I installed my Exotic kit last September during a string of 100+ degree days--sorta the other end of the spectrum. I no longer have my instructions, but I seem to remember there being a statement about ambient temp. If not, just call the Exotic info line or drop them an Email; they're very helpful folks.
The Joshua Tree site has their instructions online, and they recommend 85 degrees or above. They say to run the heater if you're installing during winter, and that sounds like good advice. (I'd also be leery of leaving the car outside in 30-degree temps right after installation.)
I'd make sure that all the surfaces are warm throughout before you install--the adhesive on the back of the pieces is VERY sticky, but that sort of stuff seems to bond better in warm conditions.
I used a hair dryer as recommended and it worked great to make the pieces pliable. You could also use it on the interior surfaces. Just be really careful with it; I can see where it would be easy to melt or warp some of the smaller stuff.
The number 1 piece of advice is to test-fit like crazy before you begin; once they're stuck, they ain't coming off.
I experienced a "sudden unintended acceleration" with my 2000 Lincoln S. The car had 2,000 miles on it at the time. I applied the brakes, and initially the car slowed down. Then, in an instant, I heard a loud noise from the engine, and then the car "lurched" forward and would not stop for at least 1/8 of a mile even though I pressed down on the brakes as hard as I could. Please let me know if anyone else has had this problem with their 2000 or 2001 S. Ford has a history of these kinds of problems with other vehicles.
Timing is everything. I bought my LS V8 Sport on January 31st. I work for Oracle and today we heard from HQ that we are a Ford's partner and we can participate in the Ford Motor Company’s X-Plan price. I bought a Maxima under a similar deal that we have with Nissan and I save about $1,500. Has anyone purchased an LS using the X-Plan prices? I paid $250 over invoice for my LS, could I have done better?
I bought under the XPlan and frankly, I was so confused by the time it was over that I have no idea what the relationship between what I paid and the invoice was. Fortunately, I know and trust the comptroller of the dealer I bought it from so I just did it. It was in December of 1999 so I wasn't too worried about the price, I just wanted to get the car as soon as possible. I am sure that I got a good deal because a couple of months after I had my car they called and told me they had made a mistake and not charged me enough and they wanted $900 more. I told them to show me in writing what they meant and why I should listen to them after I had my car in my garage and clear title. I only got a few more phone calls, but nothing in writing so I ignored them. They are no longer a L-M dealer.
The two cars that I have bought on the X Plan over the years were particularly hot cars at the time I bought them. I am sure that under certain circumstances you can do better than that right now so maybe you did better than that. Why look for dissapointment. You did fine.
I have never heard of this problem mentioned with the Lincoln LS. Was your cruise control engaged at the time? Were you accelerating prior or maintaining a constant speed?
First, thanks Joe166 for your reply. You are right, now that I'm driving the car I should not try to find out if I got the best possible deal. I'm enjoying the car and that's what counts!
When I picked up the car I seem to remember something about receiving a card in the mail in a few weeks with information on roadside assistance. I haven't received that card yet and I'm beginning to wonder if I'm remembering right. Could someone set me straight on this? Is there roadsisde assistance for a limited time when you buy the LS? Thanks in advance1
The club bought a GTechPro meter specifically to resolve performance questions such as the K&N filter issue. Once I get the project car back from Magnaflow, I will baseline the car using the GTechPro with a stock paper filter and with a K&N filter and report the differences, if any. Then I will do the same with a LS-6 and an unmodified LS-8. This way we will have quantitative numbers that we know will be specific to our cars. I'm not going to presume that the filters generate any extra performance improvement until I evaluate the numbers. Resolving issues such as this are one of the reasons LLSOC exists. To provide factual data to possible performance improvements and either prove or disprove the manufacturers claims. So until LLSOC gets the numbers together, let's all agree to leave the issue alone until then.
I've reviewed the TBSs from the NHTSA, not many mention "sudden acceleration" problems with Ford products. They mention binding in the cruise control or throttle cable, but no acceleration. Was any thought given to shifting to neutral and shutting off the engine when this event occurred?
I have first hand witnessed "sudden acceleration" in a Lexus. The driver screamed out of a parking lot and slammed into a parked car across the street. He claimed he was on the brake the whole time. The cops bought it, until I asked if they needed a witness. They said no, until I mentioned that NO brake lights where on for the entire journey.
How many of the 2000 mile have you put on the car yourself? What where the conditions at the time of the incident, and where you familiar with these conditions? Are you a two footed driver? I don't want to discount your experience, but I also don't want to see the return of the Audi debacle of "unintended acceleration".
I have yet to hear of a case in which this was true. As a matter of fact, it generally turns out to be driver error.
Is anyone manually shifting their auto on a regular basis? I read an article recently from Bob Bondurant about manually shifting the auto in his Jag XK8. I started doing it regularly about 2 weeks ago with my LS V8 non sport. I find that it is more fun than letting the auto shift into second at 15 mph under moderate acceleration. Also downshifting into third and accelerating aggressively through a corner is more fun than having the trans automatically downshift in the middle of the turn. Try it, you'll like it. Jim
Brian, Great idea on doing the test yourself. Anyone who understands engines knows that to get a performance improvement with a less restrictive filter the filter has to be the most restrictive part of the system. If the intake or the exhaust is already restricted then no filter will increase power. That's why it varies from vehicle to vehicle. Some would see no gain at all and others might see a modest increase. With the Magnaflows you might see a few hp gain. Or not.
Notice how our friend switched the argument from filtration efficiency to hp gain? Please publish the test results for the rest of us who are truly interested.
I take exception to your statement "Ford has a history of these kinds of problems with other vehicles." That is simply not true, and no evidence exists to support such a contention.
The simple fact is that a properly-functioning braking system on ANY car will defeat that car's ability to accelerate. Take your vehicle to a wide-open, deserted, large parking lot. Press FIRMLY on the brake pedal, put the car in drive, and floor the accelerator pedal, and the car will NOT move forward if the brakes are working correctly. Period.
Can brake systems fail? Of course. Is it possible for a vehicle to suddenly go into full-throttle mode? Certainly, if the linkage hangs or the cruise control malfunctions. However, it is EXTREMELY unlikely that BOTH systems could/would fail simultaneously on a relatively new vehicle. That's what would HAVE to happen, and the odds are infinitesimally small.
Like packv12, I don't mean to discount your experience; but, like packv12, I would contend that such instances of so-called "unintended acceleration" are almost exclusively due to driver error.
The vaunted "60 Minutes" show very nearly put Audi out of business in this country with its spurious and unfounded claims against Audi vehicles. Audi sales went in the toilet, Audi dealerships closed as a result, and employees of those dealerships lost their jobs. It took years for Audi to once again become a viable brand in the U.S. That isn't right, and it isn't fair, and any similar charge against any other manufacturer must be VIGOROUSLY disputed.
If you're going to make such an accusation, you must be able to back it with rigorous scientific proof. In all the anecdotal reports of "unintended acceleration" over the past couple of decades, I have yet to see one that had any basis in provable fact. I won't remain silent in the face of such an accusation against Ford.
I am afraid I will need some scientific proof. I have NEVER heard of or seen any car where the motor could overpower the brakes. Are you sure you had your foot on the brake? If you really feel this happened, get an expert to try to replicate it. If you don't want to do that, get rid of the car as you will never feel comfortable in it again. I happened to own an Audi Turbo at the time of the 60 minutes debacle and so I took an unusually avid interest in it. It was never proven to my satisfaction but a fine car was almost ruined. Coincidentally, almost all the cases were with drivers under 65" tall who were not the principal drivers of the Audi. That would certainly seem to be at least a warning that driver error was the cause, but what do they care. My car, which was one of the best cars I ever owned became worthless until a couple of years later when the market picked up again. I hope there is a reasonable explanation for your problem, but the only ones I have ever seen were a binding throttle (cable or linkage), a broken motor mount which misaligned the linkage, or problems with the fuel mixer (either carburator or injectors), but in any case, I am sure that if you really pushed the brakes down they would stop the car. Just as an experiment, when I read your post, I went out to my car and tried to accelerate with the brake on. No go. It required an effort, but it stopped. I suppose you could get brake fade if you really tried, but when it stops, turn off the ignition and get the hell out of it. Have it towed and checked out.
I manually shift my automatic quite frequently. No need to worry about causing damage to the transmission as long as you shift up by redline. The tranny software won't let the transmission gear down unless it senses that it won't destroy itself if it pays attention to what you want it to do.
Course the manual tranny guys will tell you that we are compensating for an inadequate left foot!
Yes, the Lincoln LS comes with Roadside Assistance. I had a flat on Thanksgiving last year due to a nail. Even though it was a holiday, the truck was out in less than 45 minutes. They were quick and efficient. (I appreciated the full-size spare in my '00 LS8 Sport.)
Owners also have access to other services. I used the Trip Planning when I went to Savannah, Georgia, this past holiday season. Big packet of material came within a couple days of my call. Had lots of good maps, helps, etc.
Hector, Lincoln's roadside assistance coverage is the same as the warranty: Four years/50,000 miles from purchase date.
It's true that you'll be getting a card in the mail. It's credit-card size and has your name, "valid-through" date, and VIN imprinted on it. It took quite a long time for mine to arrive; at least 2 months, if I remember correctly. However, you do NOT have to have the card to use the service.
The phone number, which is also in your owner's manual & warranty and service guides, is 1-800-521-4140 in the U.S. and it's staffed 24 hours a day. This number is not just for roadside assistance; it's also for the customer assistance center which "is available to assist you with any questions or concerns that you may have regarding your Lincoln or Lincoln Commitment." That's a direct quote from the card.
Great idea. Unbiased independent results are always to be prefered over a manufacturer's marketing claims or buyer testimonials. If you test, do try to make it as scientifically valid as within means and reason. Do make sure to buy any filters off-the-shelf through the same outlet(s) as a regular buyer. The driver shouldn't know which filter is being used and, if possible, wouldn't know that it was a filter test to begin with. Likely impossible for you to do any double-blind longitudinal test with a control group.
What variables will you test? K&N partisans often discuss at least three areas: (1) improved performance, (2) long life of filter, and (3) improved filtration. C&D only looked at performance. When they didn't find an improvement, they mentioned, but did not test, long life; they didn't report testing for filtration over time. Looking at all three would be preferable, so one could then ascertain whether the cost/benefit of a K&N is better than using multiple stock filters for the same price over the claimed life cycle of a K&N filter. Testing items (2) & (3) might require a longitudinal test of some extensive time & mileage.
After another long trip I came back to read a great number of new postings. I thought you might be interested in some thoughts on two of the topics covered.
The LS Manual has been important to the car in several ways. It is a great car for the true enthusiast; very good balance with a bit less weight in the front and imho very good power, with performance comparable to the V8 auto. Plus all the advantages/control of shifting yourself. It has also helped position the LS as a performance sedan, not just a "Luxury" sedan. However, the manual has not sold well for two reasons. First, our dealers are reluctant to stock the car as they feel there would be little demand for it. Secondly, and of course this is related, demand for the manual is in fact small--about 2% of total LS's. So given this the chances of a V8 manual are slim. But we have increased the stocking rate of manuals at our dealers. If anyone is interested in a manual but cannot find the right car then please contact me at jroger19@ford.com and we will help you.
I read with interest the comments about the Joshua Tree wood kit, plastic wood etc. It turns out that the current state of plastic "wood" is very good; in fact we have found that it is very hard to tell real wood from "wud" (as in "Krab") if we use the best plastic wood. And the real wood is VERY expensive, so we are in a situation where although we could use real wood in the LS, you probably would not be able to see any difference and you would pay more. On the other hand, there is something special about knowing you have real wood in the car. I would be very interested in hearing all your thoughts on this. Would you want us to go to real wood in the car even if you could not see a difference? And what do you think this would be worth to you?
As always, we greatly value all your comments and pay very close attention to your thoughts and opinions.
Why not make real wood an option? Thinking Cadillac has a Zebrano wood option for DeVille. Not sure if one for Catera. Not a concern of mine but others like real wood. Jag marketers might not want competition in this area. Isn't this a Jag selling point?
Put me down for more safety features. Options like Brake Assist, Side Curtain Head Bags running from A-C pillars, rear side bags, Zenon headlamps, whiplash protection in front seats, 5 pretensioners w/force limiters, etc.
How about using multi-link non-intrusive trunk hinges??? I've got an '00 LS8 Sport w/audiophile. Would really make trunk more useable.
Too bad about V-8 manual. Didn't lease residuals and cost of leasing also deter LS manual sales? Guessing this might make the upcoming reported Jag X-type AWD with 3.0L and 5-speed more attractive to some. (Thinking it might have real wood as an option or standard.)
I may be in the minority here, but it doesn't bother me that the wood in the car is plastic. Like I said with the Joshua Tree wood kit, you can't tell the difference between the real wood in the kit and the fake wood. The project car is getting the kit just so people know what they are getting into if they purchase it.
Personally I'd love to see what a carbon fiber look would be like in the LS, but I'm sure that I may be one of the few.
I bought my LS on the "x-plan", and based on the Edmunds numbers at the time of purchase, vs. the build date on the sticker, I came in at $200 under invoice. The dealer wasn't happy, however I told them if they weren't willing to sell me the car at that price, there probably were other dealers that would be........
I would rather have real wood, but frankly, I would not want to pay much for it so I guess that is more of a no than a yes. I need someone to send me some mustard as I promised to eat the Joshua pieces I had left over if they turned out to be real wood. They sure look plastic. They look identical to the pieces they supplement. Nice job by Lincoln making it look like real wood? Or maybe vice versa.
I just remember the fun I had removing the entire dash from my old Jag sedan in college and refinishing the wood. What a great feeling to put it back together and see that glistening wood! Of course, if I had had an accident I would have a crease across my forehead, but it sure was pretty. I got a lot of compliments on it from coeds and it was fun to be able to claim that I had sanded and varnished it myself.
If the wood and the plastic look Identical, as so many people who have installed the kits, have stated, then its not important to me. I'd rather the extra money go into more adjustments on the passenger seat, better stock speakers, or a built in universal hands free system for our cell phones.
Someone a long time back said they had purchased the carbon fiber look kit. If you still post here please let us know what you think of it now, and maybe you can send pictures to Brian for the LLSOC picture gallery.
Wood: I don't care as long as it looks good. With all of the artificial materials in cars these days, I never understood why having wood on the dash was such a big deal.
X-Plan: I bought using the X-Plan also (through my company). I found that it did save me money (I figure between $500 and $800) but only because the car is a hot seller and I bought a 2001 at the beginning of the model year. If I was buying a Taurus, say, and it was a leftover, I could have gotten a better deal relative to invoice. On the other hand, the "no-haggle" price of the X-Plan did make the entire buying process more pleasant.
Acceleration: I agree with the consensus here. There is no way that the brakes would not have slowed/stopped the car and stalled the engine. There is also no way that a driver (who is paying attention) couldn't stop the car in a number of other ways ... shift to neutral or even park ... shut the engine off ... Use the emergency brake ... etc.
All good drivers should occasionally review, in their own minds, what they would do in emergency situations. What do I do if I get a flat at speed ... what do I do if I loose steering ... what do I do if my brakes fail ... etc. In an unexpected emergency, it will probably take the average person a second or two to grasp the situation and decide how to react, but in preparing in this way, one can minimize the reaction time and ensure that the response is a reasonable one.
Many of the mag reviews I've read are put off by the LS 'wud'. It looks pretty good to me, but I'd really like to see it on the center stack (HVAC and radio area) from the factory. Hide that black plastic. Real wood? Seems that 'Premier' autos should have this at least as an option. If it were say $200 or so, I think it would sell.
A while back I posted about seat-belt pretensioners in the rear seats of the LS. For those who have small children, the story can be found on page 116 of the 2001 manual. I don't know if the 2000s have this feature. BTW, the OM calls this feature 'automatic mode' rather than pretensioners. Briefly, after you buckle the child's car seat in if you then pull the shoulder belt all the way out you'll hear a click. Then as you release the belt slowly it'll keep on clickin' until it tightens up around the child seat. There will then be no slack in the belt around the child seat, which of course is critical for keeping the seat in place. The LS also has the anchors above the seat *and* has child seat anchors between the seat back and bottom for those child seats that can use em.
So I'm drivin my new 5speed LS but wih only 381 miles on it, I can't *really* drive it. I've had the tach up to 5 grand a few times and the car up to 80mph a few times but that's it. First tank of gas came in right at 20mpg. Promising. I'm anxiously awaiting break-in complete so I can drive the car the way it wants to be driven.
No manual for the V8 is a disappointment. To paraphrase others on this issue: a 6 speed V8 LS would put Lincoln on the map as a no-nonsense Luxury/Performance vehicle maker. To me, *that's* 'American Luxury'.
Although not a real serious issue, even though they look the same, I feel it "cheapens" the car to have fake wood accents. That said, I added the plastic exotic-wood kit sparingly to increase the wood effect in the vehicle - but I would not have done that if there was no wood grain anywhere in the car.
I think wood is a throwback to older design, and in some ways is analogous to vinyl landau tops, and vinyl-wrapped steering wheels.
IMHO, best would be if Lincoln designed a different form of style accent, that enhances the feel of luxury, but is true to the materials. You know, form follows function, a bit of Bauhaus aesthetic. Carbon fibre cues performance vehicle. Maybe there is a new choice, that adds richness and depth, but is not copying anyone else out there. There are other advanced material uses in the LS - why not in the trim too?
Just got back from a trip to San Jose, and I met a severe sandstorm on the way home. This left pitting in the windshield and headlights - not so bad that it is milky, but enough that the windshield looks "dirty" when the sun is overhead. Do any of you know a cheap fix, such as a glass polish or procedure, or should I make an insurance claim and have the windshield replaced. It really is border-line to the detrimental effect, and not visible at all from the outside.
I care more about how the "wood" trim looks and the current trim looks fine. Most of the real wood looks fake anyway. I vote for the cheaper option to hold the cost down, but would like to see more factory wood, especially on the console. The large number of owners purchasing aftermarket wood kits should tell you something.
I think that a V8 manual would take some of the existing V6 manual sales, but I also think there is a contingent that would have purchased a V8 manual if one was available, but purchased from the competition instead. I also think having a more powerful V6 (like the VVT jag version) with a manual would help make up for lack of a V8 manual.
Jim - is there a difference between a standard Lincoln version and a SVT version? Are the rules different that would make a SVT version more viable?
There is a big difference between these two. The locking retractors (thinking I've seen them referred to as "ELR" or something like that) are great for child seats, but not for older kids who are no longer in such seats or adults in back.
My kids, who are 8 & 10, love to play games with each other in back seat with the locking retractors. They call it "ratcheting" each other in. When one isn't looking or falls asleep, one will pull the belt all way out and then lock the other person in. Before I know it they are both locked in and can't move. They start whining about being unable to move and then they have to unbuckle the belts to undo the locking. (Game works like nuclear weapon MAD principle between USA and USSR during cold war. Neither side ends up winning and they both end up losing when one launches the first "sneak attack".)
Rear pretensioners are used by many higher end manufacturers, esp. Europeans. Thinking VW/Audi, MB, etc. They are equally useful for adults in front or back.
I cast my vote for real wood. I did purchase more plastic from exoticwooddash, I just think it looks better especially around the stereo and vents (sorry no unbiased scientific data to back that up ). I would easily agree to paying an additional $200 to the price of the car.
VERY disappointed about no V8 manual. I had hoped to get one in another 3 years. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to pay the Teutonic premium prices.
By their very inherent nature, aesthetic issues cannot be "scientifically studied". Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Take the beauty of the opposite sex. Is there an absolute standard, that perfect "10". Or as Spinal Tap said about amplifiers, "But it goes to eleven!" Sela Ward is "a" most beautiful woman. Is she "the" most beautiful woman? Maybe to some, as expressed here previously by many. Not sure. Or can there be many "the most beautiful women"? Think yes.
On the other hand, engineering claims can and should be studied scientifically.
Re: V8 6speed: I truly believe Lincoln will lose and we all know they have lost some reasonable amount of sales due to no V8 manual. But, the 240 hp VVT Jag version of the Duratech may get those sales back.
Now, to the BS: I figured my Midwestern pal would take issue with me on the auto seat belt issue. Yes, I was wrong, they are not 'pretensioners'. However, I believe there is scientific evidence that true pretensioned seat belts (ie those that take up slack under accident forces) are not satisfactory for child seats because they are slackers during normal driving and the car seat can flop around. These auto belts can take up the tension and tightly hold the child's seat in place. That's what I was looking for. Turns out Giowa's kids found it already and have put it to good use. Too bad there's no switch on the drivers door that can lock the belts closed like the windows, eh?
BTW, Giowa, seems you have an infinite amount of time to post to this list. Are you a government worker or something?
Go ahead and launch your missiles at me now. I will not respond further to your posts.
I have now experienced a no-start condition for the 3rd time (00 V8 w/8K miles)! The first two were resolved (maybe) by a fix to some wiring going to the fuel pump. In both cases, the engine turned over but never started. The third time, however, is different. This time, I am convinced it is mechanical and involves the starter itself. The starter spins fast, but the motor does not or barely turns at all. After the car was towed to the dealer, the dealer has been unable to duplicate it.
Help! Anyone seen this? My dealer is close to throwing their hands up.
JRoger, as much as I enjoy this car and although I am a Ford guy through and through (I have a 70 Boss 302 that I have owned for 20 years), this is the kind of unnerving stuff that will cause me to unload this thing in a heartbeat if I can't assume that it will start every morning. By the way, my 92 SHO did the same thing 10 or more times before I finally got rid of it.
Also, just a quick comment for those of you who have stated, or simply believe, that a motor will NEVER overpower a car's braking system. It absolutely can. In older cars, holding the brake pedal down while standing on the gas pedal is called "power braking" and it was a blast! I burned off alot of tires in high school doing it and created some monster burnouts. Of course, I also replaced motor mounts on a regular basis! Depending on the car, the type of engine, and the type of brakes (e.g., rear drum?), I suspect it is still very possible. Anyone want to loan me their automatic Mustang Cobra for a demo?
In the great tradition of Jonathan Swift & P.J. O'Rourke...
Recently I've run across some products claiming to produce miracle results. Some of my friends swear by them. I'd like to stop my hair loss. My teenage daughter would like bigger breasts. I'd like to run my car using water rather than gasoline. My wife wants to lose weight without having to diet or exercise. I'd like to get 80 mpg in my '73 Lincoln w/460 CID engine. A friend of mine, who used to be half of Cheech & Chong, needs to pass a pre-employment drug test. These companies say their products really do work. They have been around for a long time, have lots of satisfied customers who have provided testimonials, will give me a full money-back guarantee if I'm not completely satisfied, and they have test results establishing their claims. I really want to believe! Should I buy? Yours, Optimistic In Oz.
I wouldn't assume that aesthics or other "soft" variables to be non-quantifiable. More difficult, requiring more advanced, and more difficult math, but still well within the realm of practicality although shrinking the standard deviation is more difficult.
The study you mention is remarkably similar to work I did to quantify fidelity and interoperability of heterogeneous military simulators. I was able to determine a mathematical method for creation of a fidelity index, composed of a "soft" assignment of the level of fidelity (as determined by users eyeballing the systems) and weighting factor for that fidelity metric with regards to the task involved. We used fuzzy logic techniques to allow quantification of the fidelity metric, which was not a hard measurement, which is exactly what fuzzy logic was designed for.
Similar rigor could be applied to a study of interior designs, however mostly I believe that auto makers rely on focus groups and don't carry it to that level of detail.
I can suggest two options to you regarding your windshield. Option 1 is to contact Eastwood. They sell a winshield polishihg/restoration kit that might work for you. Option 2 would be to look up an optical supply house in your area, and purchase some glass polishing rouge, and buff the glass with the rouge and a piece of fine, thick felt. I think the severity of the "pitting" would determine the best course of action. If it's really fine abrasion, I would try option 2 first.
I doubt you need this advice, but here are a few thoughts as to how to what data to test.
Measure ambient temp and humidity. Use same road/track facility. Using your G meter, run at least 10 runs for each setup, and collect mean, median, mode, and standard deviation. Plot both K&N runs and standard filter runs for each run with standard of deviation brackets to see how closely grouped the data is. Present the plots along with the statistical data for each type of filter.
This should give you pretty reliable results. If possible, 20 runs would be even better than 10 if you can pull them all off in a reasonable time period where the temp/humidity is constant.
My highly esteemed colleague, Dr. Swauger, has far more knowledge, skills, ability, and humor than I and is really at the cutting edge of research into your questions. But I'll take a shot.
I say BUY. Believe everything you hear and read. Question nothing. Join the crowd. Jump on the bandwagon. Go with the flow. Follow the path of least resistance. Be a follower not a leader. Being popular is everything. Fitting in is critical. Keep up with the Jones.
And whatever else you do, buy a BMW. 'cause they meet all the criteria listed above and are the boss. And chicks dig guys who drive 'em! Do you need more?
Would your dear Dr. steer you wrong? Yours, Dr. Science.
I like nice stuff. BUT, I also like value. 90% of the persons that get into my LS have NO idea that the wood is fake, nor do they care. I care that it looks good and hold up well. Passengers just know it looks nice, especially since I added the extra Exotic wood dash pieces. I vote for wud over wood if it helps keep the price down.
And while we are at it, my previous BMW (1992 318is) had the "leatherette" seats. My brother had/has a 1993 325i with real leather seats. After 100,000 miles, guess which ones looked like they were still brand new, and which has a few wear spots/"aging" cracks? Correct...the BMW leatherette held up great, were comfortable, and were so easy to care for. I sprayed them down in Armor-All once per month, let it soak in overnight, and wiped off the excess. No one thought BMW would have fake leather seats, and just by looking, no one could really tell. Matter of fact, after I totalled the car, guess what the experienced insurance adjuster gave me credit for. "Leather" seats. If the LS offered a nice leatherette, and saved me $1000, I would have gotten it.
While I, too, would like to see a V8 manual, I certainly understand J. Roger's points. If the dealers won't carry manuals with six cylinders, what difference will two more make.
However, I am intrigued by the idea of a six cylinder with more HP. I suspect you could improve performance of the six and still sell it for much less that the eight cylinder in any configuration. I would buy that in a minute! Make the six/manual a "performance package" option.
I agree with Brian on this. I don't care if the trim is made of wood or plastic. I've seen some real wood that looks like plastic and vice-versa. (kind of like having your own hair, but it looks like a wig). Personally, I prefer the carbon fiber look for the LS. IMO, it's more in keeping with the performance image.
Re "sudden accelation." Previous posts have pretty much covered it in an articulate manner. I still, however, feel compelled to put in my 2 cents worth.
Like everyone else, I'm not saying it can't happen, but I don't think any one of these claims has ever been substantiated. These charges have been leveled against every brand of car on the market. Perhaps the writer is confused with Fords of the '70's that were jumping out of "Park" while the engines were running.
Joelincoln-excellent point. I practice this myself and have been doing so since 1978 when the car I was driving dropped a ball joint on the expressway @ 55 MPH while I had one hand on the wheel with a cigarette and the other arm resting on the sill. This will get your adrenaline going! I am not ruling out the element of surprise, but you should try to practice how you would react under emergency circumstances.
You are all quite correct-there is not a car on the planet that can overpower its brakes. All you need to do is watch drag racers on TV or in person. There are street cars with twice as much (or more)power than the LS that sit at the line and smoke the tires into oblivion. A Hurst Line-Loc enables the driver to keep the front brakes engaged while releasing the rears. The car goes nowhere! Otherwise, the driver would "red-light" and lose the match. This is with front brakes only. I was able to do this with 60's era GM A-body musclecars which had 9 inch Corvair drum brakes. We are talking about acceleration from a dead stop here, not trying to stop from highway speeds
An incident occurred when my son was 3 years old (1980). My wife got out of the car at the entrance to the garage and crossed in front of it. My son was in the back in his car seat and I was not watching him because I was watching her, as she was pregnant with our daughter. He unbuckled himself, crawled through the opening between the front seat backs and jammed his hand on the throttle, flooring it. I had my foot lightly on the brake and the car leapt forward, taking me completely by surprise. A true case of sudden acceleration. However, I immediately reacted by jamming my foot on the brake. He was still holding the accelerator down, but the car stopped within 20 feet, going into the garage wall and bowing it out slightly into our den. This was a 1977 Olds that weighed 4,000 lbs. The braking power was nowhere near that of the LS.
JR-can we attribute low manual sales, at least in part, to the fact very few even know it's available? It's certainly not been mentioned in any of the TV ads that I've seen and only obliquely mentioned in Lincoln product info.
Lastly- George- I take umbrage at your remarks re government workers. I AM a government worker with 30 years of public service and dedication that I am proud of. I do not have unlimited time to spend on the internet. I think you will find goof-offs in every line of work. I will, however take your remarks in the good sense of fun that I am sure they were intended.
Brian, I only seem to averaging 15.4- 15.8 MPG in my new 2001 LS (sports package V8 Automatic)..Is this normal and will it improve...my 99 Lincoln Continetal gets around 19+ with a bigger engine? Scratchin my head on that one? We are taking a long trip tommorrow (sunday) and I will recheck the fuel economy..ohter than that the LS is an unbelivable handling machine thats well worth the low milage for sheer fun!
Good old bosom buddy. Yes, I do count you as one of my closest personal e-pals! Can't you feel the love? Keep a sense of humor.
Wasn't it cool that my kids figured out how to use the retractors as straightjackets? I really do love it when an unsuspecting kid gets in back in the middle with them on both sides. It is only a matter of time before the little bugger is being "ratcheted" by the belt Anaconda!!! I must have liked the Addams Family too much, 'cause the yelps of the kid bring tears of laughter to my eyes! Then I have to turn around and pretend to chastise my little seat belt devils. Now if I could just get them to harness that curiosity for good, like homework!
Based on the number of press reports I saw concerning the use of computers inside the Clinton White House, appears much governmental employee misuse of computers involves porn. I, for one, would be willing to scientifically study this. Where can I get funding? National Endowment for the Arts? Clinton Library donor list?
My wife works in government and I in the corporate world. We figure that when we call each other during work hours it cancels out the screw-off factor.
Three things have to occur for uncontrollable acceleration: a) non-driver initiated throttle input b) simultaneous brake failure
These first two are certainly possible individually, but the odds of having both at the same time are very small. Now let's add the third requirement:
c) immediate restoration of braking ability following accident
In all of these types of cases the brakes are found to be in perfect working order immediately following the accident, which means the failure in (b) is only temporary. Not impossible, but extremely unlikely.
Congrats, one of the absolute best posts ever! That Onion brought tears to my eyes!!! For the daring or demented, rent the movie CRASH (1996, Directed by David Cronenberg, and starring James Spader & Holly Hunter), preferably the NC-17 version. Instead of the Onion's laughter, you'll get novelist J.G. Ballard's (un?)healthy dose of auto-erotic anti-safety fetishism.
What a long thread we have going here. Just missed the 2 foot snow fall here in baltimore. Was really looking forward to a reason to stay home from work. Now if it would just warm up enough for me to get the hose out and clean her up a little.
Comments
The Joshua Tree site has their instructions online, and they recommend 85 degrees or above. They say to run the heater if you're installing during winter, and that sounds like good advice. (I'd also be leery of leaving the car outside in 30-degree temps right after installation.)
I'd make sure that all the surfaces are warm throughout before you install--the adhesive on the back of the pieces is VERY sticky, but that sort of stuff seems to bond better in warm conditions.
I used a hair dryer as recommended and it worked great to make the pieces pliable. You could also use it on the interior surfaces. Just be really careful with it; I can see where it would be easy to melt or warp some of the smaller stuff.
The number 1 piece of advice is to test-fit like crazy before you begin; once they're stuck, they ain't coming off.
Hector
The two cars that I have bought on the X Plan over the years were particularly hot cars at the time I bought them. I am sure that under certain circumstances you can do better than that right now so maybe you did better than that. Why look for dissapointment. You did fine.
Brian
When I picked up the car I seem to remember something about receiving a card in the mail in a few weeks with information on roadside assistance. I haven't received that card yet and I'm beginning to wonder if I'm remembering right. Could someone set me straight on this? Is there roadsisde assistance for a limited time when you buy the LS? Thanks in advance1
Hector
Brian
I have first hand witnessed "sudden acceleration" in a Lexus. The driver screamed out of a parking lot and slammed into a parked car across the street. He claimed he was on the brake the whole time. The cops bought it, until I asked if they needed a witness. They said no, until I mentioned that NO brake lights where on for the entire journey.
How many of the 2000 mile have you put on the car yourself? What where the conditions at the time of the incident, and where you familiar with these conditions? Are you a two footed driver? I don't want to discount your experience, but I also don't want to see the return of the Audi debacle of "unintended acceleration".
I have yet to hear of a case in which this was true. As a matter of fact, it generally turns out to be driver error.
Jim
Great idea on doing the test yourself. Anyone who understands engines knows that to get a performance improvement with a less restrictive filter the filter has to be the most restrictive part of the system. If the intake or the exhaust is already restricted then no filter will increase power. That's why it varies from vehicle to vehicle. Some would see no gain at all and others might see a modest increase. With the Magnaflows you might see a few hp gain. Or not.
Notice how our friend switched the argument from filtration efficiency to hp gain? Please publish the test results for the rest of us who are truly interested.
The simple fact is that a properly-functioning braking system on ANY car will defeat that car's ability to accelerate. Take your vehicle to a wide-open, deserted, large parking lot. Press FIRMLY on the brake pedal, put the car in drive, and floor the accelerator pedal, and the car will NOT move forward if the brakes are working correctly. Period.
Can brake systems fail? Of course. Is it possible for a vehicle to suddenly go into full-throttle mode? Certainly, if the linkage hangs or the cruise control malfunctions. However, it is EXTREMELY unlikely that BOTH systems could/would fail simultaneously on a relatively new vehicle. That's what would HAVE to happen, and the odds are infinitesimally small.
Like packv12, I don't mean to discount your experience; but, like packv12, I would contend that such instances of so-called "unintended acceleration" are almost exclusively due to driver error.
The vaunted "60 Minutes" show very nearly put Audi out of business in this country with its spurious and unfounded claims against Audi vehicles. Audi sales went in the toilet, Audi dealerships closed as a result, and employees of those dealerships lost their jobs. It took years for Audi to once again become a viable brand in the U.S. That isn't right, and it isn't fair, and any similar charge against any other manufacturer must be VIGOROUSLY disputed.
If you're going to make such an accusation, you must be able to back it with rigorous scientific proof. In all the anecdotal reports of "unintended acceleration" over the past couple of decades, I have yet to see one that had any basis in provable fact. I won't remain silent in the face of such an accusation against Ford.
Course the manual tranny guys will tell you that we are compensating for an inadequate left foot!
Brian
Owners also have access to other services. I used the Trip Planning when I went to Savannah, Georgia, this past holiday season. Big packet of material came within a couple days of my call. Had lots of good maps, helps, etc.
Lincoln's roadside assistance coverage is the same as the warranty: Four years/50,000 miles from purchase date.
It's true that you'll be getting a card in the mail. It's credit-card size and has your name, "valid-through" date, and VIN imprinted on it. It took quite a long time for mine to arrive; at least 2 months, if I remember correctly. However, you do NOT have to have the card to use the service.
The phone number, which is also in your owner's manual & warranty and service guides, is 1-800-521-4140 in the U.S. and it's staffed 24 hours a day. This number is not just for roadside assistance; it's also for the customer assistance center which "is available to assist you with any questions or concerns that you may have regarding your Lincoln or Lincoln Commitment." That's a direct quote from the card.
Hope this helps.
What variables will you test? K&N partisans often discuss at least three areas: (1) improved performance, (2) long life of filter, and (3) improved filtration. C&D only looked at performance. When they didn't find an improvement, they mentioned, but did not test, long life; they didn't report testing for filtration over time. Looking at all three would be preferable, so one could then ascertain whether the cost/benefit of a K&N is better than using multiple stock filters for the same price over the claimed life cycle of a K&N filter. Testing items (2) & (3) might require a longitudinal test of some extensive time & mileage.
The LS Manual has been important to the car in several ways. It is a great car for the true enthusiast; very good balance with a bit less weight in the front and imho very good power, with performance comparable to the V8 auto. Plus all the advantages/control of shifting yourself. It has also helped position the LS as a performance sedan, not just a "Luxury" sedan. However, the manual has not sold well for two reasons. First, our dealers are reluctant to stock the car as they feel there would be little demand for it. Secondly, and of course this is related, demand for the manual is in fact small--about 2% of total LS's. So given this the chances of a V8 manual are slim. But we have increased the stocking rate of manuals at our dealers. If anyone is interested in a manual but cannot find the right car then please contact me at jroger19@ford.com and we will help you.
I read with interest the comments about the Joshua Tree wood kit, plastic wood etc. It turns out that the current state of plastic "wood" is very good; in fact we have found that it is very hard to tell real wood from "wud" (as in "Krab") if we use the best plastic wood. And the real wood is VERY expensive, so we are in a situation where although we could use real wood in the LS, you probably would not be able to see any difference and you would pay more. On the other hand, there is something special about knowing you have real wood in the car. I would be very interested in hearing all your thoughts on this. Would you want us to go to real wood in the car even if you could not see a difference? And what do you think this would be worth to you?
As always, we greatly value all your comments and pay very close attention to your thoughts and opinions.
Not sure if one for Catera. Not a concern of mine but others like real wood. Jag marketers might not want competition in this area. Isn't this a Jag selling point?
Put me down for more safety features. Options like Brake Assist, Side Curtain Head Bags running from A-C pillars, rear side bags, Zenon headlamps, whiplash protection in front seats, 5 pretensioners w/force limiters, etc.
How about using multi-link non-intrusive trunk hinges??? I've got an '00 LS8 Sport w/audiophile. Would really make trunk more useable.
Too bad about V-8 manual. Didn't lease residuals and cost of leasing also deter LS manual sales? Guessing this might make the upcoming reported Jag X-type AWD with 3.0L and 5-speed more attractive to some. (Thinking it might have real wood as an option or standard.)
Personally I'd love to see what a carbon fiber look would be like in the LS, but I'm sure that I may be one of the few.
Brian
I just remember the fun I had removing the entire dash from my old Jag sedan in college and refinishing the wood. What a great feeling to put it back together and see that glistening wood! Of course, if I had had an accident I would have a crease across my forehead, but it sure was pretty. I got a lot of compliments on it from coeds and it was fun to be able to claim that I had sanded and varnished it myself.
Someone a long time back said they had purchased the carbon fiber look kit. If you still post here please let us know what you think of it now, and maybe you can send pictures to Brian for the LLSOC picture gallery.
Tom...
I know with the A-plan you came in under invoice, but it wasn't available to me.
I don't care as long as it looks good. With all of the artificial materials in cars these days, I never understood why having wood on the dash was such a big deal.
X-Plan:
I bought using the X-Plan also (through my company). I found that it did save me money (I figure between $500 and $800) but only because the car is a hot seller and I bought a 2001 at the beginning of the model year. If I was buying a Taurus, say, and it was a leftover, I could have gotten a better deal relative to invoice. On the other hand, the "no-haggle" price of the X-Plan did make the entire buying process more pleasant.
Acceleration:
I agree with the consensus here. There is no way that the brakes would not have slowed/stopped the car and stalled the engine. There is also no way that a driver (who is paying attention) couldn't stop the car in a number of other ways ... shift to neutral or even park ... shut the engine off ... Use the emergency brake ... etc.
All good drivers should occasionally review, in their own minds, what they would do in emergency situations. What do I do if I get a flat at speed ... what do I do if I loose steering ... what do I do if my brakes fail ... etc. In an unexpected emergency, it will probably take the average person a second or two to grasp the situation and decide how to react, but in preparing in this way, one can minimize the reaction time and ensure that the response is a reasonable one.
Joe
A while back I posted about seat-belt pretensioners in the rear seats of the LS. For those who have small children, the story can be found on page 116 of the 2001 manual. I don't know if the 2000s have this feature. BTW, the OM calls this feature 'automatic mode' rather than pretensioners. Briefly, after you buckle the child's car seat in if you then pull the shoulder belt all the way out you'll hear a click. Then as you release the belt slowly it'll keep on clickin' until it tightens up around the child seat. There will then be no slack in the belt around the child seat, which of course is critical for keeping the seat in place. The LS also has the anchors above the seat *and* has child seat anchors between the seat back and bottom for those child seats that can use em.
So I'm drivin my new 5speed LS but wih only 381 miles on it, I can't *really* drive it. I've had the tach up to 5 grand a few times and the car up to 80mph a few times but that's it. First tank of gas came in right at 20mpg. Promising. I'm anxiously awaiting break-in complete so I can drive the car the way it wants to be driven.
No manual for the V8 is a disappointment. To paraphrase others on this issue: a 6 speed V8 LS would put Lincoln on the map as a no-nonsense Luxury/Performance vehicle maker. To me, *that's* 'American Luxury'.
I think wood is a throwback to older design, and in some ways is analogous to vinyl landau tops, and vinyl-wrapped steering wheels.
IMHO, best would be if Lincoln designed a different form of style accent, that enhances the feel of luxury, but is true to the materials. You know, form follows function, a bit of Bauhaus aesthetic. Carbon fibre cues performance vehicle. Maybe there is a new choice, that adds richness and depth, but is not copying anyone else out there. There are other advanced material uses in the LS - why not in the trim too?
Thanks for you comments.
I think that a V8 manual would take some of the existing V6 manual sales, but I also think there is a contingent that would have purchased a V8 manual if one was available, but purchased from the competition instead. I also think having a more powerful V6 (like the VVT jag version) with a manual would help make up for lack of a V8 manual.
Jim - is there a difference between a standard Lincoln version and a SVT version? Are the rules different that would make a SVT version more viable?
My kids, who are 8 & 10, love to play games with each other in back seat with the locking retractors. They call it "ratcheting" each other in. When one isn't looking or falls asleep, one will pull the belt all way out and then lock the other person in. Before I know it they are both locked in and can't move. They start whining about being unable to move and then they have to unbuckle the belts to undo the locking. (Game works like nuclear weapon MAD principle between USA and USSR during cold war. Neither side ends up winning and they both end up losing when one launches the first "sneak attack".)
Rear pretensioners are used by many higher end manufacturers, esp. Europeans. Thinking VW/Audi, MB, etc. They are equally useful for adults in front or back.
VERY disappointed about no V8 manual. I had hoped to get one in another 3 years. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to pay the Teutonic premium prices.
On the other hand, engineering claims can and should be studied scientifically.
Now, to the BS: I figured my Midwestern pal would take issue with me on the auto seat belt issue. Yes, I was wrong, they are not 'pretensioners'. However, I believe there is scientific evidence that true pretensioned seat belts (ie those that take up slack under accident forces) are not satisfactory for child seats because they are slackers during normal driving and the car seat can flop around. These auto belts can take up the tension and tightly hold the child's seat in place. That's what I was looking for. Turns out Giowa's kids found it already and have put it to good use. Too bad there's no switch on the drivers door that can lock the belts closed like the windows, eh?
BTW, Giowa, seems you have an infinite amount of time to post to this list. Are you a government worker or something?
Go ahead and launch your missiles at me now. I will not respond further to your posts.
George
Help! Anyone seen this? My dealer is close to throwing their hands up.
JRoger, as much as I enjoy this car and although I am a Ford guy through and through (I have a 70 Boss 302 that I have owned for 20 years), this is the kind of unnerving stuff that will cause me to unload this thing in a heartbeat if I can't assume that it will start every morning. By the way, my 92 SHO did the same thing 10 or more times before I finally got rid of it.
Also, just a quick comment for those of you who have stated, or simply believe, that a motor will NEVER overpower a car's braking system. It absolutely can. In older cars, holding the brake pedal down while standing on the gas pedal is called "power braking" and it was a blast! I burned off alot of tires in high school doing it and created some monster burnouts. Of course, I also replaced motor mounts on a regular basis! Depending on the car, the type of engine, and the type of brakes (e.g., rear drum?), I suspect it is still very possible. Anyone want to loan me their automatic Mustang Cobra for a demo?
Recently I've run across some products claiming to produce miracle results. Some of my friends swear by them. I'd like to stop my hair loss. My teenage daughter would like bigger breasts. I'd like to run my car using water rather than gasoline. My wife wants to lose weight without having to diet or exercise. I'd like to get 80 mpg in my '73 Lincoln w/460 CID engine. A friend of mine, who used to be half of Cheech & Chong, needs to pass a pre-employment drug test. These companies say their products really do work. They have been around for a long time, have lots of satisfied customers who have provided testimonials, will give me a full money-back guarantee if I'm not completely satisfied, and they have test results establishing their claims. I really want to believe! Should I buy? Yours, Optimistic In Oz.
The study you mention is remarkably similar to work I did to quantify fidelity and interoperability of heterogeneous military simulators. I was able to determine a mathematical method for creation of a fidelity index, composed of a "soft" assignment of the level of fidelity (as determined by users eyeballing the systems) and weighting factor for that fidelity metric with regards to the task involved. We used fuzzy logic techniques to allow quantification of the fidelity metric, which was not a hard measurement, which is exactly what fuzzy logic was designed for.
Similar rigor could be applied to a study of interior designs, however mostly I believe that auto makers rely on focus groups and don't carry it to that level of detail.
Option 2 would be to look up an optical supply house in your area, and purchase some glass polishing rouge, and buff the glass with the rouge and a piece of fine, thick felt. I think the severity of the "pitting" would determine the best course of action. If it's really fine abrasion, I would try option 2 first.
I doubt you need this advice, but here are a few thoughts as to how to what data to test.
Measure ambient temp and humidity.
Use same road/track facility.
Using your G meter, run at least 10 runs for each setup, and collect mean, median, mode, and standard deviation.
Plot both K&N runs and standard filter runs for each run with standard of deviation brackets to see how closely grouped the data is.
Present the plots along with the statistical data for each type of filter.
This should give you pretty reliable results. If possible, 20 runs would be even better than 10 if you can pull them all off in a reasonable time period where the temp/humidity is constant.
Look forward to the results!
I say BUY. Believe everything you hear and read. Question nothing. Join the crowd. Jump on the bandwagon. Go with the flow. Follow the path of least resistance. Be a follower not a leader. Being popular is everything. Fitting in is critical. Keep up with the Jones.
And whatever else you do, buy a BMW. 'cause they meet all the criteria listed above and are the boss. And chicks dig guys who drive 'em! Do you need more?
Would your dear Dr. steer you wrong? Yours, Dr. Science.
And while we are at it, my previous BMW (1992 318is) had the "leatherette" seats. My brother had/has a 1993 325i with real leather seats. After 100,000 miles, guess which ones looked like they were still brand new, and which has a few wear spots/"aging" cracks? Correct...the BMW leatherette held up great, were comfortable, and were so easy to care for. I sprayed them down in Armor-All once per month, let it soak in overnight, and wiped off the excess. No one thought BMW would have fake leather seats, and just by looking, no one could really tell. Matter of fact, after I totalled the car, guess what the experienced insurance adjuster gave me credit for. "Leather" seats. If the LS offered a nice leatherette, and saved me $1000, I would have gotten it.
However, I am intrigued by the idea of a six cylinder with more HP. I suspect you could improve performance of the six and still sell it for much less that the eight cylinder in any configuration. I would buy that in a minute! Make the six/manual a "performance package" option.
Re "sudden accelation." Previous posts have pretty much covered it in an articulate manner. I still, however, feel compelled to put in my 2 cents worth.
Like everyone else, I'm not saying it can't happen, but I don't think any one of these claims has ever been substantiated. These charges have been leveled against every brand of car on the market. Perhaps the writer is confused with Fords of the '70's that were jumping out of "Park" while the engines were running.
Joelincoln-excellent point. I practice this myself and have been doing so since 1978 when the car I was driving dropped a ball joint on the expressway @ 55 MPH while I had one hand on the wheel with a cigarette and the other arm resting on the sill. This will get your adrenaline going! I am not ruling out the element of surprise, but you should try to practice how you would react under emergency circumstances.
You are all quite correct-there is not a car on the planet that can overpower its brakes. All you need to do is watch drag racers on TV or in person. There are street cars with twice as much (or more)power than the LS that sit at the line and smoke the tires into oblivion. A Hurst Line-Loc enables the driver to keep the front brakes engaged while releasing the rears. The car goes nowhere! Otherwise, the driver would "red-light" and lose the match. This is with front brakes only. I was able to do this with 60's era GM A-body musclecars which had 9 inch Corvair drum brakes. We are talking about acceleration from a dead stop here, not trying to stop from highway speeds
An incident occurred when my son was 3 years old (1980). My wife got out of the car at the entrance to the garage and crossed in front of it. My son was in the back in his car seat and I was not watching him because I was watching her, as she was pregnant with our daughter. He unbuckled himself, crawled through the opening between the front seat backs and jammed his hand on the throttle, flooring it. I had my foot lightly on the brake and the car leapt forward, taking me completely by surprise. A true case of sudden acceleration. However, I immediately reacted by jamming my foot on the brake. He was still holding the accelerator down, but the car stopped within 20 feet, going into the garage wall and bowing it out slightly into our den. This was a 1977 Olds that weighed 4,000 lbs. The braking power was nowhere near that of the LS.
JR-can we attribute low manual sales, at least in part, to the fact very few even know it's available? It's certainly not been mentioned in any of the TV ads that I've seen and only obliquely mentioned in Lincoln product info.
Lastly- George- I take umbrage at your remarks re government workers. I AM a government worker with 30 years of public service and dedication that I am proud of. I do not have unlimited time to spend on the internet. I think you will find goof-offs in every line of work. I will, however take your remarks in the good sense of fun that I am sure they were intended.
Forgive my long-windedness today-Art
Bill
Wasn't it cool that my kids figured out how to use the retractors as straightjackets? I really do love it when an unsuspecting kid gets in back in the middle with them on both sides. It is only a matter of time before the little bugger is being "ratcheted" by the belt Anaconda!!! I must have liked the Addams Family too much, 'cause the yelps of the kid bring tears of laughter to my eyes! Then I have to turn around and pretend to chastise my little seat belt devils. Now if I could just get them to harness that curiosity for good, like homework!
Enjoy!
a) non-driver initiated throttle input
b) simultaneous brake failure
These first two are certainly possible individually, but the odds of having both at the same time are very small. Now let's add the third requirement:
c) immediate restoration of braking ability following accident
In all of these types of cases the brakes are found to be in perfect working order immediately following the accident, which means the failure in (b) is only temporary. Not impossible, but extremely unlikely.
Just missed the 2 foot snow fall here in baltimore.
Was really looking forward to a reason to stay home from work.
Now if it would just warm up enough for me to get the hose out
and clean her up a little.
Kevin