John writes:
How often should coolant hoses be replaced on older vehicles? And not just when they start to leak! Should it be based upon age, mileage, climate of operation, or what? For that matter, what about the other hoses conducting pressurized fluids, vapors and the like? We have guidelines for belts and serpentines, but hoses?
Walked into a HUMMER dealership lately? The poster child for everything wrong with the automotive industry went from a vibrant, stylish lounge for conspicuous consumption to a somber, museum-like tribute to modern architecture and failed business models. It’s a sad combination of soaring heights and eerie, uncomfortable silence. This also describes the Hummer H3T Alpha to the proverbial T: the brand’s failed promises of functionality and fashion for a premium price culminate into the worst product rollout of the 2009 model year.
TTAC reader Mockard writes:
As a web-savvy car enthusiast and budget autocrosser, I try to do a lot of reading before pulling the trigger on a big purchase. With a set of R-compounds now hitting the $800 mark, I want to make the most of my investment. The consensus seems to be that shaving tires can make them perform better and last longer, but I remain skeptical… The cynic in me suspects that shaving is just a way to reduce tire life and pad the shaver’s wallet to the tune of $10 a tire. Why couldn’t tire manufacturers just build tires “shaved” from the beginning, if there was a real advantage?
Here are some comments you don’t normally associate with the Ford Econoline: lack of manufacturer support and repair facilities, high repair cost and crippling loss of revenue during downtime. That’s what I gleaned from a Dodge Sprinter fansite and those comments came from one of the forum’s more even-handed members. Which explains the sea of Econolines (white paint, out of state plates) on the Bayou City’s expressways after the devastation of Hurricane Ike and not a single Sprinter. So let’s check out a Regency conversion van to find the Econoline’s inherent goodness, hmm-kay?
Mikey, TTAC’s personal window into the CAW, writes:
My 2001 Firebird 3800 V6 convertible will shear left hand motor mount bolts and break them off in the block. The first time it happened my mechanic replaced the original bolts with 8.8 hardness. It took 2 years and 15000 kms for them to shear again. This time he went to aircraft quality bolts: so far so good, but the car hasn’t moved 2000 kms since.
TTAC Commentator Heath writes:
A couple of months ago I got the SVT suspension for my Focus. Not want to blow the budget any more I left the 205/50/16s that the Focus came with and there is a unhealthy amount of sidewall flex with the 50 (Pirelli P6). The SVT had 215/45/17.
My question is when its time for new tires, should I go for 40 or the 45. I’d like to stay on the 16″ rims as don’t really want to get new 17″ rims as well.
Sajeev responds:
If you stay with 16″ rims and go for a lower profile tire, the change in circumference messes up the speedometer, gearing (lower profile means more gear and less economy) and increases the unsightly gap between the tire and the body. We did this for TTAC’s entry for the 24hours of LeMons, and the gearing advantage was totally worth it. On a street car? I doubt it.
Kevin writes:
I currently own a 2000 A6 Avant, and I’m moving from college to Chicago soon. I do love my car, except when it comes to paying the repair and gas bills. I’ve given up on anything even pretending to be sporty and I’d rather rent a car for track days.
I’m a consultant so I have to drive regardless of weather conditions, but maintain a sort-of-professional look (I’m afraid an F-150 won’t make it). My budget is less than $15,000 (2nd hand cars), and looking for a safe, reliable vehicle that doesn’t need lots of visits to the mechanic.
Sajeev responds:
I would recommend getting a Japanese or American sedan/CUV for maximum durability, efficiency and ease of finding cheap replacement parts. Steven Lang has mentioned that Toyotas, Hondas and some Detroit models fare well in the used car market. Which is good for you too: a last-gen Accord and the Ford Fusion have been reliable (in whatever short term evaluations I’ve seen) and are quite fun to drive to boot. One of my friends is a consultant (for one of the big firms) and his Accord EX fits the bill nicely.
TTAC hammers the auto manufacturers for their lack of branding fortitude on a daily basis. But my time earning an MBA mentioned something else: diversify your portfolio, lest you wither and die. Which, ’round these parts of the autoblogosphere, makes even more sense in tough financial times. So with RF’s blessing, The Truth About Cars ventures into the world of self-help auto advice. With a twist, because that’s how we roll.
Right. So here’s the plan. You email me (sajeev.mehta@thetruthaboutcars.com) with a question about your car. It can range from a technical or cosmetic problem, basic maintainence, performance modifications, or even make-specific used car purchasing advice. Using my 10+ years as a forum moderator and my accidential grease monkey knowledge, I will shine some light on the situation in true TTAC style. And that becomes a blog for the B&B to discuss. After all, the people who read this website have a collectively bottomless knowledge base, why not use it for the Greater Good?
Former Ford CEO Jac Nasser’s abrasive public persona during the Firestone tire debacle makes him the most memorable chapter in the Ford Explorer story. Like many famous Blue Oval products, the bean-counted SUV that rode on “traction B, temperature C”-rated donuts suffered a never-ending assault from the Big Chief himself. And now that the Explorer is gasping for breath, waiting for a Flex-based CUV to snatch its storied past, its nice to know the original never forgot its mission.
In theory, the Oldsmobile Aurora started something great for the GM’s Rocket division. In reality, the car that re-invigorated this brand died by the system that created it. Though Oldsmobile saw the writing on the wall, they didn’t go down without a fight. As the first TV spot proclaimed, “See what happens when you demand better?”
The marching orders from TTAC Central were clear: get my hands on a Pontiac G8 GXP and give the B&B a story. Locally, there were nine manually-transmission’d prospects in GM’s online inventory locator. But as Mr. Karesh later warned me, the hi-performance, rear wheel-drive muscle cars I found were nothing but a time sensitive mirage.
(Read More…)
My three-year anniversary with TTAC is rapidly approaching. After meeting many great people because of this website, it’s time to meet the Best and Brightest who hail from the Bayou City. This concrete jungle has plenty of automotive venues, so let’s make it happen with the finest iron on the road today. I suggest the “Cars and Coffee” event: a non-denominational, show-n-shine type of affair. There’ll be downhome hospitality, tasty cupcakes and Starbuck’s finest to take the chill out of the winter air. Or the winter heatwave off your face: everyone knows the weather in this town is more changeable than GM’s plans for Cadillac. See you there!
When: Saturday, February 7th, from 8:30 a.m. to whenever.
Where: The parking lot surrounding the Starbucks in 1151 Uptown Park. That’s at Post Oak Blvd at Highway 610. [Google map here.] The venue is family friendly.
Bonus! To indentify yourself from the riff-raff, the code word is “B&B.” Anyone wearing a lapel badge with those letters qualifies for one free Venti coffee, no drips, flavors, soy or other misegos.
I come before the Best and Brightest in search of technical enlightenment and Zen master like clarity. The problem? My tweaked Lincoln Mark VIII is losing its factory-fragile transmission, leaving a hot mess of smoky-pink fluid everywhere I park. So my car’s looking for a bailout, and spending a couple grand for my (don’t laugh) dream transmission is now a reality. A more efficient torque converter is on the must-have list: but what stall speed do I chooser? I’m looking for a converter that’ll send the Lincoln down the righteous path of lower ETs with effortless highway cruising and no drama when stuck in traffic. I think a 2500 stall unit is good for street/strip duties, but perhaps its too conservative. What about a 3000 stall converter? The fate of my timeslips (and checkbook) is in your hands. Thank you.
The Chevy TrailBlazer is the butt of many a joke, or outright Internet flame. And while many iterations of the GMT-360 platform are brand corrosive, unholy degradations of once-proud marques, the Bowtie Brand’s version remains a working mom’s utility vehicle. As one of our Best and Brightest once told me, buying a vehicle for its engine alone is totally acceptable. With that in mind, have I got a deal for you!
Fact: high school reunions make their attendees change their long-standing beliefs about their former classmates. Consider the quiet girl nobody noticed who turned into a beautiful woman when nobody was looking. That’s my first reaction to meeting the Toyota Camry SE on a fast sweeper. And while the inner-teenager never forgot the person from yesteryear, do Pistonheads need to give the rarely mentioned, often overlooked Camry SE another chance? Or do some things never change?
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