Car Chat

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Exactly.  It's so ugly that it's morbidly fascinating.

[12,000 RPM]

Z5?

http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2019-bmw-z5-roadster-future-cars

[shp4man]

That Mitsubishi designer must like watching Godzilla movies. 

[MexicoCityM3]

Test drove a Bolt today. Great drivetrain and range. Econobox interior and look (at least for the price here).

An i3 is about 5K more but the real competition for the Bolt IMO is something like the just launched Countryman PHEV that is in an entirely different league quality wise.

[2o6]

Test drove a Bolt today. Great drivetrain and range. Econobox interior and look (at least for the price here).

An i3 is about 5K more but the real competition for the Bolt IMO is something like the just launched Countryman PHEV that is in an entirely different league quality wise.

The Mini has 1/10th of the electric range

[cawimmer430]

Who wants this chick as a girlfriend? 


Mini Owner Pours Washer Fluid Into Engine Instead Of Oil, Disaster Follows



For most people with even a vague understanding of cars, it is quite obvious that engine oil should be put in the engine.

Unfortunately for one Mini owner in Germany, she never got that memo and when prompted that her car had low windshield washer fluid, she decided that pouring 5 liters of the stuff into the engine would do the trick.

Shortly  after, the woman noticed plumes of blue smoke from her exhaust and took the car to a local mechanic. That's when the shocking discovery was made.
As soon as mechanics opened up the Mini's engine, they were presented by a thick, foamy sludge engulfing the engine and underneath, found that much of the block and engine sump were covered in the same thick goo.

The images, posted on Facebook by a BMW Club in France, don't say what happened next but we suspect the owner was left with two options; sell the car and buy another one or fork out the cost for a replacement engine.


Link: http://www.carscoops.com/2017/07/mini-owner-pours-washer-fluid-into.html

[FoMoJo]

My wife poured washer fluid into the coolant overflow tank once.  She did have the presence of mind to have the cooling system immediately flushed once she realized what she had done though.  However, to give a benefit of doubt, it was a new car and the first time she had the hood open.

[cawimmer430]

My wife poured washer fluid into the coolant overflow tank once.  She did have the presence of mind to have the cooling system immediately flushed once she realized what she had done though.  However, to give a benefit of doubt, it was a new car and the first time she had the hood open.

Yikes! Read the instruction manual first!

[FoMoJo]

Yikes! Read the instruction manual first!

She doesn't like to waste her time on that sort of thing .

[shp4man]

Industry inside joke? I'll bet the tech that took the valve cover off that Mini was literally rolling on the floor laughing. As was the rest of the shop. 

[FoMoJo]

Looks like green mayonnaise.

[Soup DeVille]

Yikes! Read the instruction manual first!

Americans do not read instruction manuals.

[giant_mtb]

Drove/detailed a newer Ecoboost F150...damn those things scoot.  The "off road" info screen is cool...shows pitch, yaw, and steering angles.

[FoMoJo]

Americans do not read instruction manuals.

Neither do Canadians; except 'when all else fails'.

[12,000 RPM]

Americans do not read instruction manuals.

Wimmer's American auto education is more needed than ever. This is likely a weekly occurrence at every Pep Boys in America.

[Soup DeVille]

It actually frustrated a German engineer that I worked with to no end, on why we had to lock out advanced functions on some machines.

The German workers apparently would never touch a control that they weren't trained on; the Americans of course just hit random buttons until something happens.

[FoMoJo]

It actually frustrated a German engineer that I worked with to no end, on why we had to lock out advanced functions on some machines.

The German workers apparently would never touch a control that they weren't trained on; the Americans of course just hit random buttons until something happens.

My wife exactly.

She has refused to drive our new vehicle because she says "It has too many buttons".

[cawimmer430]

She doesn't like to waste her time on that sort of thing .

Then you should be a good husband and read it for her! 

[cawimmer430]

Americans do not read instruction manuals.

It actually frustrated a German engineer that I worked with to no end, on why we had to lock out advanced functions on some machines.

The German workers apparently would never touch a control that they weren't trained on; the Americans of course just hit random buttons until something happens.

Sound very German.

"Vee must not touch dis...vee did not reed zee Gebrauchsanleitung!"


Gebrauchsanleitung = Instruction manual / user manual

[AutobahnSHO]

It actually frustrated a German engineer that I worked with to no end, on why we had to lock out advanced functions on some machines.

The German workers apparently would never touch a control that they weren't trained on; the Americans of course just hit random buttons until something happens.

that explains perfectly a huge portion of the culture difference.

[Raza]

that explains perfectly a huge portion of the culture difference.

Mod culture:
"I just spent good money on a car designed by engineers working for a multibillion dollar, multinational company and put together by some of the most sophisticated manufacturing processes known to man.  Let me get my hammer."

[MX793]

Americans do not read instruction manuals.

Instructions are for people who don't know what they're doing.

[FoMoJo]

Havelaar Canada unveils Bison electric pickup truck

http://www.autoblog.com/2017/05/31/havelaar-canada-unveils-bison-electric-pickup-truck/#slide-5054458

It looks like Workhorse has a contender in the electric truck game. The Canadian arm of a company called Havelaar unveiled its Bison battery electric pickup at the EVVE Conference in Ontario this week.

Launched in partnership with the University of Toronto, the Havelaar Bison features a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain that is designed to withstand Canada's cold weather and rough terrain. It uses an electronic vehicle dynamics management system, and is engineered to tackle steep off-road grades under a full load. It's built upon a carbon fiber-reinforced steel space frame, and Havelaar promises "class-leading" torsional stiffness.

The Bison's battery pack offers a driving range of 186 miles on a single charge. It provides 46 cubic feet of exterior cargo space, with another 18 cubic feet of lockable storage. Inside the cabin is a digital instrument panel, as well as a large, central touchscreen display reminiscent of that in a Tesla. Other details are still scarce, including price and production intent.



Kind of odd looking.

[cawimmer430]

It looks like something a Lego-enthusiast would build in their mom's basement. 

[12,000 RPM]

Mod culture:
"I just spent good money on a car designed by engineers working for a multibillion dollar, multinational company and put together by some of the most sophisticated manufacturing processes known to man.  Let me get my hammer."

I kno rite, OEMs always use the best, most expensive parts and never make mistakes

[shp4man]

Customer to me: I have an exhaust leak on my new truck I just paid $40,000 bucks for. GRRRR....

Me after looking under the truck:  Looks like you put an aftermarket exhaust on it, huh? I think you should take it back to whoever installed it.

Customer:  YOU MEAN FORD WON'T FIX MY TRUCK????  I JUST IMPROOOOOOOVED IT!!!!!

Me: No, sorry sir. It's Ford's policy to not repair non-Ford items under warranty.  Smile. Have a great day!

Me, really thinking, but not saying: Get the fuck out of here you fucking brainless idiot. And read the owners manual, if you can actually read.   

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Customer to me: I have an exhaust leak on my new truck I just paid $40,000 bucks for. GRRRR....

Me after looking under the truck:  Looks like you put an aftermarket exhaust on it, huh? I think you should take it back to whoever installed it.

Customer:  YOU MEAN FORD WON'T FIX MY TRUCK????  I JUST IMPROOOOOOOVED IT!!!!!

Me: No, sorry sir. It's Ford's policy to not repair non-Ford items under warranty.  Smile. Have a great day!

Me, really thinking, but not saying: Get the fuck out of here you fucking brainless idiot. And read the owners manual, if you can actually read.   

Typical Ford customer.........   

[CaminoRacer]

Typical Ford customer.........   

[giant_mtb]

Towed one of those big construction generators to power a concert.  Truck handled it fine.  Could feel the ~40 gallons of diesel fuel pushing the truck as it sloshed around, but that was about it.

Had to get a new tongue, too, since the one I had before was a 5" dropper I'd had back when the truck was lifted...that only got used once. haha. At stock ride height, the more standard-looking 2" dropper still left it a bit low, but it was fine to get the trailer where it needed to be.  Probably gonna take the ball off and flip it around so it's a 1" riser instead...not that I plan to tow anything any time soon.

Had to torch and scrape the receiver hitch to get all the expanded rust out so the tongue would slide in.  That was annoying...that's what happens when you never tow anything.  I put some motor oil up in there to give it a little protection.

That generator ran for 7.5 hours and only used 1.5 gallons of diesel.  4-cylinder Isuzu.  Generator itself only cost $115 to rent, but the cables and distribution boxes was where they got ya...one 50' cable was like $35 to rent, and the boxes were $45 each.

[Raza]

Towed one of those big construction generators to power a concert.  Truck handled it fine.  Could feel the ~40 gallons of diesel fuel pushing the truck as it sloshed around, but that was about it.

Had to get a new tongue, too, since the one I had before was a 5" dropper I'd had back when the truck was lifted...that only got used once. haha. At stock ride height, the more standard-looking 2" dropper still left it a bit low, but it was fine to get the trailer where it needed to be.  Probably gonna take the ball off and flip it around so it's a 1" riser instead...not that I plan to tow anything any time soon.

Had to torch and scrape the receiver hitch to get all the expanded rust out so the tongue would slide in.  That was annoying...that's what happens when you never tow anything.  I put some motor oil up in there to give it a little protection.

That generator ran for 7.5 hours and only used 1.5 gallons of diesel.  4-cylinder Isuzu.  Generator itself only cost $115 to rent, but the cables and distribution boxes was where they got ya...one 50' cable was like $35 to rent, and the boxes were $45 each.

Our lives are so different.