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Comments
I'm no expert, but it's been my experience (and Grace's, since her hearing is way better than mine)
Might be a leak of coolant from the pump onto a hot surface that you'll only smell while stopped - otherwise the odor gets blown away as the car moves.
Is the heater producing warm air both at idle and at speed? If the pump isn't pumping to the core, the air will cool at idle.
Hope this helps.
Cheers!
Paul
Best Wishes, Graham!
I thought of you the other day while reading an article about the record high temps Melbourne has been experiencing. Here's hoping that you, your mum and sister expereince no futher negative effects from the bushfires. Please keep us posted!
-Frank
On one hand, it's understandable a long term performance car should remain a long term performance car, if not better.
On other, manufacturers often have TSB's for vehicles over their lifetime. Should not these be performed as the manufacturer plans, even if it does slightly reduce vehicle performance in return for longevity?
Is the GT-R the first vehicle to face this decision at Edmunds?
I've not seen any such musings over Subaru products, but imagine the time may come for that.
If you are meaning Skyline GT-R, I'd leave that beauty alone. Supercar performance for Premium vehicle price PLUS a warranty - now there's a perfect triad! The only reason I could see to mod it would be to make it a pure race car. AS it is, driving it at anything more than 25% of it's capacity on a public highway would be a ticket in all 50 states and Canada.
Sounds like your sister and brother-in-law are smart people. Good luck with everything on your plate at the moment (a lot it seems).
Best wishes and know you are in our thoughts.
-Mark
don't know that I've noticed a difference in the heat but I HAVE noticed that sometimes I feel like the heat is working overtime it's so hot!
http://maps.google.com/maps?near=Lafayette,+IN&geocode=&q=subaru&f=l&hl=en&sll=4- 0.404839,-86.863426&sspn=0.191108,0.44632&ie=UTF8&ll=40.381565,-86.800146&spn=0.- 022949,0.05579&t=h&z=15
Bob
"Chris Bangle is arguably the most influential designer of the late 1990s and the first decade of this century," said Jim Hall, managing director of 2953 Analytics, a Birmingham industry analysis firm, and a consultant who helps automakers evaluate designs for new vehicles.
I agree. As the article states, his influence can be felt/seen on a whole bunch of vehicles, not just BMW.
Bob
I've been following these fires on TV. According to the BBC the latest official death toll stands at 128 as of this posting. That's just horrible, as is the utter destruction. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and your neighbors. Please keep us posted.
Bob
Its now 48 hours after the catastrophic fires which are now clearly the worst in Australia's history (and that is saying something). My sister and family are now getting things into some semblance of order, arranging a post hole digger so they can re-fence promptly. They have only been able to leave their property in the last hour and will not have power or phone service for some days. They need a larger generator rapidly so I may buy and deliver tomorrow.
The damage is stunning and will run to hundreds of millions of dollars. The human cost is very severe. The death toll is climbing as police get access to isolated properties. Now over 130 dead with many more missing. Very grim for the unfortunate police who have to search. Victim identification teams have been brought in from interstate.
Many of the victims were seeking to flee the fire in their cars, exactly what one should not do in a fire. You either leave early or choose to stay and defend the place. The latest macabre sport is to attempt to identify the make of burnt out cars. Devoid of plastic element, it is very hard to do!.
Strange days indeed
Not so cheers
Graham
(well we HAVE been past the plant on the highway before ... we COULD be there !!!)
If this be the case, the good news is that you have time to schedule the replacement, but I would not wait too long. I did that, and it found me stranded at 0100 on a Sunday morning, with temps at about -25F. Not fun.
Best wishes for your continued safety,
-Wes-
We had no power for 9 days after that rain storm.
Best of luck.
I tend to like a design that stays out of the way, if you will. Function over form, and I don't necessarily want to notice it visually.
So if a vehicle has everything I want but nothing stands out visually, it's perfect, i.e. good aerodynamics, but no fender skirts please.
Condolences to everyone who lost loved ones or property.
-Frank
The fires were very fast moving but the key problem has been people living in the bush but not being prepared for the hazard. I cannot help feeling that many people are unable to take responsibility for their own actions.
My sister has just come from a community meeting where the usual complainers bitched that no-oine had warned them. This was despite three or four days of constant blanket coverage that this would be the all time worst fire danger ever seen in Victoria and unavoidable media coverage on the day. The complainants expected that the Fire Brigade would pop around and say 'Hi, time to go!' The fire front can move at 60mph under these conditions. In the midst of the crisis, one of mum's neighbours assured her that they could not get a bushfire. Having lived through a few, mum was sceptical. Folks are strange!
My sister found a decent sized generator not far from home and they delivered to the roadblocks where my brother in law could pick it up. In another day or so, Police may permit access to all.
Not so cheers
Graham
The unfortunate reality for many wildfires around the world is that they are set by arsonists. In the case of the fire that affected my sister, that is almost certainly the case and the police are closing in on the likely arsonist. The same applies for several other incidents on the same day. As fatalities occurred, the charge will likely be "Causing Death by Arson" which caries a maximum sentence of 25 years in Victoria. However, given the community attitude to arson in a high fire risk country, any person finding themselves in jail for it, would likely suffer an interesting life.
Professionally, I have investigated quite a few arson cases, but remain mystified by the thought process that triggers the action. By and large, arsonists are male (not universally) between the ages of 13 and 50. There is a supposed correlation with bed wetting and sexual abuse as children. There is also supposedly a higher occurrence amongst fire-fighters mirroring the anecdotal experience of higher theft risk amongst security guards, which I also cannot explain.
All round, investigation of these incidents is very depressing. In one of the fires, fire fighters saw an arsonist relighting fires they had just extinguished and provided an excellent description of the vehicle used. This was widely advertised by the police. Not terribly common, this is likely to be a significant lead and the press today are saying that a photo fit image will be released shortly
Not so cheers
Graham
Graham- I'm a little surprised by that. It's a bit disconcerting to discover that Australians aren't that different from Americans. My impression had always been that the blokes from Down Under were the proudly self-reliant and independent sort(certainly you seem to embody those qualities). Maybe I've watched too many Crocodile Dundee movies
-Frank
Preparedness for hazards is an interesting question. For those Australians who have grown up in the bush, the hazard of fire is real and constant, as they will likely have had a near miss at some time in their past. They will certainly have seen the effect of fire from small scale events.
I guess it's a case of adapting to environment. The first time someone offered to knife me (in San Francisco at midday) came as a complete surprise. A very naive foreign traveller, I had no idea what to do. I rapidly adapted to a different set of personal safety standards, looking less like a dumb Aussie tourist.
Many Australians have chosen to move from urban areas to bush blocks, the geography around many major population centres making it feasible to commute. The skill set to live in that environment is not always present. The astute learn quickly but many see living in the bush as a cheap or lifestyle alternative to city living. In the absence of actual experience of fires, there is a presumption that the hazard does not exist or that the protective measures available in the city (a fire hydrant within 100 metres and a paid professional fire brigade in the same suburb) also apply. In the bush, you are primarily responsible for your own well being.
My sister commented that, for her, the most traumatic part of this experience has not been the fire itself, or consoling friends or neighbours who have lost all physical possessions. Rather, it was attended the community briefing session to outline the continuing hazard from the fire and hearing the large number of "ugly citizens" abusing the volunteer (but highly professional) fire fighting operation for manifold supposed failures. Prime amongst these was the supposed failure to notify of the threat, despite the blanket coverage in the days leading up to Saturday. With a fire front bearing down at 80mph, it is not feasible for a man in a red truck to pop around to every isolated bush block and say "Time to go!".
The tendency to try and blame others for our own failures is a common human failing. There is an argument that the export of American values (by which Australia is heavily influenced, compliments of film and television) carries both benefits and hazards. Prime amongst the hazards is the blame culture which so often sees odd law suits in the USA. We get them too, but our legal system, whilst heavily consumer focussed, tends to moderate the weirder claims.
There are very many people who have survived this disaster through careful planning and implementation of those plans. Thats not universal as some perished despite acting responsibly. I mourn those but wonder at the idiocy of many.
Not so cheers
Graham
Stern's paycheck is gonna bounce!
probably written up elsewhere, and even linked here before ...
the link said "a surprising sedan" ... then went here ... lol
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/18/toyota-subaru-fr-sports-car-code-named-086a-w- ill-include-direct/
That's both good news and bad news. It's good news that Subaru will be getting DI; it's bad news in that it's taking so long to get here.
Bob
Bob
They would let me consider a newer version of the Forester, assuming those improvements get to that model line.
Per gasbuddy.com, lowest prices for my zip are:
$1.79 for regular
$2.06 for premium
$2.39 for diesel
Still 34% than the cost of regular gas. That just about offsets the 20-40% efficiency gains.
I compare to regular because let's face it, anyone shopping for fuel economy would look for cars that don't require premium fuel.
At least diesel is affordable again. For a while there is stayed over $3.
I think the Tiguan's 2.0FSI is, though.
So what makes DI so expensive to achieve? With manufacturers producing upper tier models with it, the engines could trickle down. Or is it an issue of keeping it as a premium feature? That argument might hold more now, since the collapse in fuel prices removed much of the urgency to bring those powerplants to market.
Bob
Take a look at the Toyota Venza. The price point is in the Outback Limited range.
http://www.toyota.com/venza/
Just reread the specs again and they mentioned Direct Ignition (not Injection)... sorry.
Alan
98 OBW Ltd 160,000 miles.
But...remember that VW slots itself at the high end of each price/size class.
-Frank
P.S. Juice & Bob - Sorry I didn't say hi but it was a quick trip. We'll be arriving for good on the first of April. Found a place to live near Mt Vernon.
Oh, what's the reason for the move?
Bob
Running the new stimulus program?
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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-announces-new-line-of-ecotec-engines/
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/01/06/detroit-2008-ford-ecoboost-gasoline-turb- o-direct-injection-engi/
I really think we'll see DI (combined with turbos) on most gas- and diesel-powered cars within the next few years. As you can see by the links above, manufacturers will likely be forced into using this technology in order to meet fuel mileage standards and keep customers happy with good power.
Bob
Not sure if that's still true now.