think of. Who needs the rocket?......:laugh::laugh:

[lunchmeat]

Not to mention that many of the problems people say we should address here first may well have solution that a robust space program might provide.

[TransWarpDrive]

Nice rig there, Lunchmeat. I like this a little better though.....:laugh:

http://www.teslamotors.com/

:blink: Yeah, but did you see how much one of those things cost??
I won't be taking a loan out on a Tesla coupe anytime soon...:errr:

People who say that we're throwing money away in space don't seem to realize that once we've sent human-built machinery hurtling up through the atmosphere at several times the speed of a bullet, dipped it in a deep-fry of solar radiation, suffocated it in a hard vacuum, pelted it with microscopic, electromagnetic, razor-sharp motes of dust, and placed it in a highway of hypersonic little bits of space rock......... Earth's problems suddenly look like a piece of cake.
I agree, 'chutes. Many of the devices we use daily on Earth today are spin-offs of technology invented for the space program - especially Project Apollo. Just to give you one example, the cordless electric drills we use today are the direct descendants of the battery-operated drills the astronauts on the last Apollo missions used to bore into the lunar surface to collect samples of soil for analysis. Black & Decker was awarded the contract to develop said drills. After Apollo ended, B&D refined their lunar-drill design, evolving it into the first cordless drills marketed here on Earth during the 1980's.
Not to mention that many of the problems people say we should address here first may well have solution that a robust space program might provide.
Absolutely, lunchmeat! The cordless drills I mentioned above provided a solution to what was, in the larger order of things, a minor problem faced mostly by construction workers and do-it-yourself home-repairers (is that even a word?:huh:); but one never knows when an elegant solution to a major problem might present itself, or where it might come from. Case in point: the Apollo computer simulations originally designed to take the astronauts on pretend training missions later became key weapons in the fight to clean up our country's air and water. TRW, NASA's leading computer simulation contractor, discovered that the same models could be adapted to measure emissions - air and water pollution - with nearly flawless precision. The data supplied by TRW's pollution-monitoring system was cited as the technical basis for environmental protection laws enacted in California, Alaska, Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C.
(Source of info about the TRW software: "For All Mankind," by Harry Hurt III; Atlantic Monthly Press, NY, 1988. ISBN: 0-87113-170-6. I don't remember where I read about Black & Decker developing the lunar core drills, but I know I did. I'll let you know when I find the exact source.)
TRW's software provided a serendipitous answer to a growing problem; yet no one even thought of using those programs to combat pollution when they were first written back in the 60's. Someone just realized they could be adapted for environmental purposes.

[lunchmeat]

One kind of interesting NASA factoid is that they have atmospheric monitering stations all over the country. I found out about this when I worked for the National Park Service when I helped analyze some of the data from one we had in our park.
An offshoot of this was that degrading viusal horizon, due to smog and haze, in Big Bend had long been thought to come from power plants in Mexico. Turned out that it was coming down from the Midwest, pushed along by cyclonic fronts.

[canuck31003]

I'm in the process of importing my car to Canada. There are hoops, but so far they've been quick and easy ones. Border and customs on both sides have been very helpful and professional.

My next hoop I need to jump through is vehicle inspection.

[TransWarpDrive]

I just got a letter from my VW dealer. They're urging me to set up an appointment to give my car its 30,000-mile inspection soon. Considering I've got over 27,000 miles on it now, that's not a bad idea.
Of course, my main concern is the cost of whatever repairs or service the car might need.... :unsure:

[canuck31003]

As of today my R32 is now a Canadian. :P I handed in all the importation, insurance, and inspection documents to Ontario's motor vehicles agency and received my plates.

My Ontario auto insurance is more than twice what I paid in Maryland. :thumbdown:

[campy]

As of today my R32 is now a Canadian. :P I handed in all the importation, insurance, and inspection documents to Ontario's motor vehicles agency and received my plates.Great! Now you can make Tim Horton's runs for all of us!

[TransWarpDrive]

As of today my R32 is now a Canadian. :P I handed in all the importation, insurance, and inspection documents to Ontario's motor vehicles agency and received my plates.
When you push the horn button, does it play "O Canada"? :P
:laugh:

My Ontario auto insurance is more than twice what I paid in Maryland. :thumbdown:
Man, that really stinks. You have my sympathy, canuck. After my accident on Groundhog Day 2006, my insurance company doubled my premium - after the first accident I'd had in about 14 years! :angry:
So, I called my insurance agent and she switched me to another company - one that gave me the same coverage but at a reasonable price.:cool:
A question, though: does your insurance cost more simply because you live in Canada? Do they routinely charge more there than here in the States?

[canuck31003]

Auto insurance in Canada is generally more expensive than in the U.S., as a rule of thumb, though I can't say for all states. I wonder how much it is in New York, or California?

When you push the horn button, does it play "O Canada"?
Nope. It plays the Hockey Night in Canada theme from CBC. :laugh:

[TransWarpDrive]

Auto insurance in Canada is generally more expensive than in the U.S., as a rule of thumb, though I can't say for all states. I wonder how much it is in New York, or California?

I think it depends more on age than geographic location. Younger, less experienced drivers pay higher premiums because the insurance companies consider them more likely to have accidents. As one grows older and gains more driving experience, the cost of auto insurance tends to go down.
That being said, I think it's possible for car insurance to be more expensive in some parts of the U.S. than others, due to cost-of-living factors. All I know for certain is how much it costs in the Chicago/northern Illinois area, since I live there.
When you push the horn button, does it play "O Canada"?
Nope. It plays the Hockey Night in Canada theme from CBC. :laugh:
:laugh: I had to ask, didn't I? :laugh:

[lunchmeat]

I was pushing for the theme from Strange Brew, myself.....

[TransWarpDrive]

I was pushing for the theme from Strange Brew, myself.....

Or how about Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries? :P

[TransWarpDrive]

Okay, here's a car question that just popped into my head. What car from past years (or decades) would you like to drive (or drive again, if you owned one before), and why? It doesn't have to be a "classic" or collectible car; it just has to be one you saw (or owned) and liked in the past.

My preferences would be either a 1968 Mercury Cougar XR-7; or the Mercedes-Benz C-111 Mk II rotary-engined concept car.
I fell in love with the Cougar when I was a boy. It's hard to explain, except to say the styling of that car just fascinated me. As the years went by, I watched with dismay as the designers at Mercury ruined the Cougar by continually changing the car - making it larger, heavier; transforming it from a "pony car" like the Mustang into a fat, overstuffed luxury car. The absolute low for the Cougar, IMHO, was in the late 70's when it shared its body & chassis with Ford's LTD II. Not only was it available as a two-door coupe; it also became a four-door sedan and even a family station wagon!! :scared:
The bodies it shared with the Thunderbird in the 80's and 90's weren't much better, either....:thumbdown:
The Mercedes was just fantastic. I remember I was in 8th grade at the time, and Mazda was hitting it big selling its cars equipped with the Wankel rotary engine here in the U.S. Wankel mania was prevalent in the auto industry; GM was planning a a Wankel engined car of its own for the American market while NSU and Mercedes-Benz were developing their own prototypes over in Germany. I remember reading about the C-111, and how it went from being a crudely-built "test bed" for Mercedes' 3-rotor Wankel engine to a more refined coupe; then how they designed the Mk II version to house their 4-rotor engine capable of going from 0 to 62 MPH in just 4.8 seconds!
That sort of performance just floored me - acceleration like that means you'd be doing sixty while still in first gear! And it had a top speed of 186 MPH! That was the sort of thing to stoke an adolescent boy's dreams. And the car's sleek styling with the "gull-wing" doors, and the bright orange paint job, completed the picture. I would have given everything I possessed just to have a C-111 of my own. (As I understand it, when the Mk II was unveiled at the 1970 Geneva Motor Show, a number of attendees offered blank checks to Mercedes-Benz in hopes of purchasing one of those for themselves). But it was just a concept car to test the Wankel engine; its poor gas mileage caused the Mercedes brass to discontinue testing in 1971. After the "energy crisis" of 1973, they took the rotary engine out of the C-111 and put a high-performance diesel engine in for testing purposes.
I still like the C-111 today; even now I wish I had one if only for the novelty of owning such a classy-looking car.

[jeriddian]

I have a soft spot for my old 1975 Ford Granada, although it's long gone now.

[TransWarpDrive]

I have a soft spot for my old 1975 Ford Granada, although it's long gone now.

Yeah, I had a 1973 Buick Century that I really loved. In addition to the other two cars, I'd like to have another Century (same year as that one).

[campy]

Okay, here's a car question that just popped into my head. What car from past years (or decades) would you like to driveI'd like to drive an old MG T-Series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MG_T-type) car from the 1930s or 40s. It would have to be right-hand drive for maximum quirkiness factor. :D

[lunchmeat]

1965 Shelby GT-360.

[jeriddian]

1965 Shelby GT-360.

ELEANOR!!!:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[canuck31003]

I'm getting my R32's front bumper repainted next week -- I finally got fed up with all the rock chips. Since moving took me away from all the shops I'm familiar with, it took me a while to find a paint shop I'm willing to pay $$$ for. I'll probably get a clear bra to protect the paint, afterwards.

[jeriddian]

Hey, canuck! Good to see you!:thumbup:

[canuck31003]

Hey, canuck! Good to see you!:thumbup:
Ha ha, thanks. :)

Life happens, but I should be able to get back to GJA more often, now.

I hope I'll have time to switch to my summer tires, this weekend. I would have changed them sooner but I had a tough time finding a suitable low profile jack. I ended up buying one in the U.S. and driving south to pick it up.

I really want to make the switch because I bought new wheels to go with the summer tires. :P

http://www.r32argent.ca/Parts%20&%20Accessories_files/Wheels/OZCronoHT-01.jpg

The above wheels are replacing my stock Aristos, which have been relegated to winter wheel status.

[TransWarpDrive]

Hey, nice wheels and rims there, canuck! :thumbup:
Speaking of which, I realized something not too long ago: Those big SUVs that are tricked out with those thin tires and massive spoked rims (sort of like the ones in canuck's photo) reminded me of the horse-drawn wagons from a century ago in that said horse-drawn wagons also had thin wheels with massive spokes on them. Only difference being, of course, that today's "wagons" are motorized! :biggergrin:
(Think about it and you'll see what I mean...)

[jeriddian]

This would be my "motorized wagon"......:biggergrin:

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1680/tesla4.jpg http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5875/tesla3.jpg

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3409/tesla2.jpg http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5503/tesla1.png

Ssssssssmoking!................................... :thumbup:

Pure electic.....
0 - 60 in 3.9 seconds.....
244 miles per charge (270 in city driving).....
carbon fibre body...........
Pennies per mile..............

[TransWarpDrive]

Tesla Coupe?
Cool! :thumbup::biggergrin:
Now it's just a matter of time before mass production lowers the price of these vehicles (remember how expensive the first VCRs were - $4000.00 or more? Now you can get a VHS unit with all sorts of features for under $100).

[jeriddian]

Tesla Coupe?
Cool! :thumbup::biggergrin:
Now it's just a matter of time before mass production lowers the price of these vehicles (remember how expensive the first VCRs were - $4000.00 or more? Now you can get a VHS unit with all sorts of features for under $100).

Correct!:thumbup: The Tesla Roadster actually. And you are right about the price. Last year it was $105,000. Now it's down to $101,000. The coupe actually looks more like a sedan and is less expensive. It has a smaller motor, I believe, but more mileage capacity per charge, about 330 miles per charge, but only does 0 - 60 in about 9 seconds. It's also only about $50,000.

[lunchmeat]

This would be my "motorized wagon"......:biggergrin:

.....
Ssssssssmoking!................................... :thumbup:

Pure electic.....
0 - 60 in 3.9 seconds.....
244 miles per charge (270 in city driving).....
carbon fibre body...........
Pennies per mile..............

What's the cycle time on recharges? 244 miles is about halfway between my sister's place and my place and once I'm home, there isn't any power yet.

[canuck31003]

I changed to my summer tires this weekend.

Here's a picture of the stock Aristos:
http://r32argent.ca/Exterior%20pictures_files/30JUL06-15.jpg

Now, here's a picture with the O.Z. wheels:
http://r32argent.ca/Parts%20&%20Accessories_files/Wheels/OZCronoHT-03.jpg

[TransWarpDrive]

I went to have my oil changed over the weekend, and ended up having to replace my coolant as well. The mechanic said when he looked at the coolant in my car, instead of being the pinkish color it normally is, mine was the color of sludge (brownish gunk). So, instead of just paying $69.95 for the oil change (my car uses synthetic oil), I shelled out $212.00 for service. Ouch... :blink::(

[jeriddian]

I went to have my oil changed over the weekend, and ended up having to replace my coolant as well. The mechanic said when he looked at the coolant in my car, instead of being the pinkish color it normally is, mine was the color of sludge (brownish gunk). So, instead of just paying $69.95 for the oil change (my car uses synthetic oil), I shelled out $212.00 for service. Ouch... :blink::(

Yeah, it sounds like your radiator has started to rust out. Some radiators will do that. I assume your mechanic had to flush out the entire radiator system to clear the rust out before filling it again. You're going to have to check the radiator fluid more frequently now, and change it a little more often, because chances are it's going to happen again if you don't.

Some cars will do that, some won't. I know because my old Jimmy did that too.

[TransWarpDrive]

I went to have my oil changed over the weekend, and ended up having to replace my coolant as well. The mechanic said when he looked at the coolant in my car, instead of being the pinkish color it normally is, mine was the color of sludge (brownish gunk). So, instead of just paying $69.95 for the oil change (my car uses synthetic oil), I shelled out $212.00 for service. Ouch... :blink::(

Yeah, it sounds like your radiator has started to rust out. Some radiators will do that. I assume your mechanic had to flush out the entire radiator system to clear the rust out before filling it again. You're going to have to check the radiator fluid more frequently now, and change it a little more often, because chances are it's going to happen again if you don't.

Some care will do that, some won't. I know because my old Jimmy did that too.

Rust out, huh? :blink:
I did not want to hear that....:unsure:
Next time I go to my VW dealer, I'll ask a service rep about that and see what he says. Thanks for the heads-up, jeriddian.

[canuck31003]

I need to get a 4-wheel alignment on my car. Yesterday the shop could only check it but not fix it. It's actually pretty uneven. Since my last alignment was only last year, I'm wondering if I did something while changing to my summer tires. I had to really kick them to break them loose.

[canuck31003]

After getting the front of my car repainted, I decided that investing in a clear sticker is much cheaper than having to have another repaint.

The arrows in this first pic indicate the edges of the sticker:
http://r32argent.ca/Parts%20&%20Accessories_files/VentureShield/VentureShield-01.jpg

The sticker is unnoticeable a short distance away:
http://r32argent.ca/Parts%20&%20Accessories_files/VentureShield/VentureShield-02.jpg

So far I'm pretty happy with it. I had the front bumper, headlights, front parts of hood and fenders done. As a bonus, bugs wash off pretty easily, now.

[TransWarpDrive]

Glad you solved your finish problem there, canuck.:thumbup:
My problem is with the birds that poop all over my car whenever I park it in the little extension at the bottom of our driveway. If I'm not careful, they'll "dive-bomb" the car so that I end up with crud on my door handles (Ick...:sick:). To reduce the chances of that happening (and it's happened at least three times already), I park the car in the center of the extension and at a slight angle, so that the majority of the birdies' "gifts" land on my hood instead of the doors. The extension's wide enough for two cars, and I'm the only one who currently parks there, so I can get away with doing that. But man, what a hassle it is to wash the car every week to get that mess off the paint job....:thumbdown:

[canuck31003]

Yeah, birds have annoyed me ever since I started driving. I keep throw-away cloths and quick detailer in the trunk so I can get rid of them before they bake on my paint and make it harder to remove.

One of my non-negotiable criteria whenever I relocate is having covered, assigned parking.

Glad you solved your finish problem there, canuck
To see what the front looked like before repainting....
http://r32argent.ca/Wash%20&%20Wax_files/09-05-06%20front%20repaint/09-05-04%20road%20chips-01.jpg

Meanwhile, my brother in his Denali is getting 10mpg when pulling his 30' trailer. :ohmy:

[campy]

To see what the front looked like before repainting....
http://r32argent.ca/Wash%20&%20Wax_files/09-05-06%20front%20repaint/09-05-04%20road%20chips-01.jpgQuite an improvement! :thumbup:

I should think about getting my Avalon repainted. It could sure use it. I still have a dent in the hood where a truck shot a stone across the road and hit me last year, and a couple of other issues as well. :hmm:

[TransWarpDrive]

Yeah, birds have annoyed me ever since I started driving. I keep throw-away cloths and quick detailer in the trunk so I can get rid of them before they bake on my paint and make it harder to remove.

So, canuck, what brand of quick detailer do you use to deal with the bird poop? That sounds like a good idea - beats rushing to the car wash too often...

[canuck31003]

Right now I'm using Meguiar's Quick Detailer, which I picked up from Canadian Tire -- pretty much any auto store actually, for those south of the border. Plus Walmart, Target, etc.

I thought about just using diluted car wash soap in a spray bottle, but I'm hoping the QD will add at least some temporary protection, and I didn't want to deal with dried soap residue.

[campy]

Ever wonder what would happen if a modern car crashed head on into a massive hunk of Dee-troit steel from the 50s? Check out this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUk) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. :ohmy:

[kyojikasshu]

Ever wonder what would happen if a modern car crashed head on into a massive hunk of Dee-troit steel from the 50s? Check out this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUk) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. :ohmy:

Dag, yo!

Back in '51 or so, my dad was riding in a car that got sandwiched in a five-car pileup. His parents riding in the front were lucky enough to avoid serious injury, and my dad was particularly lucky - he had been sitting with his legs across the rear seat, and the car had been sandwiched enough to push the two benches together. If my dad had been sitting upright and facing forward, he would have lost both of his legs.

[TransWarpDrive]

Ever wonder what would happen if a modern car crashed head on into a massive hunk of Dee-troit steel from the 50s? Check out this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUk) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. :ohmy:

I watched the clip.
:blink: Wow....
It didn't turn out the way I expected.
Except in the estimate of the extent of the two drivers' injuries; one would expect anyone in the car with air bags, seat belts, and a designed-in "crumple zone" to have a better chance of survival than in the vehicle without said features.
But this video blows to shreds all those comments dismissing today's cars as being flimsier because they're "mostly made of plastic.":thumbdown:

[garnetblack]

Ever wonder what would happen if a modern car crashed head on into a massive hunk of Dee-troit steel from the 50s? Check out this video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CU-k0XmLUk) from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. :ohmy:

In short, they don't build 'em like they used to...and for good reason.

[campy]

I just found this gallery of still photos (http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/iihs-09-malibu-vs-59-bel-air-crash-test) of the vehicles involved in this test. Compare the two dummy drivers post-collision.

[TransWarpDrive]

I just found this gallery of still photos (http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/iihs-09-malibu-vs-59-bel-air-crash-test) of the vehicles involved in this test. Compare the two dummy drivers post-collision.

Yeah, you can clearly see how the designed-in "crumple zone" on the '09 Malibu protected the driver from serious harm. Not so for the driver of the '59 Bel Air....:errr:
Safety-wise, today's cars are vastly superior to cars of the past. The engineers are working hard to improve one's chances of surviving a crash in a contemporary car. Style-wise, however, the older cars win hands down.
Now if only someone could come up with a truly stylish car that incorporates all the latest safety technology....
(As you can probably guess, I'm tired of seeing all those "cookie-cutter" cars on the road today - IMHO, we need cars that look different at a glance again.)

[lunchmeat]

There are alternative solutions:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/BMP-1_03.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/BTR-60PB_DA-ST-89-06597.jpg

[jeriddian]

There are alternative solutions:

True, but they are not affordable, street legal, or stylish.......and the mileage they get is absolutely horrendous.........:rolleyes: :laugh:

But the thing I can't believe is that they actually sacrificed such a beautiful antique like a 1959 Bel Air??............:blink::scared:

Good Lord! That's sacrilege to a good car buff!...............:ohmy: :mad:

[TransWarpDrive]

Quote:
(Originally Posted by lunchmeat):
There are alternative solutions:
(Originally posted by jeriddian):
True, but they are not affordable, street legal, or stylish.......and the mileage they get is absolutely horrendous.........
:laugh:
How very true! Besides, military vehicles just aren't my cup of tea...
(Originally posted by jeriddian):
But the thing I can't believe is that they actually sacrificed such a beautiful antique like a 1959 Bel Air??............

Good Lord! That's sacrilege to a good car buff!...............
Sadly, yes; but IMHO, it's better that they sacrifice it in a crash test to make a point about automotive safety than let a real human die in such a collision. Besides, I'm sure there are still a few 1959 Bel Airs out there, safely restored in private collections around the country (if not the world).

[lunchmeat]

There are alternative solutions:

True, but they are not affordable, street legal, or stylish.......and the mileage they get is absolutely horrendous.........:rolleyes: :laugh:

But the thing I can't believe is that they actually sacrificed such a beautiful antique like a 1959 Bel Air??............:blink::scared:

Good Lord! That's sacrilege to a good car buff!...............:ohmy: :mad:


Actually the trick is to get something wheeled like the BTR and register it as farm equipment (I have a buddy who belongs to a military vehicle restoration club, who has researched this ad nauseum). Agreed on the gas mileage, as far as affordable, there was a collectors outlet that was selling BTRs for around $10,000.00 not long ago, which is less than a lot of used SUVs go for. As far as stylish, in heavy traffic, intimidating is better (a Navy buddy, while attending Rice got an old bread delivery truck and bolted 4" channel, edges facing outward, as a solution to Houston traffic. Apparently other drivers gave him lots of room).

[TransWarpDrive]

There are alternative solutions:

True, but they are not affordable, street legal, or stylish.......and the mileage they get is absolutely horrendous.........:rolleyes: :laugh:

But the thing I can't believe is that they actually sacrificed such a beautiful antique like a 1959 Bel Air??............:blink::scared:

Good Lord! That's sacrilege to a good car buff!...............:ohmy: :mad:


Actually the trick is to get something wheeled like the BTR and register it as farm equipment (I have a buddy who belongs to a military vehicle restoration club, who has researched this ad nauseum). Agreed on the gas mileage, as far as affordable, there was a collectors outlet that was selling BTRs for around $10,000.00 not long ago, which is less than a lot of used SUVs go for. As far as stylish, in heavy traffic, intimidating is better (a Navy buddy, while attending Rice got an old bread delivery truck and bolted 4" channel, edges facing outward, as a solution to Houston traffic. Apparently other drivers gave him lots of room).

This may sound like a dumb question, but what do you mean when you say he "bolted 4" channel, edges facing outward, as a solution to Houston traffic?" What exactly is 4" channel, anyway, and how would that simulate a weapon when bolted onto a truck? (I'm assuming that's what it's supposed to look like...)
I'm a bit confused here...:confused::unsure:

[jeriddian]

This may sound like a dumb question, but what do you mean when you say he "bolted 4" channel, edges facing outward, as a solution to Houston traffic?" What exactly is 4" channel, anyway, and how would that simulate a weapon when bolted onto a truck? (I'm assuming that's what it's supposed to look like...)
I'm a bit confused here...:confused::unsure:

If I am not mistaken, "Channel" is metal channel bar, commercially made steel beams shaped like a squared off letter "C". Four inch channel means the back of the beam is 4" wide. It's called channel because you can use it to "channel" water down the middle of it like a gutter. I think the way LM said was the channel was bolted with the back bolted up against the side of the vehicle so that the sides of the channel, so to speak, stuck outwards. I guess it simulated a weapon by sticking out past the front of the vehicle, sort of like a battering ram or something like that.

[campy]

Saw a very nice new Avalon at the Toyota dealer this morning; a charcoal gray Limited model with all the luxury trimmings. I won't be trading in my '04 for it, though — the sticker price was just a few bucks under $39,500. :eek:

[lunchmeat]

There are alternative solutions:

True, but they are not affordable, street legal, or stylish.......and the mileage they get is absolutely horrendous.........:rolleyes: :laugh:

But the thing I can't believe is that they actually sacrificed such a beautiful antique like a 1959 Bel Air??............:blink::scared:

Good Lord! That's sacrilege to a good car buff!...............:ohmy: :mad:


Actually the trick is to get something wheeled like the BTR and register it as farm equipment (I have a buddy who belongs to a military vehicle restoration club, who has researched this ad nauseum). Agreed on the gas mileage, as far as affordable, there was a collectors outlet that was selling BTRs for around $10,000.00 not long ago, which is less than a lot of used SUVs go for. As far as stylish, in heavy traffic, intimidating is better (a Navy buddy, while attending Rice got an old bread delivery truck and bolted 4" channel, edges facing outward, as a solution to Houston traffic. Apparently other drivers gave him lots of room).

This may sound like a dumb question, but what do you mean when you say he "bolted 4" channel, edges facing outward, as a solution to Houston traffic?" What exactly is 4" channel, anyway, and how would that simulate a weapon when bolted onto a truck? (I'm assuming that's what it's supposed to look like...)
I'm a bit confused here...:confused::unsure:

It's a type of structural steel http://www.metalreference.com/07%20HR%20Channel,%20bar%20size.htm, essentially he turned the panel truck into a giant cow catcher. Nobody would get near him.

I once built a utility trailer out of 2 1/2 " channel, had it for years, somethingrather zen-like about welding.

[TransWarpDrive]

OK, lunchmeat, jeriddian; thanks for the explanations. Now I get it...:thumbup:
Yeah, I can see where other drivers would find it intimidating.:laugh:

[TransWarpDrive]

Now here's a car story worth sharing....Stolen VW Recovered after 35 Years (http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/06/california.stolen.vw/index.html)
:blink: Wow.
I'm amazed at the condition they found it in....

[TransWarpDrive]

Apologies if I'm gravedigging, but...
I recently purchased a 1/48-scale die-cast model of the VW CC sedan I got to use as a loaner last Memorial Day weekend while my Passat was in the shop for warranty work. Only the model I've bought is painted silver ("Reflex Silver," to be exact) instead of blue; and it has a sunroof, which my loaner did not.
Still, it makes a nice addition to my collection of Die-cast Vee-Dub models. And it looks great sitting on top of my printer next to my 1/48-scale Phaeton model.:biggergrin:

[TransWarpDrive]

I just learned that Ford Motor Co. announced yesterday that they're going to discontinue their Mercury nameplate. :blink:
After 71 years (Edsel Ford started the Mercury brand in 1939 to bridge the pricing gap between the inexpensive Ford brand and the luxurious Lincoln line-up) in which some fascinating vehicles came out under that brand, there'll be no more Mercury cars built.
Another American auto line bites the dust. How very sad.....:sadgoodbye:
(My favorite Mercury was the 1967-68 Cougar. Truly a sweet-looking ride; I yearned to have one as a boy....)

[campy]

I just learned that Ford Motor Co. announced yesterday that they're going to discontinue their Mercury nameplate. They'd still be going if they'd offered a "de Sade" package for the Grand Marquis.

[TransWarpDrive]

I just learned that Ford Motor Co. announced yesterday that they're going to discontinue their Mercury nameplate. They'd still be going if they'd offered a "de Sade" package for the Grand Marquis.

:confused::laugh:
(TWD searches for some rotten fruit to pelt campy with)
:P

[jeriddian]

I just learned that Ford Motor Co. announced yesterday that they're going to discontinue their Mercury nameplate. They'd still be going if they'd offered a "de Sade" package for the Grand Marquis.

:confused::laugh:
(TWD searches for some rotten fruit to pelt campy with)
:P

Probably not, considering the 'clientele' demographic group they would end up having buy it......:errr: :P :laugh:

[campy]

The campy family garage will be getting a new resident next week, as Mrs. c signed the papers for a 2007 Saab 9–3 this afternoon. The 2004 Corolla will become our daughter's car.

[jeriddian]

The campy family garage will be getting a new resident next week, as Mrs. c signed the papers for a 2007 Saab 9–3 this afternoon. The 2004 Corolla will become our daughter's car.


Ooohhhh!.....shiny!................:P:laugh:

[lunchmeat]

A friend used to tell me that the highest expression of friendship was to work on her SAAB. She was right.

[TransWarpDrive]

The campy family garage will be getting a new resident next week, as Mrs. c signed the papers for a 2007 Saab 9–3 this afternoon. The 2004 Corolla will become our daughter's car.

Cool!:thumbup: Saab also builds fighter jets for Sweden (or they used to, at least). :alumnus:

[lunchmeat]

The campy family garage will be getting a new resident next week, as Mrs. c signed the papers for a 2007 Saab 9–3 this afternoon. The 2004 Corolla will become our daughter's car.

Cool!:thumbup: Saab also builds fighter jets for Sweden (or they used to, at least). :alumnus:

They still do, they just can't find export buyers, so you never hear about them (if their maintenance is anything like Mary Beth's car was, I'm not real surprised).

[TransWarpDrive]

The campy family garage will be getting a new resident next week, as Mrs. c signed the papers for a 2007 Saab 9–3 this afternoon. The 2004 Corolla will become our daughter's car.

Cool!:thumbup: Saab also builds fighter jets for Sweden (or they used to, at least). :alumnus:

They still do, they just can't find export buyers, so you never hear about them (if their maintenance is anything like Mary Beth's car was, I'm not real surprised).

I'm not that well-informed about the quality or reliability of overseas fighter jets, so I'm afraid I can't provide any facts that would shed light on Saab's reputation. However, I do think that the global economy might be contributing to Saab's inability to export their aircraft - especially the recent financial crisis in Europe due to that mess in Greece.

[lunchmeat]

They've never had much of an export market, I can't remember the last time they sold a plane outside Sweden (Bork, bork, bork.....:) ). It's probably a story much like the "S" tank, either over specialized, as is the case of the Israeli Merkava, or too difficult to maintain.

[campy]

They've never had much of an export market, I can't remember the last time they sold a plane outside Sweden (Bork, bork, bork.....:) ). It's probably a story much like the "S" tank, either over specialized, as is the case of the Israeli Merkava, or too difficult to maintain.They sold a few to Dubai recently.

:tomcat:

(I wonder if you start a Saab jet by turning a key on the cockpit floor?) :hmm:

[lunchmeat]

They've never had much of an export market, I can't remember the last time they sold a plane outside Sweden (Bork, bork, bork.....:) ). It's probably a story much like the "S" tank, either over specialized, as is the case of the Israeli Merkava, or too difficult to maintain.They sold a few to Dubai recently.

:tomcat:

(I wonder if you start a Saab jet by turning a key on the cockpit floor?) :hmm:

Could get interesting, Dubai is broke after blowing all their money on hotels.

[Fireand'chutes77]

They've never had much of an export market, I can't remember the last time they sold a plane outside Sweden (Bork, bork, bork.....:) )
Der Sveedish veetvalls? :laugh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY_Yf4zz-yo

"15-Love!"

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:



:tomcat:

(I wonder if you start a Saab jet by turning a key on the cockpit floor?) :hmm:
I've never been inside a Saab.... is the key-in-floor an actual feature?


Could get interesting, Dubai is broke after blowing all their money on hotels.
Hmm... How do you get something like that back?

:confused: :hmm:

...

:alumnus:


Carrier group! :twisted: :thumbup:

[campy]

(I wonder if you start a Saab jet by turning a key on the cockpit floor?) :hmm:
I've never been inside a Saab.... is the key-in-floor an actual feature?They put the ignition switch on the console between the seats, in between the shift lever and a cupholder. Then they warn you to keep liquids and crumbs out of the opening. :blink:

[campy]

This (http://jalopnik.com/5586302/bentley-mulsanne-first-drive)is the car I would own if money were no object. :wuv:

[jeriddian]

This (http://jalopnik.com/5586302/bentley-mulsanne-first-drive)is the car I would own if money were no object. :wuv:

Niiiiiice, Campy.......:dribble:

[TransWarpDrive]

This (http://jalopnik.com/5586302/bentley-mulsanne-first-drive)is the car I would own if money were no object. :wuv:

:thumbup: Yeah, that's a nice set of wheels there....
BTW, did you know that Bentley is owned by Volkswagen?
(Nice little bit of irony there, wouldn't you say?;)) Reference the following quote from the article you linked us to:
Unlike the current Continental range, it (the Bentley Arnage) shared little with any Volkswagen Group product. When it came time to develop the Arnage's replacement, VW reportedly wanted Bentley to develop a car based on a Volkswagen platform. Crewe apparently said no, and the Mulsanne was born. :alumnus:

[lunchmeat]

I guess they couldn't take Britain over in 1940, so buying out their companies is the next best thing......

[TransWarpDrive]

I guess they couldn't take Britain over in 1940, so buying out their companies is the next best thing......

Ah, but it was the German government then in power that tried conquering Britain.
Fortunately, those particular madmen were stopped in their tracks and cooler heads have since prevailed.:thumbs:
And besides, Ford is part owner of the Mazda car company in Japan; and GM owns Opel in Germany, so you might say it all balances out.:biggergrin:

[campy]

The Brits also sold MG to the Chinese and Jaguar & Land Rover to the Indians.

At least they've still got Morgan (http://www.morgan-motor.co.uk/)! :D

[Villainheadache]

This (http://jalopnik.com/5586302/bentley-mulsanne-first-drive)is the car I would own if money were no object. :wuv:

Nice wheels Campy, I like it too :D

[TransWarpDrive]

Speaking of cars, I not only have to renew my license plates in September; but I also have to renew my driver's license itself before my birthday this year.
I don't need that to expire on me....:errr:

[Imipk]

http://www.lbvcr.com/gallery/008_HANG_ON,_NEARLY_THERE%28600%29.jpg

Youngsters today...

[TransWarpDrive]

http://www.lbvcr.com/gallery/008_HANG_ON,_NEARLY_THERE%28600%29.jpg

Youngsters today...

Yeah, those crazy kids in their newfangled contraptions, tearing through town and causing a ruckus....:laugh:

[Imipk]

Yeah, those crazy kids in their newfangled contraptions, tearing through town and causing a ruckus....:laugh:

For those not familiar with it, the London-Brighton Run is a city-to-city motor race in England with a difference... No car later than 1905 is allowed to enter. (Well, they're debating if 1906 is ok.)

http://www.lbvcr.com/gallery/010%28600%29.jpg

I'm not certain, but I think this car goes faster than Ron's scooter. It's not quite clear to me if it's any roomier, though. What do you think?

http://www.lbvcr.com/gallery/015_Is_it_raining%28600%29.jpg

Aha! These must be the Tweeb's English cousins.

[Imipk]

Two more cars. First up, something to do the shopping in.

http://komelong.up.seesaa.net/image/thrustssc-kowa.jpg

Ok, the second one is actually a backhoe, but it does 114 MPH so it's effectively a car.

http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-content/gallery/cholmondeley-pageant-2010/jcb-gt-smokes-off-the-line.jpg

[TransWarpDrive]

Speaking of cars, I've got to shell out $78 before the end of the month in order to buy a renewal sticker for my license plates. Then I have to get my driver's license renewed before my next birthday - that'll cost me 30 bucks.

Ah, the joys of car ownership.....*:rolleyes:

(*Sarcasm ahoy)

[campy]

We all missed our chance to buy James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin DB5 (http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/27/james-bonds-aston-martin-db5-sells-for-4-6-million/) from Goldfinger. :ohwell:

[campy]

I hope the infamous Volkswagen aficionado & collector known as TransWarpDrive can account for his whereabouts on the date of this incident (http://www.vancouversun.com/cars/Volkswagen+Beetle+theft+bugs+Vancouver/3900163/story.html). :biggergrin:

[TransWarpDrive]

I hope the infamous Volkswagen aficionado & collector known as TransWarpDrive can account for his whereabouts on the date of this incident (http://www.vancouversun.com/cars/Volkswagen+Beetle+theft+bugs+Vancouver/3900163/story.html). :biggergrin:

:laugh:I can honestly tell you that I've never been anywhere near Vancouver.
Seriously, though, I hope the thief returns the stolen replica, or the authorities find who took it. What puzzles me is why anyone would want to steal a non-functioning replica of a VW Bug (or any car for that matter). What would they do with the thing? They certainly can't drive it anywhere....:unsure:

[campy]

Today I saw a Toyota Avalon similar to my own, that someone had installed one of those padded vinyl tops on. It looked really tacky. :sick: They even upholstered right over the rear side windows.

[Cloud23465]

You know, if i may vent for a second... I started working at advance auto parts back in febuary. It's amazing how people react to things for cars. Car battries are NOT cheap. If you buy something cheap.... Wiper blades, oil, Brake pads, Ect. you get what you pay for. And people that work at auto parts store are NOT mechanics... I know that's hard to believe but, man... if you don't know what you need for your car... don't expect them to know either.

[jeriddian]

Good point, Cloud. I understood that point nicely when I went in to get some minor article at an O'Reilly's Auto Parts Store and was attended by this teenage girl who happened to be doing her nails before she rang up my purchase. :rolleyes:

[TransWarpDrive]

Yeah; once I made the mistake of going to Pep Boys for replacement wiper blades for my '98 Bug. Their computer said the blades they had were the right ones for my car; however, on the New Beetle you only have to replace the rubber on those blades - the frame parts of the blades are made of metal, and are shaped to contour the rubber against the curvature of the windshield. That means pulling the old rubber off; cutting the new rubber to the proper length for each blade; putting the new stuff into the blade frames, and then reattaching the blade assemblies back to the wiper arms. I ended up taking the Pep Boys blades back for a refund, and telling them their database was faulty. From then on I bought replacements at the VW dealer.

[Beaglebub]

And people that work at auto parts store are NOT mechanics... I know that's hard to believe but, man... if you don't know what you need for your car... don't expect them to know either.

Well, that's odd......my dad worked at an auto parts store for 40 years, and he knew how to fix everything on vehicles imaginable. All the other guys working there were the same, and a few even worked as mechanics at different times.

Sounds like you people just went looking for help in the wrong frickin' place, that's all.

[kyojikasshu]

Around here, we used to have Murray's, but O'Reilly acquired its parent company a few years ago, and recently completed the brand transition on its stores. Still, they've managed to keep most of the Murray's employees, at least at the two stores I go to, and they're pretty knowledgeable.

[Cloud23465]

Well, that's odd......my dad worked at an auto parts store for 40 years, and he knew how to fix everything on vehicles imaginable. All the other guys working there were the same, and a few even worked as mechanics at different times.
Ok let me rephrase that... People working at auto parts stores don't get paid to be mechanics. Not even close. ASE certified mechanics have schooling, several years of hands on training, and thousand of dollars worth of specalised tools and equpment to work on cars. People working at auto parts stores don't have all that. I can work on my car but, that doesn't make me a mechanic.
Good point, Cloud. I understood that point nicely when I went in to get some minor article at an O'Reilly's Auto Parts Store and was attended by this teenage girl who happened to be doing her nails before she rang up my purchase. :rolleyes:
Haha. don't let the ladies fool you though. My supervisor is a lady, pretty close to my age and she's our Commercial parts pro. My sister-in-law is as well at another store.

[TransWarpDrive]

Being able to fix cars is a major plus for working in an auto parts store; my younger brother is constantly working on his car (he's pretty good at it, too) and for a while he worked selling auto parts until the store went out of business a few years back.
Many times, though, auto parts stores - especially the big chains (nationwide or just regional) are only looking for sales personnel who are capable of looking stuff up on a computer, since that's how they all inventory their stock these days. So that's probably why jeriddian and Cloud encountered their respective "non-auto-savvy" store personnel recently.

[campy]

Seeing a lot of Fiat 500s here in Rome. They're cute. :)

Also lots of Citroens. I miss French cars.

EDIT: Today I saw an old (the model they discontinued in 1975) Fiat 500 parked next to a Smart for Two. The Smart veritably dwarfed the cinquecento. :laugh: And the Fiat has a rear seat!