Chronic Car Buyers Anonymous (Archived)

Mr_Shiftright

@28

roadburner said:

breld said:

kyfdx said:

roadburner said:

breld said:

marcogallo1986 said:

Breld. What is that you and the wife  saw at lunch today? 

Marco - like @mjfloyd1 said, it was a classic BMW 2002ti.  It was well restored and in a strangely attractive British racing green.  

Amazon Green.

Isn't that a Tii?

I was gonna ask about that - what is a "Tii"?

Mechanical fuel injection- Touring International Injection

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Works well, but not something you'd want to have fail on you. Then it's off to Hans and Dieter in their white lab coats. who send the unit to a "special place".

Actually the machines used to calibrate rebuilt mechanical injection are rather fascinating.

Every garage should have one:

stickguy

Michaell said:

I may have related this story before, but as a California kid, I wasn't too much into hockey until the Kings started to make noise in the early 90's. Was on a business trip to LI and decided to take in an Islanders game. Had great seats and the folks I was sitting with were kind enough to help explain the finer points of the game.

Towards the end of the game, a chant went up with the crowd; the derision towards the Rangers was explained to me, and what the chant represented.

I still remember that game.

did they also tell you what Potvin does?

breld

I can tie the car theme in with the hockey talk.  😀

stickguy

a couple years ago wheeler dealers did a Tii. And the "einspritzer" was bad. So they took it to some expert who bench rebuilt it (probably was named Deiter). Was pretty cool to see how it was done. Actually a relatively simple contraption, just tricky to work on if you didn't know what your were doing!

Michaell

stickguy said:

a couple years ago wheeler dealers did a Tii. And the "einspritzer" was bad. So they took it to some expert who bench rebuilt it (probably was named Deiter). Was pretty cool to see how it was done. Actually a relatively simple contraption, just tricky to work on if you didn't know what your were doing!

Tonight was the premiere of the new season of wheeler dealers. 2000 911 (996) cabrio. Needed the IMS rebuilt. I now have a much better understanding of what the fuss is all about.

For someone who has limited mechanical knowledge, that show does explain things quite well.

What's the story with Potvin?

stickguy

Bradd will know!

http://potvinsucks.com/

cdnpinhead

Michaell said:

For someone who has limited mechanical knowledge, that show does explain things quite well.

Given that Edd is no longer involved, the treatment with the "new" show leaves quite a bit to be desired.

Michaell

cdnpinhead said:

Michaell said:

For someone who has limited mechanical knowledge, that show does explain things quite well.

Given that Edd is no longer involved, the treatment with the "new" show leaves quite a bit to be desired.

Again, since I don't know that much, I haven't seen that. I liked Edd, but I don't mind Ant either.

ab348

cdnpinhead said:

Michaell said:

For someone who has limited mechanical knowledge, that show does explain things quite well.

Given that Edd is no longer involved, the treatment with the "new" show leaves quite a bit to be desired.

The show has fundamentally changed but I do not see evidence of the popular opinion of showing less mechanical work. Edd tended to be a mechanic who did expedient quick and dirty fixes to problems without being as concerned about how the finished problem looked. Some of the shows ended up doing things that would be quite embarrassing to look at by current standards, with rattle-can finishes and a lick-and-a-promise types of repairs. It has now become a restoration show versus a fix-up show. Ant shows a lot of intricate mechanical repair, but where I find the new shows have gone off the rails is totally ignoring other aspects of work being done to the cars like paint, upholstery or whatever else depending upon the vehicle, at a commensurately higher cost. You get to the end and there is a shiny full-restored vehicle that they have only shown 4 or 5 areas being worked on. I find they do spend/waste too much screen time at the beginning and the end talking about the car's issues and test-driving the end result, which I do not find very entertaining. Peak WD was around seasons 6 to 8, and it has gone downhill steadily since then. Ant is good and seems more engaged than Edd ever was over his last few seasons, but the show no longer has the same appeal for me.

nyccarguy

“What's the story with Potvin?”

I value my posting privileges here, so let’s just leave it at he played for the New York Islanders and helped them win 4 Stanley Cups in a row (and a 5th  Conference Championship) during the late 1970s & early 1980s.

pensfan83

Hahahaha. Too funny. I'm fairly certain Philadelphia fans feel the same way about Sidney Crosby.

stickguy

around here, that is pronounced "Cindy"

au1994

ab348 said:

cdnpinhead said:

Michaell said:

For someone who has limited mechanical knowledge, that show does explain things quite well.

Given that Edd is no longer involved, the treatment with the "new" show leaves quite a bit to be desired.

The show has fundamentally changed but I do not see evidence of the popular opinion of showing less mechanical work. Edd tended to be a mechanic who did expedient quick and dirty fixes to problems without being as concerned about how the finished problem looked. Some of the shows ended up doing things that would be quite embarrassing to look at by current standards, with rattle-can finishes and a lick-and-a-promise types of repairs. It has now become a restoration show versus a fix-up show. Ant shows a lot of intricate mechanical repair, but where I find the new shows have gone off the rails is totally ignoring other aspects of work being done to the cars like paint, upholstery or whatever else depending upon the vehicle, at a commensurately higher cost. You get to the end and there is a shiny full-restored vehicle that they have only shown 4 or 5 areas being worked on. I find they do spend/waste too much screen time at the beginning and the end talking about the car's issues and test-driving the end result, which I do not find very entertaining. Peak WD was around seasons 6 to 8, and it has gone downhill steadily since then. Ant is good and seems more engaged than Edd ever was over his last few seasons, but the show no longer has the same appeal for me.

I agree that the show has fundamentally changed. It has, in a sense, grown up. As I remember season 1 had a budget of 1000 (?) pounds to acquire and fix the car thus leading to rattle can paint and other 'sub par' fixes. But, thats what the market would bear at that price. Each season the budget steadily went up and the quality of the repairs improved to full body resprays, new interiors etc. Since it moved to the US full time the tone seems to have changed a bit. As noted some of the more important details are glossed over, no pun intended and overall it has less of a 'car show' vibe. I still like it though but I will watch it on demand so I have the luxury of fast forwarding though stuff I'm not interested. IE the police chase from last season.

Mr_Shiftright

stickguy said:

a couple years ago wheeler dealers did a Tii. And the "einspritzer" was bad. So they took it to some expert who bench rebuilt it (probably was named Deiter). Was pretty cool to see how it was done. Actually a relatively simple contraption, just tricky to work on if you didn't know what your were doing!

They're hard to calibrate precisely. I think the pump has this tricky little camshaft with many, many surfaces, working like little lobs--and the cam shifts back and forth as necessary to adjust the output. Never been inside one, and no, I wouldn't dare.

henryn

Mr_Shiftright said:

stickguy said:

a couple years ago wheeler dealers did a Tii. And the "einspritzer" was bad. So they took it to some expert who bench rebuilt it (probably was named Deiter). Was pretty cool to see how it was done. Actually a relatively simple contraption, just tricky to work on if you didn't know what your were doing!

They're hard to calibrate precisely. I think the pump has this tricky little camshaft with many, many surfaces, working like little lobs--and the cam shifts back and forth as necessary to adjust the output. Never been inside one, and no, I wouldn't dare.

Sounds exactly like the kind of area where a computer would excel, working much better than any mechanical device. Which, of course, is why all modern cars are computer controlled.

Mr_Shiftright

I guess you could argue both ways. The early German mechanical systems were very durable (like on the 300SL) but they were also imprecise. If you don't drive a Gullwing properly, it's going to foul up spark plugs so often you'd better have a barrelful of spares.

The Rochester system on early Corvettes was pretty good, too, but unlike with the 300SL, there were few mechanics who had the tools and expertise to keep these systems in good order.

As one guy put it, there were three reasons why early mechanical fuel injection systems failed:

Wear, engineering flaws, and Bubbas.

28firefighter

Found someone locally that is a Saab expert that is going to help me refresh the front end suspension bits on the Viggen. New front control arms and ball joints with poly bushings, tie rod ends, swaybar end links, an alignment, and re-securing where the front bumper has pulled off for $500 all-in. Seems like a no brainer, so I'm going to do this and then deal with the wheels later.

stickguy

that sounds like a steal of a deal.

au1994

That’s a screaming deal

stickguy

just posting for the color. Someone liked it enough to pay an extra $720 for it!

https://www.eimports4less.com/details-2016-mercedes~benz-gla-certified_gla250_4matic_nav_cam_blis_pano_hk_awd-used-wdctg4gb5gj227156.html

Michaell

stickguy said:

just posting for the color. Someone liked it enough to pay an extra $720 for it!

https://www.eimports4less.com/details-2016-mercedes~benz-gla-certified_gla250_4matic_nav_cam_blis_pano_hk_awd-used-wdctg4gb5gj227156.html

7-up can green!

stickguy

I could live with it. But my wife would probably not be pleased if I brought something that color home.

ab348

Must not be many Kryptonite Green GLAs with beige interior out there.

au1994

Jeep has a Mojito Green on the Wrangler than works quite well and its not dissimilar to the green on the MB. Doesn’t work so well on the GLA

pensfan83

Oh my eyes...

corvette

They sold the Honda Element in a similar shade for a few years. The Element wore it better. 

28firefighter

Woof. 

qbrozen

stickguy said:

just posting for the color. Someone liked it enough to pay an extra $720 for it! https://www.eimports4less.com/details-2016-mercedes~benz-gla-certified_gla250_4matic_nav_cam_blis_pano_hk_awd-used-wdctg4gb5gj227156.html

At first glance, I thought you posted a Chevy Spark!

mjfloyd1

Where is Sandy?

au1994

I tested a GLA when they first came out. It’s a nice little CUV. I remember it being kinda fun to drive with the turbo 4 but this one did have the sport package. Also remember the cargo area being small for the class. Could be a good choice for a LuxUV commuter.

au1994

28firefighter said:

New Outback was announced at the NY Auto Show today. Includes an Outback XT with the same 2.4 Boxer Turbo that is in the Ascent (and the new Legacy). Looks really compelling if you don't need a third row.

One item that I missed - while overall cargo space is increasing by 3 cu feet (with the second row folded), hatch space is reducing to 32.5 cu feet from 35.5 with the second row up. Weird reallocation of space.

I took a look on the Subaru site this morning and its nice. A good refresh of an already nice and clean design. I'd say they will sell a ton of them. We'd take a smokin' deal on a 19 if the incentives could bail me out on the X1. The 3.6 Touring we tested last year was very, very nice.

pensfan83

Dropped the Prelude off this morning to get new 3 way Pioneer speakers in the front and the shop is going to install the replacement speaker grilles too. On my way home I'm going to get an estimate on what it would cost to have the lower and rear skirts painted to match the rest of the car, similar to the Type SH.

tifighter

I had a GLA loaner when I took the E Cab in for a service. Did. Not. Like. Wheezy motor, weird visibility, etc, etc. But then again, it wasn't GREEN...

roadburner

Mr_Shiftright said:

a couple years ago wheeler dealers did a Tii. And the "einspritzer" was bad. So they took it to some expert who bench rebuilt it (probably was named Deiter). Was pretty cool to see how it was done. Actually a relatively simple contraption, just tricky to work on if you didn't know what your were doing!

They're hard to calibrate precisely. I think the pump has this tricky little camshaft with many, many surfaces, working like little lobs--and the cam shifts back and forth as necessary to adjust the output. Never been inside one, and no, I wouldn't dare.

I know a couple of people who work on them. They are kind of like Quadrajet carburetors; you have to understand how it works before you start messing with it. 

corvette

Terry used to call it “no sale green.” I think that shade definitely qualifies. 

henryn

roadburner said:

Mr_Shiftright said:

stickguy said:

a couple years ago wheeler dealers did a Tii. And the "einspritzer" was bad. So they took it to some expert who bench rebuilt it (probably was named Deiter). Was pretty cool to see how it was done. Actually a relatively simple contraption, just tricky to work on if you didn't know what your were doing!

They're hard to calibrate precisely. I think the pump has this tricky little camshaft with many, many surfaces, working like little lobs--and the cam shifts back and forth as necessary to adjust the output. Never been inside one, and no, I wouldn't dare.

I know a couple of people who work on them. They are kind of like Quadrajet carburetors; you have to understand how it works before you start messing with it. 

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- end quoted material =-=-==-=-=-=-=-

I rebuilt a few Quadrajet carburetors back in the day. I was very happy to see the end of carburetors.

28firefighter

Springtime means that all of our fun rides are getting spiffed up. I'm so excited for the work getting done on the Viggen. Now to figure out a cost effective solution to the wheels.

xwesx

28firefighter said:

Found someone locally that is a Saab expert that is going to help me refresh the front end suspension bits on the Viggen. New front control arms and ball joints with poly bushings, tie rod ends, swaybar end links, an alignment, and re-securing where the front bumper has pulled off for $500 all-in. Seems like a no brainer, so I'm going to do this and then deal with the wheels later.

Brilliant! Definitely the way to go.

xwesx

stickguy said:

just posting for the color. Someone liked it enough to pay an extra $720 for it!

https://www.eimports4less.com/details-2016-mercedes~benz-gla-certified_gla250_4matic_nav_cam_blis_pano_hk_awd-used-wdctg4gb5gj227156.html

I really like the color, but that's definitely the wrong car for it.

xwesx

tifighter said:

I had a GLA loaner when I took the E Cab in for a service. Did. Not. Like. Wheezy motor, weird visibility, etc, etc. But then again, it wasn't GREEN...

That's counting your blessings, right there!

xwesx

I finally got my new tires on the van last night, but it was nearing 10pm by the time I was finished, and light was in short supply. Looks good with them; hopefully they will give me another quarter century!

I know we discussed the advantages (and not) of electric vehicles in terms of production + road emissions a while ago, and I just came across an Engineering Explained video where the host talks about this very subject. As always, he does a fantastic job of breaking down the breakeven point (estimates, of course)! The video is about six months old, so some of you may have already seen it; still, it's worth a share:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RhtiPefVzM

stickguy

Made the road trip yesterday, about 5 hours from philly to upstate NY. per TC was at 35.3 mpg. Including a decent stretch of local stuff and lots of traffic. Not complaining about that.

And the car is a “runner”. Our old TL was like that. Really have to pay attention because it just wants to go. Kept topping 80 and never noticed. Smooth, quite, and at a whopping 2200 RPM or so. Quite comfortable too, and with a largish tank nice to see RTE over 500 when I topped up upon arrival.

Excellent road trip car overall.

corvette

I’m making the annual pilgrimage to Omaha next week. I think I’m going to take the G37. Regardless, I’m glad that the Tahoe’s battery clamp issue didn’t leave me stranded in the middle of Iowa. 

I’m guessing the G will probably average 22-23 MPG on the interstate, so we’ll see. 

corvette

The cell reception/Waze issue will also be interesting. I use Mint wireless and pay $180 a year for 3 GB per month in data and unlimited talk and text. Last year, there was no coverage between Des Moines and Omaha, but the coverage maps now appear to show 2G coverage in that area. Last year, I had to pull off at a rest stop with free WiFi (props to Iowa for equipping their rest stops with WiFi) just to get Waze back on track. 

henryn

corvette said:

I’m making the annual pilgrimage to Omaha next week. I think I’m going to take the G37. Regardless, I’m glad that the Tahoe’s battery clamp issue didn’t leave me stranded in the middle of Iowa. 

I’m guessing the G will probably average 22-23 MPG on the interstate, so we’ll see. 

I would have expected higher MPG numbers. My F-150, with the ecoboost, can do around 23-24 on the interstate. I have seen 25.5 during long stretches of cruising at 75 mph. Best fill-up, measured and recorded, was 22.8

And that F-150 is BIG, and most definitely not aerodynamic. But I guess the G37 is several year old technology. Still fun, though, and I think that was your main motivation in buying it. When I test drove an M37 last year, I really liked it. Might even have bought it if they didn't want $15.9 for one with over 100k miles.

Mr_Shiftright

corvette said:

The cell reception/Waze issue will also be interesting. I use Mint wireless and pay $180 a year for 3 GB per month in data and unlimited talk and text. Last year, there was no coverage between Des Moines and Omaha, but the coverage maps now appear to show 2G coverage in that area. Last year, I had to pull off at a rest stop with free WiFi (props to Iowa for equipping their rest stops with WiFi) just to get Waze back on track. 

There is this thing you might find at an antique store, called a "map".

corvette

Those are impressive MPG numbers. I think the reason the G doesn’t do so well is that it’s tuned and geared for performance. The engine really likes to rev. It’s not uncommon to hit 3,000 rpm in a parking lot before the 1-2 shift occurs. It feels far more sprightly than my old Mustang GT. 

I also looked at M37s. The one thing that was off putting to me was the flatness of the seats. The G has more bolstering.  

Also considered a 2015+ Mercedes C300 after renting one in the UK, but from my research, the first year models had some engine issues, and 2015 was the year that was coming off lease and commonly available at the time. Would’ve been a lot more expensive. Also, at the time, Hertz had some Audi A4s they would sell out of their fleet at what looked like a fair price, but there weren’t many colors available. 

henryn

Mint is a T-Mobile reseller, and they are not known for coverage in the wide open spaces of fly-over country. They do usually cover the interstates, and then drop off suddenly when you move away from the main traffic corridors. I was with Verizon for many many years, and then moved over to T-Mobile (originally with Mint, now with Teltik). T-Mobile works fine where I'm at, for less than half the cost of Verizon, so ...

If you really need / want coverage in the middle of nowhere, I would recommend Red Pocket, a Verizon reseller. They sell yearly plans, much like Mint, but not quite as cheap.

corvette

I’m actually really happy with Mint, overall. I used Straight Talk for years (AT&T at half the price), and for 99% of my usage, AT&T’s coverage is only marginally better, if that. I habitually connect to free WiFi, and have never gone over my data allowance with Mint. Case in point - I took a date to the Maker’s Mark distillery last weekend, she had AT&T, and both of us had awful reception. 

And I do have people who judge me and say I should just pay $100/month for unlimited usage with a major carrier, like they do. 

roadburner

We took the X1 for an interstate jaunt; it averaged about 29 mpg at 75-80 mph. Can’t complain about that.