GM slashes Chevy Volt prices to spur flagging sales

So then why didn't you speak up when that assholeKidding was lambasting all of RCM, AMC as being too incompetent to build shit?

No, but I can explain it in wikipedia's words:

Perty neat! But, why do you ask? In ref to my steering comment? My comment was simply observing that you can steer a 4 motor-ed car like a tank, with no steering linkage at all.

Not sayin it's ultimately practical, altho it would be nice if it were. Would save more weight, money, complexity -- well, at least mechanical complexity. And from a pure kinematic pov, this would be a perfected version of Ackerman -- w/ pyooter control, of course. But, pyooter failure would be pretty catastrophic in a mountain turn, tho....

We already have that with ICE vehicles. Or do you mean fuel cells? If so, they're highly unlikely in our lifetime, and while they might get away with one motor, they'll be anything but simple. And they'll almost certainly include batteries for regeneration.

If purchasing power continues to decline there could be more econobox models. I can't see how anything can _practically_ get cheaper, lighter or simpler than a Smart ForTwo though.

That wait would be until hell freezes over for most models these days. :) Even cars like the Smart include power windows (easier to consolidate models), along with all the other little things that are proving that well engineered complex systems can be combined to produce affordable and reliable products.

With such a huge variety of vehicles available, I'm amazed that anybody thinks there's a superior design that's been overlooked. But for those who believe that life was better with carburetors and speedo cables, there's no shortage of entrepreneurs who'll sell a rejuvenated whatever, usually for less than the cost of something new. An example

Neither is there any problem adding AC. It STIL wouldn't have a proper heater, but apparently those weren't required in the good old days. :)

No, I mean that CNG vehicles are relatively light, the same as gasoline-powered vehicles. They're lighter than simple EVs, like the Leaf (my similar-size Focus is 700 pounds lighter than a Leaf), and they're lighter than any kind of hybrid in comparable sizes.

It appears that fuel prices are stable or declining. I don't see much economic impetus for alternative-fuel vehicles, although CNG is a longer-term possibility.

True. But then you can't fix them when they go wrong without paying ridiculous sums for replacement parts. I paid over $500 to have the electric windows repaired on my mother's T-bird. That's why I went to roll-ups. I've been able to fix them myself for close to 50 years

-- sometimes with a hammer and a file. d8-)

But my last two cars have had electrics and I've had no trouble with them, for nine years now.

In my MG, the Smith heater came out in March and went back in in October. 'Saved a few racing pounds, ya' know.

Don't get me wrong. I find the present state of automobile engineering to be amazing. I'm getting ready to write some articles about it; I've covered the subject off and on for 40 years; and I'm still amazed at what they can do today.

I do object to the marketing-driven proliferation of geejaws, particularly communications devices that distract drivers' attention. But like a lot of RCM members, I don't like feeling helpless with expensive things that I can't fix myself.

End of Luddite rant.

Vehicle repair is mostly the same as it always has been. Owners who make an effort can do almost anything, and save money over paying someone else. Although most people will find it better to stick to their own specialty than struggle at a new one. I didn't find the price of an Auto Engenuity setup to be a big deal. Whereas most people do, making it all the less likely that they'll have their own hoist or the determination to do their own repairs. I find that most (not you) of the people who complain about cars being hard to fix don't even change their own oil, and never did do much beyond alternator replacements etc., which they can still do. The other day I was asked to look into a stalling problem on a friend's car. Symptoms pointed to intermittent idle control. I wasn't familiar with the model but the owner had a Haynes manual. In a few minutes I located the IAC valve and determined that it would be easy to remove and clean to see if it had any effect.

Things have changed. Even many simple parts (think tail light lens) are expensive. The worst part is being held hostage to dealer prices if the aftermarket doesn't provide competition.

Funny you should mention that. I just upgraded to a Galaxy S4. Phone part paired perfectly with the Volt, but the contact list didn't transfer. Supposedly Onstar will download a firmware update, but not on the weekend. I think it's great that we have this tech, and that it probably only added a pound to the weight a few dollars to the price.

Bingo. Multiple new ones, bevies of parts destined to fail. You got the answer, and don't even know it.

I didn't find the

LESS likely?? HOw likely is that from the gitgo??? fukn idiot, fukn moron....

I find that most (not you)

Clairvoyant -- again -- are we??

The other day I was asked

And.....???

Gee, you got it again!!! Pray fer yer planetary gearset, dood....

Do you think your resultant chubby will subside any time soon?

Almost every electrical problem I've had with vehicles was fixed by cleaning and oiling.

Well, I didn't oil the Mass Air Flow sensor elements after cleaning them.

jsw

The Luddites were correck.

Most things AREN'T "destined to fail," at least not in the normal lifetime of a vehicle, and especially not during the warranty period when it doesn't matter much anyway. Your brain is one of the exceptions.

Pretty much true. Once I got over the minor hurdle of buying a code reader, there's very little change in basic diagnostics. OBD2 codes have been enough for me, so no scanning. The internet is a boon. And components are generally more reliable than before, with basically more sensors to go bad. Fuel regulators, pumps, injectors, coil packs and belted accessories are the main problems. I don't pull engine or trans anymore, but haven't had to. Had one car to a trans shop once to replace a valve that caused hard shifting. Jackstands are all I need. But hoists are easy and cheap enough if I needed them. Honestly, for about 15 years now, the only time my cars have been to a shop is for exhaust or tires.

I've replaced a few window motor/regulator combos. Most I paid was $105 at a GM dealer. The other 2 were mail order aftermarket, about

60 bucks each. There's some labor, but not much. An hour or two for me. I'd rather have manual windows, but they just aren't offered. Stuff like tail lights are best had at the boneyard if possible for your car. My main concern with modern cars is behind dash componentry. Very difficult to work with, but that's just how it is. But it's been only a worry, since I haven't had to do it. Good reliability from all my modern cars.

True. And the electronic diagnostics today are a big help -- although I wonder if the net effect is any better than I did with my old Heathkit 'scope and homebrew four-channel adapter. Still, I'm not knocking it. And one of my engines is a six-cylinder, anyway.

It's just more investment in learning that I'm willing to go for these days. When you're done, you have...just what everyone else has. I could always tweak my old engines. For example, I even converted my old '64 Beetle to a centrifugal-only distributor, with a piece of fuel-line hose. Mileage went to hell but you got about three or four more horsepower in the midrange, and much better acceleration, that way.

I miss those things. It made it all worth the effort. I guess I either have to stop getting old or buy some old car for a toy.

Sometimes I like those things. For the most part, though, I still like my cars simple. I have my son's Garmin in the glove box of my Focus but I've never taken it out. But I do have a folder full of maps. They don't run out of batteries. d8-)

Eh, consider a Caterham 7. No electric windows -- because it doesn't have windows.

For that matter, it ain't got no steenking doors, either. Who needs 'em? No trunk latch -- because there's no trunk lid.

Floor carpets...yuck! The original Austin Healey Sprite had some pebbly rubber stuff that you just hosed down. The sports car magazines called it "Unborn Gila Monster hide."

You guys have me longing for a '54 Ford...

On Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:01:05 -0400, Ed Huntress wrote:

That '64 bug would do. I had one too. And I put a centrifugal advance dist on it , but it was a new Bosch. Never noticed mpg change, but that's what 25 cent gas does to you. Also put new jugs, pistons/rings in it. 60 bucks for the set. Ground the valves with a reversible drill and compound. It ran sweet. It was fun taking care of it. There was NEVER any frustration/confusion. Might have something to do with my youth. Here's a little test. Ever notice a very high pitched whining coming from the engine bay? Many of the era had that. Very simple fix, but still about half I'd see had that whine. Cough up the answer, and I'll tell you how an orange peel stalled me out on the street. No, I'll just tell you anyway. One day coming home from work the bug stalled on a pretty busy city street. I coasted to the curb, restarted it, but it would stall on acceleration ("acceleration" hehe.) Anyway, first thing I did was pull the air cleaner to see what the fuel problem was - maybe accel pump bad. I hadn't had the air cleaner off for at least a couple weeks, when I was last tinkering. Right away I see a bright orange peel from half an orange in the carb throat, blocking it. I tell you, it was a twilight zone moment. I wish I could have seen my face. Anyway, pulling the peel fixed it. Took me about 15 seconds to remember I'd put the air cleaner on the back seat floor temporarily a couple week ago. and that sometime before that I had eaten a couple oranges while driving and tossed the peels behind me. The orange peel had lodged in the air cleaner throat sideways when I put the air cleaner on it, then finally closed like a choke a couple weeks later. But what if I had died in the meantime, and the car had passed on to somebody else? So it gets towed to a VW shop, and the owner gets a bill saying "Labor: $80.00 - removed 1/2 orange peel from carburetor. Shop overhead and rag fee: $20.35" The possibilities are endless.

Oooh, fancy, schmancy.

Yeah, it wasn't a big issue at those prices. What happened is that the all-centrifugal advance (which the 36-hp versions had at one point, which is where the idea came from) encourages you to put your foot in it because there was a large difference in output at full throttle. And it ran a little funny at part throttle. So I used a lot more gas.

I remember those days.

Jeez. You had all the fancy stuff. I had a hand-crank valve grinder and considered myself lucky.

Hmm. No, but my memory is losing its edge.

Aha! The old citrus choke trick! d8-)

Which reminds me of my most infuriating repair bill. It was for my '71 Super Beetle. We had a cold winter in Michigan and melted snow from my shoes ran through the carpet and re-froze on the other side. Eventually, you couldn't move the throttle from the ice build-up. The car heater sure as heck wouldn't do it -- it was still a VW. It just heated enough to melt it off my shoes. After that, all bets were off.

So I took it to the dealer, which was the only heated garage I had access to, and asked them to just let it sit in the garage for a day to let the ice melt and I'd pick it up. I bought the car from those guys, so I thought they'd do me that favor.

When I went to pick it up they handed me a bill for $35 -- for chipping the ice off. I went ballistic so they reduced it to $20. I was still pissed. The service manager was gone for the day so I had no one to appeal to. But I never went back to that dealer.

Oh yeah! 25 or 30 bucks. I was a real high-flyer, I was.

Even then a cheap reversible drill was....cheap. Say. are you the fella who walked 10 miles uphill to school, then 10 miles uphill back home?

It's the fiber cam follower on the points squealing against the dist cam. A tiny touch of white grease fixes it. I don't think it was more than a couple years ago that an old bug went squealing past me. I was about to yell "Grease your dist cam!" but he was already gone down the road.

You must have had a really terrific heater. I don't recall mine once melting the snow off my shoes (-: Anyway, I loved it enough. But I get better mpg in my almost 2 ton Chevy Impala. And the heater works just fine. Not nearly as much driving the Chevy though.

Not me, but I did use an old maple tree for an engine hoist. And I broke it lifting out a Jag XK 120 engine, for which I caught hell for a week. d8-)

Aha. I can't recall ever having heard that sound, but that was a long time ago. I always used that little plastic blister of white grease that came with a new set of points. It was good for a year or more.

That was one of the advances in the '71 Super Beetle. The heater almost worked.

My '64 had one J.C. Whitney booster-blower on the driver's side. The passenger couldn't see out of the windshield until spring.

Today's cars are great engineering -- and as dull as a tree stump.

Was it broken, or just to make routine maintenance easier? jsw

It was pretty worn and blowing some smoke, after 13 years or so, and we were going to replace it with a rebuilt engine that had a "C" head on it.

It wound up being done at a local garage, while I sawed a big maple limb into firewood. d8-)

Gawd, those old Jag engines were *heavy*.

With tools like Auto Enginuity you can monitor troublesome sensors in real time. That's one of the better ways to diagnose an intermittent problem if you don't have a bucket of parts to swap in.

I have a Garmin that's mounted in my eye line. It's connected to 12V and turns on whenever the car starts. I don't need it that often for navigating, but it plays mp3s full time. Smart phones are better in some ways for navigating, but they can be rendered useless if you're out of data range.

Imagine if you could show all this new tech to someone from olden days and blow their mind. Oh wait, that's us. :)

A couple days ago I got to visit a concours '41 Chev. convertible. Very attractive, until I think about driving and working on it regularly. Because I haven't forgotten the lousy power, shitty brakes, bad ride and handling, and poor reliability by modern standards. Yeah it would have some charm, but so do lots of modern cars.