DR1665.com - Latest Comments

Re: What Has Twitter Done For You?

DR1665 — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:00:34 -0000

Exactly. Prior to being on Twitter, I was what some people would call a "forum junkie." Even now, most of my friends online are Mitsubishi guys. I spend more time talking to people I've met online with Eclipses than I do with those with whom I went to school! More than half the people at my wedding were car buddies from online.

The thing about these forums, although one of the earlier forms of this new social media madness, is that most people are of similar mindset. If you have 14,000 Mitsubishi Eclipse owners together talking about things, they're going to generally share the same opinions. Granted, there are differences, but for the most part, we all see the world through similar eyes.

With Twitter, on the other hand, we're now exposed to the world through the eyes and voices of others who are not based in our same sort of reality. While the only Mitsubishi owner on my forum concerned about GM's welfare might be the guy who works in the service department at a Chevy dealership, it's interesting to see how people in not only other industries or communities view the situation, but even people in other parts of the world.

It really is brilliant. Thanks for the comments, Adnan. I do appreciate them.

Re: What Has Twitter Done For You?

Adnan — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:22:24 -0000

I totally agree with you here Brian (and sorry for the late comment). Whilst some may view Twitter as meaningless engagement in a sort of "Facebook-y" type way, I think it extends to a far more personal level than others realise.

I've managed to meet rally and race car drivers through Twitter, auto enthusiasts such as yourself who never cease to amaze me with their dedication to the automotive scene, graphic designers, celebrities and loads more. And these are people I never would have been able to connect with before through just a blog.

Re: Gear Head Evolution IV - The True Gear Head

Lucy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:56:18 -0000

hey. just stumbled across your blog. its really good. lots to read, get back to you soon.

Re: I’m Fixing Up My Old Lawn Mower

DR1665 — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:02:37 -0000

Thanks Shawn.

The badge on the back of the deck with the number was pitted and faded, making it hard to read, but I managed to find the mower on the Sears site you suggested. I even found the exploded drawing showing how all the parts go together. It was dated 1976!

Unfortunately, more than three quarters of the parts for this model are no longer available. Once I had the model number of the engine - in this case a Tecumseh - I was able to do some more digging. I ended up at http://www.iowamotorparts.com, where a guy named Ray hooked me up with exactly what I needed.

Turns out the carb just needed cleaned out and the rusty, POS muffler still works fine, but I've got a shiny new muffler to install before I fire this old guy up again (which should be soon). The recoil on the pull cord is a bit sloppy, but prime it three times and it starts right up. Word is born.

Re: I’m Fixing Up My Old Lawn Mower

shawn — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:46:11 -0000

searspartsdirect.com, just fire in the model number (should be 130. something) and it will give you the list.

Re: Badge Engineering As Usual. The New GM Isn’t.

endlessmonkeys — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:34:18 -0000

The thing is, "I'm not a fan of rebadging" doesn't equate with "I won't evar rebadge." I think it more points to the fact that he doesn't want to have to give up everything that he loves the most, which seems to be the G8. It may be that the current rebadging is something that he simply HAS to tolerate in order to keep profits up enough to keep the G8 in it's current form?

I dunno really. It's an auto-industry exec, so he is probably genetically gifted in the art of talking out of his mouth AND anus.

Re: Badge Engineering As Usual. The New GM Isn’t.

Diceman — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:56:34 -0000

I tend to agree with Ron. There are some distinct differences between the Silverado and the Sierra that in some cases, you won't be able to swap over without some serious work. I love my Sierra!

Re: Badge Engineering As Usual. The New GM Isn’t.

Ron Amundson — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:49:36 -0000

If GM is doing what they often used to do... the sheet metal will swap, but a lot of things wont, not even within the same model. Whoever bid the cheapest on subassemblies gets the business, even if its rip and redo the internals. Some yrs ago, a Malibu had 3 different wiring harnesses, as did its badged counterparts. If you were lucky, things might swap... but not always, and not even Malibu to Malibu of the same year!

Re: “2CG” Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Two Cars Fit

DR1665 — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:01:40 -0000

The spare parts *do* add up over time, don't they? Shame most of them aren't anything you ever need!

I don't think I could fit six cars on my property! (They pack the houses really close together in Phoenix. :P

Re: “2CG” Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Two Cars Fit

@girlinblackcar — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:28:17 -0000

You can never have enough room. We built a five car shop six or so years ago. Walked inside when it was completed and told each other we'd NEVER need this much space.

Umm, this is what she usually looks like inside - http://girlintheblackcar.com/images/Other/lotso...

:-)

Re: Remember Me? (Me Ricorda?)

Kris — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:43:59 -0000

Even more promising is the Ford Fiesta R2
http://promotor.co.za/rallyv2/?p=189&cpage=1

Should be on the US shores in 2010...
- Kris

Re: Brian DR1665’s First Car

DR1665 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:14:11 -0000

LOL! Would have been awesome if I could have done that! Instead, someone thought it would be a good idea for the car to ding at you when that indicator was out. Talk about annoying! First thing I had to do on my first car was make sure the fuse for the shift light was actually THERE!

Re: Remember Me? (Me Ricorda?)

DR1665 — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:05:08 -0000

@Dave - I haven't seen any of the Lupo spots (since I think they never sold them in the US), but I might run out and take a peek for something on YouTube. I *am* pretty sure, however, that I've seen in-car footage of a Lupo race car with the auto club in Nussloch, Germany, where I used to live. Wicked little Vdub fully carving. Nice.

@James - Funny thought about the 500 in LeMons! I think people pick the Neons because they *do* have a reputation for having a decent handling package right from the factory. If someone's managed to find a nearly free ACR model, they're doing even better, since those were awesome handling little scamps.

Will the 500 be a hot ticket item in the States? Only time will tell, but it's no secret that the WANTS often overpower the NEEDS when it comes to car buying. Barring a whale of fail in the marketing department with the 500, I suspect the 500 will need only to look cute/cool and drive decently to be a winner. It seems we've lost track of the pleasure that is driving a small European car over here. Everyone's focused on the big performance saloons.

Re: Brian DR1665’s First Car

James — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:24:20 -0000

you know the first thing I did when I bought my SPG?

PULLED THE FUSE FOR THAT STUPID SHIFT-UP LIGHT.

seriously. Thing comes on at 2500rpm. I didn't even leave the PO's driveway before i disabled it.

funny that you buy a DSM to replace something unreliable, amirite?!?

Re: Remember Me? (Me Ricorda?)

James — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:20:19 -0000

I think Chrysler will have some luck selling the 500 here simply because it's cute, it's efficient, and it's a fresh face. The MiTo, with it's higher price point, might have a bit more trouble. I'm still not convinced on the MiTo's styling, to be honest...

Maybe we'll be seeing 500's in 24 hours of LeMons in 10 years? Since the events are already chock-full of old POS Neons with peeling paint and blowing headgaskets.

Re: Remember Me? (Me Ricorda?)

Dave — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:42:23 -0000

More Euro inspired goodness over here is never a bad thing :) awesome.
Funny, I believe VW used the same ad style with the Lupo; also an adorably cute face on that car.

Re: Brian DR1665’s First Car

Uberingram — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:36:52 -0000

I consider myself lucky to really have 2 “first cars” and both left imprints on my future car-guy self. Technically my first car was a 1986 5-speed Subaru GL-10 Turbo wagon. Despite growing up in the car I only owned it for a scant 36 hours (more on that later). This car was a geek's dream. It featured a full digital dash and when I say full I really mean FULL. Speedometer, odometer, a full "map" of the car showing which of the 5 doors were open or even unlocked, gas level and even BOOST! She came equipped with 4WD-on-the-fly that could be activated via a slick button, aptly labeled "4WD", on the top of the shifter. The little Subaru trucked my family around for nearly a decade before it came into my hands. I remember being mesmerized by the dash on road trips. I would wait for the little turbo light to kick on when my mother went to pass someone or went on a hill. I would memorize shift points on the RPM readout for different gears and so on and so forth. I couldn't wait for this superior piece of Japanese engineering to become mine.

That time finally came on a summer Friday afternoon in the late 90's. Mom handed me the keys, kissed my forehead and told me to stay safe. It took less than 2 seconds for me to bolt out of the house and into the car. Did I know how to drive a manual? In theory. Did I care? Not in the slightest. I fired her up and limped her off to a friends house for a few hours. Freedom never tasted so good and it was named Subaru. Bright and early the next morning I was going to drive myself to bowling practice for the first time ever. I was ecstatic. She reliably fired right up. I started to back her out into the street when she sputtered and died. Uh oh. Tried turning her over for a good 10 minutes before giving up and getting a ride from my mother in her shiny new Intergra LS. My father later tore into the engine only to find that not only had both head gaskets blown but one of them had been blown for years. This in turn severely lowered the engine's expected output and caused the turbo to be spooled damn near all the time and was almost completely cooked. It's surprising the car lasted that long but at long last she was dead and the cost of repairing her far outweighed her worth and she rotted away in a side yard for another few years before being sold for scrap. Sad.

Shortly after the death of valiant Subaru I purchased a 1988 Isuzu P'up. This wasn't any old Isuzu P'up. She came equipped with an OEM off road performance package. 36" tires, slight lift, 5 speed and a bigger 2.6L 4 banger. I got it for a screaming deal but there was a catch. The truck ran fantastic but it had no torque. Confident that either myself or my father would locate the small problem causing the power loss I quickly snatched the truck up. Sure enough the truck ran great but any hills required 2 to 3 down shifts and a snail's pace to climb. During the subsequent repairs I should mention that this is when my father bought me my first Craftsman automotive tool set. It doesn't sound important on the surface but I never really bonded with my father before this and receiving his praise for wanting to work on the truck AND a useful tool set got him back in my life. 6 months and nearly a thousand dollars later we found out that the power loss was due to some ham fisted mechanic had not torqued down the harmonic balancer causing it to not sit on the crank key correctly. At full tilt timing was almost 6 teeth off and a miracle to be running.

I owned this truck for a good 4 years and never had a real issue with it that wasn't caused by the inherent ownership of a stupid teenager. It survived drunken offroad escapades that involved rope and toboggans and it survived being driving through a GameStop front window display (ssshhhh don't tell anyone). There were many a high school shenanigan experienced either in the cab or bed of that truck and I'm actually getting a little misty eyed thinking about all the good times that revolved around that truck. I later sold it to an old high school buddy for a mere $500 and I can look back and say it was the stupidest vehicular decision I've ever made. Every once in a blue moon I still see it driving around in my old home town and I'm half tempted to be super creepy and follow the owner around until they stop and beg to buy it back.
So there you have it. When Subaru makes a lifted Brat with a turbocharged engine my soul searching will be complete. Until then I will simply love all things turbo Subaru and all things small import truck.

Re: Gear Head Evolution III - The Addict

DR1665 — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:41:05 -0000

I might suggest that life is very much like an internet build thread, Derek, although I wholeheartedly agree with your point.

As in said thread, life is a journey wherein we share what we enjoy with other like-minded people. Some will support us no matter what, others will provide needed guidance and insight, still others will attempt to bring us down. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if someone showed up in my garage and told me "Pics or it didn't happen," despite standing in front of the car himself!

LOL. Internetz.

Re: Gear Head Evolution III - The Addict

Derek Kreindler — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:24:45 -0000

The biggest reality check for me has been seeing that life does not correspond to internet build threads. Without a trust fund, or a desire to go into deep debt, I am stuck building my car one small piece at a time rather than doing a shit ton of mods and having some baller machine to get anonymous validation.

Re: I’m Taking a Survey… On Surveys.

endlessmonkeys — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:07:18 -0000

"So my question to you: Do you think surveys should always offer a dissenting option?"

Nope. The nature of any survey is typically to gauge public opinion about a certain subject, it's rarely to be used in any way other than to say "people LOVE this, or people love this, or they don't care." Offering a contrasting opinion is rarely the goal of a poll. So should they? Nope. Would it be nice? Honestly, it'd be annoying. When someone is shoving a survey into my face, I really am not looking to engage them in debate.

Just my two cents. Should I:

a) shove it
b) shove it HARD
c) waffle cones bitch!
d) get with the shoving

Re: Gear Head Evolution I - The Dreamer

DR1665 — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:15:57 -0000

Thanks for the replies to Gear Head I, fellas. I really appreciate it!

We gear heads can always remember that first car - loved or hated - and if you look back at your past, you can see how that first infatuation would help to form the foundations of what you like - and don't like - in vehicles.

Tim started out in the cold, mechanical world of DSMs, but found a friend in the friendliest little car sold in the nineties, the Dodge Neon. Perhaps the Neon said, "Hi" to Tim and that was all it took to get him in the driver's seat.

Phil noticed a classic Datsun "resting" under a tree and was immediately smitten, learning early on to appreciate the vehicle, as he had to do the work to get it running again.

Derek had a long term attraction to the Miata. Some, myself included, might scoff at a guy being interested in a Miata, but when you combine the spirit of small, British ragtop motoring with Japanese reliability, what's not to love? (Maybe just the fact that I'm too big for one.)

Finally, Rob was exposed to open wheel racing at an early age. Without body panels and interior bits adding unnecessary weight to the machine, the little pull-start kart brought with it a taste of raw speed and power which is the stuff of which you never grow tired.

Each of us has different preferences. We've got reasons why we "play" with the cars we do, but we can recognize the similarities between us at the core. Somewhere, back in the day, there was that one machine that drew us in and we've been hooked ever since. From the sheer insanity of the Neon community, to the new classics from the pre-Nissan era, to the wildly popular roadster that started a renaissance worldwide, to literally being presented with the green flag from day one, there is commonality.

I think that's pretty cool.

Re: Gear Head Evolution I - The Dreamer

Rob Stoesser — Wed, 20 May 2009 09:06:29 -0000

It was my first go-kart, April 1974. Age 9. Hundreds of laps in the driveway. Learned all of the important mechanical skills on that one, such as "Is there fuel in the tank?" and the old "Hold this while I pull the cord, tell me if you feel anything" trick. The wind, the noise, the speed, the freedom. Years later, it was that same exact feeling storming the downhill at Lime Rock in my Reynard Formula Continental. Never gets old.

Re: Gear Head Evolution I - The Dreamer

Derek Kreindler — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:44:11 -0000

Great article. I had to buy my first car myself, but that makes it all the more special. I've wanted a Miata since my senior year of high school, and so far its been everything I've hoped for.

Re: Gear Head Evolution I - The Dreamer

Philip Rodda — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:32:30 -0000

my first car came to me at age 14. I was attending my uncle's wedding reception and I saw this shape sitting under a tree. I was in love immediately with a 1974 Datsun 610. $400 changed hands and I had my first car, a rusty non running old Datsun. Over the next two years I rebuilt teh car repairing the rust and changing the interior. it was a great car and lead to my Datsun disease.

Re: Gear Head Evolution I - The Dreamer

Tim — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:14:50 -0000

Awesome Driggsy!

I had 93 Eclipse, and it was ok, but I sold it for a 95 Neon base coupe. From the first time I put my right foot down, I was in love.

And as you know, it never really went away :P

2gnt still the best though :)