Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 09:08:45 PM
I have other issues to deal with first, like CV joints, timing belts, and transmission dipsticks.

You've lost your dipstick?

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 09:05:24 PM
Actually, it does, but I couldn't find the button to switch from the clock to the other functions on the display, which included MPG.

My car hasn't hit the highway in a couple weeks and my average fuel economy for the last two tanks is 18.6MPG. That's with hard acceleration and only city driving (i.e. below 110km/h)

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 09:08:45 PM
I have other issues to deal with first, like CV joints, timing belts, and transmission dipsticks.

Yeah, those sound like better things to spend money on right now.  I can't wait to see the damn thing in 8 months.

Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 16, 2007, 09:09:58 PM
You've lost your dipstick?

It doesn't come with a trans dipstick, just plug in the hole. It's supposed to keep stupid people from checking the trans fluid improperly (like with the engine off and cold). I have to go to an Audi dealer and order a transmission "tool" (a.k.a. a dipstick)

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 09:26:29 PM
It doesn't come with a trans dipstick, just plug in the hole. It's supposed to keep stupid people from checking the trans fluid improperly (like with the engine off and cold). I have to go to an Audi dealer and order a transmission "tool" (a.k.a. a dipstick)

Oh yes. I tend to forget how Germans think sometimes: Especially what they think of Americans.

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 09:26:29 PM
It doesn't come with a trans dipstick, just plug in the hole. It's supposed to keep stupid people from checking the trans fluid improperly (like with the engine off and cold). I have to go to an Audi dealer and order a transmission "tool" (a.k.a. a dipstick)

Nick at a dealer? Blasphemy!

Quote from: TheIntrepid on November 16, 2007, 09:29:36 PM
Nick at a dealer? Blasphemy!

What am I supposed to do, forge my own dipstick from iron bar stock?

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 09:31:35 PM
What am I supposed to do, forge my own dipstick from iron bar stock?

Yes.

Have you put flam3z on it yet?

Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 16, 2007, 09:27:50 PM
Oh yes. I tend to forget how Germans think sometimes: Especially what they think of Americans.

The guy who imported the Smart (remember my mini write-up "I are smart!) said he actually fabricated an oil and tranny dipstick because MB didn't think anyone really needed them.  It should all be done by the dealer, I guess.

Quote from: TheIntrepid on November 16, 2007, 09:32:24 PM
Yes.

Have you put flam3z on it yet?

That's not gonna happen. It's just too damn classy for flamez.

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 09:34:51 PM
That's not gonna happen. It's just too damn classy for flamez.

And the 'st33m was too practical for flam3z, being a wagon and all.

Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 16, 2007, 09:27:50 PM
Oh yes. I tend to forget how Germans think sometimes: Especially what they think of Americans.

do they think we don't know how to use cupholders, either?

but seriously, is this the same reason BMW did away with the dipstick?

I swear, we give some people too much credit

Quote from: Vinsanity on November 16, 2007, 09:37:46 PM
do they think we don't know how to use cupholders, either?

but seriously, is this the same reason BMW did away with the dipstick?

I swear, we give some people too much credit

A German engineer I once worked with summed it up best.

"An American cannot walk by a button without pressing it. A German would never think of pressing any button unless he has thoroughly reviewed the instructions on what it does, why it's there and how it works. The American simply presses the button and finds out. This is why we have passwords on all of the machines we send to the US."

And yes, the cupholder thing is from the same line of thought. You are driving. You aren't drinking. They don't put pedals and steering wheels on beerhall tables and they don't put cupholders in cars. You are incapable of doing both.

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 09:31:35 PM
What am I supposed to do, forge my own dipstick from iron bar stock?

A forged dipstick is sort of overkill I think. You should simply carve one out of wood.

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 09:34:51 PM
That's not gonna happen. It's just too damn classy for flamez.

Its too classy for stick-on flames.

You need proper painted on and hand pinstriped ghost flames in metallic gunmetal.

Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 16, 2007, 09:50:02 PM
A forged dipstick is sort of overkill I think. You should simply carve one out of wood.

Carving wood is boring. I want to build a forge and forge stuff! That would be rather neat.

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 10:01:28 PM
Carving wood is boring. I want to build a forge and forge stuff! That would be rather neat.

This car better be the bomb dot com.  It sounds like you got a real buy.

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 10:01:28 PM
Carving wood is boring. I want to build a forge and forge stuff! That would be rather neat.

Yes it would, but you've better things to do.

Besides, if you were a blacksmith, you'd have a beeter expplanation for why your right arm is more developped than your left.

Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 16, 2007, 10:03:03 PM
Yes it would, but you've better things to do.

Besides, if you were a blacksmith, you'd have a beeter expplanation for why your right arm is more developped than your left.

I wonder if my universty offers a blacksmith degree... 

Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 16, 2007, 09:48:55 PM
A German engineer I once worked with summed it up best.

"An American cannot walk by a button without pressing it. A German would never think of pressing any button unless he has thoroughly reviewed the instructions on what it does, why it's there and how it works. The American simply presses the button and finds out. This is why we have passwords on all of the machines we send to the US."

And yes, the cupholder thing is from the same line of thought. You are driving. You aren't drinking. They don't put pedals and steering wheels on beerhall tables and they don't put cupholders in cars. You are incapable of doing both.

Wow. Well it's one thing for the engineers to be smug, but does it have to rub off on the drivers, as well?

Quote from: Vinsanity on November 16, 2007, 10:05:06 PM
Wow. Well it's one thing for the engineers to be smug, but does it have to rub off on the drivers, as well?

Yes.

Quote from: the Teuton on November 16, 2007, 10:02:32 PM
This car better be the bomb dot com.  It sounds like you got a real buy.

It sure drives like the bomb diddly dot diddly com! It's the best $900 I've ever spent, as far as I can tell.

Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 16, 2007, 09:50:58 PM
Its too classy for stick-on flames.

You need proper painted on and hand pinstriped ghost flames in metallic gunmetal.

I know he was kidding about the flames, but I think a bold but elegant pinstripe that follows the lines of the car would look awesome 

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 10:04:59 PM
I wonder if my universty offers a blacksmith degree... 

They do, put you have to take calc IV and differential equations to get into that program.

Quote from: NACar on November 16, 2007, 10:05:57 PM
It sure drives like the bomb diddly dot diddly com! It's the best $900 I've ever spent, as far as I can tell.

You know, you only spent $100 more on it than I did for my wagon.  That's why I'm so amazed.  It sounds as if you have the bargaining skills of my father.

Quote from: Vinsanity on November 16, 2007, 10:06:45 PM
I know he was kidding about the flames, but I think a bold but elegant pinstripe that follows the lines of the car would look awesome 

Yes it would. Thick red/ thin grey perhaps.

Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 16, 2007, 10:07:14 PM
They do, put you have to take calc IV and differential equations to get into that program.

Quote from: the Teuton on November 16, 2007, 10:07:19 PM
You know, you only spent $100 more on it than I did for my wagon.  That's why I'm so amazed.  It sounds as if you have the bargaining skills of my father.

You think that's bad? It's like $15,000 less than I spent on the Civic!

Quote from: the Teuton on November 16, 2007, 10:07:19 PM
You know, you only spent $100 more on it than I did for my wagon.  That's why I'm so amazed.  It sounds as if you have the bargaining skills of my father.

I'm not really that skilled at bargaining. The seller told me he could see that I would take good care of it, so he didn't mind knocking the price down. Like I said, he was a nice guy.

Quote from: Soup DeVille on November 16, 2007, 10:08:31 PM
Yes it would. Thick red/ thin grey perhaps.

exactly what I was thinking!