{"conf": "cars", "generated_at": "2026-04-26T08:00:02.954878Z", "threads": [{"num": 1, "subject": "introductions", "response_count": 51, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Jens", "date": "Fri, Jun 13, 1997 (19:16)", "body": "I found you via an link from the DynamIP Homepage cause i was very interrested i interactive WebBoards i followed his link quick... :) My interests are very different from going out (disco, pub,..) to the maintenance of my car (if u ask me sometimes too often) I drive an \ufffd89 Volvo 480 ES colored Black - ok these are my stats - Next one please :)"}, {"response": 2, "author": "heather", "date": "Tue, Jun 17, 1997 (15:18)", "body": ""}, {"response": 3, "author": "Sdempster", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (08:04)", "body": "A friend of mine found your site just before I got my 1992 480 Turbo (Kneel before me all you Es'ers elst feel the rath of the Intercooler...) Previously had a MGB GT but have now moved on to modern machinery. Convicted petrol head, cyclist, swimmer By day - a computer programmer - aaahhh I here you cry Would be interested to recieve e-mails from fellow drivers on their cars be it upgrades,problems etc. Two addresses you can send to sdempster@compuserve.com steve@framewrk.demon.co.uk"}, {"response": 4, "author": "Jens", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (12:24)", "body": "Hi Stephen... I wonder if u recieved my E-Mail, have you? If not i got some trouble with my E-Mail prog. if u recieved it - I will send u some \"upgrades and problems\" :) JENS"}, {"response": 5, "author": "480es", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (17:18)", "body": "Just want to introduce myself. I bought an '87 Es (109Hp) last year. I took it apart , gave it a new Paint-job and the usual stuff. Looks good now . ( Also painted the bumpers) . Does anyone know if there are Spoilers for the 480 ? I still go to school but in my spare-time i do some projects ... I also have an Rabbit Gti and a Corrado G60 ... ( but still nothing better then a 480 ... unless ofcourse a Delorean...! )"}, {"response": 6, "author": "480es", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (17:21)", "body": "Jens frage ... ist es nicht moeglich um alle berichte gleichzeitig zu sehen? Es nervt ein bisschen alle \"conference rooms\" ab zu gehen ! Cu ...."}, {"response": 7, "author": "Jens", "date": "Thu, Jun 19, 1997 (15:55)", "body": "Jens Antwort - :) - Also es geht soweit ich weis nicht - Du kannst nur \"Was gibts neues in der Konferenz\" auf der Homepage anklicken aber von dort aus mu\ufffdt du die einzelnen Topics anklicken.. JENS"}, {"response": 8, "author": "Sdempster", "date": "Fri, Jun 20, 1997 (07:37)", "body": "Hi Jens, Sorry, I haven''t got your e-mail yet - it might have got stuck somewhere in the system. Got any usefull info on uprating the suspension at at all in that e-mail? I think the 480 is a bit soft compared to say a Golf Gti (Dare I mention that name here!!) Have you or any of other 480 drivers beefed them up a bit - and how? Also, does anyone have any clever places to put a CD-autochanger without chewing up trim? Message for Delorean (Netherlands) - I do remember seeing an ad for a sports exhaust for the 480 in Max Power a while ago. Do you get this mag in the Netherlands? I'm suprised you cannot get things like that there considering the 480 was made there."}, {"response": 9, "author": "Jens", "date": "Fri, Jun 20, 1997 (17:08)", "body": "Yes Steve - I bought an stiffer suspension for my 480 - red Koni shock-absorbers for the back axle and Monroe Sensatrac for the Front - in comination with shorter springs from M.R. (30mm) If you want more info. I can send u an Mail... JENS"}, {"response": 10, "author": "480es", "date": "Sun, Jun 22, 1997 (06:03)", "body": "HI Steve , well I have Max from 11/96 to June 1997 but I haven't found any Adds there , maybe you could find make and model and a Tel-number. Thanks already!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (18:03)", "body": "O.K. I'm a car fanatic who got converted to bike fever. I have no car. I have never had a car, and my personal distrust of lending institutions in Jamaica means I probably will never own a car. The car of my dreams is a Mazda MX-5 (Miata). THe car of my more practical dreams is a Suzuki Super Carry (van)."}, {"response": 12, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (18:11)", "body": "You live in Jamaica?"}, {"response": 13, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (18:31)", "body": "Not right now. I'm in Mexico on a training course. But I go back home (to Jamaica)in three weeks!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "yves", "date": "Sat, Oct 25, 1997 (02:44)", "body": "I found you on Xroad bike forum. I reed there that Sam was speaking to himself. So I'll try to help him taking out of is solitude. I live in Quebec, had lot of car (all american except a Vauxal Viva (England engeniring)). I had V8, 6 in line, 4cyl. and now a V6 longitudinal(traction). Every time I bought a car, my first consideration was $$$. Then I let my heart go. I'm not a fine connaisseur but I love machanic in general. I'm always been a F-1 fan. Yves"}, {"response": 15, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Oct 26, 1997 (10:08)", "body": "I just checked to find out who the new F-1 champion was. Yves, I am sure you are pleased to know that Jacques Villeneuve is the 1997 Formula One World Driver's Champion. I'm sorry that Ferrari didn't get it but I'm glad that Schumacher didn't! Gilles is avenged at last!!!"}, {"response": 16, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (00:25)", "body": "I was up at 6 1/2 this morning to see that race that was fabulous and hard for our nerves. We are very proud of Gilles's son. But for an old guy like me, he'll never have the Charism of is father nether his fieriness, temerity. But a son is never his father.(Good thing for my son (o:)"}, {"response": 17, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (09:38)", "body": "Ziggy Marley is further proof of that. Damon Hill last year, Jacques Villeneuve this year; looks like this is the era of the second generation!"}, {"response": 18, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:49)", "body": "What does that mean musically?"}, {"response": 19, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (12:59)", "body": "Ziggy Marley, the son of The Honourable Robert Nesta (Bob) Marley, O.M., is nowhere near as talented as his father, who was mostly responsible for the international popularity of Reggae music. It's about fathers & sons: Gilles & Jacques Villeneuve, Graham & Damon Hill, Bob & Ziggy Marley..."}, {"response": 20, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (13:36)", "body": "These folks come to Austin a lot, Ya, know, mon, me and Cassie came in second in the Liberty Lunch reggae dancing contest. I have to admit that Cassie carried most of the load, she was a spectacular dancer. This was some years ago, but the roar of the applause made my night that night."}, {"response": 21, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Nov  4, 1997 (17:03)", "body": "Came over thanks to Sam. Only thing I've never driven personally is a Lambo. Convicted Jaguar/Lotus lover, and anything Italian. Some resto experience and building experience. Presently own a 91 Integra with some work on it, and a VW dune buggy, along with my motorcycle. Ya got me!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Nov  4, 1997 (18:00)", "body": "Have you ever driven a jag?"}, {"response": 23, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (07:48)", "body": "Have I ever driven a Jag? Oh yes. Helped restore and drive an XK120, 150, and restored 2 E Types myself. Started on an XJ12 and gave it up. The E's were my college project/babe magnets/wallet killers. IMHO the best all round sportscar ride there is (and I love Lotus Sevens & Europas). Pardon me, but a man's car!"}, {"response": 24, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (10:19)", "body": "Thanks once again for coming, Frank! Place is looking livelier already!"}, {"response": 25, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (14:31)", "body": "What's the scoop on the XKE? What year is best? How much to get one now? etc. etc. Let's talk XKE."}, {"response": 26, "author": "Daan", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (12:00)", "body": "Hello I'm a dutch guy 22 years old and I'm in doubt of choosing a car. There are 2 cars of my choice -1-VOLVO 480-TURBO- -2-VOLKSWAGEN CORRADO VR6 OR 16V (NOT G60) Can anybody help me with my choice emailadress lros@caiw.nl Greetings Daniel Ros"}, {"response": 27, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (12:54)", "body": "Do you live in the USA or Holland or Curacao?"}, {"response": 28, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Dec  8, 1997 (19:01)", "body": "Car broke. Now it's fixed. Merry Christmas credit card company."}, {"response": 29, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (00:04)", "body": "What happened to your car STacey?"}, {"response": 30, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (18:30)", "body": "Bad alternator ground which drained my battery. Bad map sensor wire which through off my emissions system and bad spark plug wire placeing extra load on the other three, wearing them out in right good form!"}, {"response": 31, "author": "flower", "date": "Mon, Dec 29, 1997 (02:54)", "body": "Hi. I met terry at jim obriens xmas potluck... am looking for a great used 5 spd car. I tend to trust imports over american cars... need a reliable one that can comfortably seat 3 kids in the back. A camry or mazda 626 is the right size but a manual camry is hard to find and i don't know much about mazdas. Anybody have a recommendation? Thanks!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Dec 29, 1997 (09:47)", "body": "I remember talking to you, glad you found us! We have some heavy duty car (and bike) talkers here, so check back for some feedback. I drove a Camry for a while and really liked it. What are you seeing in the Austin classifieds as far as prices and years?"}, {"response": 33, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Dec 29, 1997 (10:15)", "body": "I must recommend any Integra in good shape, or a late model Civic, which will probably be more money. Everything about these cars is bulletproof and fun."}, {"response": 34, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Dec 29, 1997 (10:54)", "body": "What about the Camry, Robert? You didn't mention it."}, {"response": 35, "author": "flower", "date": "Mon, Dec 29, 1997 (16:22)", "body": "Hey thanks for the feedback. The classifieds have lots of camrys for all prices - just very few 5 spds. Yeah Hondas are fun cruisemobiles but the 2 I've had both seemed to like breaking down on I-35 at rush hour. Thats why I was wondering about mazdas - could any car be as reliable as a toyota? Hmm, Integra? I'll have to check one out."}, {"response": 36, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jul 30, 1998 (13:19)", "body": "Finally traded in my '90 Dodge Spirit (w/ 116,500+ miles) last night. I cried leaving it in the lot but was glad to be leaving the mechanical failures behind. Bought a '92 Legacy w/ 90K on it. 5D, AWD, but WHITE... EEEWWW, yuck. Actually, I really like it (having owned it for just 12 hours now!)"}, {"response": 37, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jul 30, 1998 (15:52)", "body": "Automatic? Is the a/c good? What gas mileage does it get? Will it make it to Austin?"}, {"response": 38, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jul 30, 1998 (17:51)", "body": "yes, yes, I dunno... only owned it since 11:45pm last night, I hope so but flying should still be cheaper..."}, {"response": 39, "author": "vince", "date": "Wed, Sep  2, 1998 (17:56)", "body": "Hi It has taken me a very long time to find this forum!!! I have a 480es (1989) and it is the best car I have ever had. There is one problem - the alarm will not switch off. I have had to remove the fuse so now I don,t have the horn or the long-distance beams. Can anyone give me some advice? The fault is in one of the doors or in the hood or boot. Can I disable the alarm? Hiow can I find the fault?"}, {"response": 40, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Sep  2, 1998 (18:39)", "body": "I don't have the answer Vince, but I'm glad you found us. I hope you take a chance to poke around our community, there are some great folks here. What other interests do you have besides cars? And can you tell us more about your car?"}, {"response": 41, "author": "vince", "date": "Thu, Sep  3, 1998 (18:01)", "body": "Hi Terry This site is great and I will explore it much more. People here should know a great deal about the the 480 so telling you more about my car is very hard - it is red, 98000 miles on the clock and in my opinion, fantastic. If you know of any more sites like this please let me know."}, {"response": 42, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Sep  3, 1998 (22:49)", "body": "I sure will, I'd suggest to get your bearings here you might want to join the 'porch' conference which is the gateway out to everything else on the Spring."}, {"response": 43, "author": "TIM", "date": "Sun, Nov 15, 1998 (15:45)", "body": "The alarm is the fault. remove it."}, {"response": 44, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (09:35)", "body": "I will have a look again sometime... Thanks for the reminder! Regards Otmar Sent: Freitag, 12. Mai 2000 21:39 To: OtmarW@compuserve.com Well, one participant's still alive and kicking!"}, {"response": 45, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (10:47)", "body": "Sensational. Hmmm... Might be worth it for the science conference and a few others..."}, {"response": 46, "author": "cheesy", "date": "Fri, Oct 20, 2000 (17:45)", "body": "I was wandering if anybody was willing to give me some info on how to get non standard parts for the volvo 480 in the UK. I have just bought a 1990 black 480 ES with 84,000 miles on the clock which is in really good nick and am very happy with my purchase, she's gorgeous. Anyway i want to make her look that little bit more special, does anybody know of any companies that sell non standard parts? I have fitted the sound system already and it is sounding sweet, 150W component speakers on a sony 4x80W explod amp. The quality is really good, I'm not bothered about the bass (i don't think everybody should have to listen to what I'm playing on my stereo, unlike others). It would be a great help if anybody knows of such companies, hopefully hear from you soon, Alex Cheeseman (aj_cheesy@hotmail.com)"}, {"response": 47, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Oct 20, 2000 (18:15)", "body": "Alex, try these: http://www.164club.org/volvlink.html www.ccar.co.nz/volvo/parts.html . Volvo Parts, England http://www.classicvolvoparts.co.uk.. . ... http://www.eurocarparts.co.uk Volvo new parts supplier, all..."}, {"response": 48, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Oct 20, 2000 (18:16)", "body": "I did a www.google.com search for Volvo Car parts. Good luck!!! Also check: Brookhouse Volvo Classic Car Parts ...BROOKHOUSE VOLVO PARTS Suppliers of parts and... ...@brookvolvo.freeserve.co.uk To access our large catalog of parts,... www.classicvolvoparts.co.uk/ - 7k - Cached - Similar pages World volvolinks! ...Worldwide list of Volvo parts suppliers and repair... ...Owners Club Ltd. Welcome to Volvo Car UK Volvia Volvo 444... web.inter.nl.net/hcc/F.D.men/volvolinks.html - 88k - Cached - Similar pages"}, {"response": 49, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Oct 20, 2000 (18:20)", "body": "that is, in clickable links, http://www.google.com Brookhouse Volvo Classic Car Parts ...BROOKHOUSE VOLVO PARTS Suppliers of parts and... ...@brookvolvo.freeserve.co.uk To access our large catalog of parts,... http://www.classicvolvoparts.co.uk/ ProSport - The Car Parts Suppliers ...Talbot, Toyota, Triumph, Vauxhall, Vw, Volvo. Phone: 01664 501982 Fax:... ...01664 501762 Email: sales@prosport.uk.com Web site address:... http://www.prosport.uk.com/pipcams.htm"}, {"response": 50, "author": "cheesy", "date": "Sat, Oct 28, 2000 (19:23)", "body": "Cheers marciaH those were really helpful. Now I've got to find someone who stocks srares for repairs, my sister took it up the kerb at 30 in an accident and destroyed two alloys and tyres, the power steering rack, the front struts and hubs and the cross members and the sump. Cheers sis, she's great. Thanx anyway for the info."}, {"response": 51, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Oct 29, 2000 (00:08)", "body": "Aloha, Alex! Delighted to be of assistance. Sisters cannot be replaced. Cars parts can be replaced or repaired. Sounds like it was a costly accident... How's the alignment? Sorry I cannot repair it for you with a magic wand from half way around the world! cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 10, "subject": "Engine Placement", "response_count": 30, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Oct 22, 1997 (01:16)", "body": "I read somewhere that front wheel drive setups are unreliable, especially in an engine stall in traffic. And that the bigger the engine, the more reliable the car. As in V-8. And I'm wondering still what a \"mid-engine\" arrangement is all about."}, {"response": 2, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Oct 22, 1997 (09:58)", "body": "I answered the \"mid-engine\" question in the \"Chrysler Sebring\" topic. There are two inherent problems with front-engine, front wheel drive cars. First of all, the front wheels do all the work, bearing both driving and steering loads, while the rear wheels are uncontrolled by the driver. With rear drive cars, the rear wheels can be positioned by applying power, not an option with front drive. Secondly, weight is transerred to the rear wheels during acceleration; this gives rear drive cars more traction during acceleration, but unloads the drive wheels of front drive cars. There's also torque steer to consider, but the engineers have overcome that to a large extent; watch out with used cars, though. I haven't heard of the reliability questions you've put forward, but I do know that there is precious little space to move around in the engine bay of modern front drive cars, so maintenance is a bit labourious."}, {"response": 3, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Oct 22, 1997 (10:01)", "body": "A car with a bigger engine might be more reliable than a similar car with a smaller engine, because the bigger engine is less heavily stressed. On the other hand, an oversized engine is less efficiently utilized. It all depends on what you want."}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Oct 22, 1997 (19:59)", "body": "My old vehicles, like my current Ford Van with it's V-8 engine and my past vans with V-8s have always lasted, wheras my teeny Mitsubishi in my Dodge Caravan needs period rebuilding. It seems if you want an engine to last you need to get a big V-8."}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Oct 23, 1997 (08:56)", "body": "I've never owned a car, and I don't know how often my brother had his Ford Cortina 2000GT overhauled (I don't think my sister-in-law knows either; she sold it shortly after my brother's death), but I still think that the longivity of the V-8s are due to their low stresses and their simple designs. Anybody have any idea of the longivity of inline sixes? Or older European fours, like the Kent engine used in Ford Escorts of the Seventies (in Europe; America didn't get an Escort until 1981) and the OHC engine used in my brother's Cortina and in the Ford Pinto in the U.S.? What about the BMC A- and B- Series? The VW boxer engine? Or the three litre Austin engines used in the Big Healeys? I also think that the older engines were overdesigned to ensure reliability, whereas today's designers stress efficiency and take engines closer to the edge."}, {"response": 6, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Oct 24, 1997 (09:05)", "body": "I get the feeling I'm talking to myself, but... The Porsche layout (as used in the VW Beetle) has the potential for all the same advantages as the Issigonis layout (as used in the BMC Mini and almost all small cars being made today). It might have been the dominant layout were it not for the negative publicity surrounding the Chevrolet Corvair. Considering its humble beginnings, it is interesting to note that the last cars available in the U.S. to use the Porsche layout are expensive sports cars!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Oct 24, 1997 (10:54)", "body": "Why was the Corvair such a failure?"}, {"response": 8, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Oct 24, 1997 (12:26)", "body": "All this happened before I was born, so if this is wrong, will someone please correct me? The Corvair was brought out by Chevrolet in 1960, in response to the increasing popularity of imported cars like the VW Beetle. The original Corvair had a swing-axle rear suspension, which tends to tuck the outside wheel under in hard turns. Considering that the Corvair was rear-engined, this led to some very peculiar handling. Along came a lawyer named Ralph Nader, whose investigation of this problem led him to write the book Unsafe At Any Speed ; the title referring to the Corvair. He also brought a lawsuit against GM when it was discovered that they were conducting a private investigation on him. During this time, the Corvair had been redesigned with a fully independent rear suspension and was a much better-handling car, but what with Nader's claims and a congressional investigation on the early cars (which came up em ty), the Corvair was doomed, along with any hope of a similar American car being built."}, {"response": 9, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Oct 24, 1997 (14:47)", "body": "That's an interesting spin. I had one for a short while but got scared by all the hype too. It was in between sports cars."}, {"response": 10, "author": "rholy", "date": "Fri, Oct 24, 1997 (15:04)", "body": "sorry to break in on the conversation....!really i have been building a home since march 31 '97...my computer has been in boxes stored since that day.. i unpacked it to loggon october 22 '97 i can find no trace of Worlds Chat Gold - hostname resolved ? i cannot locate their web page. can anyone fill me in! i have been a hermit for the past 7 mo. comp up -- i have out of town guests comming this weekend ....would really like this program info . 10-24-97 2:30 pm ct rholy@viptx.net thank you robin"}, {"response": 11, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Oct 24, 1997 (15:11)", "body": "Well, we'll try to help you and we might want to move to another topic other than mid-engine cars. Have you tried a net search for this name? What have you tried? Can you give us more details? We'll see if we can get you back on the road again. By the way, you're welcome to join our converstation that is going on here on the Spring."}, {"response": 12, "author": "yves", "date": "Sat, Oct 25, 1997 (02:20)", "body": "Since 1980 I'm riding 4 cyl. traction cars. Mostly never had much problem with them. Had a 1980 dorge Reliant, and rodo more than 100,000 miles without openig the motor. Only chronic problem was the front weels bearing (bad conception). I own a 1990 Sunbird 2.2 liters with 105.000 miles on the odo, and did only standard maintenance. I think that if you ride your car according to their capacities there's no problem. Traction car are the best ones in snow condition. On dry, I would prefer a propulsion. Yves"}, {"response": 13, "author": "rholy", "date": "Sat, Oct 25, 1997 (05:30)", "body": "on springs\\ i have q great truck.. 83 ford ranger. that was the last year with a carb! i want to put keyless ignition and entry. it has a multi-flaked BLACK paint job. on the hood and front it had flames . they were removed . now there is a picture of the coolest red neck wisard on the hood . the windows are tinted darkest limo black. digital dash/w cherry veneer. the door knobs and key on both doors removed. back sliding glass nokia cell w\\universal holder in roof. custom milage,clock,date & map lite in roof concole. .. cordless radar.. has a cattle gaurd ..w\\fog & high beams in center of grill the license plates are supr custom... State Of The Art Texas tags look them up of course personalized ( YLUST ) it has a ford bedliner w\\ saddle tool boxes the truck took a lot of work..there was a lot of chrome. now total black-like midnigt rider + kool wheels - both plates are neon. narley stereo there's a sixties piece sign aired also where it used to say ford on the grill it has 3 large dome lite on the top of the cab which are hooked to dash lites..adjust brightness. it makes a excellent work truck! suspension is new ..calif. catal. & emissin control '91 ('New' engine) air , cruise custom race pedals only coil and leaf springs w\\mean shocks suspension coming up...the truck can be 4-wheel drive for starting 1200.00 hey i have 2 bikes The yam 1100 has air shocks...the other is a suzuki GL1000L i guess im an old hippie w\\mechanical loves"}, {"response": 14, "author": "yves", "date": "Sat, Oct 25, 1997 (11:32)", "body": "The problem with newer vehicule is that they are almost mecanicly untoutchable whith all their computer driven system."}, {"response": 15, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Oct 26, 1997 (10:17)", "body": "That's not a problem with a pickup truck I saw yesterday. It's a Volkswagen, with the old boxer engine right behind the driver and apparently driving the front wheels. It's a cab-forward design, and the front looks like it's made from the same flat steel sheeting as the VW \"Thing\", or Caribe as it's known here in M\ufffdxico. All those computer driven systems in modern cars are a nightmare in Jamaica, where mechanics will never admit that they don't know something and will keep hacking around until they destroy everything."}, {"response": 16, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (00:49)", "body": "In Mexico or contries wihout there's loth of old (more than 10-15 years) vehicule in good condition. So you can look for car whith simple mechanic. Here, after 10 years the car is gping or gone to scrapyard. Cause the body is faling apart. So if you buy a used car, you have to pay for repairs and it's better to go where they have computers to check your car. A trick that I sotimes use is to go to the dealer, explain the problem as if you were taking in the car, he tells you what could be the defective par , buy that part (somewhere else) and make the repair. It's work (sometimes)"}, {"response": 17, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (01:09)", "body": "The midle-engin in a pick-up is a great idea. The problem with them is: all in front, nothing in the back. So you have to put some weight behind the rear wells to have a bit of grip."}, {"response": 18, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (09:48)", "body": "The Toyota Previa mini-van is mid-engined. Weight behid the rear wells? That sounds like a rear-engined set-up, like the Microbus or the Vanagon. I made a mistake earlier. I said \"cab-forward\" instead of \"cab-over\". Wonder why there aren't any cab-over pickup trucks for sale in the U.S.? My employers in Jamaica use one, make by the Korean firm Kia."}, {"response": 19, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (06:48)", "body": "O.K., this is the post from the Chrysler Sebring Convertible topic: A mid-engined car, like the Fiat X-1/9 or the Lamborghini Countach (talk about extremes!), has the engine behind the driver but in front of the rear wheels. Other mid-engined cars of note are (affordable): the Pontiac Fiero, the Toyota MR2, (semi-affordable): the Porsche 914, (unaffordable) the Porsche Boxster, the Ferrari 308, Lamborghini Urracco, Lamborghini Jalpa, Lotus Esprit (REALLY unaffordable) Lamborghini Miura, Countach, Diablo, Ferrari Testarossa, F40, Bugatti EB110, Vector, etc. Most racing cars nowadays are mid-engined. I'll look for other stray engine placement posts and put them here."}, {"response": 20, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (11:03)", "body": "Sam, excellent posts regarding layout! And Robin, check that Motorcycle conference, I'd like to hear about the 11! Sounds like quite the cruze-truck BTW. After 8 years with FWD cars, a Hyundai & my Integra, I've had enough. The oversteering is a royal pain I can't get used to, and the winter traction is equal to a rear-wheel/front motor car if driven properly in all but extreme conditions. For the extremes, which I now get where we live, I'm going to all-wheel (Forester). My VW buggy is a great handler in all but rain. And the Corvair was given a really raw deal by politicians and the ties at Chevrolet. With very little suspension work that car can keep up with bikes in the corners. Sorry, I'm in a hurry.."}, {"response": 21, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (11:05)", "body": "\"understeering\"; the Integra is an understeerer, sorry!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (20:15)", "body": "Checxk out Yves' comments about 4WD undre Subaru SVX (just remembered 'em!) I may move them here, but I'm a lazy soul..."}, {"response": 23, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov 23, 1997 (11:50)", "body": "Topic 14 of 22 [cars]: Subaru SVX Response 4 of 6: Yves G. (yves) * Fri, Oct 31, 1997 (04:17) * 4 lines They sold the Viva only 2 or 3 years on GM dealers. Parts were just a bit more expensive than US ones. 4Wd are not very popular cause roads are cleaned up very fast around big centers.Most of the time it's easier to lose control with a 4wd. We encounter lot of icy or slippery conditions and when you lose traction on 4 wells at the time, your in great trouble. With traction or prop you can desaccelerate or accelerate to get back in line with the 2 non spinning wells (am I clear,I'm not sure). We often see 4wd out of the road. Maybe the excess of confidence is in cause but not always. I remember last winter, my neibour (he is a Chrysler dealer and is used to drive lot of different cars and trucks) was driving ( a bit to fast)a 4wd (integral) van and lost control of it. He told me that when he tried to retrive control there was noting to do. Having a 4wd for me is much for leisure than every day vehicule. Topic 14 of 22 [cars]: Subaru SVX Response 5 of 6: El Sam Blob (Afor) * Fri, Oct 31, 1997 (08:56) * 11 lines I remember seeing an ad for Ford Cortinas in a late '70s edition of Reader's Digest Were there a lot of British or German Ford or GM cars in Canada? Are there now? Let me see if I follow you: \"Traction\" = front wheel drive (pulling the car, hence \"traction\") \"Propulsion\" = rear wheel drive (pushing the car, hence \"propulsion\") The theory is that traction is more evenly distributed with 4wd, and that, with the more recent systems, power can be sent away from the wheel that can't use it and to the wheel that can. However, I now realize that there is less load on each powered wheel (but there are more of them) which would make them more likely to lose traction (but less likely to dig themselves into sand or loose earth). Does Subaru offer traction control on their cars? Here's one: Topic 14 of 22 [cars]: Subaru SVX Response 6 of 6: Yves G. (yves) * Sat, Nov 1, 1997 (02:49) * 5 lines Now, 4wd. The main question is what do you have to do whit it. When you have to break the inertie of the car (in mud, sand, big amount of snow..) the computer assisted 4 wells traction (integral)is just great (the traction goes to the wells that can do the work). But were it is dangerous it's when you are mouving on a equaly slippery surface as ice or else. On this condition, all the wells are spinning,=making friction=making a thin layer of water on your tires (as if it was water on tiles)=losing all possible control. When you have only one or two wells out of control, you still have a chance to recover the direction cause the wells without traction keeps(not always) grip and by adjusting the amount of power (opposite on traction and propusion) you can stay on the road (or near :o)). But I'm not closed on learning 4wd driving technics..."}, {"response": 24, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov 23, 1997 (11:52)", "body": "I didn't realize I had three responses there. Only italicized one. Sorry!"}, {"response": 25, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Nov 23, 1997 (12:53)", "body": "That's cool, you're getting the hang of it. It's great the way this conference is emerging and evolving. What a stellar addition to the Springs conferences. And even a few folks are starting to venture out to our \"other\" topics like cars. It's open season on other topics here ya' know!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov 23, 1997 (19:03)", "body": "Who or what's the stellar addition? Me? Frank? The XRoads survivors in general? I may go to the music topic but I'm not certain. Two are a handful (less so since XRoads finally died). If you think this place is lively as it is (actually this place isn't, but the \"Motorcycle\" conference is), then you should see what Eirik could have done to it! Eirik has sworn off of bulletin boards; before he did that, he was one of the most valued members of XRoads. We all still miss him."}, {"response": 27, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov 23, 1997 (19:04)", "body": "BTW, by this place, I meant the \"Cars\" conference, not the Spring in general."}, {"response": 28, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Nov 24, 1997 (10:01)", "body": "Hey all I say is the Volvo 480 must be a hell of a car we're missing here (o: Let's remember to differentiate 4WD & AWD: the new generation all-wheelers are much more practical overall in that there's less unsprung weight, more convenience, and better control in most conditions; that's why I'm hyped on the Forester after looking everything over recently. BTW, this morning I took my Integra in for new CV joints (160K mi) for $600+. This is the last repair. I recommend the Integras to anyone who never drives rough or weathered roads as the best value by far, but, I'm not there any mo e.."}, {"response": 29, "author": "yves", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (04:16)", "body": "I saw 2 Volvo 240 in a drivway. Is that is a 480? I learned that AWD as you call it, is 90% front 10% rear in normal condition, and the transfer (mechanical) is done when there is a difference in that ratio. it's looking good. I think that the biggest problem with any kind of vehicule is overshooting the car's (and physisal) limits."}, {"response": 30, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (04:38)", "body": "A 240 is by no means a 480. The 240 is one of the last classic Volvos; front engine/rear drive (propulsoin?) layout, with a look dating from the Sixties and a big, heavy, safe body. The 480 is a light front-drive (traction?) car built at the old DAF factory in the Netherlands (Volvo bought DAF, but not before they sold their CVT design). I don't think it was exported to Canada, I know it wasn't exported to the U.S. cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 11, "subject": "the future of cars - the leading edge", "response_count": 22, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct 23, 1997 (21:35)", "body": "Bill Clinton in his speech on reducing greenhous gas emissions. Supposedly this new fuel cell is 4 times as efficient as conventional car engines: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EMBARGOED UNTIL: 8 a.m., October 21, 1997 MEDIA CONTACT: Amber Jones/Hope Williams, 202/586-5806 MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN AUTOMOBILE TECHNOLOGY High-Efficiency, Low-Emission Fuel Cell Systems Can Run on Gasoline, Ethanol and Other Fuels In a major automotive research breakthrough, a government-industry team announced that for the first time, fuel cells using gasoline as the fuel have been demonstrated for automotive use, leading the way for high-mileage, low-emission electric vehicles that can be refueled at existing gas stations. A partnership among the Department of Energy, Arthur D. Little of Cambridge, Mass., Plug Power L.L.C. of Latham, N.Y., and the Energy Department's Los Alamos National Laboratory last week successfully demonstrated a fuel cell system that generates electricity using multiple fuels, including gasoline, ethanol, methanol and natural gas. The research was conducted in support of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles initiative. This first-of-a-kind system was operated on several fuels during a test at Arthur D. Little's laboratories in Cambridge, demonstrating true fuel flexibility and operational stability. The technology is clean and efficient, with emission levels much lower than California's Ultra-Low-Emission Vehicles Standard and an efficiency that could lead to vehicles that get twice the mileage of a conventional vehicle. \"This advancement moves the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles closer to meeting its goal -- a super-efficient family car that offers the conveniences of today's automobiles, including easy fill up. Government-industry partnerships are creating technologies that will allow the economy to prosper, while taking care of the environment for future generations,\" said Vice President Al Gore... The Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles is a cooperative research and development program by the federal government and the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR, a cooperative venture among Ford, General Motors and Chrysler). The goal of the partnership is to develop technology that leads to a passenger automobile with 80 miles per gallon fuel economy. The new technology converts the gasoline or alternative fuel into the hydrogen needed for the fuel cell to produce electricity. This ability overcomes a significant challenge in the development of fuel cells for vehicles--the lack of an infrastructure to supply the hydrogen from external sources. The ability to produce the hydrogen on board, combined with the ability to use the existing gasoline infrastructure, could solve the current range and refueling problems of electric vehicles. Because the new technology can process a variety of fuels, however, it also promises to speed the transition to renewable fuels... To perform the tests, the fuel cell team integrated an automotive scale (50 kilowatts) fuel-flexible fuel processor with a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, creating a system capable of converting various fuels into electricity on board a vehicle.... The system also uses a carbon monoxide removal system developed by Los Alamos and a fuel cell stack developed by Plug Power with technical assistance from Los Alamos... Arthur D. Little and Plug Power will work together under a $15-million cost-shared contract recently awarded by the Department of Energy to further develop this technology. - DOE - R-97-108"}, {"response": 2, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Oct 24, 1997 (09:51)", "body": "Sounds interesting. I've been interested in alternative power sources ever since reading National Geographic 's Energy Supplement in 1981. Fuel cells and nickel-metal-hydride batteries seems to be the way to go, especially if they can use methane from those most renewable resources: Garbage & Sewage! The technology seems to be a bit heavy for motorcycles, though; Gordon Jennings has written an interesting article called \"Alternative Fools\" in the February 1996 (I think, could be February 1995) issue of Motorcycling regarding the pros and cons (mostly cons) of current EV technology as applied to bikes. Unless the power/weight ratio becomes comparable to the internal combustion engine, motorcycles will continue to use the latter, though not necessarily with gasoline. The October 1997 issue of Scientific American is devoted to transportation, and two of its articles are about hybrid cars. Volvo has a prototype of a series hybrid with a gas turbine. Gas turbines are very efficient, but only at one speed, which makes them unsuitable as car engines if they are run through conventional transmissions (as Chrysler & Rover found in the '50's and '60s). However, run a turbine at constant speed, have it power a synchronous generator designed for the same operational speed, and use this to charge the batteries of a hybrid EV, and you've got a very efficient car (compared to conventional cars; don' know about this new fuel cell)."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Oct 24, 1997 (22:19)", "body": "Something I heard from Mitsu Hadeishi: Honda announced an ultra-low-emissions gasoline vehicle; it uses two catalytic converters. They claim that if you drove such a vehicle through a smoggy atmosphere (like L.A., presumably), the exhaust from the engine would be cleaner than the surrounding air. (!) It still produces CO2 of course. The hydrogen fuel cell announcement was an American company working in conjunction with the Dept. of Energy, and it is basically a thing that separates hydrogen from gasoline and then uses that hydrogen for a fuel cell. Of course this also produces CO2, but they claim that the process extracts energy from gasoline at twice the efficiency of an internal combustion engine, so you should get double the gas mileage. The problem is with current technology even mass-produced these things would cost $30K to produce per unit, so a lot of work has to be done to reduce costs. (CNN's web page had a story on it, I'm sure there are stories on most of the major news services today or yesterday)."}, {"response": 4, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Oct 26, 1997 (10:48)", "body": "Honda made a 2-stroke motorbike engine using ignition by active radicals (or something like that) that's about as clean as current 4-stroke engines and doesn't use the spark plug most of the time (only for starting and early running, when the mixture is less than ideal for the formation of active radicals). I'll check CNN or ABC about the fuel cell."}, {"response": 5, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (02:41)", "body": "Hydro-Quebec worked on an electric motor (one on each well). I saw a report in witch these motors were pushing a Chrysler Intrepid. The principe was that when you desacelerate, you use the motors as generators who's reduct the speed of the car, charging the batteries in the same time. You also have a small fuel motor who recharge the batteries, while running at crusing speed. The project seem's to be stopped cause administration conflicts.)o: Another thing I saw on TV is a molecular reactor that pulverise the fuel in the motor. They say that the gaz at tail pipe is purest than the surrounding air. (Would it be good in Mexico city??? (o:"}, {"response": 6, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (02:45)", "body": "P.S. Putting an electric motor on a motorcycle is for me a nithmare (o: Yves"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:54)", "body": "Regenerative braking (using the brakes to generate charge) is common in EVs. EVs will embrace any technology that improves range, and these measures developed in desperation will all help hybrids. I'm not in Mexico City (thank God!), I'm in the city of Quer\ufffdtaro, capital of the state of Quer\ufffdtaro. In both functional and aesthetic terms, powering a motorcycle with an electric motor is a nightmare for me too! (Hmm... maybe sonmeone will convert a Nighthawk to hybrid power and call it a Nightmare!)"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (11:51)", "body": "I saw a gas powered skateboard down on Duval Street a couple of weeks ago, talk about the leading edge!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (14:04)", "body": "Old news. About twenty or thirty ago, Henry N. Manney III road tested a powered skateboard for an April edition Road & Track . The picture that keeps recurring in R&T shows Manney in armour \"driving\" this skateboard with this tiny engine on the back!"}, {"response": 10, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (14:37)", "body": "Man, the guy on it was zipping along running circles around the cars. He was like a bullet riding by!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Apr 14, 1998 (09:39)", "body": "Was gonna put this on Topic 22, but.. The NY Auto Show is running this week. I haven't been in a l-o-n-g time, but I see that this year all the exhibitors seem to be showing a great many style-dept. \"concept\" vehicles, all types. My favorite is the \"Jeepster 99\" a take-no-prisoners looking AWD Jeep that I hope will see production. Aside from the usual neat European machinery, the Pontiac Trans-Am wins hands down in the produced-now category."}, {"response": 12, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Apr 14, 1998 (23:57)", "body": "What are the Jeepster 99 innovations. What will 2000 bring for cars? Interesting topic?"}, {"response": 13, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (14:45)", "body": "Has anyone seen the new Chrysler car that looks like the 30s or 40s? What's it called?"}, {"response": 14, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Sun, Feb  3, 2002 (15:36)", "body": "PT Cruiser, but you probably know that by now..."}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Feb  3, 2002 (15:39)", "body": "It looks retro to me - or are we going Back to the Future?! Hi Sam, it's good to see you back at Spring!"}, {"response": 16, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Sun, Feb  3, 2002 (17:32)", "body": "Yep, good to be back. I actually like the look of the PT Cruiser; nice street-rod look even if it doesn't have the power or the chassis. It has space, though! If I had the money I'd seriously consider one (if they make them in right-hand drive), it could carry around my equipment for work and my guitar & amp for play..."}, {"response": 17, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Feb  3, 2002 (20:09)", "body": "I did not mean to imply retro was negative. They have a certain charm and individuality I like. Roomy, yes! too bad you cannot put the top down! I'm sure for \"a sum\" they could customize yours for you. Probably a highly uneconomical idea. Still driving on the left?! I thought only the auld sod did that."}, {"response": 18, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Tue, Feb  5, 2002 (18:55)", "body": "Old habits die hard; Jamaica was a British colony from the days of Oliver Cromwell until the MacMillan administration. We got our independence in 1962; I guess England thought it was uneconomical to keep us; judging by how we are now, they were right! All English-speaking islands in the West Indies (except the USVI, of course; Puerto Rico is Spanish speaking, I think) drive on the left. So do England, Australia, India, English-speaking African countries (e.g. Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, etc.) and Japan. Must be something about island empires that causes them to drive on the left..."}, {"response": 19, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  5, 2002 (19:31)", "body": "Well, when it came to the US we just plain got like little kids. We switched silverware from hand to hand as a secret signal that we were revolutionists. We continue to do this nonsense till today. We drive on the left just to be ornery. I was terrified to out in traffic sitting on the left with no stearing wheel in the UK. Not only that, but we kept screwing ourselves into the traffic circles (circuses) and had to be urged off but very kindly lorry drivers. YOU play cricket. All is forgiven! Are you Windies gonna beat Pakistan in the current test matches?"}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  5, 2002 (19:32)", "body": "(It'd be nice if I could type and spell better. Sorry about that.)"}, {"response": 21, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Tue, Feb  5, 2002 (19:53)", "body": "Maybe, just may be. The West Indies Test Cricket Team has just lost one of its legendary batsmen and it's biggest DRAG ever, Brian Charles Lara. He's a truly gifted batsman but a major a**wipe. His prima-donna attitude was a major contributor to the decline and fall of the West Indies team. He sabotaged both Courtney Walsh and Jimmy Adams when they were the team captains, and his selfishness and lack of discipline destroyed the team when he finally achieved his ruthless ambition of becoming the captain. Lara then left the team and they were regaining their composure under Adams until Adams made the fatal mistake of BRINGING LARA BACK! Anyway, both Lara and Adams are gone now, and the West Indies is reboundig once again, this time under Carl Hooper. When the Windies can rebound even under a mad man like Hooper, you KNOW we were far gone! The new players are doing well and old hands like Chanderpaul are probably thankful that the in-fighting is over (I hope...) One thing is certain: WE DON'T WANT LARA BACK!!!!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  5, 2002 (21:28)", "body": "http://www.spring.net/yapp-bin/restricted/read/sports/47 This url is where we teach the American girl from Hawaii what cricket is all about. Oz and Kiwi and England all represented as well as Terry who is slightly behind me on knowledge. He's interested though. I've been listening for ages on a short wave radio connected to a under-the-pillow speaker all night long. Ah yes, snuggle into a cool tropical night and let the match begin. I thought Pakistan went through a rather bad patch a ways back when they found game-fixing and other nefarious dealings not exactly \"cricket.\" Prima donnas are the bane of every team, and each one seems to have their own brand. Be rid of them and build back closing the hole he left. It is the only way to survive. I remember Brian Lara! Too bad and good riddance! cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 12, "subject": "stupid car questions - don't be afraid to ask!", "response_count": 39, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Oct 25, 1997 (14:22)", "body": "Should I keep buying Dodge Carvans, or is there a better minivan I should switch to, there are several other minivans vying for this market now: Ford, Chevy, Honda, etc. all have competing minivans in the market that Dodge and Chrysler still mostly own. Right now I drive an 89 Caravan with a 4 cyl. Mitsubishi engine which I've had rebuilt. I bought it for $700 and put a couple of grand into the engine. I also got new tires for it and it's lasted two years so far. But I'd like to get a \"grand caravan\" so I could fit 4x8 sheets of plywood etc. in it when I take the seats out."}, {"response": 2, "author": "yves", "date": "Sat, Oct 25, 1997 (23:52)", "body": "If I would buy a mini-van, watever de brand, I would search for a v6. I think that a bigger motor would by more able to pull that weight, in the wind, and I sure that you dont buy that kind of vehicule to carry mashmallows(o: Yves"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Oct 26, 1997 (10:52)", "body": "Do any of you know the Suzuki Super Carry or the Daihatsu HiJet? They're rather common in Jamaica. They are vans about the size of Suzuki Swifts, with a choice of 850cc or 1000cc engines. I'd buy one, but I can't afford a new one and I don't know if I can trust a used one, considering that Jamaicans generally drive vehicles into the ground."}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (09:48)", "body": "What's the scoop on the Suzuki and the Dhiatsu?"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (11:02)", "body": "The main scoop is that I WANT ONE! It has just the amount of carrying power I would need to carry my equipment from my workplace to the location wher it is to be used, thereby freeing me from the whims and fancies of the people who use the vans and drivers of my employers! But I can't afford one! I bought my motorcycle when I thought I was going to be fired, but I can't carry equipment on it, especially not equipment as sensetive or as accurate as electronic load cells or proving rings! A small van like the HiJet or Super Carry would be ideal! I don't think those vans are legal for use on U.S. roads. They are surely too small; about the same size as a Suzuki Swift, but without the 5-mph bumpers."}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (11:52)", "body": "Wow, the Honda must be the smallest of the US sold mini-vans wouldn't you say?"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (14:13)", "body": "Don't know. How does it compare to the Toyota Previa?"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (14:37)", "body": "I haven't checked this one out."}, {"response": 9, "author": "yves", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (05:21)", "body": "I would like to have some comments on ABS in winter driving."}, {"response": 10, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (05:42)", "body": "According to Road & Track , ABS is a bit of a hinderance in slippery conditions. However, someone said in a letter (and the editors agreed) that putting the car in neutral (or declutching) dramatically lowers the stopping distances with ABS on slippery surfaces. Please don't sue me if this is wrong, I am merely stating what I have read."}, {"response": 11, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (09:17)", "body": "Well, I drove a Ford Windstar to FL and back, with the V6. Drove like a Caddy and had plenty of space. The little sixes will surprise you, they're very well geared and feel effortless at all speeds. The Honda mini is competitive in all ways with the other products, while the Previa has been a slow seller due to price I think. Plus I've heard many say they look like \"whales\" in grey! My brother-in-law has a grand Caravan for about a year now; it *is* a Caddy in disguise IMO! Too much money, too much van! The Integras' ABS saved my behind once in slushy icy stuff when someone stopped short in front of me on a parkway. A true bug-eyed white-knuckler, but the stomping on the pedal brought it down properly. Don't leave home without it."}, {"response": 12, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (10:37)", "body": "So you're saying the Windstar blows the Caravan away? Could you go in to more detail on this?"}, {"response": 13, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (11:06)", "body": "The Windstar was rented second trim level from top of the line, so it was about a $20K ride, give or take. The Grand Caravan is loaded and almost $28K out the door. The GC seems a little bulkier but is slightly more roomy and luxurious. Mileage was the same, though. The optional stuff on the GC was all luxo-oriented, nothing that would improve function. For my money the cheaper Windstar was quite impressive; my brother in law bought the GC so his wife could have the King of All Vans at school IMO, and bec use at the time had the double side doors, which make sense. But currently, all the minivans are very close in comparison. Our neighbor just bought a Venture (after I gave them Edmunds info!) on price, and its a very nice vehicle also."}, {"response": 14, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (19:07)", "body": "What about the ordinary Caravan (not that Grand)? How does it compete? I read that Toyota has come out with a new minivan (replacing the Previa?). It'll be interesting to see how that does. I personally prefer the sliding doors, that's my only beef with the Odyssey; if I see it as an Accord wagon, then it's not so bad. I already see the CR-V as the reincarnation of the Civic Wagon AWD... BTW, in the CR-V / RAV4 battle, let me say one word... SIDEKICK!!!!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (19:17)", "body": "If you drove either one Sam, you'd forget the Suzuki. I realize that the Samurai and its cousins have been in the islands a long time, but that's where they belong, relatively unstressed by cold and ice road conditions. the SideKick's a real lightweight, and it's finish doesn't stand a chance to the other two. The Samurai, of course, is a production beach buggy, not a bad one either."}, {"response": 16, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (19:31)", "body": "And the RAV4 and CR-V are better? I guess I'm missing the wood for the trees. I am seeing front-drive car platforms being converted to 4WD and trying to catch up on a trend as opposed to a ground up small-SUV Anyway, the Forester should clear the others out of the path; it is also passenger car-based, but will you please look at the passenger car on which it is based? The Legacy Outback itself should have RAV4 and CR-V on the run!"}, {"response": 17, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (19:33)", "body": "When I say ground up, I meant designed for its purpose from the ground up."}, {"response": 18, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Nov 26, 1997 (10:50)", "body": "Yeah Subaru knew the market/purpose better, waited, and hit a homer IMO. The Honda & Toyota vehicles are slightly heavier, better finished, and more comfortable for the average owner for very little more money. I was concerned with the platforms also, esp. Toyotas' since its reputation wasn't the greatest. the AWD Celica was a mess. And Honda put an auto (on the column, yet) in a car with a small motor, just not right."}, {"response": 19, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Nov 26, 1997 (10:52)", "body": "By slightly heavier, etc., I was referring to the Suzi.."}, {"response": 20, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Jan 26, 1998 (18:24)", "body": "buying a used car... letting go of the 1990 Dodge Spirit with 112000 miles... it's time. any suggestions?"}, {"response": 21, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan 26, 1998 (18:55)", "body": "What are your requirements and what cars do you like that you know about. Just trying to get a little background information, before the real experts here kick in!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Jan 26, 1998 (19:13)", "body": "*smile* Hondas --- last a long time, retain value well, dependable. Toyotas --- ditto Subarus --- 4WD, high mileage life, expensive repairs that's really all I've looked at so far. I'm a little burnt out on American cars as it seems I drive them to 100,000 and then they lose it! My '82 Pontiac Phoenix made it to 116,000 and the transmission fell out! I'd really like something dependable in the snow (hell, something dependable in general!) and a car that I can 'expect' 180,000 miles out of without rebuilding the car/engine. Oh, and I want to spend under $5000.00! (sad but true)"}, {"response": 23, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (08:53)", "body": "Under 5Gs forget anything less than about 3 years old. Especially the Honda/Toyotas, they command top dollars no matter what. Look for front wheel drive econo-cars, they handle well in bad weather. You might find a 3-4 year old Civic or Corolla if you look patiently. Subaru? Expensive repair? With regular maintenance this isn't a problem. A good heavy generally reliable car is a VW Jetta, about 4 years old. Many people overlook em. The other end of the spectrum might be \"old-lady\" cars, like buick Century and Olds Cutlasses. Though bigger they generally have easy maintenance, comfort, and reasonable drivability for the money."}, {"response": 24, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (13:31)", "body": "Some cars rated as reliable from Consumer Reports are: Plymouth Colt 1989, 1991, 1992, both wagon and sedan Dodge Colt 1989, 1991, 1992, both wagon and sedan Dodge Dakota pickup 2WD 1988 Eagle Summit (1989, 1991 1992, except wagon) Geo Prizm 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Geo Tracker 1992, 1993, 1994 Honda Accord 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Mazda 323 1990, 1991, 1992 Mazda 626 (1989, 1990, manual transmission) Mazda 626 1991, Mazda MX6 (1988, 1989, 1990 manual transmission) Mazda MX5-Miata 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Mitsubishi Galant 4 1989, 1991, 1992 Nissan Pickup 2WD, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993 Nissan Pathfinder 1988, 1989, (1990, 1991 1992, 1993 manual transmission) Toyota Corolla 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 Toyota pickup 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Toyota Tercel 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 Volvo 240 1988, 1989 Volvo 740 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, Volvo 850 1993 Volvo 940 1991, 1994 Also might get one of the above with a run out engine and do a swap with one of those 32,000 mile Japanese engines. Replace water pump, alternator, starter, radiator, fuel pump, clutch, automatic transmission (maybe also breaks and shocks) with rebuilt parts if these are not on the replacement engine. (That way you know you have a reliable vehicle) When you check a car, look for lots of oil underneath, especially if blowing back onto frame, or see drops of oil waiting to fall off. Does the steering wheel pull to one side Does car pull to one side when breaks applied rather hard Does the car make \"sanding paper noise\" when using breaks Is there water moisture on the dip stick (cracks in engine) Buy from a rich part of town, they usually have keep the car up. Buy a clean looking car, probably maintained well turn on all door locks and door handles, especially if electric turn on wiper turn on heater turn on air conditioning Turn on lights Check turn signals If automatic, accelerate hard to see if crisp shift between gears, no slipping, or noisy shifts On standard transmission, test clutch by putting in a gear that engine runs rather slowly, and with throttle down some, tap clutch lightly, if engine speed continues increased after foot leaves clutch, needs clutch Almost any unusual squeaking noise is bad Check for water leak at water pump (if you can find it) Get a cheap alternator tester that plugs into cigarette lighter $3 Does the amount of seat and pedal wear match with odometer, check for oil change stickers, or other indications of regular maintenance. (ask) Check tires for wear. If buying from owner, ask about problems, they might tell the truth."}, {"response": 25, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (13:31)", "body": "thanks for the info!!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Jan 28, 1998 (17:27)", "body": "Absolutely couldn't have done better myself, Terry!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jan 28, 1998 (19:11)", "body": "Also, check to make sure the title is clear of any liens or funny stuff."}, {"response": 28, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (02:25)", "body": "What's the current status of this, Stacey?"}, {"response": 29, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (08:14)", "body": "Where *is* Stacey?"}, {"response": 30, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (20:20)", "body": "She's been around the last couple of days, I think she's catching up."}, {"response": 31, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (14:46)", "body": "How's your car these days Stacey? Heard from Frank Susca?"}, {"response": 32, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (17:23)", "body": "Am I the only one to respond to your mass emailing? Stace is busy, I guess. Others can't find the off-ramp."}, {"response": 33, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (09:21)", "body": "My \"mass emailing\" to about 100 folks has gotten these results: NM 2 May 12 System Administrat (75) Undeliverable: http://www.spring.ne NM 3 May 12 Mail Delivery Subs (88) Warning: could not send message for NM 4 May 12 Mail Delivery Subs (88) Warning: could not send message for NM 5 May 12 Mail Delivery Subs (88) Warning: could not send message for NM 6 May 12 Mail Delivery Subs (88) Warning: could not send message for NM 7 May 12 Mail Delivery Subs (88) Warning: could not send message for NM 8 May 12 Mail Delivery Subs (88) Warning: could not send message for NM 9 May 12 Mail Delivery Subs (88) Warning: could not send message for NM 10 May 12 Mail Delivery Subs (87) Warning: could not send message for NM 11 May 12 Mail Delivery Subs (88) Warning: could not send message for"}, {"response": 34, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (13:45)", "body": "How many actually went through - or would that entail time-intensive cross checking the out with the returned mail?"}, {"response": 35, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (13:47)", "body": "Looks like I am the only one who was concerned enough (or idle enough) to respond. Too bad..."}, {"response": 36, "author": "Keyacatalyst", "date": "Mon, Aug  4, 2003 (08:05)", "body": "My fiancee' was driving to work yesterday and our car (1990 Toyota corrolla) just turned off on him. He was only going 35-45 mph. He had it towed back home power seems to be running through it, so we don't think it's the battery. it's cranks but the ignition won't turn over. Is it the starter? There is gas in the car. We have regular oil changes...and it didn't overheat. We just had our whole exhaust sytem replaced (4 weks ago) because while on base a force guard barrier ripped our whole system off of the car? AHHHHHH!!! what could the problem be now? PLEASEEEE some one help me..... This question might seem stupid but I'm stumped-don't laugh :)"}, {"response": 37, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Tue, Aug  5, 2003 (06:59)", "body": "Everything just stopping abruptly sounds electrical to me. I doubt it's the starter if it cranks; besides, I don't think a starter problem would stop a moving car. Maybe a problem with the ignition system? Anything I tell you is a guess, especially since I have never worked on a car (although I had worked on my motorcycle quite a bit...). Take the car to a mechanic."}, {"response": 38, "author": "jabberwocky", "date": "Sat, Jan  8, 2005 (00:39)", "body": "RT-43 is used as the standard car size. Does anyone know what it means?"}, {"response": 39, "author": "SafireDolfin", "date": "Thu, Apr 14, 2005 (17:24)", "body": "I'm buying a car for the 1st time and me being who I am found a 1994 Jeep Wrangler. So far so good. Except it says the engine has been rebuilt. Do I need to worry about this? Why would someone rebuild an engine? And what questions should I ask the seller? I really want this car, I just don't want to regret it!! cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 13, "subject": "Dodge Viper / Lamborghini Diablo connection", "response_count": 23, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (08:49)", "body": "What's the sticker price on these respective two cars, even though it isn't in my budget till I win the lottery."}, {"response": 2, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:05)", "body": "A Dodge Viper lists for about US$75,000 That's the cheap one! The Lamborghini Diablo, the last time I read, was going for almost US$300,000! That might be beyond your budget even if you do win the lottery!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:06)", "body": "However, you can get a Vector M-12 for less than that, with the same engine (that is, if Vector hasn't folded yet!)"}, {"response": 4, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Fri, Dec 12, 1997 (16:43)", "body": "Try http://www.popularmechanics.com or get the new issue. A quickie comparo of the new Porsche, 'Vette, and Viper. Guess who's on top?"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Dec 12, 1997 (19:20)", "body": "Initial guess is Porsche, but I'll look at the site afterward... And to think I wanted to delete this topic!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Dec 15, 1997 (19:12)", "body": "I saw a real live Viper cruising down the Phoenix Highway (HWY 17) last weekend. Not much to it!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Dec 15, 1997 (22:51)", "body": "To quote the Chrysler Corp. ad (which was referring to the Prowler): \"That's kind of the point!\" Big engine pulling not much body. Goes fast, turns hard. It's everything the Corvette used to be before it became civilized. The Viper is to the Hemi 'Cuda and the Mustang Boss 302 what the Miata is to the MGB and the Triumph Spitfire. (I don't remember what the larger displacement Boss was; 454, maybe?)"}, {"response": 8, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Dec 17, 1997 (19:25)", "body": "I find them analagous to bikinis. The less there is the more expensive it runs."}, {"response": 9, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Dec 17, 1997 (22:07)", "body": "For the same reason, the less there is, the sexier it is!"}, {"response": 10, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (17:54)", "body": "i am not nuts about lamborghini so even if i had the money which i don't i wouldn't get one. i would, however, do a whole lot for an old lotus."}, {"response": 11, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (17:54)", "body": "i am not nuts about lamborghini so even if i had the money which i don't i wouldn't get one. i would, however, do a whole lot for an old lotus."}, {"response": 12, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (17:56)", "body": "EEEEEK!!!!!! it posted twice!!!!!!!!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (18:16)", "body": "s'ok carmen. Just means you REALLY mean it!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (21:06)", "body": "Depends on which Lamborghini. Diablo, no. Countach, maybe or maybe not. Espada, maybe. Miura, YES!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (21:07)", "body": "Forgot the Uracco and the Jalpa; maybe & yes, respectively. Forgot the Jarama, too, but that was intentional."}, {"response": 16, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Fri, Dec 19, 1997 (09:46)", "body": "We're back to the \"if you woke up with Pamela Anderson\" thing here; any Lambo would be MOST appreciated! (o;{ Sam (and others) I was going at it on the Guzzi-list with a guy who owns 2 Alfas, a Lambo 350, and an MR2. I said for mere mortals the MR & the last 300ZX were tops. Any opinions on the 300?"}, {"response": 17, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Dec 19, 1997 (19:33)", "body": "Given how hot Jamaica is, if I woke up with Pamela Andreson, I'd check to see if her breasts had melted! (Just hope they hadn't used a thermosetting resin!) 300ZX Mk II, possibly the second most desirable of the latest generation of Japanese Muscle GTs (after the RX-7 Mk III). Never really liked the styling, but at least it was restrained (except for Super HICAS) and relatively elemental (compared to the Supra and 3000GT)"}, {"response": 18, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Dec 20, 1997 (15:56)", "body": "Yeah I like \"restrained\", and reliable smooth GT power. I could see owning one over an MR2 or a VT3000."}, {"response": 19, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 20, 1997 (18:13)", "body": "The original MR2 was O.K. The second generation was a bit too styled, but it was more elemental than the Supra or 3000GT. It was also the last affordable mid-engined sports car and the only one to have a second generation; the X-1/9 died of old age and the Fiero from parental ineptitude & neglect. Apparently, GM did not have Mazda's vision; they should have introduced the Quad-4 engine in the Fiero, where the excessive engine noise would have emattered less than it did in the Calais, and the extra (peaky) power would have been more appreciated. By the time they tried it with prototypes, it was too late, the Fiero was as dead as the Corvair."}, {"response": 20, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 20, 1997 (18:16)", "body": "BTW, does anyone have an opinion on the \"Chrysler TC by Maserati\"? This when Chrysler had bought an interest in Maserati, before acquiring Lamborghini and quite deservedly dropping Maserati like a hot potato."}, {"response": 21, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Dec 22, 1997 (09:48)", "body": "TC belongs with the Allante IMO. Parked at motels in Vegas alongside the guys\" Z3's!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Dec 22, 1997 (21:00)", "body": "Better looking than the Allante, or the 560SL,but another glorified Reliant K. Not a sports car, but was it ever good looking!"}, {"response": 23, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (08:34)", "body": "I miss these classic comments (from above): \" Given how hot Jamaica is, if I woke up with Pamela Andreson, I'd check to see if her breasts had melted! (Just hope they hadn't used a thermosetting resin!)\" - El Sam Blob cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 14, "subject": "Subaru SVX", "response_count": 9, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Oct 30, 1997 (08:57)", "body": "What, no opinions on the SVX? Or on Subarus in general? C'mon, someone out there must own a Subaru!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "yves", "date": "Thu, Oct 30, 1997 (12:50)", "body": "I friend of mine is a Subaru's fan. He is very satisfy with then but personnaly, I dont know a lot about it. I never owned a Japanese car. Why, I dont know.Maby for the ease to get parts for American car? Or less expensive? Around here Subaru aren't very popular. I dont eveb know were's a dealer."}, {"response": 3, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Oct 30, 1997 (14:04)", "body": "Hmm... an all-4wd line of cars not popular in snowy Quebec; interesting. Especially since I heard that Subaru's traditional market in the U.S. is in the Northeast! The Subaru line has only been all-4wd for about two or three years, this due to the fact that people were mostly buying the 4wd versions of their cars, while front-wheel drive buyers generally chose Toyotas or Volkswagens or other fwd cars like that. But still, Quebec sounds like Legacy Outback country! How easy or cheap was it to get parts for the Viva?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "yves", "date": "Fri, Oct 31, 1997 (04:17)", "body": "They sold the Viva only 2 or 3 years on GM dealers. Parts were just a bit more expensive than US ones. 4Wd are not very popular cause roads are cleaned up very fast around big centers.Most of the time it's easier to lose control with a 4wd. We encounter lot of icy or slippery conditions and when you lose traction on 4 wells at the time, your in great trouble. With traction or prop you can desaccelerate or accelerate to get back in line with the 2 non spinning wells (am I clear,I'm not sure). We often see 4wd out of the road. Maybe the excess of confidence is in cause but not always. I remember last winter, my neibour (he is a Chrysler dealer and is used to drive lot of different cars and trucks) was driving ( a bit to fast)a 4wd (integral) van and lost control of it. He told me that when he tried to retrive control there was noting to do. Having a 4wd for me is much for leisure than every day vehicule."}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Oct 31, 1997 (08:56)", "body": "I remember seeing an ad for Ford Cortinas in a late '70s edition of Reader's Digest Were there a lot of British or German Ford or GM cars in Canada? Are there now? Let me see if I follow you: \"Traction\" = front wheel drive (pulling the car, hence \"traction\") \"Propulsion\" = rear wheel drive (pushing the car, hence \"propulsion\") The theory is that traction is more evenly distributed with 4wd, and that, with the more recent systems, power can be sent away from the wheel that can't use it and to the wheel that can. However, I now realize that there is less load on each powered wheel (but there are more of them) which would make them more likely to lose traction (but less likely to dig themselves into sand or loose earth). Does Subaru offer traction control on their cars?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "yves", "date": "Sat, Nov  1, 1997 (02:49)", "body": "For Europeen Ford or Gm, I do not think ,but I'm not sure. These few tries had not been positive cause the climate, corosion etc. I have to tell you that I left the automobile world in stand by for about 20 years. I put my energies on job, wife ,kid , house etc. But I try comming back slowly. Now, 4wd. The main question is what do you have to do whit it. When you have to break the inertie of the car (in mud, sand, big amount of snow..) the computer assisted 4 wells traction (integral)is just great (the traction goes to the wells that can do the work). But were it is dangerous it's when you are mouving on a equaly slippery surface as ice or else. On this condition, all the wells are spinning,=making friction=making a thin layer of water on your tires (as if it was water on tiles)=losing all possible control. When you have only one or two wells out of cont ol, you still have a chance to recover the direction cause the wells without traction keeps(not always) grip and by adjusting the amount of power (opposite on traction and propusion) you can stay on the road (or near :o)). But I'm not closed on learning 4wd driving technics..."}, {"response": 7, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Dec 26, 1997 (22:41)", "body": "Just thought I'd let you know, they stopped making the SVX last year (1996)"}, {"response": 8, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (09:40)", "body": "A shame. They're pretty cheap now here, around 13K. An approachable exotic IMO."}, {"response": 9, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (18:44)", "body": "Yeah, and it'll keep everyone guessing! What's this?!? cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 15, "subject": "Morgans", "response_count": 8, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Nov  4, 1997 (17:14)", "body": "There's something about the cut-down doors. The TR2/3's, the TC and TD MG's, and the best looking, the Morgan. What a classy design! Good power & handling too in a classic way. Looks even better from the driver's seat than the Super Seven! See Sam, ya got me!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Nov  4, 1997 (18:00)", "body": "When did they stop making these?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (10:29)", "body": "When did they stop making what? Not only are Morgans still being made, Isis Motors in California imports them and modifies them to meet U.S. regs! The 4/4 uses propane, but the +8 uses gasoline! Components of the Super Seven are still being built by Caterham Cars (who bought the design from Lotus) and are sold as kits. The TR2/3 was replaced by the TR4 (ugly) in the Sixties. The MG-TD was replaced by the TF in the Fifties and the MGA in the Sixties, I think."}, {"response": 4, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (11:06)", "body": "You are right sir! I went for the Caterham kit in college; it was and still is pretty expensive, but it's the real thing, unlike the Toyota powered and Buick(!) wannabes I've seen. Love the TR3, should'a bought one when they didn't want 10 grand. Guy I knew stuffed a small block Chevy in one and terrorized himself and others some time ago. Again, the British still have an appreciation for the \"good stuff\", as you know Sam.."}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (11:37)", "body": "The \"good stuff\" that the British appreciate doesn't, IMO, include FOOD! Yes, the bigggest wannabe (Westland, or something like that) does make a version with a mid-Sixties Buick V-8, which is actually the original version of the V-8 that powers the Morgan +8! When the \"compacts\" got too big for the aluminium V-8, Buick discontinued the engine. Rover, needing a new big engine (\"big\" in Europe being very different from \"BIG\" in America, then as now) decided to save themselves the trouble of designing one and bought the design and the assembley tools from GM. Rover has been making it ever since, and versions have powered Rover sedans, Land Rovers, Range Rovers, TVRs, MGB GT V-8s, British kit cars of all descriptions, and even Jack Brabham's championship-winning F1 car in 1966! A pedigree almost equal to the Ford and Chevy small-blocks, wouldn't you agree?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (12:28)", "body": "Actually I didn't know they owned the B.O.P. aluminum V8 tooling. It still hasn't been produced in as great number as the Chevy block. Here's one: Who's your favorite F1 pilot? In my mind it's tough, between Moss & Lauda. I consider Villeneuve Sr. almost a new generation, with all due respect. Schumacher, no dice, I consider him to have been in the right place at the right time. Also: Ever pay any attention to Lord Hesketh? Both cars and bikes, y'know!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (14:14)", "body": "I have no idea who my all time favourite is. Of current drivers, my sentimental favourite is Gerhard Berger, who unfortunately peaked during the Prost-Senna era. When Senna was alive I was for Schumacher, because I thought he was the only driver who could thrash Senna. After Senna's death I had no more use for Schumacher. I read about the Hesketh Vampire in a book about 10 years ago. It called the Vampire a modern Vincent. I have never heard of it since. BTW, that book also mentioned the H-D XLCR and the Yamaha V-Max. The Rover-Buick V-8 may not have been made in the same numbers as the Chevy smll block, but just about equally spectacular things have been done with it! I think it was Caroll Shelby's first choice for the Cobra, but GM said no."}, {"response": 8, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (08:35)", "body": "Priceless comments, wither El Sam Blob (Afor)/ ? cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 16, "subject": "E-Type", "response_count": 9, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (15:41)", "body": "*sigh* I knew it. Now I'll not get any work done! E-types started in 1961 in England, not sure if they made it here that year. The series 1 (3.8l) with \"crashbox\" ran until'64, when the Series 2 (4.2l) withn synchro came up. Best one to have IMHO is the '67 roadster: big motor, synchro tranny, 3 carbs, and the *covered headlights*, which made the car IMO. The best bonnet of it's time! An honest 245hp and with the best rear end man ever put together, they could haul withut you realizing it, until you overheated! Sounds like a nice babe, 'ey?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (16:24)", "body": "If I remember correctly, the Series 3 came out in the Seventies, with a V-12 engine. Less of a sports car and more of a Benz SL kind of GT. The E-Type was eventually replaced by the XJ-S (what the hell were they thinking? Oh yes; Leyland...)"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (17:04)", "body": "Series 3 started out fine, then the gas crisis and concurrent concerns like bumper regs followed, and softened what was a potential 'Vette whipper into a boulevardier closer to the 'Benz. Best dash was in the V12 though. Those had both heat problems and electric problems! I was working at restoring a V12 when I found it was made from 2 different cars, cut and welded at the front, and also blew the head on the way to school; the repair was beyond my wallet so g'bye 12. When running the V12 was a wonderful ide, felt much more solid than the 6 and smooth as only a 12 is. A lot of car IMO."}, {"response": 4, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (08:09)", "body": "Do you think that Jaguar (or anyone else for that matter) will ever come up with a car as great as the E-Type again?"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (09:42)", "body": "I'm sure hopin', in my lifetime. Don't be telling me that designers with flair, taste, and good engineering sensibility all disappeared after the \"gas crisis\"!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (18:22)", "body": "Nope, they're all zombies who've had their brains sucked out by wind tunnels and government regulations."}, {"response": 7, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sun, Dec 28, 1997 (11:49)", "body": "Yeah notice how the individual designer/credit is gone, gone, gone?"}, {"response": 8, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Jan  1, 1998 (14:53)", "body": "Well, let's be thankful for Porsche (Harm LaGaay) and Chrysler (I'll have to find the article to recall who got credit for the Viper) But it's a far cry from the days of Touring, Pininfarina, Exner, Stevens, Loewy, Mulliner, Saoutchic, etc. Let us hope for better days."}, {"response": 9, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (08:35)", "body": "Let us hope for El Sam Blob's second coming. cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 17, "subject": "Car Trivia Questions", "response_count": 7, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Nov  6, 1997 (12:39)", "body": "O.K.: Which American refrigerator manufacturer made cars betwen the late '30's and the mid '50's? This manufacturer was also one of the first to make refrigerators with shelves on the door!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Nov  6, 1997 (15:58)", "body": "Packard."}, {"response": 3, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Nov  6, 1997 (16:21)", "body": "Packard made refrigeratior ? That's news to me! Packard actually started making cars in about 1901, I think! Think smaller!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Nov  6, 1997 (16:21)", "body": "Packard made refrigerators ? That's news to me! Packard actually started making cars in about 1901, I think! Think smaller!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Nov  6, 1997 (16:22)", "body": "Thought I caught it in time! Apparently I didn't..."}, {"response": 6, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov 16, 1997 (22:12)", "body": "\"Ummmmmmmmmmm............ Is there anybody out there?\" - From Is There Anybody Out There from \"The Wall\" by Pink Floyd O.K., O.K.! The answer is Crosley, O.K.? Eesh! They should rename this conference \"Volvo 480\"; no other car seems to exist!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (08:36)", "body": "Is there anybody out there? cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 18, "subject": "Porsche 911", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Nov  8, 1997 (20:25)", "body": "Josh Gordon commented that it looks like a Miata and a 911 got jammed together in a trash compactor. AUTOMOBILE says it's better than the old 911 in all respects."}, {"response": 2, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov  9, 1997 (19:48)", "body": "The 911 hasn't been a 911 for the past nine years or so, when the original Carrera 4 came out. They changed 85% of the design then, and have redesigned the car twice since. Porsche is being dishonest by not changing the model designation of this car. Neither this car, nor the one it replaced, nor the one that one replaced is a 911. cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 19, "subject": "Jaguar XKE", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Nov  8, 1997 (21:05)", "body": "I'll see if can surf up a pic."}, {"response": 2, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov  9, 1997 (19:51)", "body": "There is already a topic about this car, whose correct, ex-works name is the Jaguar E-Type. Terry, if you really love this car so much, than I'm ashamed of you for not knowing this."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Nov 10, 1997 (13:30)", "body": "Oooops, call me a carnoramous."}, {"response": 4, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (13:49)", "body": "Topic frozen, go to Jaguar E-Type topic! cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 2, "subject": "International (english) comments on the Volvo480", "response_count": 14, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Sdempster", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (08:10)", "body": "Anyone speak English here then?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "Jens", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (12:27)", "body": "Hehehe - I just opened this topic cause i got some engish mails and only 50% of my Homepage visitors are germans - So i thought it would be useful to have some english topics... JENS"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Did", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (16:23)", "body": "Hello, I confirm the Jens answer about the english mails. I'll send him some questions in english about the 480 because i dont understand very well th german language. Thank you Jens for this topic. I introduce me: I'm french and i live near Paris. I've got a 480ES (Version 109ch). I've made some modifications, e.g the lights side (front and rear).... I'll talk about later if anyone want some informations. I want to answer a question about the part \"Die Bastelecke\" of the Jens web. If you want to make some noise (bass) with your 480, you must make a 15mm wood board to replace the rear boot. You can put any kind of speakers and woofer. I placed two 25cm three ways speaker of Kenwood directly connected to the car radio, a ALPINE TDA 7552R(4x35W) + ALPINE S604 CD Changer. The changer is between the 2 rear seats. In the front doors i've got the original speaker with tweeters separately. In the rear side panel i ve got original speakers + tweeters plug in a amplifier 2x35w, it's enough for this speakers. This amplifier is under the passenger seat and connected to the car radio line out. So the sound come from the front, the middle and the rear of the car. You can believe me the sound is wonderful. It's a auditorium, only with car radio 4x35w + amplifier 2x35w. The power is not important if the speaker are very good. Ok, now if i want to go on holiday, i must suppress the board. Did"}, {"response": 4, "author": "480es", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (16:58)", "body": "Hi , please tell my more about the wood board in the boot; Where did you place it?? Does it lay on the sides in the back or have you made brackets ????? Thanks already ! Also i'm looking for an sport-exhaust Greetings Guido! If you want to E-mail me : Delorean@Freemail.nl"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Did", "date": "Thu, Jun 19, 1997 (17:15)", "body": "The wood board lays on the back and uses the brackets used by the original sheet. The board is blocked by the brackets near the rear seats and the rear of the car. It follows the boot lines. I put on the board a special audio sheet. If someone wants a picture of this, i can send it. e-mail: egiole_d@epita.fr"}, {"response": 6, "author": "Did", "date": "Thu, Jun 19, 1997 (17:22)", "body": "The wood board lays on the sides in the back.....sorry. e-mail: egiole_d@epita.fr"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Did", "date": "Wed, Jun 25, 1997 (14:42)", "body": "I'll do a word document to explain how to make the wooden board, with pictures. I'll send a copy to Jens. e-mail: egiole_d@epita.fr"}, {"response": 8, "author": "Jens", "date": "Thu, Jun 26, 1997 (12:22)", "body": "Good Idea! :) JENS"}, {"response": 9, "author": "ME", "date": "Wed, Sep  3, 1997 (13:59)", "body": "I am very interested in buying a Volvo 480 (pre-owned), since to me, it is the finest car I've ever seen. Please can someone tell me something about any differences between the ES and the S version? What am I missing if I buy the S version, if anything? I already know all about the Turbo version!, but perhaps it consumes to much fuel. And I am primarily interested in the wonderful shape of the car, not in raw speed or performance. (BTW, it seems from italian specialized newspapers that these differences are very small, due to a certain low-tuning of the turbo engine). I thank you all, 480'ers!"}, {"response": 10, "author": "480es", "date": "Wed, Sep  3, 1997 (16:53)", "body": "Hi Marco , the only difference between ES and S is the year of build. I Believe The S ( = Sport) startet in 1991. Ps. Please tell my more about the Newspapers , is there much in it about the 480 .. ? Guido Delorean@Freemail.nl"}, {"response": 11, "author": "ME", "date": "Thu, Sep  4, 1997 (15:44)", "body": "Then is the S more recent than the ES? Good to know to me. I have seen a wonderful 480 S in an unusual, beatiful metallized (?) color: a kind of mix between blue and purple. Of the italian newspapers, the best is surely \"Quattroruote\". I found extremely valuable informations in the following numbers (I consulted them in a public library): December 1987, May 1988, June 1988, April 1990. Other informations are also in March 1987, but on this, I'm not sure. However, this monthly newspaper is all in Italian: do you understand our language? In case you own a 480 ES, can you tell me of any major problems with it, if any? Thank you very much."}, {"response": 12, "author": "ME", "date": "Sat, Sep 13, 1997 (01:13)", "body": "Hi, is no one more reading or answering to this topic? Just to know..."}, {"response": 13, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Sep 13, 1997 (10:58)", "body": "We need more cars! How about the Dodge Caravan?"}, {"response": 14, "author": "Robb", "date": "Tue, Oct 28, 1997 (10:51)", "body": "Just came across this conferencing while doing a search for Volvo 480's. I'm up for changing my car next year and top of the list is the 480. Can any one tell me of good web pages related to the 480, ive tried a search and all i get is links to stuff that aint got 4 wheels. Im in the uk btw. Thanks in advance Robb cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 20, "subject": "Cars with Muscles", "response_count": 22, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Nov 10, 1997 (20:59)", "body": "How 'bout a Fifties Lincoln, the type that used to compete with (and sometimes win against) Ferraris in long distance road races?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov 16, 1997 (22:17)", "body": "I guess anyone who's ever watched the movie Bullitt must be in some way partial to musclecars. There were car chases before ( It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World had a lot of the same stunts as Bullitt but it was a comedy, not an action movie) and since (ad nauseum), but the ultimate distillation was the chase in Bullitt , with Steve McQueen in the Mustang and the bad guys in the Charger. Rough!!!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Nov 17, 1997 (09:15)", "body": "Hey Sam, glad you're back in, I was tired of deciphering German, and I don't even know what the hell a 480 Volvo is! Only problem I have with the car chase was the soundtrack--the shifts never really matched up, etc., giving a car-lover fits (o:. Same thing in th French Connection, which was pretty cool too. Let's mention that this conference should include Euro-muscle cars also, like the Q-ship MB's of the 70's, V-8 Capri's etc. Anybody?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 18, 1997 (00:19)", "body": "I think the V-8 Capris (at least the European ones) were conversions, the largest factory engine in a European Ford Capri was a 3-litre V-6. The Volvo 480 never made it to the U.S., despite R&T's best hopes. Classic Cars , a British magazine, had a five-way comparison between the Daimler Sovereign (Jaguar XJ-12 to you), the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL 6.3, a pre-wedgebox Aston-Martin Lagonda (the first of about five made, based on the DBS), a BMW 3.0Si and a DeTomaso (I've forgotten the name of the sedan). Whether through nationalist bias or through an unusually good example of the type, the Daimler won! I believe the Mercedes was the fastest, the BMW was the best handling and the Daimler gave the best ride. The Aston-Martin and the DeTomaso both felt a bit cobbled-up (more acceptable for the Aston-Martin, it was a prototype, after all!)"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 18, 1997 (00:23)", "body": "I should say that the testers was rather surprized that a car bult under the British Leyland regime won, they said the driving experience in all of the cars was quite different from their preconceived ideas. When mentioning musclecars, one must notice the similarity in effect between the Plymouth Road Runner Superbird and the BMW 3.0CSL: powerful racing cars looking patently ridiculous on the street!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Nov 18, 1997 (08:56)", "body": "Yeah the Superbird Chargers, the GTX, and the RoadRunner *did* end up as cartoons of themselves. But I can't believe the prices they fetch today, in the 30's! I've always been partial to the 70 Cuda, or, if you needed room for friends, the Challenger R/T, and the big block SS Chevrolets. Seems right that the Daimler was the most refined ride of that (great) test. The MB suspension as I recall couldn't hack it with the weight. Still one of the best motors though! My uncle had a DB6, which he crashed, and a DBS. Both lacked handling, but opening the \"bonnet\" was a visual trip! Good that you know the Capri's were conversions; rode in one in Ireland and it scared the hell out of me!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 18, 1997 (20:20)", "body": "Capris were rather popular in Jamaica. They would probably still be, if they were still being made! How about the Lotus Cortina or the Ford Escort Mexico? (I think that there were Lotus versions of the Ford Cortinas Mk I and II, but not of the Mk III, the type my brother drove.) Ford really tried their best to get a performance image in the Sixties, and by and large they succeeded. This image followed them into the Seventies, but only in Europe!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Nov 19, 1997 (10:29)", "body": "Yeah the Lotus-Cortinas were nice powerplants, and those little anonymous boxes could haul! Expensive if you over-revved 'em though. Early attempts at close-tolerance engines were pretty finicky."}, {"response": 9, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Nov 19, 1997 (21:26)", "body": "Close-tolerance engines...exceed the tolerance and what do you get? Interference! On the other hand, I think the Escort Mexico used the 1600cc ohv \"Kent\" engine. One of the Indestructibles, I think (also one of the things least likely to break on a Lotus/Caterham Seven?) Any mention of a Lotus Seven in a musclecar topic shows that I'm WAAY off topic... Musclecars... 427, 440, 454, 8 mpg... Never going to see those again. The current Mustang is ugly IMO. Time for another Probe, with rear drive, a V-8 and and suspension components based on the RX-7 Mk III! And why doesn't Chrysler have a musclecar? (I can hear the question coming, but I have the answer...) The Viper costs too much to be a musclecar. It's an exotic. Chrysler needs a V-8!"}, {"response": 10, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Thu, Nov 20, 1997 (07:41)", "body": "Chrysler's riding the fence right now IMO. They have the platforms in the Intrepids and Avengers, the motors are in trucks. The \"Prowler\" looks to be a bust unless they throw a little caution out the window and give it some cojones. Otherwise even collectors will be booed if they drive 'em! The Viper; who drives 'em? CEO's and their egos? I see very few and when I do they're at things like motorcycle get-togethers and golf dinners. It should be raced by the factory if you ask me, sart another Chevy-Mopar war on the tracks."}, {"response": 11, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Nov 20, 1997 (19:18)", "body": "They race Vipers at Le Mans (and finish in the Top 10!). I saw a Viper on the one night I spent in Miami (missed my connecting flight!) I took a picture; it's not very good, but I treasure it anyway! Do they still make the 318 engine? It'd go well in the Prowler IMO!"}, {"response": 12, "author": "yves", "date": "Fri, Nov 21, 1997 (03:16)", "body": "Last summer I sat in a Viper GTS and start the motor. I dont have the precise English words to explain tha experience. But I know that I don't have the verves to handle that monster. I never saw \"in real life\" a Prowler and would like it.The Viper's V10 sounds great, but I'm still a V8 sound lover."}, {"response": 13, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Fri, Nov 21, 1997 (10:05)", "body": "The V10, for lack of better word, is Awesome ( I hate cliches). The 340 motor would be a better bet for the Prowler IMO. A street rod needs right-there torque without straining, and I remember the 318 as a little short in that dept. Yves! Glad to see ya! I thought Sam & I were alone on this island!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Nov 21, 1997 (18:59)", "body": "Yves' been here some time, but not in this topic. I figured that the 318 would be a marked improvement over the current V-6, and just about in line with the 302s and 305s associated with other ponycars. As I said in another topic (that died; I really should remove it! Terry,how do I do that?) the Viper's aluminium engine had design input from Lamborghini, while the Diablo had ergonomic and heating/ventilation/air-conditioning input from Chrysler engineers. Each doing what they do best! I don't know how well the 318 would adapt to modern emmissions and OBDII requirements (the lattter will probably drive more people to motorcycles, no pun intended), so they might need an all-new V-8, maybe an OHC or DOHC! Sounds COOL! (I don't mind cliches that much!)"}, {"response": 15, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Nov 21, 1997 (22:26)", "body": "Only the creator of a topic can make it die. Who started the topic that you're referring to above?"}, {"response": 16, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (05:43)", "body": "O.K., here's what was in the Viper/Diablo topic that I started. Once I'm sure this thing pastes, I'll go back and end it. Sun, Oct 26, 1997 (10:02) | El Sam Blob (Afor) It is not widely known, but the Dodge Viper and the Lamborghini Diablo have more in common than sinister names. The Viper was designed by Chrysler with input from Lamborghini (owned by Chrysler at the time) in the design of the aluminium V-10 block; a good idea, considering the decades of experience Lamborghini has with large, multicylinder aluminium blocks. Meanwhile, the Diablo profited from Chrysler's experience with ergonomics, electronics, quality control (don't laugh now, remember this was during the Iacocca era, when Chrysler rediscovered quality) and emissions control devices, which made it more comfortable and reliable than the Countach. What are your opinions on these two cars? And do you think Chrysler should have sold Lamborghini? 2 new of 3 responses total. Topic 13 of 21 [cars]: Dodge Viper / Lamborghini Diablo connection Response 1 of 3: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (08:49) * 3 lines What's the sticker price on these respective two cars, even though it isn't in my budget till I win the lottery. Topic 13 of 21 [cars]: Dodge Viper / Lamborghini Diablo connection Response 2 of 3: El Sam Blob (Afor) * Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:05) * 5 lines A Dodge Viper lists for about US$75,000 That's the cheap one! The Lamborghini Diablo, the last time I read, was going for almost US$300,000! That might be beyond your budget even if you do win the lottery! Topic 13 of 21 [cars]: Dodge Viper / Lamborghini Diablo connection Response 3 of 3: El Sam Blob (Afor) * Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:06) * 1 lines However, you can get a Vector M-12 for less than that, with the same engine (that is, if Vector hasn't folded yet!)"}, {"response": 17, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (08:18)", "body": "It seems that this topic may be more likely to fold than the Viper/Diablo topic right now! Wot, no musclecar/Q-ship fans?"}, {"response": 18, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (09:44)", "body": "I see a lot of \"over-restored\" muscle cars these days. None look like they should be driven daily and it's a shame. Kid up the street from me has a 340 Duster he drives on weekends! Talk about a car you can't kill, and he's afraid to damage it!"}, {"response": 19, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (18:47)", "body": "WHat does he drive during the week? A Civic? If so, can't blame him much; less gas to pay for & besides, who wants to drive those things in traffic? Wear 'em out without enjoying it? Why?"}, {"response": 20, "author": "yves", "date": "Sun, Dec 28, 1997 (02:24)", "body": "Would like to have such car to show youngster what's REAL CAR, what kind of toys their father where playing with :o))"}, {"response": 21, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sun, Dec 28, 1997 (11:51)", "body": "He drives a 5.0 Mustang \"boom car\" in true newkid fashion."}, {"response": 22, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Dec 29, 1997 (02:02)", "body": "He must be a power addic :o) He should try a 250 motocross ride (if not already done). cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 21, "subject": "cool car URLs and websites", "response_count": 5, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Nov 21, 1997 (22:59)", "body": "http://www.edmunds.com Publishers of automobile buyer's guides for over 30 years."}, {"response": 2, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (10:53)", "body": "Edmunds is a terrific site. How about http://www.kitcars.com , shows interesting links to interesting toys. I'll come up with a few more."}, {"response": 3, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Nov 29, 1997 (19:56)", "body": "http://www.monito.com/wankel/ is the place to go if you want information on Wankel rotary engines."}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Nov 29, 1997 (20:24)", "body": "Were these written up on the Whole Earth catalog. El Sam, care to give us an introductory lecture on Wankel Engines?"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov 30, 1997 (10:56)", "body": "*sigh* O.K. The Wankel Rotary Engine (not to be confused with the Gnome or Le Rhone aero-engine designes used in WWI, I won't try to explain those) was developed by Felix Wankel and the engineers at NSU (Neckarsulm Knitting Machine Union, maker of bicycles, motorbikes and cars along with knitting machines). It uses the four-stroke principle (intake, compression, power and exhaust), but instead ou using cylinders, the engine has a chamber and rotor of shapes that I can't describe very well without a diagram. Suffice it to say that the rotor is similar in cross-section to a completely symmetric triangle, but with rounded sides. This rotor is in eccentric orbit... I am getting too technical here, aren't I? I'll let the site do the explaining! The main thing to remember is that the rotor is constantly moving, that a Wankel is more compact and has fewer moving parts than a piston engine, that inlet mixtures and exhaust gases are controlled by ports instead of valves, that the thermal efficiency of a Wankel is rather less than that of a modern piston engine (probably comparable to an old side-valve engine; oh, why did I mention side-valve engines?) and that only Maz a makes them for cars these days and they don't export that car any more. cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 22, "subject": "Unusual Cars:  Good & Bad Ideas", "response_count": 37, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (11:11)", "body": "Lotus & Chapman, ahh. I think the problem with the Super Seven & the Europa, from my experience, was that the Chapman philosophy was so involved with light weight he couldn't build the practicality and long life into the cars neede for survival. The rear splines on the Europa were lousy castings, for instance. And the driver, in both vehicles was almost secondary to the efficient functioning of the mechanics. Keeping to Formula(s) is one thing, putting it on the street for Joe Buyer-enthusiast is another. Yes, I'd buy either in a blink (o:}"}, {"response": 2, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (11:14)", "body": "DeLorean: Not bad really. the \"Story\" will take precedence over the final concept, but the idea apart from the SS bodywork was good. I've been a passenger several times and it's a great ride, even though you wait for departure/arrival if you know what I mean! DeLorean's personality/ego killed his own idea. (Saw him wandering on Park Ave. a while ago, looking in the GM showroom!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Nov 22, 1997 (20:23)", "body": "The Seven, IMO, is a contender for the title \"Four Wheeled Motorcycle\", right up there with Frank's dune buggy: the difference being that the buggy is a D-P, while the Seven is more of a sportbike! I take it that the stainless steel bodywork was a bust. I didn't think that the Renault V-6 had enough steam for supercar performance (although it did quite well for Alpine; maybe a DeLorean-Alpine would work?) Wonder what John Z. is doing now?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Nov 24, 1997 (07:08)", "body": "The Renault was a little anemic. When I saw DeL. a while back he was well-dressed but kinda blown-out looking, signed an autograph on the spot but didn't seem with it. Who knows?"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (04:52)", "body": "I didn't realize that I mentioned another unusual car in my last post! The dune buggy, brainchild of Bruce Meyers! When Jeeps were big, heavy and uncool (nowadays, two out of three ain't bad), Bruce Meyers put a lightweight, open body on the Volkswagen platform (was it shortened? I don't remember) and created... What can I call it? All-terrain vehicles are those little four-wheeled things with motorcycle type handlebar and controls, dual-purpose vehicles are usually thought of as motorbikes, and there was nothing utilitarian about it (although it definitely was sporting; it broke the Baja record, which was held by motorcycle!) The Meyers Manx was the definitive dune buggy. There were hundreds of imitators, and they pushed Meyers to the wall."}, {"response": 6, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (08:26)", "body": "Meyers was also a bad finance manager Sam. He's now licensed a newer desogn out to an independant 'glass shop. In the 70's fiberglass, when done right, actually became costly to mold and produce to a point where it could be turned out in volume without faults. Myeyers' original design was/is very strong, but expensive to produce compared to the knock-offs, so after about 3 years he lost serious money. Since most treated the buggy as expendable, the cheap guys actually made a profit. Meyers' strength was that he really studied the design for the application and built properly, so his vehicles took a beating when ot ers broke. Funny, while many build up their buggy with a beach-rod look, I really want mine to be an \"all terrain\" transporter (No fat rear tires,etc.)"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (18:13)", "body": "So Meyers took a beating because the Manx could take a beating! This when H-D had a near-catastrophic loss of market share due to poor quality! Strange! Even VW got into the act, with their Caribe (aka \"Thing\")! The hardtop version of the \"Thing\" is more practical than the Bug, what with four doors and a bigger trunk. However, the \"Thing\" was made in steel..."}, {"response": 8, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov 25, 1997 (18:15)", "body": "...as opposed to fiberglas, like the other dune buggies..."}, {"response": 9, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Nov 26, 1997 (09:57)", "body": "I have a little old lady across the road from me with a Type 181/Thing (didn't know \"Caribe\"!) sitting there, hoping for classic status. The 181 is Heavy! and subject to rust=expensive to restore. And Slow. The manx-types have shortened pans for dune-ing, or long pan, for off-road stuff. Mine's short, I had no choice, but set up properly it goes anywhere."}, {"response": 10, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Nov 26, 1997 (19:21)", "body": "Shorter wheelbase = more sensitive (better turning response) = less stable, I guess."}, {"response": 11, "author": "britbker", "date": "Thu, Nov 27, 1997 (18:11)", "body": "Anyone want to discuss car's i'll listen been a mechanic for over twenty years and still love the automobile even if sometimes it does not love me. But have loved biking longer.. Men and mechinery we can't help ourselves .. later evryone,have a good turkey day ."}, {"response": 12, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Nov 29, 1997 (13:58)", "body": "Well, from the experience you have, maybe we should do the listening! I've never owned a car, and my first motorcycle is still in pieces, waiting for me to arrange to have it fixed (I need to change the shaft for the gearshift lever, and I tried to do it myself but got stuck.)"}, {"response": 13, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Nov 29, 1997 (17:50)", "body": "I have started a topic about Mazda's sports cars. While entering the topic, I realised that the Mazda RX-7 should also be mentioned here, along with their pre-RX-7 rotary cars (& pickup truck!) since they all use the still unconventional Waknel rotary engine! Before the RX-7, Mazda made small family sedans like the RX-3 and RX-4 and a pickyp truck based on these cars. However, people in the Seventies didn't really want a small Japanese car with the fuel consumption of a Buick of the time, especially since the rotary engine wasn't as reliable then as it would later become (apex seal problems affected these first rotary cars). Mazda remained committed to the rotary engine, so they asked themselves: Who would want a powerful, lightweight engine with high fuel consumption and a reputation for unreliability? Maybe they saw someone driving an Corvette or Triumph on the road and had a brainstorm; I don't know! But along came the RX-7 and at least fifteen years of rotary sports-car history! One of the most successful unusual cars ever, so much so that I didn't even think of it as unusual until just now!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Nov 29, 1997 (17:52)", "body": "Actually, the first Wankel rotary cars were made by NSU and Audi, I really meant to say \"these first Maza rotary cars\"."}, {"response": 15, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Nov 29, 1997 (20:25)", "body": "What's the story and the Valerian?"}, {"response": 16, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov 30, 1997 (10:59)", "body": "Never before heard of a Valerian. Sounds interesting! WHere was it made, and by whom?"}, {"response": 17, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Dec  1, 1997 (09:49)", "body": "I meant Delorian. Oops."}, {"response": 18, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Dec  1, 1997 (22:57)", "body": "John Z. DeLorean: Former General Manager of the Chevrolet Division of General Motors. Left GM to build his own sports car, the DeLorean. This car is probably most famous for its role in the Back To The Future movies, where it was the time machine that could attain time travel at a speed of 88 miles per hour. DeLorean got a lot of money from the government of the United Kingdom in order to build his factory in Northern Ireland. He contracted Lotus Engineering to refine the design, although the spine-frame suggests that Lotus might have been involved in, or at least inspired, the initial design as well. DeLorean must have heard of the Renault-Alpine sports cars, but I guess he failed to realize that Alpine modified (and turbocharged, I think) the V-6 to get the supercar performance. The bodywork was plastic with stainless steel outer panels. The car was not a success, and he lost all the money. Undercover DEA agents were hounding him to deal in cocaine to get the money he needed to save his business. After several rejections, he finally told them he'd do it; they, of course, set up a sting and arrested him. He was acquitted, but that was the end of the DeLorean sports car. Now DeLorean is a footnote in history, a bit of trivia which just might introduce some people to the concept of mid-engined cars (although Ferraris and Lamborghinis probably do so more often!)"}, {"response": 19, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Dec  7, 1997 (00:26)", "body": "O.K. The Chrysler Sebring Convertible topic has gone to convertibles in general, and Frank has mentioned his least favourite convertible there. Frank's least favourite convertible is a product from a long-standing manufacturer of unusual (but getting steadily less so) cars, that being the Swedish Aeroplane Company; in Swedish: Svenska Aeroplan Atkiebolaget, abbreviated S.A.Ab. Yes, we are talking about Saab here (or SAAB, as I refer to them, it is more properly S.A.Ab.) They were front-drive when front drive wasn't cool. They embraced front-drive and aerodynamic bodywork (aircraft company, remember?) before the Citroen DS was a gleam in its designer's eye. For their first few decades, they also made cars with two-stroke engines; their first four-stroke engines being V-4's (I believe, correct me if I'm wrong), their later inline engines were originally designed and built by Tr umph (the carmaker). S.A.Ab. is now 50% owned by General Motors, so expect a decline in unusual-ness as the world catches up with SAAB the way it did with Citroen."}, {"response": 20, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Dec  7, 1997 (00:40)", "body": "I mentioned Citroen twice in the last post; Citroens were at one time at least as unusual as SAABs, if not more so! Andre Citroen was the European Continent's first mass producer of cars (I don't know if William Morris beat him to it, but he wasn't on the Continent anyway). His first cars were somewhat ordinary, but the 5CV with two front seats and one rear seat was a bit odd-looking. The Traction Avant was quite possibly the first mass produced front-drive car (the Christie taxi and the Cord luxury car were not mass produced). After Citroen became insolvent and Michelin bought them out, Michelin decided that they c uld really sell a lot of tyres by making a small car in the millions. The universally recognized and either-loved-or-hated 2CV (Deux Chevaux) was the result. In 1955, Citroen brought out the DS19, with two prominent futuristic features: aerodynamic bodywork (measured Cd of 0.35, better than the original VW Rabbit about 25 years into the future) and hydro-pneumatic suspension. About a decade later, they brought out the GS, an intermediate model acting as a stepping stone between the extremely basic 2CV and the luxurious DS. Also in the Seventies, Citroen bought Maserati, which they later sold to deTomaso, who nearly killed it off. Citroen is now a division of Peugeot, and the only real difference between current Citroens and contemporary Peugeots is the hydropneumatic suspension. It's not so much that Citroen has become mainstream as it is that the mainstream has caught up with Citroen."}, {"response": 21, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Dec  8, 1997 (16:32)", "body": "Hey you beat me to it! Citroen. A weirdo misunderstood by the US. I was toying with buying an SM once, and would have if parts & mechanics weren't so hard to come by. Looked at Saab Turbos the same way (the 1st generation 900 Turbo was *nice*!)."}, {"response": 22, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (22:20)", "body": "& those since? SMs had the Merak engine in them, didn't they?"}, {"response": 23, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (22:44)", "body": "Let's get our brain trust here in gear and really help out humdog out! I, for one, really dig it that humdog is swimming in the spring."}, {"response": 24, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (23:03)", "body": "So who's humdrum...er, humdog?"}, {"response": 25, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (10:26)", "body": "Yeah sam the SM had a detuned Merak motor and a host of other really cool tings wrapped up in it. Kinda like driving a land bound sub though, at least in the city. But if you wanted different that was the one!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Dec 22, 1997 (21:19)", "body": "I saw a Westfield, a copy of the Lotus Seven, yesterday. And my camera's out being repaired! AAAAAGH!!!!! It was bright yellow, and I spoke with the owner before he drove off. He tells me that there's a real Seven in Jamaica, raced by one of Jamaica's most prominent motor racers at Dover Raceway in St. Ann. Nice!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Dec 23, 1997 (11:22)", "body": "Hey Westfield's are pretty good. They have some really nasty motor options. Too bad about the camera Sam, I know that situation well! So now your mission is to hunt down the Westy or the Seven and cop a ride, you'll be well rewarded."}, {"response": 28, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Dec 24, 1997 (10:54)", "body": "Problem is that I weigh 110 kg (just about 250 lb). Can a Seven (or Seven replica) handle the weight of self & driver? There's a Westfield called a Seight. Uses the Buick aluminium V-8 (in the States; in Europe it uses the identical Rover engine). This wasn't one; it had four exhaust pipes from one side of the bonnet."}, {"response": 29, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Dec 24, 1997 (11:07)", "body": "Probably a Toyota or English Ford motor? The Sevens can handle the weight Sam, it's the drivers' and passengers sizes or heights that can really limit your comfort. Part of what I said about Chapman's impractical side."}, {"response": 30, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Dec 24, 1997 (21:02)", "body": "Didn't see inside the bonnet. I'm about 6' tall with a 41\" waist and American size 15 shoe size."}, {"response": 31, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Fri, Dec 26, 1997 (14:07)", "body": "BIG!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Dec 26, 1997 (21:57)", "body": "They don't call me Sam Blob for nothin'!"}, {"response": 33, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (15:52)", "body": "Renault has a car that gets 72 mpg, can go 94 mph, seats 5, and is not a gas-electric hybrid. It doesn't use spaceage materials (lots of aluminium), or technology (lots of turbocharging). They had this car developed and then put it under wraps. Greenpeace found out about it and set up a phony organization dedicated to classic cars, that had offices, faxes, people in suits, etc. Convinced Renault that they wanted some Renaults for a classic car show and got access to the wearhouse that had classic cars and the prototype. They then stole the prototype, and took it to a carshow in another part of France, where they stole the real Renault display and substituted a fake display highlighting the so called SMILE car, and invited the automotive press. Renault chose not to sue Greenpeace but instead look into manufacturing the SMILE car with Greenpeace. Check out the SMILE car at: www.greenpeace.org/~climate/smile/index.html"}, {"response": 34, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (17:16)", "body": "Great info Terry! Typical?"}, {"response": 35, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (18:56)", "body": "It's a great story. If someone finds a picture of this car on that website (I haven't yet) please give me the url so I can take a look, I'm curious what this car looks like. Is this an unlikely sounding chain of events or what? I mean, greenpeace in the car business?"}, {"response": 36, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (18:56)", "body": "Is it based on the Vera? That had some good publicity in the Eighties. I think it's a turbodiesel (i.e., not much U.S. sales & lots of trouble with emission regs) and they scrapped it at the end of the last oil crisis. \"General Motors is not in the business of making cars. General Motors is in the business of making money!\" - Alfred Sloan (I think!)"}, {"response": 37, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (20:17)", "body": "I don't know if it's based on the Vera. What I wrote is about all I know about it, in other words, very little. Makes a great story though. cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 23, "subject": "Mazda Sports Cars (& their rivals)", "response_count": 36, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Nov 29, 1997 (20:26)", "body": "The Miata looks cool, but not as cool as an XKE."}, {"response": 2, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov 30, 1997 (11:04)", "body": "There is almost nothing on Earth that looks as cool as an E-type. Have you ever seen the RX-7 Mk III? That might come close. That looks better than any production Corvette, with the possible exception of the C2 Sting Ray coupes. The new Miata looks O.K., not as good as the original, but even with E-Types the original looks the best (the Corvette is an exception!) The Miata looks like a good starting point for a new RX-7, with a concept similar to the first."}, {"response": 3, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Dec  8, 1997 (19:02)", "body": "Miata looks like an accident waiting to happen! I actually don't like the look that much. Now... the new Mercedes created to compete with BMWs smaller car... I could play fast with that!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "1stPeter122", "date": "Mon, Dec  8, 1997 (19:11)", "body": "I love the old muscle cars of the 60's. I have a 68 Cougar of my own. They are very fast, very loud and can be very unique. There is nothing like a FORD powerplant!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (09:52)", "body": "Welcome. Check the Cars with muscles topic! 68 Cougars are rarely seen now, eh?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (23:00)", "body": "Stacey: Miata looks like an accident waiting to happen! Now why exactly is that?!? I actually don't like the look that much. Well, that I'll accept! (we'll just agree to disagree here...) Now... the new Mercedes created to compete with BMWs smaller car... I could play fast with that! A few words about the Mercedes-Benz SLK (I have many, but most aren't printable!): i: The retractable hardtop ( a la '50's Ford Galaxie Starliner) is an affront to every sports car fan who ever embraced the Robert Browning quote \"Less Is More\" as their motto (and copied architect Mies van der Rohe in doing so) Maybe with a real convertible top (unpowered, please!) or with the hardtop welded in place and the retraction mechanism tossed in the bin where it belongs, I'd like it. ii: No available manual transmission. iii: About as little sporting cred as the Honda del Sol, which is mercifully extinct! I'd hate to hear Stacey's opinion of the Lotus Elise (if she's ever heard of it, that is.) THe SLK is one of those cars that just generally angers me whenever I think about it. Kind of like the Toyota Supra, the anti-RX-7, the ugliest, least inspiring, and last surviving Japanese muscle GT."}, {"response": 7, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (10:33)", "body": "Whoa Sam! Surprised you don't like an Elite lookalike or the Elite itself. i thought the +2S was cool but fragile. The SLK is a car for the affluent poseur I admit, but if i woke up with one i wouldn't throw up (kinda like Cindy Crawford?). The Supra was a great example of Jap engineers gone nuts, like the 3000GT/VR4. All that techno-effort for what? Always makes me wonder what the real reason ws for the demise of the 2000GT."}, {"response": 8, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (13:20)", "body": "i saw a miata get crumpled in a parking lot -- low speed and lots of fender damage. what do you guys think of the mazda rx6, which is supposed to be child of rx7?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (17:49)", "body": "I didn't say that I didn't like the look of the Miata, I said that I'd accept that Stacey doesn't, and agree to disagree with her! I won't accept the \"accident waiting to happen\" without elaboration, however! Miata Rules! This mainly because Toyota stopped making the MR2, which was probably a better sports-racing platform and maybe a better handling car, but the Miata just enchanted everybody. The main thing I have against the Miata, actually, is that it is the car that killed the Alfa Romeo Spider, one of the most beautiful cars ever made, but it couldn't compete against the Miata, which was just as good at half the price! If I woke up with an SLK in the driveway, the first thing I'd do is find the owner to move it away. If by some miracle I am the owner, I'd drive it to the M-B dealer and have them weld the roof in place (maybe adding a rollcage at the same time) and remove the retraction mechanism. Then box changing time! The RX-7 Mk III was a pure sports car! Power, lightness and beauty, it had it all! The 3000GT and Supra only had one, and one out of three is bad! I have never heard of an RX-6. RX-2, RX-3, RX-4, there may have been an RX-5, but I'm not sure, but those were all in the Seventies. Where have you seen this RX-6?"}, {"response": 10, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (18:25)", "body": "i called up the mazda dealers and asked them, ok they don't make the rx7, but i want the closest thing. what would you sell me? so he said they got the rx6, which is like a toyota something or other (i forgot) & i should go to this dealership in capitola ca to see it... maybe we should all go to the mazda site??"}, {"response": 11, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (18:31)", "body": "Are you sure it wasn't an MX-6? BTW, the MX-6 has been discontinued, as has the Ford Probe, based on the same platform. What's Mazda's address? I guess it would be http://www.mazda.com but I'm not sure."}, {"response": 12, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Thu, Dec 11, 1997 (10:54)", "body": "Probably thinking MX6-GT? A very beautiful car with decent, safe performance. I looked at them before I bought the Integra. Turn-off other than the sewing-machine-like motor was the noticeable light gauge of steel Mazda uses."}, {"response": 13, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Thu, Dec 11, 1997 (13:23)", "body": "http://www.mazda.com is the address. yes the light gauge of steel was immediately visible when i saw the miata crumple in the very very lowspeed parking lot crash. the miata crumpled like a weak beer can. does the integra still have that hatchback kind of look to it, like the old supras?"}, {"response": 14, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Thu, Dec 11, 1997 (15:54)", "body": "I have a 90 Hatchback GS. I believe they produced them until last year, now it's a straight 2 door coupe. I'm one of the apparent minority that loves hatchbacks; it's been used like a pickup truck several times! I looked at the entry BMW for the same reason. Integras are wonderful cars. Built properly. Yes the lite weight of the Mazdas is definitely a sore point, and the tight quarters of the Miata are easy to improve upon if they'd like.But to be honest, any small car folds up pretty badly nowadays, they all do with the exeption of Volvos and Mercedes."}, {"response": 15, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Dec 15, 1997 (19:16)", "body": "Accident waiting to happen: c'mon Sam it's a freaking fiberglass car! How much more info do you need. You can punch your fist through it, nevermind a little 20mph fender bender! Yes, I know of a Lotus. Albeit I've never seen it in the \"flesh\" if I may. S'ok. Goes fast, similar designs. Gues I just really don't like the look. The del Sol: now THAT is something we can agree on!"}, {"response": 16, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Dec 15, 1997 (22:56)", "body": "The Miata is NOT made from fibreglas! You're thinking about a Lotus or Corvette! Unsafe at any speed? I think not! We agree on not liking the Del Sol. You probably don't like it because it looks like a sports car. I don't like it because it looks like a sports car...and isn't! I dislike it even more because it replaced a sports car, the Honda CRX."}, {"response": 17, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Dec 15, 1997 (23:00)", "body": "Oh, and by the way, an \"accident waiting to happen\" is something that is likely to cause an accident, not someting with questionable survivability in one. A huge sedan or van with defective steering linkage (or front suspension, or brake lines etc. etc.), now that's an accident waiting to happen!"}, {"response": 18, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Dec 16, 1997 (09:12)", "body": "well I like the little bullet-del Sol. Throw $1000 at a used one, its a screamer!"}, {"response": 19, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Dec 16, 1997 (18:32)", "body": "How much would you have had to throw at a CRX?"}, {"response": 20, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Dec 17, 1997 (17:45)", "body": "Depends; could always use better rubber than stock, an exhaust/airbox mod, maybe shock/strut mods for start. Those nylon motor and suspension mounts add a nice feel also...about $1300 all told? The delSol Si already had the rubber, leaving money for the rest."}, {"response": 21, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Dec 17, 1997 (19:27)", "body": "Well if I intended to mean it was going to 'cause' an accident, I would've stated such. *stick out tongue and blow!* *smile* I specifically said it was waiting to happen. And waiting it is."}, {"response": 22, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Dec 17, 1997 (22:12)", "body": "That's what the phrase \"An accident waiting to happen\" means, something that will cause an accident, but just hasn't caused it yet! So, basically, you did state such! And I don't have to make faces at you; the truth supporting me is doing a good enough job of that."}, {"response": 23, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (17:50)", "body": "i drove a volvo wagon for a long time up and down highway 17 in california ( a famous Nasty Road commuter highway through the Coast Range that washes out every winter) and i must say that my opinion of cars is to some extent conditioned by the little \"count the dead cars by the side of the road\" exercise that i used to perform during the rainy seasons and during the san jose santa cruz memorial summer let's go to the beach parking lot exercise that took place every weekend in the summer. what i noticed i that more mercedes ended up dead by the side of the road in the summer than i thought might. few volkswagens, lots of big american sedans (we came to refer to them as the \"grandpa cars\"). few bmws. hardly any hondas and i only saw one volvo. the cool open jeep sort of cars rolled over often enough for me to remember it, and we won't get into the kinds of cars most frequently found disguised as pancakes at the beginning of long snakes of irritated and horrified commuters."}, {"response": 24, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (18:18)", "body": "Sam, where's take your face outta the cliche book. It doesn't mean anything but what I want it to mean!! (and I obviously can't stand on my sound arguements so *phhhhhllllllllltttttt* (that was the stick out tongue and blow sound!) *smile*"}, {"response": 25, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (21:12)", "body": "So if what you say means anything you want it to mean, how are we supposed to know what you mean? Or maybe you talk just to hear the sound of your own voice? (Is everyone clear as to what that means?)"}, {"response": 26, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Dec 19, 1997 (10:09)", "body": "Well, Sam that would be true except, as I was born deaf, I've never really learned to speak and certainly never heard my own voice."}, {"response": 27, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 20, 1997 (18:18)", "body": "This is a bit of a surprise, I would more have suspected a lack of vision! (and by that I don't mean sight...)"}, {"response": 28, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Dec 24, 1997 (21:08)", "body": "Saw a Suzuki Capuccino this morning. Silver with black hardtop. For those not in the know, a Capuccino is a roadster about half the size of a Miata (but it's ALSO not fiberglas!) It has a turbocharged 660 cc engine and is what the Japanese call a Kei car, which has special low rates in Japan for road taxes, licence fees and highway tolls. Stacey would hate it, which means it's a nice car."}, {"response": 29, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Fri, Dec 26, 1997 (14:09)", "body": "Sounds interesting but impractical for US roads, unfortunately. Is it a screamer or an econo-type car? Or both, a la Mini."}, {"response": 30, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Dec 26, 1997 (22:00)", "body": "From what I've read, it seems to be a screamer. It's a pity they don't make a 1200 cc aspro version; I don't trust small, turbocharged cars that much."}, {"response": 31, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Dec 26, 1997 (22:02)", "body": "Considering the size of the 660 cc Kei car market, it's interesting that Honda and Suzuki haven't come up with 660 cc bikes that use Kei car engines. Then again, maybe their Kei car engines are based on their bike engines!"}, {"response": 32, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (09:46)", "body": "I think they are Sam. I thought Honda had one or two in Japan only?"}, {"response": 33, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Fri, Jan 16, 1998 (17:45)", "body": "so is this one of those cars like the teensy austin healey of long ago which provides various and sundry opportunities to smear yourself all over the highway while having lots of fun?"}, {"response": 34, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Jan 16, 1998 (22:02)", "body": "you mean sorta like a vw beetle?"}, {"response": 35, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Jan 17, 1998 (09:41)", "body": "Well, the opportunities are always there (just around the corner?), but I've driven a great many small sportscars, many considered \"horribly\" primitive and outdated, and never been \"smeared\" anywhere."}, {"response": 36, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (08:45)", "body": "What's your favorite small sportscar? cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 24, "subject": "Land Bruisers", "response_count": 18, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Dec 21, 1997 (08:25)", "body": "And to think that this started out of a conversation in the \"Motorcycles\" conference about the Chevroler Suburban, which hardly ever sees any off-road use... To me, the three classic off-road vehicles are: Jeep, currently made by the Jeep-Eagle division of the Chrysler Corporation; Land Rover, currently made by the Rover subsidiary of BMW, and Land Cruiser, currently made by Toyota. Broncos and Jimmys and Suburbans don't cut it to me. A new classic, which came to us in almost exactly the same way the Jeep did, is the AM General Hummer. HWWMV is a lot harder to pronounce than GP, therefore Hummer doesn't sound as much like the original as Jeep does. And, of course, there's the Meyers Manx and its clones, which is to the other extreme of not deserving the title \"Sport Utility Vehicle\"; unlike the others, that have too little sport, the dune buggy has too little utility! But I STILL WANT ONE!!!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Dec 22, 1997 (09:53)", "body": "Chompf! I grab the bait.... By too little utility do you mean cargo considerations? I could agree there. But in terms of raw road capability in any weather, a well set up \"buggy\" is hard to beat for the money. See \"US Special Forces\"."}, {"response": 3, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Dec 22, 1997 (21:05)", "body": "Frank: By too little utility do you mean cargo considerations? Absolutely! The road capability is what I was talking of as the \"sport\" part... I'm sure that the Special Forces don't use their buggies to tow gun carriages, which can be done by Jeeps (in some cases). (BTW did you ever see the movie Nobody's Perfekt ?)"}, {"response": 4, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Dec 23, 1997 (11:30)", "body": "Never saw the movie. Sam for years the SEALS & \"others\" have been using both Manx-type bodied buggies and Chenowth designed rail-type buggies with slightly juiced motors rigged with all kinds of ordnance, from 30cal. LAWs to 50cal longrange snipe guns, and rocket launchers. While specialized, these babies are constructed to be reliable above all rather than rods. In Desert Storm they went to some mid-engined configs for a little more stability. It's amazing what you can do with a well thought out rollcage While I can't carry a whole lot from Home Depot, I can carry 4 people and weekend gear in most any weather & road condition. No it's not a Jeep, but for the money it'll fool you."}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Dec 24, 1997 (11:04)", "body": "In terms of cargo capability, how does it compare to the average car? (Nearly said \"cage\", forgot that I'm in the wrong conference for that!) Most SUV's have too much cargo capability to be really sporting. Anyway, the buggies have taken off-roading in a different direction from the usual SUVs. BTW, how many of those Acura, Lexus, Infiniti, Oldsmobile, Mercury, Lincoln and Mercedes-Benz SUVs will ever leave the pavement IYO?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Dec 24, 1997 (11:13)", "body": "The average car and SUV have more and better defined cargo capacity I guess. And these luxo-SUV's, you *know* they're always spotless and well-pampered, much like the owner! Off-road? Toooo scary! Parked next to a Lincoln Navigator Sunday doing some last minute shopping, an absolute monster! Owner came out, a guy about my age, looked decent, and asked me what the buggy was, he'd never seen anything like it! I briefly explained and said it was one of the cars that started the off-road-for-everybody fad he couldn't believe it was legit. Too naked & noisy, etc. I love it!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Dec 24, 1997 (11:40)", "body": "Why do folks like that buy SUVs anyway? How did the fad start? When did the Range Rover get a following? As far as I know, the Range Rover was built for British and colonial country gentlemen who wanted luxury cars that could actually get to their estate houses through the mud & pasture (or the Serengeti, as the case may be). When did Yuppies take an interest? I bet that guy in the Navigator never heard of Steve McQueen, either!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (12:26)", "body": "I'm buying a sport utility in January, should I get a Ford or the new Lincoln, or? or? Can I get some help making this decision?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (18:31)", "body": "Wot, given up on minivans? What do you need to do with the SUV? WHat kind of cargo are you moving, and over what terrain? THat's the kind of thing that determines whether you want a Sidekick or a Hummer (oh, yes, and price...) What good is a Mercury, Lincoln Oldsmobile, Acura, Lexus etc. etc. SUV anyway? Ret 'em! They're just luxurified versions of the lower priced models and aren't any better on or off road. Get the Ford or GMC or Toyota etc. versions. As for Honda/Acura, forget 'em completely and go Isuzu; except for the CR-V (which isn't much) Honda's SUVs are all Isuzus anyway (but Isuzu's minivan is a Honda, so...)"}, {"response": 10, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (18:32)", "body": "For \"Ret 'em!\" read \"Rot 'em!\""}, {"response": 11, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (22:44)", "body": "Probably the Ford suv would be the best bet. This years or used? What are the pros and cons?"}, {"response": 12, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sun, Dec 28, 1997 (11:54)", "body": "I don't have time at this moment terry but I'll be back. general budget's important. Check http://edmunds.com for wonderful comparison info on anything you're interested in. Kiplinger's financial magazine also has great info on leases vs. finance. etc."}, {"response": 13, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Mar 14, 1998 (08:14)", "body": "A lot of folks never see a dirt road with these 'utes. I would. I live on a rough dirt road. Maybe folks just like the altitude they afford and getting to look down on everyone. What is the value of a sport 'ute? I guess they're pretty versatile; but at this stage I've always opted for a van because they seem even more versatile as far as seating and headroom and hauling capability. But then I've never owned a sports 'ute. There's a barrier here for me, somehow. In the back of my mind I feel cheated because I don't have one. And I lust whenever I see the Lincoln Navigator ad; seduced by Madison Avenues vision of luxury and ruggedness. I my heart, I feel like a Ford Sport 'ute would be the way to go, and not necessarily a brand new one. Continuing. I probably won't get a brand new one because of price. They're obscenely high priced. So why do people, mostly urban, yuppie cowboys, plop down this obscene cash? They're practical for hauling kids and building materials. They give you a feeling of power, they're gutsy. And many folks feel powerless in their daily routines. And they can at least feel powerful going to and from their jobs. Owning a van or station wagon is a symbol of middle aged mediocrity to some (not me). Everyone has fantasies about zooming off to the backwoods, whether they ever do or not is irrelevant, the feeling that you have a vehicle you could take off to the mountains in is comforting. They're seductive looking, the ads like the Lincoln Navigator play on this, the bulbous Mercedes falls in this category. And to top it all off, there's now a Lambourghini SUV, Car and Driver calls it the Rambo Lambo. Tops out at 150 mph. Ugly. Nasty. Beyond obscene. http://home.lamborghini.com/main/models/maps/LM_topmenu.map?82,16 So, now here's where I drag it to the mundane, what's best? And what year? Ford? Chevy? Dodge? or Jeep?"}, {"response": 14, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Mar 14, 1998 (10:30)", "body": "Navigators are all wrong for even rough roads. Mushy and bulky, they give the owner the ego-based perception that he \"takes it all on\". BTW, Ford will produce an even bigger monster next year than the Navigator or Suburban, just to say they have the Biggest! Most SUVs are modern-daystation wagons with a taller outview. And they work OK in the rougher (dirt) roads, but off-road/in-woods-rocks, forget it. The LM(?) was/is a limited product a few years ago, Lambo motor with someone's bodywork, called the Forza. Started at $70K, see them now in the papers every so often for $35K. A V12 in an offroader? Yeah *that* makes sense! Thanks for posting Terry."}, {"response": 15, "author": "annaliviaplurabe0", "date": "Thu, Mar 19, 1998 (20:00)", "body": "what about the little toyota rav 4, or that teensie one by kia? (and please sir, please may i see the phony boswell stuff?)"}, {"response": 16, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Mar 19, 1998 (20:44)", "body": "The phony boswell stuff is in the internet conference."}, {"response": 17, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Mar 21, 1998 (08:44)", "body": "\"phoney boswell..\"? The RAV is well built but has no rear-end protection and a weak motor. \"Verge\" magazine has a very nice comparison chart of all sizws/models of SUVs this issue, check it out."}, {"response": 18, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Mar 21, 1998 (15:08)", "body": "boswell is a WELLbeing who is being impersonated by another WELLbeing on the Spring, if that makes any sense. Resume your normal Land Bruiser discussion. cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 26, "subject": "Volvo480ES", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 27, "subject": "car jokes", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Oct 18, 1998 (11:39)", "body": "Acura Integra - I have always wanted to own the Buick of sports cars Acura Legend - I'm too bland for German cars Acura NSX - I am impotent Buick Park Avenue - I am older than 34 of the 50 states Cadillac Seville - I am a pimp Chevrolet Camaro - I enjoy beating up people Chevrolet Chevette - I like seeing people's reactions when I tell them I have a 'Vette Chevrolet Corvette - I'm in a mid-life crisis Chevrolet El Camino - I am leading a militia to overthrow the government Datsun 280Z - I have a kilo of cocaine in my wheel well Dodge 600 - Will that be paper or plastic? Ford Mustang - I slow down to 85 in school zones Ford Crown Victoria - I enjoy having people slow to 55mph & change lanes when I pull up behind them Ford Pickup - I watch professional wrestling. Geo Storm - I will start the 11th grade in the Fall. Geo Tracker - I will start the 12th grade in the Fall. Honda del Sol - I have always said, half a convertible is better than no convertible at all Honda Civic - I have just graduated and have no credit Honda Accord - I lack any originality and am basically a lemming. Isuzu Impulse - I do not give a rip about J.D. Power or his reports. Jaguar XJ6 - I am so rich I will pay 60K for a car that is in the shop 280 days per year. Lincoln Town Car - I live for bingo and covered dish suppers Mercury Grand Marquis - (See above) Mazda Miata - I do not fear being decapitated by an 18-wheeler Mazda RX-7 - I couldn't afford a Toyota Supra. Mitsubishi Diamante - I don't know what it means either Peugeot 505 Diesel - I am on the EPA's Ten Most Wanted List Porsche - I have more money than brains. Porshce Turbo Carrera - I think it would be really cool to die in a wreck. Plymouth Neon - I sincerely enjoy doing the Macarena Range Rover - I am a rich yuppie pretending I'm driving across the Serengeti Chevy Blazer - I am a rich yuppie pretending I'm driving a Patton tank Suburban - I am a rich yuppie in a real tank. Get out of my way or die. Rolls Royce Silver Shadow - I think Pat Buchanan is a liberal Toyota Camry - I am still in the closet Volkswagon Beetle - I still watch Partridge Family reruns Volkswagon Cabriolet - I am out of the closet Volkswagon Microbus - I am tripping right now Volvo 740 Wagon - I am frightened of my wife"}, {"response": 2, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Oct 20, 1998 (09:11)", "body": "My daughter is giving me concerned looks because of how I'm cackling at the computer screen!! Those are hysterical! I'll have to email them to a bunch of friends. But--no Jeep or Audi? Waaaah! I'll never know the subconscious statement I'm trying to make."}, {"response": 3, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Dec 31, 1998 (10:33)", "body": "*CACKLE* (and what about a Subaru???)"}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  8, 2000 (18:44)", "body": "Definitely Subaru. Specifically a Forester...? cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 28, "subject": "oil change!", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 29, "subject": "tire lore", "response_count": 0, "posts": []}, {"num": 3, "subject": "Kommentare zum Volvo 480 (deutsch)", "response_count": 37, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Jens", "date": "Sun, Jun 15, 1997 (05:19)", "body": "Hallo mal wieder wie sieht es bei euch eigentlich in Bezug auf den Benzinverbrauch aus??? Ich fahre im Moment viel Autobahn und kann da mit 7.8 Liter gut auskommen (auf einer Urlaubsfahrt mit 6.4l!) An sonsten brauche ich aber auch ab und an 10l aber eher selten - In Puncto Benzinverbrauch ist der ES echt recht ok - vor allem alles Benzin Bleifrei... Schreibt mal was ihr so braucht - vor allem der Turbo! - JENS"}, {"response": 2, "author": "480es", "date": "Sun, Jun 22, 1997 (06:17)", "body": "Hi jens , kannst du mir nochmal die nummer von MR.Sweden / Hausser geben. Ich finde Sie nicht mehr ... danke!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Jens", "date": "Sun, Jun 22, 1997 (11:19)", "body": "Stimmt ich habe das ja von der Page genommen SORRY! Ich werde es gleich wieder reinsetzten - also einfach in meiner Homepgage schauen - Volvo Tuner oder so.. JENS"}, {"response": 4, "author": "volvo480turbo", "date": "Tue, Jun 24, 1997 (04:52)", "body": "Ich kann nur sagen das beim Turbo der Spritverbrauch sehr extrem vom Fahrstiel abh\ufffdngt. Ruhiges rollen auf der Landstra\ufffde bedeutet ca 7-7.5l; in der Stadt ca.9l; Fahren mit viel Spa\ufffd kann je nach Strecke auch mal 12l bedeuten. Im ganzen kann man sagen : F\ufffdr einen echten Turbo sehr wenig."}, {"response": 5, "author": "483turbo", "date": "Tue, Jul  1, 1997 (15:13)", "body": "Der Verbrauch beim Turbo schwankt tats\ufffdchlich stark. Landstra\ufffde bis 140 km/h unter 9 l, Stadtverkehr und Autobahn 11-13 l. Ich fahre einen 480 Turbo Collection - super Konstruktion, aber unglaublich schlecht verarbeitet. Ich habe geh\ufffdrt, da\ufffd die Clio Williams-Motor in den 480 eingebaut werden kann. Mich w\ufffdrde allerdings eher die 162 PS-Maschine aus dem R 21 Turbo interessieren. Wei\ufffd jemand, ob die pa\ufffdt?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "saitam", "date": "Wed, Aug  6, 1997 (19:42)", "body": "Meine Freundin und ich denken daran, einen 480er zu kaufen. Wir w\ufffdren daher dankbar, wenn jemand von Euch uns folgende Fragen beantworten k\ufffdnnte (entweder hier oder an saitam@odb.rhein-main.de): - Wie sieht es mit der Langlebigkeit im Allgemeinen aus? Volvo-typisch? - Ist der 480er in puncto Sicherheit ein typischer Volvo? - W\ufffdrdet ihr den 480er prinzipiell als Gebrauchtwagen empfehlen? Wir haben von verschiedenen Seiten geh\ufffdrt, da\ufffd die Verarbeitung in Holland nicht so \ufffdberw\ufffdltigend gewesen sein soll. - Auf welche Stellen sollte man beim Kauf besonders achten? - Gibt es neben der Fahrleistung noch andere Gr\ufffdnde, die entweder f\ufffdr den ES oder den Turbo sprechen? - W\ufffdrde jemand seinen 480er nicht mehr kaufen? Wenn ja: warum nicht? - Gibt es brauchbare Literatur speziell zum 480er? \ufffdber Antworten aller Art w\ufffdrden wir uns freuen. Vielen Dank schon jetzt!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "vero", "date": "Fri, Aug  8, 1997 (16:16)", "body": "Hallo Matthias! Ich habe seit ungef\ufffdhr drei Wochen einen 89er 480 ES und habe bisher nur \ufffdrger gehabt.... Ich bin keine 50 km gefahren, da hatte ich gleich einen Getriebeschaden. Die Reparatur hat NUR 2.800 DM gekostet. Das meiste Geld wird man dann los, wenn man irgendwelche \"kleinen\" Ersatzteile braucht. Heute habe ich 5 \"Plastikteile\" f\ufffdr den Innenraum kaufen m\ufffdssen (unter anderem den Knauf, mit dem man den Sitz entriegeln kann) und habe daf\ufffdr 170 DM bezahlt. Also in der Hinsicht ist der 480 schon ein typischer Volvo, wenn es um die Preise geht... Aber daf\ufffdr hat man auch ein richtiges Liebhaberfahrzeug, das nicht jeder hat. Ich w\ufffdrde Dir nur raten, darauf zu achten, da\ufffd der Wagen sehr gut gepflegt wurde. Das ist eben keine Kleinigkeit, wenn irgendwo was abgebrochen ist, oder so. Wie gesagt, das kann teuer werden! Also, dann viel Gl\ufffdck beim Suchen! Du kannst ja meinen haben! Jetzt ist er ja in Ordnung....."}, {"response": 8, "author": "Jens", "date": "Tue, Aug 12, 1997 (06:19)", "body": "Das stimmt alles! Preise sind sehr teuer :( und es sind die Kleinigkeiten die weh tun. Sachen die sehr h+PSY-ig zu finden sind an Gebrauchten 480ern sind meines Wissens: 1. Abgebrochene Sitzentriegelungen und Gurthalter 2. Leerlaufprobleme 3. Wasser im Kofferraum bzw. Fu+B7I-aum! 4. Probleme mit der Elektrik Alles nichts soooo schlimmes aber nervig und teuer und vor allem nicht die gepriesene Volvo Qualit+PKE- :( Zum Thema ES oder Turbo - Fahrleistung liegt ganz Klar auf Seite des Turbo aber ist es ganz klar auch eine Frage des Geldes der Turbo ist zwar in der Anschafung kaum teurer verbraucht aber mehr Benzin und kein \"Normal Bleifrei\" sonder \"Super Bleifrei\" Das ist schon auch eine Kostenfrage.... JENS"}, {"response": 9, "author": "vero", "date": "Mon, Aug 18, 1997 (14:28)", "body": "Hallo Jens, wie sieht eigentlich die L\ufffdsung der Leerlaufprobleme aus? Au\ufffderdem sagte mir ein Volvo Meister man solle mit dem ES doch besser Super blfr fahren. Die L\ufffdsungf der vermeintlich nicht aktiven Lichthupe ist \ufffdbrigens ein \"vergriesgnaddelter\" Kontakt im Lenkstockschalter. Dieser Fehler tritt anscheinend derart schnell auf da\ufffd niemand bisher eine funktionierende Lichthupe gesehen hat. Die Instandsetzung ist ein bi\ufffdchen \"fricklig\", man mu\ufffd den gesamten Armaturenbrettrahmen und das Lenkrad abnehmen, um den Schalter auszubauen. Dann sollte man den Kontakt mit Kontaktw\ufffdsche ( im Elektronikzubeh\ufffdrhandel erh\ufffdltlich ) abspr\ufffdhen. Vorher eventuell mit einer feinen Feile oder Nadel ( Zahnarztwerkzeug vom Flohmarkt ) von groben Verunreinigungen s\ufffdubern. Auf keinen Fall Kontaktspray ( Caramba, Mo4 o.\ufffd. ) benutzen, dies w\ufffdrde eine Schicht hinterlassen die den Staub anzieht und bindet, was zu einer neuen Dreckschicht f\ufffdhrt. Eventuell kann man dann etwas Kupferpaste auf die Kontakte streichen; dabei liegt die Betonung auf ETWAS, sonst schlie\ufffdt Ihr den Schalter kurz, und fahrt immer mit Fernlicht; falls Euch nicht die \"Wegbeleuchtung\" die Batterie leerzieht. P.S.: Welches ist das Relais f\ufffdr die Heckscheibenheizung?"}, {"response": 10, "author": "Pepe", "date": "Sun, Aug 24, 1997 (05:30)", "body": "Habe Vovo 480 Turbo Bj. 12 `93 gekauft,30.000KM f\ufffdr 16.500 DM 1. Guter Preis ?"}, {"response": 11, "author": "Pepe", "date": "Sun, Aug 24, 1997 (12:35)", "body": "Mein 480 Turbo riecht im Innenraum, wenn er eine weile steht nach Benzin, hat jemand \ufffdhnliche Erfahrungen. Woran liegt es? Au\ufffderdem zeigt der Boardcomputer an, da\ufffd mein mein Wischwasser leer sei, ist es aber nicht, was ksnn ich tun? Wo krrieg ich Tuningzubeh\ufffdr ?"}, {"response": 12, "author": "mm", "date": "Wed, Aug 27, 1997 (08:58)", "body": "Das Problem mit dem Wischwasser tritt bei meinem ES (Bj.88) all 60-80 Tkm auf, dann ist der Schaltkontakt im Schwimmerschalter des Wischwasserbeh\ufffdlters korrodiert. Kostet ca. 70DM. Markus"}, {"response": 13, "author": "ME", "date": "Wed, Aug 27, 1997 (08:58)", "body": "Hallo alle Leute! Ich habe Deutsch f\ufffdnf Jahre lang in der Hochschule gelernt, so ich kann das verstehen, was irh sagt. Hoffentlich, ich kann auch genug klar schreiben, sowie ihr mich verstehen k\ufffdnnt, und nicht zuviele Fehler mache. Ich wolle einen Volvo 480 kaufen, da es der netteste Wagen ist, meiner Meinung nach. Ich habe wenige Fragen: gibt es Unterschiedene unter die S and die ES Versionen des Wagens? Wenn so, welche sind haupt und Wort zu kennen? Ich danke viel jemanden der zu mir antworten wird. Was meint ihr, wenn von 9l, 13l sprecht? Dass der Wagen ben\ufffdtzt 9 liter Benzin um 100 Km zu fahren, oder etwas anderes? Ich habe, hier in dieser Konferenz und in der Englischen, \ufffdber Problemen mit dem 480 gelesen. Aber ich habe nicht gut verstanden, ob diese Problemen schwer und teuer sind, oder nicht. Und \ufffdberhaupt, erscheinen sie oft? Marco"}, {"response": 14, "author": "ME", "date": "Sat, Sep 13, 1997 (01:33)", "body": "Hello. Ist niemand mehr am Lesen dieser Konferenz? (Danke)"}, {"response": 15, "author": "Erwin", "date": "Tue, Oct  7, 1997 (01:43)", "body": "Hallo, Ich habe eine Kontakt-Adresse f\ufffdr Chiptuning f\ufffdr den turbo: Leistung : von 120 PS auf 150 PS Drehmoment: von 175 Nm auf 235 Nm. Kosten : rund 700 Gulden Dieser Chip ist von einem ehemaligem Volvo-Motarbeiter zusammen mit Bosch weiterentwickelt worden und setzt auf dem Origanal-Chip auf. Bei Fragen nbitte Mail an mich! Ciao, Erwin Schuermann ----------------x"}, {"response": 16, "author": "Erwin", "date": "Tue, Oct  7, 1997 (01:45)", "body": "Sorry, Email Adresse ist schuerma@cci.de Ciao, Erwin -----x"}, {"response": 17, "author": "msteiner", "date": "Wed, Oct 15, 1997 (18:08)", "body": "Hallo Leute! Wei\ufffd irgend jemand, wie der 480er in Crash-Tests abschneidet? Wurden welche,z.B. von Auto, Motor & Sport gemacht? Antworten bitte an: msteiner@zedat.fu-berlin.de"}, {"response": 18, "author": "480es", "date": "Sat, Oct 18, 1997 (21:05)", "body": "Crash test in der USA waren ganz gut.. 8kmh waren vorschrift , der 480 schafft 16kmh ohne schaden zu haben..."}, {"response": 19, "author": "Zungo", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (09:04)", "body": "Was kann man tun um den unruhigen Leerlauf zu stabilisieren ????? Ich habe einen ES BJ 91 mit 37TKM f\ufffdr 14.5 TDM gekauft! ist der Preis o.k."}, {"response": 20, "author": "480es", "date": "Tue, Oct 21, 1997 (08:27)", "body": "Lerlauf , versuchs mal mit Super+ Hat bei mir geholfen... EIn Sport-Luftfilter udn bessere Zundkerzen sind auch nicht schlecht..."}, {"response": 21, "author": "Nemesis", "date": "Sun, Oct 26, 1997 (10:37)", "body": "zum Leerlauf: Ist das Gemisch vielleicht zu fett? Auspuff und Z\ufffdndkerzen verru\ufffdt? Dann \ufffdberpr\ufffdf mal die Steckverbindung f\ufffdr die Beheizung der Lambdasonde. Liegt rechts hinten unten im Motorraum, unter dem Bremskraftverst\ufffdrker! Eventuell ist sie korrodiert."}, {"response": 22, "author": "hinderer", "date": "Wed, Oct 29, 1997 (02:46)", "body": "Hallo miteinander, ich bin noch neu im business weshalb mein erster Auftritt noch nicht perfekt war. Beim Registrieren habe ich die falsche email angegeben. Bitte korrieren in: hinderer@eosys.dofn.de"}, {"response": 23, "author": "Juzjani", "date": "Sun, Nov  9, 1997 (17:26)", "body": "Hallo, bis vor kurzem war ich noch Besitzer eines ES von '87 und ich m\ufffdchte auch noch einmal auf wichtige Punkte beim Kauf hinweisen. Die Elektrik und Elektronik ist recht anf\ufffdllig, aber auch andere Bereiche k\ufffdnnen Macken aufweisen. Bei mir traten folgende Sch\ufffdden auf: - Intervallstellung des Scheibenwischers fkt. nicht (werkstatt konnte den fehler nicht beheben und riet zum Austausch des Steuerger\ufffdts (ca. 1.000 DM)nach einer Fehlersuche, die mich inklusive Austauschs des Lenkstockhebels (wegen ebefalls nicht fkt. Lichthupe) \ufffdber 600 DM gekostet hat. - Abblendlicht fiel urpl\ufffdtzlich aus: nach Austausch von Lichtschalter keine Besserung. Das Relais f\ufffdr die Lichsteuerung war defekt und wurde getauscht. - Heizung im rechten Au\ufffdenspiegel war defekt. - Heizung im Beifahrersitz war defekt. - Gl\ufffdhbirne f\ufffdr Bordcomputer durchgebrannt (Ersatz sollte 50 DM kosten) - Hebel zum Vorklappen der R\ufffdckelehne im Beifahrersitz kaputt: Ersatz gibt es angeblich nur komplett mit der Mechanik in der Lehne. - Schalter f\ufffdr Wischwasserbeh\ufffdlter defekt: ich habe einen Schwimmerschalter f\ufffdr 2 DM vom Elektronikladen eingebaut - der Motor zeigte von Anfang an einen sehr stark schwankenden Leerlauf, der sich erst durch Einbau eines neuen Temperaturf\ufffdhlers und eines Leerlaufdrehstellers etwas stabilisierte (500 DM in einer freien Werkstatt) Au\ufffderdem war bei kalter Witterung der Start sehr problematisch: der Wagen sprang immer sofort an starb dann aber urpl\ufffdtzlich nach ein paar Meter wieder ab und war dann ca. 5 Min lang nicht mehr zur Arbeit zu bewegen. Dies ist mir zweimal mitten auf der Sta\ufffde passiert! - Die Verteilerkappe der Z\ufffdndung zieht sehr stark Feuchtigkeit an: abnehmen und reinigen hilft gegen Startprobleme und unwillige Gasannahme. - Der Motor reagiert empfindlich auf verschiedene Z\ufffdndkerzen: am besten Original Volvo Teile nehmen. - Vorder- und Hinterachse machten beim Einfedern quietschende Ger\ufffdusche: Querstabilisatoren auswechseln, kostet ca. 200 DM pro Achse. - Wasserpumpe wurde undicht, kostet ca. 250 DM - zum Abschlu\ufffd, nachden der Endtopf vom Auspuff durchgerostet war (700 DM) tropfte ein wenig \ufffdl aus dem Motor: Wellendichtring am Getriebe defekt. Ich habe mit der Werkstatt f\ufffdr diese Arbeit einen Sonderpreis von 1.000 DM vereinbart. Nachdem diese letzte Reparatur get\ufffdtigt war habe ich den Wagen verkauft. Er hat mich zwar nie richtig im Stich gelassen, aber ich war es doch irgendwo leid. Ich fahre jetzt VW. Markus (Juzjani@t-online.de)"}, {"response": 24, "author": "Olaf", "date": "Sun, Nov 16, 1997 (16:01)", "body": "ich besitze einen 480 Turbo Bj.90, der Verbrauch liegt lt. Boardcomputer bei 10,8 l/100km. Mich wuerden Testberichte aus Autozeitschriften interessieren."}, {"response": 25, "author": "bnd", "date": "Sun, Nov 23, 1997 (08:36)", "body": "Hallo, ich besitze einen 480 turbo, Baujahr 1989, mit 165.000 km. Die Sto\ufffdd\ufffdmpfer sind mittlerweile schrott. Kennt jemand einen Hersteller -g\ufffdnstiger- Nachr\ufffdstd\ufffdmpfer? Gibt es einen Endtopf aus dem Zubeh\ufffdr? Die Leerlaufprobleme hat der Wagen \ufffdbrigens auch, weder Boschdienst noch Volvo-Werkstatt konnten diese beseitigen. Super-bleifrei und Orginalkerzen haben nichts gebracht. Bernd e-mail: RaeSchubertpp@t-online.de"}, {"response": 26, "author": "480es", "date": "Mon, Nov 24, 1997 (20:38)", "body": "Hi Bernd, versuch mal den Lamdba-Sensor vom Kat abzuklemmen! vielleicht st es dann besser..."}, {"response": 27, "author": "480neu", "date": "Sun, Dec 21, 1997 (17:41)", "body": "Hallo Ihr 480 Freaks ... ich suche in Deutschland einen sehr gut erhaltenen 480 TURBO oder S in rot oder in Metallicfarben ...wenig KM ...und so wer verkauft seinen oder kennt jemanden der Ihn Verkauft ???"}, {"response": 28, "author": "480es", "date": "Sun, Dec 21, 1997 (19:21)", "body": "Hoert mal Leute , gibt es keiner der mir helfen kann? Ich bin kurz davor das Auto zu verkaufen , auch wenn ich\ufffds nicht will. Es ist mir einfach zu gefaehrlich mitten auf der Kreuzung stehen zu bleiben. Nochmal mein Problem , ich fahr ganz normal , und irgendwann faengt der motor an zu stottern, egal bei welcher Drehzahl ich kann dann vollgas geben aber die RPM nadel bewegt sich ueberhaupt nicht nach einigen sekunden kommt er dann wieder. Ich verzweifel langsam wirklich"}, {"response": 29, "author": "zungo", "date": "Mon, Jan 12, 1998 (12:16)", "body": "Hallo !!!! An meinem 480 Bj.91 streikt ohne ersichtlichen Grund (Sicherung o.k.) die Zentralverriegelung??? Warum ???? Volvo will 500.- DM ohne Garantie !!! Kann mir jemand helfen ??? Au\ufffderdem...wei\ufffd jemand ob die wei\ufffden Blinker ab \ufffd94 auch auf die \ufffdlteren Modelle passen..??? Was kostet ein neuer Turbo-Motor und pa\ufffdt er auch in den ES ???? Wie kann man die Positionslampen anschlie\ufffden ??? (speziell was m\ufffdssen vorne in die blinker f\ufffdr Fassungen und Lampen???? Will jemand seine Lederausstattung verkaufen ??? Und wie sind Eure Erfahrungen mit Sportlenkr\ufffddern und anderen Alufelgen???? Tja, viele Fragen...bin sehr dankbar f\ufffdr jede Antwort..oder ruft an..(rufe zur\ufffdck) 0177-22 68 819"}, {"response": 30, "author": "jens", "date": "Mon, Jan 12, 1998 (15:30)", "body": "Hallo ihr Leute, bei Euch wird ja ganz sch\ufffdn was geboten, echt klasse. Hat jemand von seinem Schmuckst\ufffdck (480 Turbo) eine Aufnahme vom Motorraum gemacht, die er mir mailen k\ufffdnnte? W\ufffdre echt super. Ich wollte mich eigentlich noch nach dem Verbrauch erkundigen, aber das Thema ist ja weiter oben schon gekl\ufffdrt worden. Danke, machts gut. Jens (101.24083@germanynet.de)"}, {"response": 31, "author": "FWa", "date": "Mon, Feb  2, 1998 (15:32)", "body": "Hallo, ich habe einen 89er 480 ES (125.000 km) und suche eine 480er Turbo, evtl. im Tausch. W\ufffdrde mich \ufffdber Nachricht freuen. FWa (GalerieWasser@t-online.de)"}, {"response": 32, "author": "Oli2", "date": "Thu, Feb 12, 1998 (08:48)", "body": "Habe 89er 480 Turbo. Musste auch Stossdaempfer wechseln, da hab ich ihn gleich tiefergelegt. Liegt jetzt 1a in der Kurve und sieht (endlich) richtig gut aus. Hat jemand Erfahrung mit Chip-Tuning? Wie wirkt sich das auf Lebensdauer aus? Brauche neue Kupplung. Hat jemand guenstige Garage im Sueddeutschen Raum? 480er Gruss aus der Schweiz Oli (oliver.schwarz@ibm.net)"}, {"response": 33, "author": "domax", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (13:05)", "body": "Hi! Es tut mit Leid, mein Deutsch ist nicht erste Klasse, aber meine Geschichte kann interessant sein. Ich hatte eine Volvo 480 ES, Bj. 89 ab May 1996 bis Feb 1997. Es war eine Love-at-first-sight! Wenn ich das Auto erstmal gesehen, es war total schmutzig, die Windschutzscheibe war eingebrochen, Kaugummi auf dem Mittelkonsole schon aufgeklebt, usw. Es war mit 58.000 Km, 9.000 DM in Ungarn. Gleich am Anfang hatte ich eine Lenkungsprobleme, kostete 200 DM. Und naturlich eine neue Windschutzscheibe: 300 DM. Dann einige fehlende Plastikteile, kostete: 350 DM. Die Olverbrauch war eine standige Probleme, aber mit dem Sprit konnte ich ziemlich gut auskommen, es war zwischen 6,9 und 8 liters. Und die Hochgeschwindigkeit mit 4 Leute war 200 km. Ich fand es sehr uberraschend. Weitere Problemen: Lambda-Sond: 360 DM (Bosch), neue Auspuff: 250 DM, dann ich hatte standige Problemen mit meine rechte Kipplampe, am Ende brauchte ich eine andere Motor: 250 DM (gebraucht). Sonstige Mankos: Wasser im Kofferraum, problematische Leerlauf. So uberall ich war nicht zufrieden mit meine 480, der einzige was gefallt mir ist ihre schonheit. Es war die Stand bis die 02.Feb 1997. Dann passierte mir einen Umfall, ein Mercedes E 230 ist in meine Tur aufgeprallt mit eine Geschwindigkeit von etwa 100-120 km/h. Wir waren 3 im Auto. Unsere Gluck war, das es war ein bischen Eis auf dem Strasse, und wir konnten ganz schon rutschen rund 70-80 Meters. Alle die Sitze sind untergefahren, uns zu schutzen, die ganze Karosserie war wie eine Spitze, meine Sitz war mit 30 cm rechts geschoben. Und niemandem war verletzt bei uns!!! Wenn der Rettungswagen kam, die erste Frage war: wieviele Tode sind hier? Keine. Und wer hat diese Volvo gefahren? Ich. Bang! Der gute Mann war total uberrascht. Auch mein Turregelung hat nicht ausgebrochen, es konnte die ganze B-Saule ziehen, aber schutzt mich. Ich hatte fruher ziemlich viele Arger wegen die schwere Tur gehabt, aber er hat meine Leben gerettet. Mein Versicherung hat gezahlt, und meine Fazit ist: Ich traue in diese Marke, ich werde nie eine andere Auto kaufen, nur Volvo. Und jetzt ich suche eine Volvo 480 in Ungarn, und wenn ich eine schone finde, dann verkaufe ich das nie wieder. Wenn jemandem noch Fragen hat im Thema Sicherheit, dann schreib mir! Machts gut, Ciao, Robert"}, {"response": 34, "author": "priho", "date": "Sun, Nov 28, 1999 (06:26)", "body": "Hi Leute! Bin ebenfalls 480er Fan (wie k\ufffdnnte es anders sein?!?), jedoch noch ohne Exemplar! Ich suche einen 2.0 Baujahr 94 oder 95. Wie stelle ich dies am besten an? Habt Ihr Tips? Oder sogar ein Angebot f\ufffdr mich? Ich habe mit grossem Interesse Eure Messages gelesen und finde es klase, das es ein derartiges Forum gibt! (Hallo Jens!) Servus Michael"}, {"response": 35, "author": "DirkW", "date": "Mon, Dec 13, 1999 (06:43)", "body": "Ach Du liebes Bisschen! Ich habe seit ca. 6 Monaten eine 93er 480 S. Bis lang alles ohne sonderliche Probleme. Aber was hier zu lesen ist, erschreckt einen ja geradezu. Aber bei sovielen Problemen auf einen Haufen, hat vielleicht jemand einen Tip f\ufffdr das Problem, das bei meinem Wagen vor ein paar Tagen aufgetreten ist: Pl\ufffdtzlich und unerwartet lief das gute St\ufffdck nicht mehr richtig. Schlechte Gasannahme, unrunder Motorlauf und so. Als wenn er nur noch auf drei Zylindern laufen w\ufffdrde. Diese Mucken hat der Volvo schon \ufffdfter bei nassem Wetter direkt nach dem ansonsten problemlosen Start gemacht. Dann verschwand das Ph\ufffdnomen wieder, wenn der Motor warm wurde. So nach ein paar hundert Metern. Aber jetzt besteht das Problem fort. Wer hat einen Guten Rat f\ufffdr mich??? Dirk"}, {"response": 36, "author": "Zuechner", "date": "Wed, Jun 28, 2000 (06:19)", "body": "Hallo, tolles Forum. Ich war bis vor einem Jahr begeisterter 480er Besitzer (BJ87), und hatte nur einmal ein Problem mit dem Steuerger\ufffdt. Zu meinem V40 brauche ich nun doch wieder einen Zweitwagen. Hat jemand von Euch einen Collection an der Hand oder weiss wo es einen gibt? Je weniger gelaufen desto besser ;-) Wenn m\ufffdglich bitte e-mail an mich. Gruss Thomas"}, {"response": 37, "author": "PIT", "date": "Sun, Jul 30, 2000 (17:04)", "body": "WEGEN AUSREISE ZU VERKAUFEN VOLVO 480 TURBO EZ 19.08.1988, 120 PS BENZINER TURBO (MIT CHIP AUF 130 PS M\ufffdGLICH), EINSPRITZ, KATALYSATOR, NUR 120 TKM, AUSPUFF VOR 0.5 JAHR NEU, WINTER + SOMMERBEREIFUNG (KNAPPES JAHR ALT) TIEFERGELEGT (NOCH WEITER M\ufffdGLICH) EXTRAS: EL. FENSTER, ALARMANLAGE, ZENTRALVERRIEGELUNG, RUNDUM GESPOILERT, LEUCHTEN\ufffdBERWACHUNG, BORDCOMPUTER, SONNENDACH, SCHALENSITZE VORNE UND HINTEN MOTORHAUBE GLASSFASER AUTOMATISCHE ATENNE BEHEITZTE AUSSENSPIEGEL VHB: KOMPLETT 10 TDM OHNE MUSIKANLAGE NUR 9 TDM KONTAKT: Tel. 0172 1687531 oder Mail. pitundco@gmx.de cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 30, "subject": "gas price", "response_count": 7, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Oct 18, 1998 (11:53)", "body": "Give details. Brand, cost per gallon, how much you put in, how was the service (if any), did you wash your windows, how many mpg since your last fill up, etc. etc."}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Dec 31, 1998 (10:42)", "body": "gas is down to $0.859 per gallon for cheap stuff! 7/11 works for me or Sinclair and hat'd be 85 Octane"}, {"response": 3, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (08:46)", "body": "Those were the days, gas at 86 cents. Now it's about a buck forty."}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (11:19)", "body": "Wanna guess how much it is in Hawaii where it is shipped in first? It is lucky these islands are small! (Excepting ours, of course...but not Texas-sized!) (gotta check with the male resident because that is his thing.)"}, {"response": 5, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (12:46)", "body": "I'll bet it's around 3 bucks a gallon in Hawaii!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (12:55)", "body": "Actually, I made enquiries and found it at around $2.05 a gallon, but my son in California took a photo of one of those signs at a Cheveron station and the price there was $2.35. Incredible!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Mon, May 15, 2000 (12:57)", "body": "I am sure it approaches $3 at stations outside of the port cities of Kailua-Kona and Hilo. Some are pretty remote and it really costs you to run out of petrol in those areas! cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 31, "subject": "car security - car alarms etc.", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Oct 18, 1998 (11:57)", "body": "The top 25 stolen vehicles in 1997: 1. Honda Accord 2. Toyota Camry 3. Oldsmobile Cutlass 4. Honda Civic 5. Ford Mustang 6. Toyota Corolla 7. Chevrolet C/K pickup 8. Nissan Maxima 9. Jeep Grand Cherokee 10. Ford F-series pickup 11. Jeep Cherokee 12. Cadillac DeVille 13. Ford Taurus 14. Chevrolet Caprice 15. Plymouth Voyager 16. Pontiac Grand Am 17. Oldsmobile Delta 88 18. Ford Escort 19. Chevrolet Camaro 20. Nissan Sentra 21. Dodge Caravan 22. Chevrolet Cavalier 23. Buick LeSabre 24. Acura Legend 25. Buick Century Source: National Insurance Crime Bureau"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Oct 18, 1998 (12:21)", "body": "The new electric club is called the Auto Taser. When the thief breaks in, the Taser sets off an audible alarm . . . 5 seconds later the entire bar is armed, and if the thief touches it, he/she gets 50,000 volts up the ying-yang. Of course, there is not enough amperage to kill the intruder, although the ad for this device does say: \"In police studies, taser technology has shown to have a higher instant incapacitation rate than a .38 Special handgun\". But I guess not a higher \"permanent\" incapacitation rate..... Anyway, it's $199.95 from the Obrien Brothers, 1-800-792-4922."}, {"response": 3, "author": "TIM", "date": "Sun, Nov 15, 1998 (15:51)", "body": "Personally, I'm for a quarter pound of C4 under the drivers seat, with a delay long enough to get out of the area before detonation. You still lose the car, but you are permanently rid of the thief. Enough people do this, hey presto, no more car thieves. cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 32, "subject": "I'm Back! Anybody Home?", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Feb  3, 2002 (15:17)", "body": "Aloha Samm.....Good to see you again! I'm like the Scalet Pimpernel - I'm here and there and everywhere! Drive over to Geo and head up Pike's Peak in your Bugatti. I'll start surfing and meet you half way! lol about forgetting your old password. I think I have been about 4 people in here before I finally made a sticky note and latched onto the one I have now. *Hugs* I've missed you!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Feb  3, 2002 (16:29)", "body": "We can maybe fix you up with your old login. I say maybe cause I don't really know how to do it, but I bet Kaylene does."}, {"response": 3, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Mon, Feb  4, 2002 (15:58)", "body": "That'd be great! Thanks! cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 33, "subject": "NASCAR Homologation Specials", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Feb 15, 2002 (00:25)", "body": "Great topic, Sam. NASCAR may eventually find a way to save their own lives if they are smart enough. Where does the need for speed end and preservation of life begin? cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 34, "subject": "BMW M Coupe/M Roadster... Why?", "response_count": 5, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Wed, Oct 16, 2002 (16:21)", "body": "Well, there is no longer an M Coupe or an M Roadster. The Z3 has been superseded by the Z4. I find the new designation to be a bit odd, as I figured that the Z3 was supposed to be a roadster (Z) based on the 3-series. Is there going to be a 4-series? And why have they made the new BMW roadster look like something that Monty Python's foot should step on?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Oct 16, 2002 (20:13)", "body": "Good observation, blob. What's your fave' beamer?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Wed, Oct 16, 2002 (22:21)", "body": "R850R, or R1150R among those sold in the US. Then again, I will soon be giving up motorcycles, so maybe I should change that... I liked the 318ti and wished the model had lasted more than a year. Of the current BMW car models, I guess my favourite would be the 325i Wagon or the 340i Wagon."}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Oct 17, 2002 (07:08)", "body": "Are you settling down? Turning practical on us? What's up with the station wagon?"}, {"response": 5, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Thu, Oct 17, 2002 (08:31)", "body": "I have always preferred station wagons and hatchbacks to sedans. They have more and easier luggage access and are just as sturdy. I have always wondered why everybody thinks a 4-door sedan is practical; to my thinking the 4-door sedan is even more compromised than a coupe or convertible. Coupes and convertibles are more optimized toward FUN, hatchbacks and wagons ar optimized toward value and cargo capacity, a 4-door sedan is a compromise between the two, and not a very good one. I am not a fan of SUVs. If BMW made a van, I would have chosen that. I will never choose the X5. A van or a wagon can carry work equipment from office to site during the week and guitar gear from home to wherever on the weekend. A sedan can do that too, but it's more work, and it may not handle the work equipment well enough... cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 35, "subject": "The Last Big American Car", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, May 19, 2002 (05:56)", "body": "It gets a high rating on http://www.carreview.com/PRD_241_1531crx.aspx 4.48 of 5 I like this review by Zach: Reviewed by: Zach Model/Year: 89 Grand Marquis Price Paid: $0 at guys house Summary: I am 19. I am a huge mustang fan. My dad bought me this car so i would not speed and get into trouble. Let me tell you with a few mods this thing will beat the pants off most mustangs. Strengths: POWER and room for everything else. SUBS GIRLS. Tt is a tight car to deck out. The tires will fry right off when you change the chip, fuel injectors, and fuel pump. The COBRA intake fits it too. SO will any part that fits a 302 V8 mustang. TALK about power. I have done 153 mph in this car. I also did some suspinsion work. Poly urathane bushings, KYB gas shocks. Now i can take 30 mph corners at 65!!!! The next thing on my list a a Power Dine super charger. It is tight to have a grand ma car that will spank LT1''s around Weaknesses: Gas after doing the monds. It sucks down the fluids Similar Products Used: Mustang GT, LT1 camaroe"}, {"response": 2, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Mon, May 20, 2002 (17:30)", "body": "Why I'm interested: Tradition, comfort & ROOM!!! Better looking than Crown Vic AND Town Car, less expensive than Town Car. Why I'm not that interested: SUCKS GAS (relative to a small car or motorcycle). It won't replace a 1983 Mercedes-Benz 300TD (white with red leather seats) from the top of my wish list, but... cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 36, "subject": "Road Trip", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Thu, May 23, 2002 (07:16)", "body": "The only road trip I have ever done myself was to ride around Jamaica. I was on my bike and I carried no recorded music. I did carry my recorder (wind instrument, traditionally a woodwind but mine is plastic...) and I think I may have played it once on the trip. A long time ago, I used to go with my uncle to his farm on Sundays. He would play an 8-track (did I mention this was a LONG time ago?) with \"Escape (The Pina Colada Song)\", \"My Life\", \"Funkytown\", \"I Can't Stand The Rain\", and other songs from that time. I think his son gave him that tape; can't imagine him buying it himself... Another uncle took my mother (his sister) and those of her children still living at home on trips in his Nissan Patrol SUV. The only \"music\" I can remember from those trips was when my uncle tried to sing. The fact that the sounds he formed could only be called melodious if one removed the \"mel\" from the word did not seem to deter him. The singing was more hilarious than annoying, though, and the trips were great despite the singing. Far better than church, where the singing is louder and worse and where you can cut the hypocricy with a knife and where I end up wishing I could likewise cut the hypocrites. But I digress... Jamaica is not really big enough for a classic road trip; one can drive from one end of the country to the other in about seven or eight hours. It does beat Barbados, however; one can easily drive completely around Barbados in a morning. Real road trips, I guess, are in sountries like the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and other huge places like that."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, May 23, 2002 (07:36)", "body": "I went 15,000 miles in a converted schoolbus around the US back in my hippie days. Started in Minneapolis, went to KC, New Mexico, all over California, Oregon, Washington, on the Tennessee for a few years of Farming and then on to Wyoming and back to Calif and Oregon."}, {"response": 3, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Thu, May 23, 2002 (13:05)", "body": "\"...on the Tennessee for a few years of Farming...\" That's not a road trip, that's an Odyssey! Did you still have the bus when you left Tennessee?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, May 23, 2002 (14:07)", "body": "Yep. We lived in a farmhouse but we kept the bus handy for the next leg or oru Caravan. cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 37, "subject": "Microcars", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Jan 11, 2003 (13:55)", "body": "In Detroit yesterday Dodge introduced the Tomahawk, a concept bike using the Viper's V-10, 8.3-liter engine. The alleged \"independent four-wheel suspension,\" if it really is that, should be the most interesting part. Not new, but generally seen only in three-wheeled experiments. It's one way to retain motorcycle cornering dynamics (i.e. lean) with the added traction of more rubber on the road. Plus the thing can sit upright without a kickstand. The reports variously claim top speeds of 300 or 400 miles per hour. Right!"}, {"response": 2, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Sat, Jan 11, 2003 (17:11)", "body": "If they had turned the control arms and wheels outward instead of inward, they might have had a nice Bugatti Type 35 replica. As it is, it just ain't my cup o' meat, nor is it that of anybody at Motorcycle Crossroads ( http://www.fp-webs.com:8080/~Xroads ) or Mike's Workshop ( http://www.carfaxabbey.net/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=3&Board=workshop ). cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 38, "subject": "Chevrolet SSR", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Jul  6, 2003 (18:37)", "body": "Is it some kind of retro car?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Sat, Jul 12, 2003 (05:11)", "body": "Sort of. It's a retro convertible p/up truck. Sounds like an exceedingly odd concept but it looks fantastic! If they had a panel van version I would completely forget the PT Cruiser, 'coz a panel van version of the SSR would be what the PT Cruiser should have been! cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 39, "subject": "Should I fix it?", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Feb 22, 2004 (13:36)", "body": "Where are you located Nick? Are you related to Paulette? cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 4, "subject": "Volvo 480 Parts / Teile", "response_count": 44, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "bolle97", "date": "Sun, Jun 15, 1997 (10:37)", "body": "Mir fehlt die Kofferraumabdeckung - wer kann helfen?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "bolle97", "date": "Sun, Jun 15, 1997 (10:40)", "body": "ach ja: und infolge starker Verrauchung durch Vorbesitzer w\ufffdre ich auch bei einer Schlachtung (sic!) an einem gut erhaltenem Gest\ufffdhl interessiert...Leder w\ufffdre immerhin f\ufffdr meinen jetzt erwarteten Nachwuchs das tauglichste..."}, {"response": 3, "author": "Jens", "date": "Sun, Jun 15, 1997 (11:06)", "body": "Meine Kofferraumabdeckung ist auch ziemlich zerfetzt.. :( Hat jemand eine Ahnung was das neu kostet? -JENS"}, {"response": 4, "author": "volvo480", "date": "Mon, Jun 16, 1997 (04:57)", "body": "Ich kann euch welche machen lassen . Sag mir bescheid!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Jens", "date": "Mon, Jun 16, 1997 (07:53)", "body": "Machen lassen - Das klingt gut... Was w\ufffdrde das denn kosten? Und bist du DER Guido aus dem Guestbook? Wenn ja - ich habe dir mal 1 oder 2 Mails geschickt und deine auch erhalten - Konntes du meine nicht bekommen oder hast du nur nich geantwortet? (w\ufffdre nicht schlimm) JENS"}, {"response": 6, "author": "bolle", "date": "Mon, Jun 16, 1997 (16:44)", "body": "Hallo Guido... Abdeckung machen lassen...klingt versnobt, aber interessant - mail doch mal genaueres!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "480es", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (17:08)", "body": "Freund von mir ist sattler , er kann das , ich frage ihn morgen mal ( 18.06.97 ) was das kosten wuerde .. Dann fehlt natuerlich wohl das schoene Volvo logo aber mann kann die farbe aendern!!!!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "480es", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (17:13)", "body": "Ach ja ,, ich suche einen Sport auspuff ( kein endtopf!!!) sondern komplett von vorne bis hinten .Weiss jemand ob es einen Faecher-kruemmer gibt weil mein normaler ist kaputt und ich brauche eh einen neuen !! Ps. Jens ich habe deine mails nicht gekriegt .Egal .... Trotzdem Schoener Homepage usw ...."}, {"response": 9, "author": "Jens", "date": "Thu, Jun 19, 1997 (15:41)", "body": "Zum Thema Auspuff : Da ich nur das Angebot von M.R. und Hausser Motorsport kenne und die nur eine Endtopf im Angebot haben kann ich dir damit nicht weiterhelfen... Hat jemand eine Ahnung ob die M\ufffdglichkeit besteht Renault Tuning Teile zu verwenden (wegen Renault Motor) - vielleicht was von Elia? JENS"}, {"response": 10, "author": "480es", "date": "Thu, Jun 19, 1997 (16:13)", "body": "Hallo Jens , weisst Du denn was der endtopf kostet und was er bringt(sound,ps). Und zum thema Renault. Ich glaube schon weil alle motorteile sind original Renualt und bei Superchips Inc. gibt es einen chip fuer Renault der auch auf Volvo 440 / 460 ( und bestimmt auch 480!) functioniert."}, {"response": 11, "author": "Jens", "date": "Fri, Jun 20, 1997 (17:14)", "body": "ECHT? Ein Leistungschip`?? Kannst du mehr dar\ufffdber erz\ufffdhlen? Preis - Leistung? Apropos weis jemand was ge\ufffdndert wurde als der Motor von 95 aus 101PS ging? Der Endtopf nunja ich weis nichts genaueres - am besten du rufst mal bei M.R: Motorsport an - Die Nummer steht aus meiner Homepage - Die vertreiben den und k\ufffdnnen dir auch einen kostenlosen Katalog schicken - ist viel drinn... :) JENS"}, {"response": 12, "author": "480es", "date": "Sun, Jun 22, 1997 (06:07)", "body": "Chip musst du mal suchen \"zb. Yahoo.com\" Die firma heisst Superchips. Ich glaube adresse ist www.Superchips.com . Ich gucke aber noch mal..."}, {"response": 13, "author": "volvo480turbo", "date": "Tue, Jun 24, 1997 (04:35)", "body": "Ich habe einen Volvo 480 turbo, Bj 89,mit g-Kat zu verkaufen der erst 105tkm gelaufen hat. Hat jemand interesse??"}, {"response": 14, "author": "480es", "date": "Tue, Jun 24, 1997 (07:34)", "body": "Hallo Juergen , preis , farbe , extras ?????"}, {"response": 15, "author": "volvo480turbo", "date": "Fri, Jun 27, 1997 (01:31)", "body": "Hallo Guido! Ich habe mir eine VB 11000DM gedacht, Die Farbe ist Silber-metillic (officielle Bezeichnung :rauchgrau-met.) Als Extras hat er ein el. Sonnendach und Alufelgen. Ansonsten sind alle Extres bei diesem Fahrzeug Serienm\ufffd\ufffdig wie z.B:zentr.Verr., Alarm, Servo, Bordcomputer, el. Au\ufffdensp. etc... Meine E-Mail Adresse ist Ich w\ufffdrde mich freuen von Dir zu h\ufffdren. Bis dann J\ufffdrgen"}, {"response": 16, "author": "Jens", "date": "Fri, Jun 27, 1997 (16:05)", "body": "Ich habe f\ufffdr euch einen neuen Link auf dem ihr Kleinanzeigen ver\ufffdffentlichen k\ufffdnnt - Volvo Treff Deutschland Ihr k\ufffdnnt ja mal vorbeischauen scheint recht gut zu sein! JENS"}, {"response": 17, "author": "483turbo", "date": "Tue, Jul  1, 1997 (14:54)", "body": "Ich habe neue R\ufffdckleuchten links und rechts sowie das Verbindungsteil g\ufffdnstig zu verkaufen. Die sind ja bei \ufffdlteren Fahrzeugen oft ziemlich unansehnlich. Vielleicht hat jemand Interesse. Antwort bitte an @aol.com"}, {"response": 18, "author": "483turbo", "date": "Tue, Jul  1, 1997 (14:59)", "body": "Meine e-mail-Adresse ist nicht 'r\ufffdbergekommen. Nochmal: V483t@aol.com oder \"483turbo\" anklicken."}, {"response": 19, "author": "vero", "date": "Tue, Jul 22, 1997 (08:31)", "body": "Hallo Ihr! Ich bin heute das erste Mal auf dieser Seite gelandet, bin auch erst seit gestern (stolze) Besitzerin eines 480 ES. Daf\ufffdr hab ich aber auch gleich ein Problem. Es scheint so, als w\ufffdre das Differential hin\ufffdber. Wer wei\ufffd, wo ich Ersatzteile, Reparaturanleitungen,.... herbekomme? Jacqueline"}, {"response": 20, "author": "480es", "date": "Tue, Jul 22, 1997 (18:17)", "body": "Hi , weiss jemand ob mann beim 480 (es '87) die lichthupe ansliessen kann? Laut Volvo (NL) nicht ... ??"}, {"response": 21, "author": "vero", "date": "Wed, Jul 23, 1997 (13:10)", "body": "Tja mit der Lichthupe das ist so eine Sache. Ich arbeite noch dran. M\ufffdglich w\ufffdre zum Beispiel die Ansteuerung \ufffdber einen Bremslichtschalter eines Motorrades am Lenkstockhebel ( Pfennigartikel ), der auf die Leitung der Weitstrahler geschaltet ist. M\ufffdglicherweise mu\ufffd zum Weitstrahlerschalter eine Diode ( 1A Standard ) eingeschleu\ufffdt werden. Bessere L\ufffdsungen kann ich leider noch nicht liefern, da ich den Wagen erst seit vorgestern besitze. Aber ich bleibe am Ball. Stay tuned!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "Jens", "date": "Fri, Jul 25, 1997 (17:27)", "body": "Hi all! :) Na Nemesis du scheinst ja echt Ahnung zu haben! Mit dem Diffenential kann ich nicht helfen aber die Rep. Anleitung gibt es. Die Bestell-Nr. setzte ich auf meine Homepage.... JENS"}, {"response": 23, "author": "vero", "date": "Mon, Aug 18, 1997 (14:30)", "body": "Hallo Jens, Hast du eigenlich keine Nase? `:-)"}, {"response": 24, "author": "Pepe", "date": "Sun, Aug 24, 1997 (05:42)", "body": "Frage : Unterschiede zwischen Turbo und ES Vorteile und Nachteile ? Bitte um Antwort"}, {"response": 25, "author": "480es", "date": "Sun, Aug 31, 1997 (17:57)", "body": "Hi , tolle sachen wie zb. - Chip-tuning fuer den \"Turbo\" 190PS!! DM 1500 - Sport-Endtopf ESD 100 mm DM 570 gibt es bei Meissner Motorsport Ludwigstr. 86a 63839 Kleinwallstadt Tel 06022/21015"}, {"response": 26, "author": "Alf", "date": "Fri, Oct 10, 1997 (15:24)", "body": "Hey Leute, nette Seite, ich habe ein kleines Problem mit meinem Getriebe (480 Turbo). Kann mir einer sagen, wo man g\ufffdnstig ein Getriebe erstehen kann ? Christian"}, {"response": 27, "author": "Zungo", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (08:54)", "body": "Hallo!!!! Ich bin seit 3 Wochen stolzer Besitzer einer 480 ES mit 40 TKM Bj.90....Ich m\ufffdchte gerne wei\ufffde Blinker, ein Sportlenkrad, Leder f\ufffdr die Sitze und Sto\ufffdf\ufffdnger in Wagenfarbe...!!! Wer hat Tips oder sogar Teile.....????? Wer wei\ufffd Preise??? Dunkelgr\ufffdnes Leder \ufffdberall...!!!!!!Ist irgendwer Sattler...???? Was kann man sonst noch schoner machen ???? AZEV Typ A ??????? Ruft mich an: 0177-22 68 819 + 05193-3740"}, {"response": 28, "author": "480es", "date": "Tue, Oct 21, 1997 (08:29)", "body": "Hi alle, hatte Heute einen freien Tag und habe versucht die Positions-leuchten (Vorne) anzuschliessen. Als ich das Blinker/Standlicht Gehaeuse dann erfernt hatte , habe ich gesehen das in der Birnenhalterung nur ein Contact war! Habe dann trotzdem mal ne 21/5 Watt Birne reingesteckt, aber hatte noch blinker noch Standlicht.... Kann es sein das es verschiedene Halter gibt????? Es sind wohl 4 kabel am Stecker, 2 mal braun, einmal gruen Braun und einmal gruen gelb glaube ich ( bin mir da nicht so sicher) Es ist ein 87\ufffdES verkauft in Belgien... Hoffe es kann mir jemand helfen!!!! Hat sonst eigentlich jemand noch ideeen (quisi Batelecke...) die mann machen koennte? Guido"}, {"response": 29, "author": "480es", "date": "Tue, Oct 21, 1997 (12:21)", "body": "Ps. Ich bin in letzter Zeit oft in ChatCity www.chatcity.de Dann einfach einloggen Wenn ihr mich sucht , bin immer als GuidoAc angemeldet... Bis Dann!"}, {"response": 30, "author": "Nemesis", "date": "Fri, Nov 28, 1997 (15:56)", "body": "Falls es jemanden interessiert: Statt der originalen Gasdruckheber f\ufffdr die Heckklappe (Volvo 120,-DM/St\ufffdck), passen auch die vom Opel Kadett E (sind etwas st\ufffdrker). F`:-)"}, {"response": 31, "author": "Marcus", "date": "Mon, Dec  8, 1997 (11:24)", "body": "Hallo 480-Fans! Mit der Beleuchtungsanlage scheint es oefters probleme zu geben. An meinem 480 ES Bj.87 waren die Weitstrahler bereits nach ganz kurzer Zeit kaputt. Der Fehler, so sagte man mir, liege im \"Zentraldenker\" auch SEM genannt. Den Verlust der Weitstrahler konnte ich bisher verkraften. Leider ist vor kurzem auch das Fahrtlicht ausgefallen. Die Scheinwerfer werden zwar noch aufgestellt und das Standlicht funktioniert, aber sonst sieht man nichts mehr. Ohne Stromlaufplan ist die Diagnose schwierig. Trotzdem glaub ich das der Fehler auch diesmal im SEM zu suchen ist. Weil das Teil sogar im Austausch noch zu teuer ist, leider total unlustig! Wer kann mir mit einem Schalt- oder Stromlaufplan, einem gebrauchten Teil, oder einem Elektroniker der die Dinger repariert, weiterhelfen. Marcus"}, {"response": 32, "author": "Maczac", "date": "Sun, Jan 11, 1998 (19:06)", "body": "Hallo auch, ich bin endlich auf diese geniale Verbindung gesto\ufffden. Ich suche n\ufffdmlich jemanden, der sich auskennt. Ich fahre einen 480 ES Bj91, 75tkm. Ich frage mich, ob man irgendwie einen Turbo draus basteln kann. Es m\ufffd\ufffdten denke ich die selben Motoren sein. Kann da jmd helfen ? mailme maczac@mail.studfb.unibw-muenchen.de"}, {"response": 33, "author": "KHS", "date": "Mon, Jan 19, 1998 (10:00)", "body": "Hallo alle zusammen, ich habe nen 480ES BJ 2/88 mit Zylinderkopfschaden, lt. Volvo gibt es 2 Arten von Zyl.-K\ufffdpfen ich habe beide Ausprobiert und keiner Passt !!! Ich habe auf meinen Block einfach eine Schraube zuviel !!! Komisches Ph\ufffdnomen .... Bin f\ufffdr hilfreiche Kommentare sehr Dankbar !!! please mail to khstork@aol.com"}, {"response": 34, "author": "KHS", "date": "Mon, Jan 19, 1998 (11:23)", "body": "Hallo, ich mu\ufffd mein letztes Posting zur\ufffdcknehmen ..., mein H\ufffdndler, bzw. der seinige hat in die falsche Kiste gegriffen... w\ufffdre ja auch zu komisch gewesen ... alees liebe Kai-Hendrik P.S. sch\ufffdne Sache hier, bis bald"}, {"response": 35, "author": "Oldsunline", "date": "Thu, Feb 19, 1998 (17:42)", "body": "Hi Fans, endlich habe ich Leute gefunden die sich auch in den Schneewittchensarg verliebt haben.Leider ist es schon sehr sp\ufffdt geworden und ich kann einige Fragen nicht heute beantworten. Wer von Euch hat auch einen 480 Collection abbekommen ? Ich habe die Nummer 299 :-) Bitte schreibt mal, Antwort garantiert ! Bis bald... Oldsunline@aol.com"}, {"response": 36, "author": "albi", "date": "Thu, Feb 19, 1998 (17:42)", "body": "Hallo Leute, ich suche s\ufffdmtliche Information \ufffdber 480 ES. Z. B. Reperaturanleitungen f\ufffdr meinen Wagen. Z. Zt. suche ich aber schnellstens eine Nockenwelle. Volvo Preis \ufffdber 800 DM ohne Einbau. Vielleicht kann ja jemand helfen Bis bald albert@nwu.de"}, {"response": 37, "author": "albi", "date": "Sun, Apr 19, 1998 (10:46)", "body": "Hallo, ich bin f\ufffdndig geworden. Eine gebrauchte Nockenwelle f\ufffdr nur 68.-- DM. Angeblicher Unterschied soll nur zwischen den Einspritzmotoren und den Vergasermotoren bestehen (zur regul\ufffdren 400er Serie). Selbst bei Renault kostete die Welle etwa 650.-- + M\ufffdrchensteuer. Der Lieferant meiner Welle findet man unter www.elferink.nl. Die Jungs sind sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit nur zu empfehlen. Sie sprechen auch deutsch. Des weiteren die anderen Teile dirket bei Volvo = Radialwellendichtring li. u re. und Ventilschaftdichtungen sowie zwei Dichtungen f\ufffdr die Ansaugseite = 180.--. Der Rest von Skandix Steuerriemen sowie Motordeckeldichtung und Flachriemen. www.skandix.de Bez\ufffdglich Rep. Anleitung, die kann man bei seinem VolvoH\ufffdndler kaufen, wird dann direkt in Holland bei Nedcars bestellt. Je Ausgabe, es sind etwa 8-10 ein Kostenpunkt von etwa 60.-- DM. Das Buch von Haynes das es nur im englischen gibt ist nicht un\ufffdbel. Die Information ist wohl allgemein aber man erh\ufffdlt eine Menge Tricks. volvo-magazin@hornung.vdb.net Kostenpunkt 39,50 Bezeichnung HY 1691 Was nicht zu empfehlen ist, ist die Sammlung \ufffdber die Zeitungsmitteilungen aus den englischen Presse. Die Qualit\ufffdt ist miserabel da dies nur Kopiert ist. Bis bald :-))"}, {"response": 38, "author": "schwede161", "date": "Tue, Apr 28, 1998 (03:12)", "body": "Wer hat Informationen was es f\ufffdr Sportendt\ufffdpfe, bzw. Sportauspuffanlagen f\ufffdr den 480 existieren?"}, {"response": 39, "author": "Paule", "date": "Thu, May  7, 1998 (13:23)", "body": "Moin moin aus dem Norden! Hat evt einer Lederausstattung f\ufffdr der 480 \ufffdber?"}, {"response": 40, "author": "Paule", "date": "Thu, May  7, 1998 (13:31)", "body": "Gleich noch mal! Die etwas abenteuerliche Formulierung meiner Anfrage bitte ich zu entschuldigen. Ich suche nat\ufffdrlich Jemanden, der etwas Pech mit seinem 480'er hatte und diesen zwecks Kostensenkung (Totalschaden) zum Ausschlachten freigibt. Speziell interessiert mich eine Komplett-Leder-Ausstattung (nich die 480S Teilledervariante)."}, {"response": 41, "author": "albi", "date": "Thu, May  7, 1998 (15:56)", "body": "hallo paule, dien emailadresse funktioniert leider nicht.... aber trotzdem schau mal bei http://www.elferink.nl nach. die k\ufffdnnen dir vielleicht helfen. letzte tage hab ich dort noch einen platten 480er gesehen mit leder. nur da m\ufffd\ufffdte man was dran tuen. albi"}, {"response": 42, "author": "Paule", "date": "Mon, Jul 27, 1998 (17:17)", "body": "Hello frends! Hier ein Tip aus Hamburg: Bei Sengelmann (Schrottplatz) steht ein 480'er Turbo BJ '88 120 Tds km in rot mit leichtem Frontschaden zum Ausschlachten! Der Motor ist noch komplett. F\ufffdr weitere Infos stehe ich gerne zur Verf\ufffdgung: paul.golinski@uni.bw-hamburg.de Paule"}, {"response": 43, "author": "PIT", "date": "Sun, Jul 30, 2000 (17:07)", "body": "WEGEN AUSREISE ZU VERKAUFEN VOLVO 480 TURBO EZ 19.08.1988, 120 PS BENZINER TURBO (MIT CHIP AUF 130 PS M\ufffdGLICH), EINSPRITZ, KATALYSATOR, NUR 120 TKM, AUSPUFF VOR 0.5 JAHR NEU, WINTER + SOMMERBEREIFUNG (KNAPPES JAHR ALT) TIEFERGELEGT (NOCH WEITER M\ufffdGLICH) EXTRAS: EL. FENSTER, ALARMANLAGE, ZENTRALVERRIEGELUNG, RUNDUM GESPOILERT, LEUCHTEN\ufffdBERWACHUNG, BORDCOMPUTER, SONNENDACH, SCHALENSITZE VORNE UND HINTEN MOTORHAUBE GLASSFASER AUTOMATISCHE ATENNE BEHEITZTE AUSSENSPIEGEL VHB: KOMPLETT 10 TDM OHNE MUSIKANLAGE NUR 9 TDM KONTAKT: Tel. 0172 1687531 oder Mail. pitundco@gmx.de"}, {"response": 44, "author": "sebmen", "date": "Wed, Dec 27, 2000 (09:24)", "body": "Hallo, mein Volvo 480 ES hat Probleme mit der Technik. Die L\ufffdftung geht nicht, die Heckscheibenheizung auch nicht und der Bordcomputer \"st\ufffdrzt\" st\ufffdndig ab. Auch der Tacho will nicht so richtig ( geht mal und mal nicht ). Hat jemand \ufffdne Ahnung, was das sein kann ?? Vielleicht hat schon einmal jemand \ufffdhnliche Probleme gehabt ?? cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 40, "subject": "HMT - heavy muscle trucks", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Feb 14, 2005 (06:33)", "body": "\"The Bad Boy Truck is ready for the streets, and it\ufffds so cool that we\ufffdve created a new vehicle category for it, the HMT, which stands for Heavy Muscle Truck. SUVs are yesterday, and the Bad Boy is the biggest, longest, meanest, heaviest, street-legal military conversion vehicle on the road today. If you want ride that is tough enough to take what you dish out, the Bad Boy is ready. If you want to impress your clients and friends, take along a Bad Boy. Be warned though, we don\ufffdt make these for just anyone. Are You Bad Enough?...\" http://www.badboytrucks.com/ cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 5, "subject": "Repairing Hints for the 480/ Reparatur Tips f\ufffdr den 480", "response_count": 40, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Jens", "date": "Sun, Jun 15, 1997 (05:12)", "body": "Mich w\ufffdrde mal interressiern ob jemand von euch mal probleme mit einer zu hohen \ufffdltemperatur hatte - nach l\ufffdngerer Autobahnfahrt steigt die auch mal auf 125C Also ist das bei euch auch so?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "bolle97", "date": "Sun, Jun 15, 1997 (10:35)", "body": "Hallo Meister Jens, erst mal: toll, das Deine Page so sch\ufffdn develooped ;-), zweitens: Hast Du 'ne \ufffdltempi serienm\ufffd\ufffdig (oder sogar einen hei\ufffden Tip, ob man das gute Combi-display umr\ufffdsten can drittens: Mein Combianzeiger flackert - h\ufffdbsch & unterhaltsam, aber auf die Dauere recht nervig - L\ufffdsungen? viertens: mein lieber Blacki hat beim \ufffdbergang Leerlauf-Anfahren gern mal Schlucken und Drehzahlschw\ufffdche..."}, {"response": 3, "author": "Jens", "date": "Sun, Jun 15, 1997 (11:03)", "body": "Ja hallo auch! :) Danke f\ufffdr das Lob und zum Thema Combidisplay muss ich nur sagen: Staun! Ich dachte das ist serienm\ufffd\ufffdig best\ufffdckt mit: 1. Momentanverbrauch 2. Durchschnittsverbrauch 3. Durchschnittsgeschwindigkeit 4. Reichweite 5. \ufffdltemperatur 6. Wassertemperatur 7. Au\ufffdentemeperatur Wenn ich da falsch liege - Toll! Wieder was gelernt :) Was hast du denn im Combi drinn? (Das mit der Leerlauf Schw\ufffdche kenne ich auch...) - JENS"}, {"response": 4, "author": "volvo480", "date": "Mon, Jun 16, 1997 (04:56)", "body": "Bei mir faellt das Combi-display auch weg, oder ist gar nicht mehr da. (Nervt..). Hier in Holland kostet eine uhr ( komplett) gebraucht Fl 750 !! Bitte um hilfe!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Jens", "date": "Mon, Jun 16, 1997 (07:59)", "body": "So langsam braucht man mehr Teile - und es gibt immer noch nix auf dem Schrottplatz - :( Hatt keiner Lust sein Auto \"zu schlachten\"? JENS"}, {"response": 6, "author": "bolle", "date": "Mon, Jun 16, 1997 (16:54)", "body": "...also: 1. hab heute Deine Mail im Carsten gehabt ;-) & danke 2. Combi hat bei mir evtl.!? auch H2O&\ufffdli-Temp. - wegen st\ufffdndigem rumgeflackere ist ja nich allzuville zu erk\ufffdnn...k\ufffdnnte sich evtl. um \"Cold\" handeln, zeigt Deine im Normalbetrieb Tempis unta 100 grad an ?! freu mich auf Post und warte mit Dir auf DEM Guido IHM seine urst schauen Angebote bez\ufffdglich Abdeckung...ach ja: hab' etzte Woche -endlich!- das wirklich gute Hayes Manual abgeholt (4 Wochen Lieferzeit...) - wirklich so ziehmlich das Beste seit Erfindung von Schlafaugen..,bis bald Bolle aus Berlin"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Jens", "date": "Tue, Jun 17, 1997 (04:57)", "body": "Hehehe - Berliner Slang \ufffdwa? Ja die \ufffdltemeratur wird ab 50C bei mir angezeigt darunter \"Cold\" - Wasser schon etwas fr\ufffdher 40C? od. 45C? naja auf jeden Fall Anzeigen unter 100... Das Buch habe ich auch bestellt ist aber noch nicht gekommen - Bestimmt bald :) JENS"}, {"response": 8, "author": "480es", "date": "Wed, Jun 18, 1997 (17:06)", "body": "Ach ja , wenn jemand wasser in der beifahrer-seite hat ueberprueft mal ob das kabel das vom seitenblinker kommt gut abgedichtet ist!!!!!! Ach ja wenn ich die positionsleuchten vorne anschleissen will muss ich dann das kabel ( das in der zeignung vom Mattias angegeben ist) durchsneiden und eine birne rein tuhen oder was ???? bitte um antwort Bis dann!!!!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "Jens", "date": "Thu, Jun 19, 1997 (15:32)", "body": "Das mit dem Seitenblinker ist echt eine gute Idee - ich hoffe das hilft..! Mattias sagte etwas von Volvo Teilen die man bestellen k\ufffdnnte um das zu realisieren - er ist im Moment leider nicht zu erreichen aber ich denke er wird noch genaueres sagen... JENS"}, {"response": 10, "author": "480es", "date": "Tue, Aug  5, 1997 (18:53)", "body": "Hi Jens & rest , ein paar fragen ( Damit hier nochmal was los ist! ) 1. Gibt es eine Comfort-schaltung fuer den 480 ? 2. Hat jemand schon mal sowas selber gestrickt ? 3. Weiterhin suche ich spoiler ( hinten oben & Vorne unten ) 4. Hat einer schonmal versucht automatische Schroth-gurten ein zu bauen ? 5. Wie sieht es aus mit wasser das von der heckklappe runterlaeuft nach dem waschen , kann man da was machen ? 6. Mein Bordcomputer hat geflackert , eingeschickt nach VDO-Kinze Dm 611 !! 7. Gibt es fuer die Fahrertuer einen stellmotor ? 8. Gibt es schon 60er federn ( Tuev egal , Holland ! ) 9. Vielleicht kannst du nochmal einen Chat-termin ausmachen! Bis demnaechst , Guido!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "480es", "date": "Wed, Aug  6, 1997 (19:33)", "body": "Ps. Was ist mit einem einarm-wischer , jemand schonmal gemacht ?"}, {"response": 12, "author": "Jens", "date": "Tue, Aug 12, 1997 (06:30)", "body": "Hallo und sorry das ich in letzter Zeit nix mehr mache... :( Aber im Sommer ist das mit Computer so eine Sache... (Arbeit nicht zu vergessen!) Zu 3) Ich kann nur sagen das ich einen von Hausser Motorsport hinten habe der sehr gut aussieht kostet etwas 300-400DM und den Turbo-Frontspoiler (orginal Volvo 200DM) es gibt auch Spoilersto+B7M-tanden f+vCA-Vorn und Hinten die sind aber Sau teuer ca 800-900DM (beide zusammen bringen eine Fahrzeug verk+vHo-ung! von 25cm) Zu 4)ich nicht Zu 5)Meinst du innen oder au+B6U-n? oder wie? Zu 6)Typisch! Ich hoffen nur das ich meinen 480 verkauft habe bevor so etwas kaputt geht! Zu 7)Stellmotor? Zu 8)Gute Frage.... Mu+B7Q- du dich selber mal unh+XGU-n aber 40-50mm m+17Q-en auf jeden Fall gehen (mit 35mm tieferlegung st der Hinten zwar echt sch+WyA-aber vorne geht auf jeden Fall noch was) Zu 9)Wenn das gew+u2M-ht wird auf jeden Fall - ich fahre jetzt diese Woche in Urlaub f+vCA-2 Wo. wenn ich wieder da bin k+uy0-ere ich mich darum! (Versprochen!) 'JENS"}, {"response": 13, "author": "480es", "date": "Tue, Aug 12, 1997 (18:06)", "body": "Jens , ich habe probleme deine Mails zu lesen ; zb. 8) Gute Frage... Mu+B&Q- du dich selber mal usw... Vielleicht weisst Du wodran das liegt. Zu 7) Stellmotor fuer die Fahrertuer. ( Motor vom tuerschloss) Weil ich wollte eine fernbedienung ansliessen , aber das schloss an der fahrertuer geht nicht auf und zu. Bis dann Guido !"}, {"response": 14, "author": "vero", "date": "Mon, Aug 18, 1997 (14:36)", "body": "Codepage 850 ?&)\"_*!\"#+~\\]\ufffd@| oder was?!!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "hinderer", "date": "Tue, Oct 28, 1997 (03:10)", "body": "Servus, ich gehoere seit kurzem auch zur 480 Fan Gemeinde (480 ES). Eigentlich ein ganz pfiffiges Auto. Sehr praktisch, gibt optisch war, im Kofferraum kann man sogar pennen. Harte Ernuechterung traf mich bei der ersten Reparatur der Bremsen. Neue Scheiben/Lager hinten Materialpreis DM 800,-. Seitdem rubbelt es noch immer hinten. Gerne moechte ich auf G-Kat umruesten. Nachfragen bei Volvo erzeugte nur Gaehnen. Gibt es eigentlich ein brauchbares Reparaturbuch, in dem auch bauartgleiche Teile mit anderen Herstellern benannt sind? Unter haynes.com ist ein Repbuch aufgefuehrt. Bestellung laeuft ueber GB, ist mir noch zu kompliziert. Bis die Tage, Stephan"}, {"response": 16, "author": "morkie", "date": "Thu, Nov 13, 1997 (12:26)", "body": "Ein brauchbares Reparaturhandbuch suche ich auch. (bin ueberigens auch erst seit kurzen 480 Turbo Inhaber) - Aus der Reihe \"Reparaturanleitung\" oder diese Ich mache es mir selbst Serie gibt es so etwas fuer den Volvo 480 nicht"}, {"response": 17, "author": "Nemesis", "date": "Sun, Nov 16, 1997 (13:10)", "body": "Vergesst das mit dem Haynes Manual, es ist zu allgemein gehalten, umfasst auch 440/460, und somit stimmen viele Sachen f\ufffdr den 480er nicht, z.B. die Schaltpl\ufffdne! Au\ufffderdem muss man im Englischen schon SEHR fit sein. Was brauchbares hab ich leider auch noch nicht gefunden."}, {"response": 18, "author": "breadley", "date": "Sun, Nov 16, 1997 (15:39)", "body": "Hallochen, bin seit einem Jahr begeisterter 480ES Fan und hab jetzt ein Prob. Der gute springt prima an, bleibt dann aber im Leerlauf und l\ufffdsst sich nicht beirren und bleibt dabei. Ein gutes Rep-Buch hat wohl auch noch keiner gesehen und ich bin jetzt nach tagelanger bauerei mit meinem Latein am ende. Hoffentlich habt Ihr einen Tip !! wenn ja unter E-mail breadley@t-online.de oder Tel. 03322/209930, rufe garantiert zur\ufffdck! Bis denne Breadley"}, {"response": 19, "author": "Nemesis", "date": "Fri, Nov 28, 1997 (15:45)", "body": "Das hoert sich nicht gut an ! Wenn Du die Drosselklappe per Hand \ufffdffnest, stirbt der Leerlauf dann ab oder was ? Zieht er vielleicht Falschluft im Ansaugtrakt? Pr\ufffdf mal mit Startspray! Spr\ufffdh den Ansaugkr\ufffdmmer etc. nacheinander ab, wenn die Drehzahl steigt hast Du ein Leck ! Eventuell k\ufffdnnte auch die Welle der Drosselklappe gebrochen sein (z.B. durch Fehlz\ufffdndungen ). K\ufffdnnte auch an der Z\ufffdndung liegen, aber dazu br\ufffduchte ich eine genauere Beschreibung des Fehlers. F`:-)"}, {"response": 20, "author": "480es", "date": "Sat, Nov 29, 1997 (10:51)", "body": "Hi, Gestern bin ich von Aachen nach Essen und zureuck gefahren (sind 200km). Auf dem Heimweg fing der Motor auf einmal an zu stottern , ich fuhr da im 5. Gang bei ca 3000 umdr. Habe dann zurueckgeschaltet , da wars weg.. Aber an der Ampel wollte er dann gar nicht mehr, musste dann mit 4000 umd. anfahren , ansonsten ging er aus. Habe heute mal verteiler,Zuendkerzen und Zuendkabel erneuert aber alles bleibt so. Er machts aber nicht immer. Bin vorhin weggefahren ganz normal , aber 2 strassen weiter fing er wieder an. Ueber 3000 umdrehungen merke ich fast nichts , da laeuft er eigentlich ganz normal , ich hoffe jemand kann mir helfen! Bitte um schnelle Antwort!!! Es ist ein \ufffd87. mit B18E Machine ohne Kat , 109ps. Danke , Guido... Wenn jemand anrufen moecht Frag nach Guido 0031-45-5451343"}, {"response": 21, "author": "Marcus", "date": "Mon, Dec  8, 1997 (12:03)", "body": "Hi, vielleicht kann ich Euch ein paar hilfreiche Tips geben. Mein Info Center hat kuerzlich auch nicht so recht gewollt. Das Ding leuchtet nicht von alleine sondern wird von einer kleinen Halogenbirne (bei Volvo ca. 17 DM) hinterleuchtet. Armarurenbrett ausbauen und Birne testen. Bei mir hat's geholfen. Marcus Zum Problem Leerlaufuebergang bald mehr..."}, {"response": 22, "author": "Marcus", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (05:12)", "body": "Hi, Hi, der Uebergang vom Leerlauf zu Betriebsdrehzahl ist auch bei mir nicht ganz sauber gewesen. Im Leerlauf schaltet sich ein Steuergeraet ein und uebernimmt das Regiment. Wenn im Leerlau nun die Drosselkappe nur minimal geoeffnet wird geht die Drehzehl herunter und der Motor droht abzusterben. Wenn sich das Problem bei Euch aehnlich darstellt liegt es wahrscheinlich an der Einstellung des Geberschalters an der Drosselklappe. Wenn der Geberschalter fuer die Leerlaufsteuerung zu frueh oder zu spaet schaltet ist der uebergang von Leerlauf zu hoeheren Drehzahlen etwas unsauber. Also Geberschalter verdrehen, damit der erst abschaltet wenn der Motor auch ohne elektronische Hilfe rund laeuft. Anlaesslich eines kaputten U-Kat habe ich auch gepueft ob eine Umruestung moeglich ist. Obwohl der Kat gleich ist muss angeblich die ganze Einspritzanlage mit Steuerelektronik umgebaut werden. Also quasi nichts zu machen. Bremsscheiben hinten sind beim 480 fast immer ein teurer Spass. Besonders teuer wird es aber erst wenn Volvo fuer die aelteren Modelle den \"Nabenumbausatz\" aus der Ecke holt. Mit etwas Glueck finden sich auch Scheiben und Radlagersitz in einem (Textar). Dann kann sich jeder selber ueberlegen ob er die alten Lager nochmal einbaut oder sich neue Lager kauft. Die Alten zu verwenden halte ich fuer Pfusch, weil die Lager beim ausdruecken meist einen Schaden bekommen. Dann \"rubbelt's hinten\"!!! Wer seinem 480 i Zukunft noch mehr als zwei oder drei neue Scheibensaetze spendieren will kann auch den Nabenumbausatz nehmen. Es kann sich lohnen! Natuerlich gibt es Reparaturhandbuecher fuer den 480. Wer in seine Bedienungsanleitung schaut kann dort lesen: \"fuer technisch interessierte ... gibt es die original Volvo Werkstatthandbuecher... wenden Sie sich an unsere Vertragshaendler...\" Erstaunlich wenn man einige Geheimnistuer von Volvo kennt. Diese 7 Ordner kosteten vor einigen Jahren schon ein irres Geld. Vielleicht kann man da was machen wenn man sich mit mehreren eins besorgt, oder? (Ich moechte auch eins ;-) ) Nun zu meiner Frage, wer kennt sich mit der Steuerung der Scheinwerfer aus. Die Scheinwerfer werden aufgestellt, das Standlicht brennt aber sonst bleibt's dunkel. Birnen und Schalter sind O.K.! Wer kann helfen? Wer kennt jemanden der eine alte Platine hat, oder Kfz-Elektronik repariert? Danke und bis bald, Marcus"}, {"response": 23, "author": "albi", "date": "Sun, Apr 19, 1998 (15:06)", "body": "Hallo, vielleicht kann mir ja jemand helfen, bei meinen 480 er Bj. 87 ist der Kofferaum undicht bzw. dort ist es zu feucht. Woran liegt dieses kleine Problem. Wie kann man es am besten beheben? Vielen Dank f\ufffdr Hilfe. Bis bald albert@nwu.de"}, {"response": 24, "author": "schwede161", "date": "Mon, Apr 27, 1998 (07:08)", "body": "Hi, zu Albert! Auch ich hatte Probleme mit einem feuchten Kofferraum! Sie nach ob bei Dir alle Blindstopfen im Kofferraum zu, bzw dich sind. Bei mir war es der Blinsstopfen in der Ersatzradmulde (er war spr\ufffdde)!!! WER hat den eventuell eine gute Adresse f\ufffdr Sportendt\ufffdpfe? Ich hab mir einen anfertigen lassen, jedoch verzerrt dieser ab 4000U/min etwas! (bedingt durch die vielen Winkel von Kr\ufffdmmer bis Endtopf! Wer hat die Adresse von MR Schwedensport? E-mail: Schwede161@Aol.de Danke - gute Fahrt!"}, {"response": 25, "author": "albi", "date": "Mon, Apr 27, 1998 (13:53)", "body": "Hy, schwede 161 Adresse von Mr. Sweden Motorsport Heimst\ufffdttenweg 8 23 558 L\ufffdbeck Telefon 0451 894651 Telefax 0451 898512 Viel Spa\ufffd albi"}, {"response": 26, "author": "schwede161", "date": "Tue, Apr 28, 1998 (02:44)", "body": "Vielen Dank f\ufffdr die Adresse! Du hast mir sehr geholfen! Es gibt - ich kann es kaum glauben - f\ufffdr den 480er eine komplette Sportauspuffanlage ab Kat. aus Edelstahl!!! Incl. Endtopf mit 2\"Endrohr (ca.51 mm)- k\ufffdnnte ein bi\ufffdchen mehr sein, will mich nicht beschweren - f\ufffdr komplette 875,-DM (ohne ABE, da aus Schweden). Hat noch wer Informationen \ufffdber Auspuffanlagen? Neulich bei Mercedes: Wer hat Angst vorm gro\ufffden Elch? Keiner. Und wenn er kommt? Dann kippen wir!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "albi", "date": "Tue, Apr 28, 1998 (11:22)", "body": "Hallo, kann mir jemand vielleicht helfen. Mein Problem ist der Leerlauf meines Fahrzeuges. Baujahr 87 Typ 480 ES mit UKat. Ist mein Wagen kalt so startet er sehr schlecht und hat den Hang wieder auszugehen. Ist er warm so liegen die Umdrehungen zwischen 1200 - 1500 umin. Desweiteren geht ein Stecker an den Drosselklappenschalter und ein anderes an Leerlaufventil. Diese beiden Stecker k\ufffdnnten vertauscht sein, wie bekommt man herraus welcher der richtige ist. Zieht man einen kleinen Unterdruckschlauch von der Ansaugung ab so f\ufffdllt die Drehzahl im warmen Zusstand ab. Dr\ufffdckt man ihn zu stirbt der Motor ab. Dr\ufffdckt man den Zufuhrschlauch zum Leerlaufventil etwas zu so reduziert sich der Leerlauf auf ein angenehmes Ma\ufffd. Dr\ufffdckt man ihn zu stirbt der Motor ab. Ein Meister eine Volvowerkstatt meinte das Steuerger\ufffdt w\ufffdre defekt da es in einen Leerlaufbereich und in einen Motorstuerungsbereich aufgesplittet sei. Als einzigste Alternative schlug er vor den Zufuhrschlauch zum Leerlaufvenitl mechanisch zu reduzieren soda\ufffd im Leerlauf kalt ein umin von 700 erreicht wird im warmen Lauf dann eine umin von 1200-1300 umin. Das erschien mir jedoch etwas zu sehr gefruckelt zu sein. Wenn jemand helfen kann w\ufffdre das sehr sch\ufffdn. albi"}, {"response": 28, "author": "schwede161", "date": "Tue, Apr 28, 1998 (18:30)", "body": "Auch ich hatte das Problem mit dem Leerlauf, auch beim \"anrollen\" an eine Ampel ging er mir aus(wenn ausgekuppelt). Dieses Problem hatte sich nach dem Wechsel des Steuerger\ufffdtes er\ufffdbrigt. Das erneuerte Steuerger\ufffdt sieht optisch auch etwas stabiler aus. Ebenfalls kenne ich die Probleme beim Kaltstart. Seit ich jedoch 0W 30 \ufffdl von Castrol fahre, l\ufffduft er morgens besser."}, {"response": 29, "author": "albi", "date": "Wed, Apr 29, 1998 (14:49)", "body": "Hy, mein Leerlaufproblem geht weiter und ich dachte ich halte Euch auf dem laufenden. Volvo war f\ufffdr 200.-- in der Lage festzustellen dass des Leerlauf defekt ist. Und das die Stecker vertauscht wurden. Also ein Stecker mit Gr\ufffdn braunen Adern geh\ufffdrt an das Drosselklappenschalter. Und ein Stecker mit gelb roten pinken Farben geh\ufffdrt an das Leerlaufventil. Vertauscht man beide so zerst\ufffdrt man sich angeblich damit die Steuereinheit im Leerlaufbereich. Wie gesagt angeblich. Ich werd jetzt ein Steuerger\ufffdt tauschen und schauen was passiert und wenns das nicht was das Leerlaufventil. Dann so hoffe ich ist endlich Ruhe! Bid bald albi"}, {"response": 30, "author": "albi", "date": "Sat, May  2, 1998 (15:53)", "body": "Hy, wie versprochen mein Leerlaufproblem. Ich tauschte das Steuerger\ufffdt und nichts.... ich tauschte das Leerlaufdrosselventil und nichts... ich tauschte den Drosselklappensteller und nichts ... also L\ufffdsung noch nichts. Letzte z Zt g\ufffdltige L\ufffdsung ich ging hin und verdrehte die Kabel am Leerlaufdrosselventil. Der mittlere f\ufffdhrt Spannung und der rechte und linke liegen mein Steuerger\ufffdt auf Masse und siehe da Leerlauf auf 750 - 850 umin. Jedoch der Kaltstart ist nicht ganz astrein. D.h. er bockt, geht aus und l\ufffduft unruhig den 1. km Naja nicht die L\ufffdsung aber er l\ufffduft sauber seine 190 km/h mit 10 Liter, also fast korrekt. albi"}, {"response": 31, "author": "schwede161", "date": "Mon, May  4, 1998 (17:36)", "body": "Seit geraumer Zeit habe ich extreme Stromschwankungen. Die Batterieleuchte geht an, bzw. leuchtet mit halber Kraft! Zudem flackert das Abblendlicht, und die R\ufffdckleuchten gehen kurzzeitig aus wenn ich z.B. die heizbare Heckscheibe zuschalte. Daraufhin habe ich die Lichtmaschine \ufffdberpr\ufffdfen lassen - einwandfrei! Auch die Batterie hat volle Kraft.Steuerger\ufffdt neu, Drosselklappe gereinigt! Ich bin ratlos!!! Volvo vermutet einen Massefehler am Fahrzeug! Hat noch wer Erfahrungen damit?"}, {"response": 32, "author": "albi", "date": "Tue, May  5, 1998 (14:46)", "body": "Hy, schwede ein paar stromlaufpl\ufffdne habe ich auf meinem rechner eingescannt falls interesse besteht. :-))"}, {"response": 33, "author": "albi", "date": "Wed, May  6, 1998 (12:08)", "body": "Hallo, falls jemand das hier sieht und ein gutes herz hat kann er sich gerne mal bei mir melden. Meine Leerlaufprobleme sind immer noch nicht behoben. Nach genauem nachbohren bei Volvo war man sich auch nicht so sicher ob es an dem steuerger\ufffdt liegt oder nicht. Also w\ufffdre w\ufffdre bereit sein fahrzeug zu verf\ufffdgung zu stellen damit ich mein defektes steuerger\ufffdt rein h\ufffdnge?(ob es defekt ist oder nicht wird sich dann zeigen) es mu\ufffd der Motor typ b18 e sein mit u-kat ohne turbo und einem renix steuerger\ufffdt. falls dies zu unothodox war f\ufffdr hilfe sonstwie bin ich auch dankbar... albi"}, {"response": 34, "author": "schwede161", "date": "Wed, May  6, 1998 (13:14)", "body": "Danke albi! Jedoch bin ich technisch nicht so begabt, da\ufffd ich damit etwas anfangen k\ufffdnnte!"}, {"response": 35, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, May 14, 1998 (16:57)", "body": "Hallo! \"Ich bin Auslander und spechen nicht gut Deutsch!"}, {"response": 36, "author": "schwede161", "date": "Sun, Aug 30, 1998 (12:14)", "body": "Sorry Leute habe meinen 480 verkauft! Nat\ufffdrlich aber wieder einen Volvo gekauft - Ich bereue es KEIN ST\ufffdCK! Nun fahre ich einen 760 Turbo Intercooler+ (2,3l, 140kW - 190 PS) SELBST FLIEGEN IST DAGEGEN UNCOOL!"}, {"response": 37, "author": "priho", "date": "Sun, Nov 28, 1999 (06:14)", "body": "Hi Leute! Bin ebenfalls 480er Fan (wie k\ufffdnnte es anders sein?!?), jedoch noch ohne Exemplar! Ich suche einen 2.0 Baujahr 94 oder 95. Wie stelle ich dies am besten an? Habt Ihr Tips? Oder sogar ein Angebot f\ufffdr mich? Ich habe mit grossem Interesse Eure Messages gelesen und finde es klase, das es ein derartiges Forum gibt! (Hallo Jens!) Servus Michael"}, {"response": 38, "author": "PIT", "date": "Sun, Jul 30, 2000 (15:00)", "body": "WEGEN AUSREISE ZU VERKAUFEN VOLVO 480 TURBO EZ 19.08.1988, 120 PS BENZINER TURBO (MIT CHIP AUF 130 PS M\ufffdGLICH), EINSPRITZ, KATALYSATOR, NUR 120 TKM, AUSPUFF VOR 0.5 JAHR NEU, WINTER + SOMMERBEREIFUNG (KNAPPES JAHR ALT) TIEFERGELEGT (NOCH WEITER M\ufffdGLICH) EXTRAS: EL. FENSTER, ALARMANLAGE, ZENTRALVERRIEGELUNG, RUNDUM GESPOILERT, LEUCHTEN\ufffdBERWACHUNG, BORDCOMPUTER, SONNENDACH, SCHALENSITZE VORNE UND HINTEN MOTORHAUBE GLASSFASER AUTOMATISCHE ATENNE BEHEITZTE AUSSENSPIEGEL VHB: KOMPLETT 10 TDM OHNE MUSIKANLAGE NUR 9 TDM KONTAKT: Tel. 0172 1687531 oder Mail. pitundco@gmx.de"}, {"response": 39, "author": "Logan", "date": "Thu, Nov 16, 2000 (12:26)", "body": "Hi! K\ufffdnnte mir vielleicht wer Schaltpl\ufffdne vom 480er schicken? Ich bin bei meinem 480er mit meinem Latein am Ende, und mit \ufffdber 200DM sind mir die Werkst\ufffdttenhandb\ufffdcher ein weniger zu teuer. W\ufffdr ganz toll, wenn Du das k\ufffdnntest. Vielen Dank im Voraus Rainer"}, {"response": 40, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Thu, Nov 16, 2000 (15:14)", "body": "Hi Rainer! cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 6, "subject": "Austin Healey", "response_count": 19, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "volvo480turbo", "date": "Mon, Jun 30, 1997 (03:28)", "body": ""}, {"response": 2, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (18:15)", "body": "Aah, Refreshing! Something not about the Volvo 480 (and not in German!)! What kind of 3000 did you have? A four-seater? A four-cylinder?"}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (18:18)", "body": "It was only a 2 seater. I don't remember much about the engine. There were some *very minimal* seating behind the two front seats, but you had to practically sit sideways. Which actually was ok, it so much fun to ride."}, {"response": 4, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Nov  4, 1997 (15:05)", "body": "Sheesh! I couldn't resist looking here! My first sporstscar experiences were as a 7 or 8 year old in the back \"seat\" of one of my uncle's 4 AH 3000's. The gauges! The noises! The lack of a top! The wood steering wheel! I was S-O-L-D! I absorbrd a lot of shade-tree tinkering knowledge messing with the silly SU carbs with the cool-looking \"dashpots\", and learned that wire wheels are a pain in the ass let alone splined hubs with knock-offs. Thanks Terry, another conference to add!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Nov  4, 1997 (16:08)", "body": "How about a topic on shade tree mechanicing? So, would you get a Healey now if you could get a good deal on one. There's an ad in the Austin paper for an \"imitation\" AH 3000, but I want the real thing!"}, {"response": 6, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov  4, 1997 (16:35)", "body": "Frank: \"Thanks Terry, another conference to add!\" Thank you, Frank! Now this conference will start rolling! What's the name of the imitation, Terry? I've heard of Silverstone, but I don't know how good it is. I don't think I've ever had any real sportscar experiences; maybe I got a lift in an MGB once. I remember going to the country with my brother once, and we were passed by a Jensen Interceptor. I've also seen Lotuses and Porsches in Jamaica, and an MGA and either a Ferrari Daytona or a Daytona replica here in Quer\ufffdtaro, but that's about it. I do, however, subscribe to Road & Track !"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Nov  4, 1997 (17:10)", "body": "Would I buy a Healey? No. They go for 10 grand around here (NY) and for that money I could leave behind the low ground clearance and chancey suspension. But the big Healey had plenty power, eh? MGA's are a pain because they're too easily over-revved and BANG, valve job. Porsches, I don't like a car that looks like a toad. Jags I like. A nice Alfa maybe ( I look at Milanos more than I should). And I too have been an R&T subscriber for years and years."}, {"response": 8, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (10:23)", "body": "Frank: \"Porsches, I don't like a car that looks like a toad.\" So why do you have a dune buggy, then? :-} IMO, the Alfa Romeo Spider is likely the most beautiful car in creation. I have FOUR R&T's to look forward to when I get home on Saturday! WHOOO-HAAA!"}, {"response": 9, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (11:00)", "body": "Yeah, I like getting those magazines, just when I need 'em! I laughed when I saw the (touche) comment about the buggy! Y'know Meyers produced a buggy with the name Tow'd. People tell me it looks like Scooby Doo should own mine. My favorite design's the Dino 246 Ferrari or the 330LM. The Alfa spider does come close though. It's the PininFarina styling"}, {"response": 10, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Nov  5, 1997 (11:27)", "body": "PininFarina has designed some serious duds , too, but I don't remember what they are. The Cadillac Allant\ufffd wasn't that inspiring!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (07:43)", "body": "Modern equivalents of the Austin-Healey 3000? Maybe the BMW Z3 2.8. If they made a convertible version of the 240SX, maybe that. Gileras & TVRs maybe (n.a./U.S.). A modern Sprite? The Suzuki Capuccino (n.a./U.S.). The Miata's too big, more like an MGB competitor."}, {"response": 12, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (09:37)", "body": "Good comparo Sam. What's a Gilera car? Bikes maybe but what car?"}, {"response": 13, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (12:23)", "body": "How do these stack up against the original Healy 3000?"}, {"response": 14, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (18:17)", "body": "I think it's Gilera, but I may be wrong. It's an English kit car. I know there was an Italian bike named Gilera, last built by Piaggio, but I don't think there's any relation between the car and the bike. I have no idea how they compare, but they're about the same size and have about the same intent."}, {"response": 15, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Jan  3, 1998 (18:11)", "body": "Re: Gilera car. I was wrong! It's a Ginetta"}, {"response": 16, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Jan  3, 1998 (18:11)", "body": "Re: Gilera car. I was wrong! It's a Ginetta !"}, {"response": 17, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (09:41)", "body": "I thought Ginetta was gone? Interesting. I think that's a kitcar Sam, the Ginetta GT. Time to look it up..."}, {"response": 18, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Jan  5, 1998 (18:51)", "body": "Was viable up until about two years ago, hadn't heard anything about it since, including any news about it's demise. Is it really gone? Yes they made kit cars, but they also built some (most?) of them at the works."}, {"response": 19, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Jan  6, 1998 (10:35)", "body": "How 'bout a \"kit\" topic? cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 7, "subject": "the chrysler sebring convertible", "response_count": 86, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Aug  3, 1997 (04:49)", "body": "I'm a big Dodge Caravan / Plymouth Voyager fan. What does Sebring look like? If you give me some pointers, I'll do a nonscientific survery of the Texas roadways whre I travel."}, {"response": 2, "author": "480es", "date": "Sun, Aug  3, 1997 (07:26)", "body": "Does anyone have info's about the Plymouth Prowler ? Would like some pictures of it . Thanks Guido .."}, {"response": 3, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Aug  3, 1997 (22:10)", "body": "Semtex says he knows someone who just bought one in Albuquerque NM. The Plymouth Sebring that is. Still looking for one. We'll be on the look out for a Prowler also. Have you tried a net search Guido?"}, {"response": 4, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Sep 13, 1997 (12:00)", "body": "I'm still on the look out!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (19:17)", "body": "The new Chrysler Sebring Convertible is the replacement for the LeBaron Convertible, and is almost as good looking. I have no idea how reliable it is."}, {"response": 6, "author": "480es", "date": "Tue, Oct 21, 1997 (18:18)", "body": "How about The Delorean? Do you all like it?"}, {"response": 7, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Oct 21, 1997 (18:28)", "body": "DeLorean...It looked interesting when it was manufactured. What will it do? How does it compare against Porsches of the same era? All I know about the DeLorean was that it was designed and built by the DeLorean Motor Company with assistance from the British governmant and Lotus Engineering, that it was mid-engined with a Renault V-6 engine, that it had a steel spine frame (Lotus influence?) and a composite body with a stainless steel skin, that it was in the \"Back To The Future\" movies (and that it could at least attain a speed of 88 mph!) and that it was struggling to survive when John Z. DeLorean was arrested for trafficking in co aine (later acquitted). I have no idea of what the car was capable of (over and above 88 mph, that is!)"}, {"response": 8, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Oct 22, 1997 (02:14)", "body": "What do you mean \"mid-engined\"?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Oct 22, 1997 (10:49)", "body": "A mid-engined car, like the Fiat X-1/9 or the Lamborghini Countach (talk about extremes!), has the engine behind the driver but in front of the rear wheels. Other mid-engined cars of note are (affordable): the Pontiac Fiero, the Toyota MR2, (semi-affordable): the Porsche 914, (unaffordable) the Porsche Boxster, the Ferrari 308, Lamborghini Urracco, Lamborghini Jalpa, Lotus Esprit (REALLY unaffordable) Lamborghini Miura, Countach, Diablo, Ferrari Testarossa, F40, Bugatti EB110, Vector, etc. Most racing cars nowadays are mid-engined."}, {"response": 10, "author": "yves", "date": "Sat, Oct 25, 1997 (03:53)", "body": "The mid-engined get you the best gravity center = best handling but less iterior space. But what's about Vetts, Cobra, Viper... Yves"}, {"response": 11, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Oct 26, 1997 (10:40)", "body": "The Cobra was one of the last front-engined sports racers to win consistently. The current (C5) Corvette has a rear-mounted transmission ( a la late '50's - early '60's racing cars, the Ferrari Daytona, and the Porsche 928) for better rwd traction. The Viper is an attempt to revive the spirit of the Cobra. It seems to be successful in doing so."}, {"response": 12, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Oct 26, 1997 (11:11)", "body": "The mid-engine layout is only useful with sports cars, or maybe with vans and pickup trucks. I'll continue this discussion in the topic on \"Engine Placement\""}, {"response": 13, "author": "yves", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (02:02)", "body": "Your right on for the Viper vs Cobra, Chrysler eaven put the same stripes on it's Viper."}, {"response": 14, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (09:46)", "body": "I hear they're still making the Chrysler Sebring, and I'm on the lookout for these species."}, {"response": 15, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 27, 1997 (10:42)", "body": "They only started making them about two or three years ago! They should be around! Especially since the convertible is the replacement for the Le Baron Convertible, the best selling, or second-best selling convertible of its time! BTW, the Sebring Convertible is not based on the Sebring Coupe, but on the Cirrus sedan."}, {"response": 16, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Nov 30, 1997 (12:13)", "body": "Saw one on Thursday morning. White with black top."}, {"response": 17, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Dec  1, 1997 (11:06)", "body": "It's the best convertible deal for the money, very nice looking. They're selling all they make."}, {"response": 18, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Dec  1, 1997 (23:36)", "body": "As expected for the replacement for the Le Baron Convertible. I still prefer the looks of the LeBaron, but the Sebring has grown on me."}, {"response": 19, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Dec  2, 1997 (10:40)", "body": "Hey y'know you can do a body-kit job on the old LeBaron to make it a ringer for the Benz 500SL? Think about it!"}, {"response": 20, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Dec  2, 1997 (18:47)", "body": "The LeBaron looks better than the 500SL IMO."}, {"response": 21, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Dec  3, 1997 (10:59)", "body": "The new Sebring looks better than both IMHO. I guess the least expensive adult-size convert you can buy? And women look good in it!"}, {"response": 22, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Dec  4, 1997 (21:10)", "body": "I don't know; the Sebring Convertible doesn't look that much better than the LeBaron it replaced. What convertible don't women look good in? (A Hummer convertible, maybe?)"}, {"response": 23, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Dec  4, 1997 (22:05)", "body": "Speaking of hummers, I wish hummie would come by and join us (she started this topic)."}, {"response": 24, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Fri, Dec  5, 1997 (10:10)", "body": "Favorite babe-driven convert: '97 Pontiac T/A, all white Least favorite: Saab 900, any color Medium turn-on value: Open Jeep Wrangler Reviews by Frank, sportbike-ridin' observeur supreme..(o;"}, {"response": 25, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Dec  5, 1997 (21:44)", "body": "Really hated the so-called \"Mercury Capri\", Mazda 323-based front drive \"roadster\", that came out shortly after Mazda got it almost perfectly right with the Miata. What's wrong with the SAAB 900? Better that the VW Cabrio IMHO! Refrigerator white, please! What I'd really like to see is a BIG convertible, maybe Grand Marquis-based!"}, {"response": 26, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Dec  6, 1997 (12:24)", "body": "True, there should be a big-boat convert somewhere. I dunno Sam, the Saab looks even more weird without the top, to me. Beltline on a convert should be kept stylistically as low as possible, and that shape can't do it. And BTW the Saab seems uncharacterstically cramped in convertible form; my wife's boss had one and it felt like you were under a table inside!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Dec  7, 1997 (01:13)", "body": "As far as I'm concerned, the 900 Convertible just looks like a 900 without a top. Granted, one wonders a bit about a company that always followed a functional esthetic producing a convertible at all, but I don't mind it (at least the original convertible, I don't know how the Opel Vectra-based 900 Convertible looks!) I was hoping that Buick would have made a convertible version of the Roadmaster, but it's been discontinued for about two years. Lincoln-Mercury is now my only hope, unless GM or Chrysler (or Toyota?) makes one based on a truck platform (4 x 2 only, please!)"}, {"response": 28, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (13:48)", "body": "i don't like saabs at all. whatsoever. but the sebring is competing in my mind with a porsche 944 (an everyday kind of porsche -- i do not at this moment aspire to the 911SC, which i once had and adored, or the 356 or the speedster, which i venerate) i am going to be doing a LOT of driving for a while, and i want something that will not leave me to weep by the side of the road during a rainstorm at night and is yet less ugly and utilitarian than a honda civic. it should be procurable in dark green with a tan interior or something like that, anyway. i do not drive white cars... by the way, i checked out the prowler. no. i liked the way it looked, but it sort of sucks as transportation, in my humble opinion."}, {"response": 29, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Dec  9, 1997 (23:18)", "body": "Less ugly and utilitarian than a Civic; not looking for a Citroen 2CV or a Subaru Forester, are you? VW Golf convertible? Mazda MX-5 Miata? Audi Convertible? If the Prowler sucks as transportation, I dare not mention the Honda Nighthawk! Why is everyone a SAAB non-fan? What's wrong with them? BTW: White & yellow are the most visible colours. Goes with that old adage of two-wheelers: \"Be seen & not HURT!\""}, {"response": 30, "author": "yves", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (01:31)", "body": "I don't like SAAB to, and don't know why. Probably a look that we are'nt use to. There's no a lot around here. Colors: The white is'nt a good one (yes to dam snow :o)). The red is a good one but popular belief is that red catch coops attention (NOT good). But I owned a red Sunbird and didn't had tikets."}, {"response": 31, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (11:23)", "body": "The prowler's not meant to be \"practical\" in any way, just a head-turner. The Saabs are really well-done, just old-fashioned funny looking! And I believe the key is where it is just for different's sake. And though the VW's a box, it works really well with the top down as do the others; no noise and very little looseness. Learned 2 things about red this year: that it's the most expensive paint to buy by far, and insurance companies in certain states rate higher because it's the color most involved in accidents and violations! Yellow's my favorite."}, {"response": 32, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (14:11)", "body": "i saw a little citroen about the size of a morris minor or a vwbug. it was, in my opinion, less ugly than the large citroen, and sort of cute in a wet puppy sort of way. i am told by people who love citroens that the citroen is a car that you have to ride in to appreciate. i don't like the shape of the saabs i've seen. i did drive a volvo for many years -- it was a nice car although somewhat gutless on the uphill, and very comfortable. what i liked about the volvo is also something i liked about the vwbug: the design is fairly stable in terms of the way it looks, so the car doesn't look outdated so quickly. my father, who was a car hound, drove a 31 modelA cabriolet as a commute car into the sixties & gave it up for a vw bug which he kept until his death in 1980. i inherited the car, which i loved, (he gave my sister the 57 tbird hardtop convertible) and drove it until the axle fell apart, at last. i'm wondering now: what's the 97 equivalent of the model A??"}, {"response": 33, "author": "Afor", "date": "Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (18:34)", "body": "The Citroen about the size of a Morris Minor or VW Bug is the 2CV (Deux Chevaux) They stopped making them in 1987 and I have been grieving them ever since! Tell your sister to be very careful! There are people who will do anything to own a '57 T-Bird! The '97 equivalent of a Model A, in terms of basic transportation, is probably the Toyota Corolla, or the Honda CIviv you hate so much. Which is more practical, a Plymouth Prowler, or a Honda PC800? :-]"}, {"response": 34, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Thu, Dec 11, 1997 (11:50)", "body": "Gotta go with the PC Sam. Cost, maintenance, insurance, mileage, mobility, reliablity, it's all there. Prowler: head-turner, weak performance, undoubtedly high insurance, etc."}, {"response": 35, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Dec 11, 1997 (21:34)", "body": "I don't know...Just got e-mail from Leslie, who doesn't like the PC800 based on a test ride. Didn't give any details, but I figure from XRoads that Leslie went into it with an open mind, so... Then again, the concept is still quite appealing."}, {"response": 36, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Thu, Dec 11, 1997 (22:00)", "body": "Hey how come Leslie's not at Spring? Maybe the PC's so damn quiet it's hard to feel it's a bike!"}, {"response": 37, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Dec 12, 1997 (06:18)", "body": "Leslie said something about the system timing out during attempts to post messages. Gave up. Still no details..."}, {"response": 38, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Dec 15, 1997 (20:11)", "body": "Brandon's got a SAAB 900 and LOVES it! I fondly refer to them as 'slobs.' Because I can."}, {"response": 39, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Dec 15, 1997 (23:43)", "body": "\"Slobs\" sounds more like a definition of mid '70s Buicks than SAABs..."}, {"response": 40, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Dec 17, 1997 (20:24)", "body": "yeah. but the alliteration just isn't there with the Buick."}, {"response": 41, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (09:03)", "body": "If I remember correctly, Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Mercury, Lincoln and Plymouth are all convertible-less at present (although the 1999 Prowler is promised early next year, with MORE POWER! arr arr arr! By God, it needs it!). And here I thought convertibles were luxury cars! Mercedes-Benz does not make any 4-seat convertibles at present, leaving BMW and Audi to battle in the prestige German convertible sector. Jaguar has targeted Mercedes-Benz with their XK-8. The Aston Martin DB7 Volante is beyond the reach of mere mortals, and one can buy two of those for the price of a Bentley Azure! My current convertible wish list: Mazda MX-5 Miata VW Golf Cabrio (is it available with the VR6?) Chrysler Sebring Convertible SAAB 900 Convertible (base or V-6) Audi Cabrio BMW 323i Convertible (318i no longer made) BMW Z3 (either 1.9 or 2.8) Chevrolet Camaro Chevrolet Corvette Dodge Viper RT/10 That's it? I'm sure there were others! I'll check!"}, {"response": 42, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (09:05)", "body": "There are no Fords, Jaguars or Mercedes-Benzes in the list. That was intentional. What was not intentional was the ommission of the Morgan +8!"}, {"response": 43, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (10:39)", "body": "A Cabrio V6 would be something eh? A flying box!"}, {"response": 44, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Dec 27, 1997 (19:18)", "body": "Indeed!"}, {"response": 45, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Tue, Dec 30, 1997 (14:27)", "body": "the morgan is a beautiful little car. i almost bought one. you forgot to put the weird little citroen convertible on your list -- the cv"}, {"response": 46, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Jan  1, 1998 (15:48)", "body": "Oh, yes, the 2CV; as one magazine I've read put it, it either has the world's best sunroof or the world's worst convertible top. I prefer to think of it as the former, but it is, technically, a convertible. Thanks for noting the omission, Hummie! The Mazda 121 (n.a./U.S.) has a similar top as an option."}, {"response": 47, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Wed, Jan  7, 1998 (20:08)", "body": "happy new year. now. what about the New Bug? at 15,000 USD it sounds pretty good. and in SIX colors, yet! the vwbug web page is pretty nice, and has a very amusing table comparing the old bug with the new bug. i think i want one, if approves..."}, {"response": 48, "author": "Afor", "date": "Thu, Jan  8, 1998 (06:27)", "body": "I personally think the New Bug is a sad & sick joke. The original Bug was just that, original. This one is a cynical marketing exercise. Inline front engine, front drive, liquid cooling, nothing there says Bug to me!"}, {"response": 49, "author": "yves", "date": "Fri, Jan  9, 1998 (05:40)", "body": "I saw it on TV. It's a very weird desing. But if I remember the first Civic I saw, it was ugly, and they are still there. Maby youngsters will adopt it."}, {"response": 50, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Fri, Jan  9, 1998 (12:09)", "body": "Agreed Yves. Though Sam's got a point with the company using shape as a come-on, I think many younger drivers would be attracted to it for the looks and overall basic engineering (for today). Gone are the days when a VW owner could discover their mechanical ability by putting a worried wrench to their own car. It's a car i'd look at to buy my daughter when she gets her license."}, {"response": 51, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Jan 10, 1998 (06:37)", "body": "I don't mind the look of the new Beetle. What I do mind is that VW is using the facade of an idea they no longer believe in so as to cash in on the nostalgia craze. This is about as bad as fake fins on watercooled bikes!!"}, {"response": 52, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Jan 10, 1998 (11:43)", "body": "Pretty close analogy! I belong to the VW lists and many feel they've been sold out, including the water-cooled crew. Be interesting to know what Germans and other Euros feel about it. Fake fins very much like the \"spoilers\" on the trunklids of Civics, etc.!"}, {"response": 53, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Jan 11, 1998 (00:03)", "body": "Those \"spoilers\" do what they say; they spoil the look :-["}, {"response": 54, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sun, Jan 11, 1998 (00:11)", "body": "OBTW, have you read this month's Side Glances column in Road & Track ? Peter Egan wrote about cars that broke all class & social barriers; cars like the Model A, the Citroen 2CV, the MG TC, the SAAB 92 and 93, the VW Beetle, the Austin-Healey Sprite, the BMC Mini, etc. He was hard pressed to come up with modern equivalents, eventually naming the Miata, the soft-top Jeep Wrangler, and, oddly enough, the Dodge Neon. He couldn't think of any European car to fit the bill."}, {"response": 55, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Mon, Jan 12, 1998 (12:27)", "body": "what about the ford pickup? what is it, 250? does not the poor cowboy and the rich horse lady aspire to it?"}, {"response": 56, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Jan 12, 1998 (18:15)", "body": "Hey here the rich horse ladies go for the RRovers & Suburbans bigtime. And the pickup guys want the big Dodge RamCharger."}, {"response": 57, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan 12, 1998 (21:19)", "body": "A friend of mine just got the big Dodge Diesel pickup and he's real happy with it."}, {"response": 58, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Jan 13, 1998 (10:59)", "body": "Huge and expensive Terry! Does he use it for some kind of heavy work? Here they tow horses and large boats. The diesel lasts forever."}, {"response": 59, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan 13, 1998 (11:48)", "body": "Andy's using it for his construction business. He was sure raving about it."}, {"response": 60, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Fri, Jan 16, 1998 (18:43)", "body": "alas. the california horse ladies want the toyota rava, the jeep, and, of course the bmw."}, {"response": 61, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Jan 16, 1998 (22:57)", "body": "erm, and what bmw might that be?"}, {"response": 62, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Jan 17, 1998 (10:38)", "body": "The biggest one they can lease IMO!"}, {"response": 63, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Mon, Jan 19, 1998 (16:46)", "body": "ha! now tell me please what is this volvo thingie i hear about an allwheeldrive volvo. is it still the station wagon they're talking about? and what is the little honda jeep looking thing? please help me. i must buy a car soon and do not wish to embarrass myself."}, {"response": 64, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Jan 19, 1998 (16:56)", "body": "Yes, the Volvo AWDs areall-wheel drive versions of the front-wheel drive station wagons. The Honda CR-V is marketed as a mini-SUV, but I prefer to think of it as a new Civic Wagon, especially since it's now available with front-wheel drive."}, {"response": 65, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Tue, Jan 20, 1998 (11:31)", "body": "oh. i want a car that i can drive to death, haul stuff in, put my dog in (he is a large black lab) and yet, somehow, manage to retain some semblance of decorum (translation: i am sick to death of my pickup truck) and perhaps even elegance. i want something i can take to the airport and not have to keep transferring luggage all over the car. i want to be able to take my dog AND the luggage AND the people to the airport... sigh..."}, {"response": 66, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Wed, Jan 21, 1998 (10:10)", "body": "I kinda think a medium-line minivan would do it better than a mini \"truck\". The little trucks (CR-V, RAV4, Sidekick,etc) are really staion-wagons with high centers of gravity and short wheelbases, if you get my meaning. A well chosen minivan is somewhat more utilitarian all round. If ypou need to haul a dog & \"stuff', you can pull the seats on the minivan, but not in the SUVs."}, {"response": 67, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Jan 21, 1998 (10:19)", "body": "Minivan came to my mind. Dodge/Chrysler seem to have the best, although I'm sure I'd get some debate on this!"}, {"response": 68, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Wed, Jan 21, 1998 (17:22)", "body": "but are there any PRETTY minivans, or do they all look like something designed for my GRANDMOTHER????"}, {"response": 69, "author": "yves", "date": "Thu, Jan 22, 1998 (04:37)", "body": "Think that you'll have to look at trailers :o)"}, {"response": 70, "author": "terry", "date": "Thu, Jan 22, 1998 (07:33)", "body": "I actually like the grandmotherly look of the older Dodge Carvans than the bulbous look of the sleek new models. I got my 89 Caravan for $700 and dopeed a $1500 rebuild in to it. If I did it again, I would get a better quality rebuild. I may do it again soon, get a second mini-van."}, {"response": 71, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Thu, Jan 22, 1998 (16:40)", "body": "so i went to http://www.chrysler.com (which looks to be having some trouble with pop-ups when i was there) and looked at the minivans. i dunno. can we have more suggestions please?"}, {"response": 72, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Thu, Jan 22, 1998 (17:07)", "body": "Neighbor just bought a Chevy Venture minivan, very versatile and well priced at 21K. Check www.edmunds.com for good comparisons."}, {"response": 73, "author": "Afor", "date": "Fri, Jan 23, 1998 (05:17)", "body": "How about a Honda Odyssey? Or the Volkswagen Caravelle?"}, {"response": 74, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jan 23, 1998 (05:21)", "body": "Or the Mazda minivan? I'm not recommending this because I haven't driven it, I just got interested because of their ads."}, {"response": 75, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Fri, Jan 23, 1998 (09:06)", "body": "The Mazda MPV is it? It's a good looker, but it's construction all round is pretty light IMO, as with their cars. Underpowered also. So for the rather high price you can get a more substantial \"real\" minivan from Dodge, etc. The Odyssey's fault is also price, though it's stylish and of good quality. Another option, though again they aren't cheap, is a pickup with extended cab and a cap. Mom's won't drive 'em, but they last and do the job."}, {"response": 76, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jan 23, 1998 (10:56)", "body": "What about a sport utility?"}, {"response": 77, "author": "humdog2", "date": "Fri, Jan 23, 1998 (14:11)", "body": "the sport utility. that is interesting. is it possible to get one for less than the price of a small house? i have for sometime lusted in my heart after the cj7 jeep and the hummer. unfortunately i had to dismiss the hummer because of its price and dieselness. i am told also that the jeep is easy to turn over on twisty roads. my part of california is full of almost nothing but teensy twisty mountain roads. the bad thing about a convertible for me is that i will be arguing with my dog about chasing interesting things by leaping out of the car. he is an enthusiast. i suppose also that this impulse of his would shred the hell out of the fabric top on the jeep. in the porsche he fit very nicely in back of the front seats, and had his own rug there and was quite pleased with the arrangement,as he would stretch out and snooze on that shelfy thing there. he was not allowed to touch the leather. sigh. it is an impossibility."}, {"response": 78, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jan 23, 1998 (21:45)", "body": "What part of California? I used to live out in Occidental and know what you're talking about. I'm also pondering a new vehicle and it's between another mini-van and a sport utility. I'm just starting to research it."}, {"response": 79, "author": "yves", "date": "Sat, Jan 24, 1998 (00:48)", "body": "A Grand Cherokee maybe? A big SUV, lot of cargo..."}, {"response": 80, "author": "Afor", "date": "Sat, Jan 24, 1998 (11:10)", "body": "How about a Ford Club Wagon, or whatever the passenger version of the Econoline is called (i.e. a full sized van) If it's not individual enough, maybe give it a psychedelic paint job?"}, {"response": 81, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Sat, Jan 24, 1998 (11:25)", "body": "Both the Grand and the Club are huge, fairly gas-intensive vehicles. The vans generally don't have AWD or 4WD unless you pay much more. Being a guy with 2 kids, a dog down the road for sure, and plenty of bad weather and twisties to live with, my homework concluded that I'll happily pay about $20K for a loaded Subaru Forester this spring. It focuses down to every practicality the best for the money. Having driven a CJ for a while, they're good for a single person who can stand the spartan construction and noise, and they hold their value. A $45K Hummer? Ridiculous. It's a military transport period, no matter how cool they look on rap videos. Now the \"Hummbug\" and other kitbodies that drop on a VW pan for $5K, those I could like..."}, {"response": 82, "author": "yves", "date": "Sun, Jan 25, 1998 (02:53)", "body": "Frank, you owned a CJ? Tell me about the road handling on snow. I've tried one last summer on a gravel road and didn\"t been very impressed. Kind of a dancig car. But maybe I was wrong."}, {"response": 83, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Mon, Jan 26, 1998 (09:28)", "body": "I shared a CJ with a roommate a while back. On snow, it went. In rain I always felt it would skid. Trying to grab a parking spot in NYC I \"almost\" rolled it, stood it on 2 wheels turning. As a short distance car in a rural area, probably pretty good."}, {"response": 84, "author": "yves", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (00:23)", "body": "You confirm what I was suspecting. I like the look, the 4WD, but all year car, don't think so."}, {"response": 85, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Tue, Apr  2, 2002 (15:57)", "body": "\"but are there any PRETTY minivans, or do they all look like something designed for my GRANDMOTHER????\" - Carmen Hermosillo Well, since the last post, Chrysler came up with the PT Cruiser. This sounds like what you want..."}, {"response": 86, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Apr  3, 2002 (08:46)", "body": "I can't make up my mind about the PT Cruiser, I've never ridden in one and they look sort of appealing on the outside. But I'd probably rather have a minivan than a minivan lite or a minivan genx. I'm curious about the SUV/truck combo vehicles that have started to appear, *that's* what I'd really like to see up close. cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 8, "subject": "Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Voyager - classic minivans", "response_count": 7, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "Afor", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (19:23)", "body": "I have never before heard of a Chrysler Voyager. Plymouth Voyagers, yes. Chrysler Town & Country, yes. Never a Chrysler Voyager, unless that's the name they're sold under in Europe. I personally prefer the old VW Microbus."}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (20:57)", "body": "That was a typo, it should be what you said."}, {"response": 3, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (14:44)", "body": "Plymouth Voyager it should read."}, {"response": 4, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (09:32)", "body": "I once had a VW Microbus. What an adventure."}, {"response": 5, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Tue, Apr  2, 2002 (15:59)", "body": "Well, there are Chrysler Voyagers now... mainly 'coz there's no longer any such thing as Plymouth...grrrrr..."}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Apr  3, 2002 (08:47)", "body": "I didn't know the Voyager was still around, reminds me I've got to get my Dodge Caravan (89) out of the shop today, major undercarriage work!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Wed, Apr  3, 2002 (17:01)", "body": "Voyager is still around; it's a Chrysler now. cars conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 9, "subject": "Where are all the car fans?", "response_count": 22, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Oct 20, 1997 (20:58)", "body": "Y'all can crossover. That's what I'm asking myself, where are the car fans. There is life outside of Volvos?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Oct 21, 1997 (11:07)", "body": "My question is, \"Is there life inside Volvos?\" Actually, there must be, otherwise all the effort Volvo goes into to protect & preserve life is going to waste!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Nov  4, 1997 (10:44)", "body": "O.K., there are no minivan fans here, no supercar fans here, no Subaru fans here, no Morgan fans here! Does anyone here even read Road & Track ? Yeesh! Where can I find a site that actually discusses cars? Apart from Volvo 480's that is!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "doug", "date": "Fri, Jan 23, 1998 (22:02)", "body": "Terry, you should find the guy who has the Austin Cool Car Club I bet he has a great database. He would broker deals for people who wanted to rent out there bad ass cars to the Motion Picture business or commercials. He would get into this!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Feb 10, 1998 (04:14)", "body": "All gone again?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Tue, Feb 10, 1998 (09:03)", "body": "Well Sam I'm still sniffin around here. Seems like it's just you & I. Folks post and never return?! And I've been reading a little; the new VW, the Chrysler musclecar thing, kitcars, rods, etc."}, {"response": 7, "author": "yves", "date": "Tue, Feb 10, 1998 (10:15)", "body": "Hey guys, I'm still here. But don't have alot to say espacialy after both of you had put down your great knowledge :o) For now, I'm on buying a snowmobile."}, {"response": 8, "author": "Afor", "date": "Tue, Feb 10, 1998 (19:17)", "body": "Well, at least we all still look. I'm trying to think of something interesting from the February issue of Road & Track , but nothing comes to mind. Are cars really becoming that stale?"}, {"response": 9, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Feb 10, 1998 (23:01)", "body": "We need to *pump it up*; I miss all the traffic. Should we try and get some links from the more popular car web sites?"}, {"response": 10, "author": "Cafe", "date": "Thu, Feb 12, 1998 (07:56)", "body": "Well, I can post around AOL car chats, much as I hate going there. Its hard to sit around waiting to find an intelligent being to give the URL to! Lemme think a little on this.."}, {"response": 11, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (14:45)", "body": "Frank Susca, wonder where he is these days?"}, {"response": 12, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, May 12, 2000 (14:48)", "body": "They are all male and have a drivers license and I qualify in neither category. You gotta go out and grab them back, just as I have been doing - shamelessly - for Geo. Just wish the train-hoppers would respond in the Austin conference..."}, {"response": 13, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (09:20)", "body": "I sent them emails, but most of their email addresses have changed."}, {"response": 14, "author": "sprin5", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (09:33)", "body": "No idea how to reach El Sam Blob, most of them were from Europe and much of this conference was in German language."}, {"response": 15, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sat, May 13, 2000 (13:41)", "body": "How odd... Have seen Sam's name often from long-ago posts but nothing since I came \"down\" out of Drool (or, is it \"over\"?!) At least, I responded to your post yeaterday before I got the email...Guess the rest are looking for a place to park?"}, {"response": 16, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, May  4, 2001 (00:23)", "body": "And there was the motorcycle conference, which had it's rise and fall, I just posted a couple of things there."}, {"response": 17, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Sun, Feb  3, 2002 (15:44)", "body": "Hi, folks! I was just clearing out my e-mail and came across one from Terry reminding me about this place. I came back but couldn't remember my password (it has been four years...) so I signed up under a new name."}, {"response": 18, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Feb  3, 2002 (16:22)", "body": "Where are you? I'm in Hawaii (seems that's the suject of this topic.) For some perverse reason, the day is way too sunny and beautiful to stay inside to watch the Superbowl. Oh well, got the junk food and will make it disappear Hawaiian style."}, {"response": 19, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Sun, Feb  3, 2002 (17:35)", "body": "I am still in Kingston, Jamaica, the land of my birth. I was doing a work experience programme in Mexico some years ago and some of my posts were from there."}, {"response": 20, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Sun, Feb  3, 2002 (20:03)", "body": "Fascinating! You are at the same latitude as I am. You have no locally active volcanoes, thankfully. Your sort go BOOOM!!! Not good. We also have snow. You only have cricket (I LOVE cricket!) soft flowery nights and wonderful people. *sigh* If I did not live in Hawaii, I'd be envious!"}, {"response": 21, "author": "AlFor", "date": "Tue, Feb  5, 2002 (19:13)", "body": "And the most murders per capita of all the nations on Earth. We finally passed the Bahamas on that list (a few years ago, Jamaica was #4 and Bahamas was #1). I wonder if I shouldn't emigrate to somewhere safer, like New York or Los Angeles. Or Belfast or Beirut, for that matter..."}, {"response": 22, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Feb  5, 2002 (19:37)", "body": "Hilo is known for their level of violence - we seem to be too lazy to bother. My sympathies. Jamaica is supposed to be tropical, seductive and gentle. I wonder where we all lost it?! Honolulu is making up for the laid back-ness of Hilo. They can have it. Be safe! You are way too sensible and kind to be living in a world of killing - passion or not! cars conference Main Menu"}]}]}