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Wheels.3
Car Questions And Answers	Topic Home Topics Forum Home Forums Home Search Settings Help Exit

{Wheels.3.1}: Jil McIntosh {rabbit} Mon, 23 Feb 2004 15:14:10 CST (12 lines)

A place to ask questions about your car. No matter what it is -- why
is it making a funny noise? should I spend XXX on this car? what
kind of tires should I get? -- this is the place to ask.

There's a rule about this topic: No question asked is ever a "stupid
question". If you don't know the answer, it's a valid question.

Anyone who mocks or laughs at someone asking a question will have
their posting erased. It's never happened, because we've got a great
bunch of people in here, but just so that you know up front.

Ask away!

{Wheels.3.2}: Patrice B. {patrice} Tue, 24 Feb 2004 18:16:18 CST (4 lines)

and the last dozen postings in this thread are at
{Wheels.Old_Wheels.12.-12-} for registered folks.  I'll post that and
then go see who was asking what (cuz I know I had 8 new postings in
there to read this morning. ;-)

{Wheels.3.3}: Patrice B. {patrice} Tue, 24 Feb 2004 18:22:32 CST (13 lines)

Ah, "best wiper blades" was our thread.  Mine are trashed now, but I
hate to replace them before "mud season" ...They're just gonna get
ground for a couple weeks soon....

I tried the triple wiper blade configuration awhile back, but I don't
think they did anything better than the one blade deal.  Haven't
tried anything 'pink', though...but I'd like to!  I just like the
idea of a color on the white mazda.

Mine get trashed because I forget to pull them off the widshields
when I park, they ice to the window, I don't have the patience to let
the defroster melt them off the windshield before I just rrrrip! 'em
back and scrape the dang windshield....

{Wheels.3.4}: 99 Saturn SW4 {kitty} Tue, 24 Feb 2004 19:12:10 CST (1 line)

You mean that's not how you're supposed to do it?

{Wheels.3.5}: {michael33} Tue, 24 Feb 2004 23:21:42 CST (0 lines)
{erased by michael33 Mon, 02 Oct 2006 05:58:44 CDT}

{Wheels.3.6}: '85 VW Vanagon; '89 Mazda 323 {patrice} Tue, 24 Feb 2004 23:34:16 CST (2 lines)

Most folks around here just replace their windshield every spring,
once the gravel sweepers have made a pass or two.

{Wheels.3.7}: Frank Vehafric {fvehafric} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 00:26:45 CST (2 lines)

No kidding. When I lived in Eastern Oregon, I think I went through
two or three windshields in six years.

{Wheels.3.8}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 08:34:35 CST (1 line)

Windshields?  Or just the wipers?

{Wheels.3.9}: 92 SVX, 59 TBird, 68 F250 {fvehafric} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 12:35:17 CST (1 line)

Windshields. Two on one car and one on a second car.

{Wheels.3.10}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 13:33:40 CST (7 lines)

Wow.  I've only had one windshield replaced ever.  And, it was only
because the trim around the windshield was peeling off.  At freeway
speeds it would make this loud and annoying buzzing sound.  The
dealership wouldn't do anything for me about it.  Ended up that the
only way to fix the problem was to replace the windshield.

Insurance paid for it and all.  But, it was a hassle in any case.

{Wheels.3.11}: 92 SVX, 59 TBird, 68 F250 {fvehafric} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 13:41:37 CST (4 lines)

When the roads get icy they put pumice gravel on them for traction.
Pumice weighs about as much as a marshmellow. It will actually float.
So chunks of it kicked up by tires can fly a long way at very high
speed.

{Wheels.3.12}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 13:53:41 CST (2 lines)

Ah!  That's interesting to know!  Around here, they lay down salt or
some chemical equivalent.

{Wheels.3.13}: Julia Gromek {julia76} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 14:25:22 CST (11 lines)

Hey guys,
I'm a brand new subcriber, so please excuse me if I screw something
up.  I've been struggling with whether I should buy a Honda Civic
Hybrid.  I'm in the market for a new car, and there are so many
beautiful cars that I have "crushes" on.  But when I think of what
would be the "right" thing to do environmentally, the Hybrid seems
the only option.  How do I reconcile my desire for a beautiful car,
and the environmental responsibility that comes with driving one?
Does anyone have any thoughts, or maybe personal experiences that
would help me with my decision?  Thank you so much,
Julia

{Wheels.3.14}: Doug White {dwhite} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 14:30:53 CST (2 lines)

Is the root of your problem that the hybrid is ugly, or that your
preferred car is more beautiful?

{Wheels.3.15}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 14:39:37 CST (8 lines)

Good question.

I have the same mixed feelings too.  Much more mixed when the only
option for a hybrid was the original Prius!  ;)

For the amount of mileage I put on commuting (around 40 miles per week
day), I should get a hybrid.  But, darn it, all of the cars I want are
all about POWER.

{Wheels.3.16}: Julia Gromek {julia76} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 14:45:28 CST (5 lines)

Lol...  I think the hybrid is a major improvement on the prius , but
it's not very sporty(only a 4 door, 4 cylinder), doesn't offer
leather seats or a sunroof.  And for $18,000 there are so many other
cars that do.  Maybe I'm being too shallow... The savings in gas will
probably pay back the extra money it costs.

{Wheels.3.17}: Jil {rabbit} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 15:12:17 CST (30 lines)

Julia, welcome!

I've driven the Prius and the Honda Insight; I'll be driving the
Honda Civic hybrid in a couple of weeks (I review cars). I like the
Civic design but of course design is such a subjective thing.

You drive a hybrid because you want to save the environment, not
because you want to save money. They cost more up front and probably
more to repair in the long run. I had someone do a cost analysis of
the Insight versus a Chevrolet Cavalier and the yearly difference
was $150. But that doesn't include the real cost of what comes out
the tailpipe.

I was fascinated by the Prius, but the reality of it is something
else again. When one of the other writers took it in for an oil
change, he had to show the mechanics how to drive it. If you're
stuck in Outside Of A Tree, Nowhere and it breaks down, even if it's
under warranty, can you get it fixed?

With Honda's system, if the electrical motor stops working, you
simply have a gutless gasoline car. I don't know how integrated the
Prius' synergy system is.

I thought you could get a sunroof in the hybrid, but it seems that
only the LX-sport offers one.

But you're not being shallow. A car has to fit you; you don't fit
the car. If you're buying a specific car simply because the
cupholders are in the right place, then that's a good reason. You're
the one who has to drive it.

{Wheels.3.18}: '85 VW VanagonGL; '89 Mazda 323 {patrice} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 15:16:59 CST (1 line)

Cars come with cupholders?   damn!

{Wheels.3.19}: Daniel Hagerty {captainbill} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 15:19:17 CST (7 lines)

>The savings in gas will probably pay back the extra money it costs.

Over a LONG time.  If a hybrid has, on average, a $2500 price premium
over a non-hybrid car, even if you get the most efficient gas mileage
possible, it will take you 150,000+ miles of driving before you see
yourself payed back for the extra money you spent to reduce your
environmental impact.

{Wheels.3.20}: '85 VW Vanagon; '89 Mazda 323 {patrice} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 15:57:05 CST (1 line)

paid back monetarily, that is.

{Wheels.3.21}: Joseph Kang {jsk} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 15:58:35 CST (7 lines)

For the time being (lord knows what the current US administration will
do), there is also a tax break on owning a (qualifying) hybrid vehicle
(for the first year of ownership ONLY).

More details are here:

"http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=104549,00.html"

{Wheels.3.22}: {michael33} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 16:22:29 CST (0 lines)
{erased by michael33 Mon, 02 Oct 2006 05:58:51 CDT}

{Wheels.3.23}: '85 VW Vanagon; '89 Mazda 323 {patrice} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 16:27:05 CST (2 lines)

Who made the "Sprint" years ago?  I remember my friend getting 50mpg
on the hwy in her Sprint back in '84

{Wheels.3.24}: {michael33} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 16:44:02 CST (0 lines)
{erased by michael33 Mon, 02 Oct 2006 05:58:54 CDT}

{Wheels.3.25}: Jil {rabbit} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 19:37:51 CST (4 lines)

'Twas also the Pontiac Firefly, in Canada.

The Insight is available with a constant velocity (automatic)
transmission on US models, too.

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