The loss of life at age 12 it indeed tragic.
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Rant Thread - What really grinds your gears?
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PattiCakeUS
Android Expert
huh
Android Expert
speaking of funk:0
pretty sure they all just did an 8 ball!! yah..that's eighties slang for coked out
anywho one of my favorite all time songs!!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=god7hAPv8f0
im in a music mood
sorry
pretty sure they all just did an 8 ball!! yah..that's eighties slang for coked out
anywho one of my favorite all time songs!!!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=god7hAPv8f0
im in a music mood
sorry
huh
Android Expert
LOveWerks
Android Expert
KS = King Sooper's? 87 cents - you and The Vulcan must do a lot of your grocery shopping there.
That's beyond cheap, at mid-grade. I envy you. The Triumph Spitfire was one of the coolest British-made Alfa Romeo killers in the mid '60s, to the mid '70s (that assessment is from memory, so I might be off a year or two, for the Spitfires imported to America).
I also liked the TR6. It handled, and rode well (when I was a teen, one of my friends fathers had one).
I was one of the unfortunate souls to own a '77-'78 TR7. It was the 'shape of things to come', but, the electrical systems were a Lucas nightmare... I sold the car at a loss, after trying to drive it for two months. Cool looking, British-racing green, but, it was a bad example from British-Leiland (or, was it Leyland?... hell, back then, I could stay stoned for a week for less than $30)... my memory eludes me.
This is why when my lady and I move to Denver, the so-called "Pot Barons of Colorado" won't be getting any of our business.
Between the two of us, synapses are at an all-time low.
Enjoy your weekend . LW
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Great tranny on the TR7 though - hold the accelerator down, don't let up, just shift - smoking fast in no time flat. Yellow - the wedge. 
zuben el genub
Extreme Android User
I learned to drive from a driver on the old sports car circuit. Had a TR4. Amazing car. The older Triumphs still had holes in the radiator for a hand crank.
I had a rod frozen on the wrist pin. Funny thing, the cylinder showed compression and car ran really well. Finally replaced engine with one from a Herald. The engines were the same. I don't miss balancing SU carbs, though. I still have the Uni-Syn. Any engine work was mostly a breeze. The whole front lifted forwards and you could sit on a tire while you worked.
It was British Leyland. They also did MG, Jaguar and Range Rover at the time.
I still have my Triumph Sports Owners of America car badge.
Yeah, we shop at King Stoopids. Only store that has the most store and generic brands.
I had a rod frozen on the wrist pin. Funny thing, the cylinder showed compression and car ran really well. Finally replaced engine with one from a Herald. The engines were the same. I don't miss balancing SU carbs, though. I still have the Uni-Syn. Any engine work was mostly a breeze. The whole front lifted forwards and you could sit on a tire while you worked.
It was British Leyland. They also did MG, Jaguar and Range Rover at the time.
I still have my Triumph Sports Owners of America car badge.
Yeah, we shop at King Stoopids. Only store that has the most store and generic brands.
LOveWerks
Android Expert
My father had the last non-monocoque body style from Triumph - the TD4, back when he was going to Northeastern in the early 1950s.
He bought it from a Boston College prof for $850 - he said that he paid too much for it, but, he wanted it that badly.
He put Hollywood mufflers on it, and the neighbors gave him a lot of grief due to the dbA...
My kids have his scrapbook, and a rare color photo of the car - British racing green, with buff-colored wire wheels.
Yes, the TR7's tranny was slick - the synchros seemed endless, but, the electrical problems were a nightmare - hell, it got to the point where it wouldn't even turn over.
They finally went to Bosch for their fuel-control systems in the '90s. Lucas systems were temperamental as hell. Many MGs, Jags, and the like sat on the side of the road.
I bought a '73 BMW 2002. I wish that I never sold that car, even though it was orange. It drove wonderfully, and, it could carry my friends, and my guitar/keyboard rigs... LW
He bought it from a Boston College prof for $850 - he said that he paid too much for it, but, he wanted it that badly.
He put Hollywood mufflers on it, and the neighbors gave him a lot of grief due to the dbA...
My kids have his scrapbook, and a rare color photo of the car - British racing green, with buff-colored wire wheels.
Yes, the TR7's tranny was slick - the synchros seemed endless, but, the electrical problems were a nightmare - hell, it got to the point where it wouldn't even turn over.
They finally went to Bosch for their fuel-control systems in the '90s. Lucas systems were temperamental as hell. Many MGs, Jags, and the like sat on the side of the road.
I bought a '73 BMW 2002. I wish that I never sold that car, even though it was orange. It drove wonderfully, and, it could carry my friends, and my guitar/keyboard rigs... LW
Pop quiz: Which one is a famous British marque and which one isn't?
BTW a friend of mine drives a new MG 6, bought it from the Morris dealership.
Ah the legacies of British Motor Corporation and then British Leyland.
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LOveWerks
Android Expert
From a little research the upper marque is of the Fujitsu Roewe, which had been British car manufacturer Rover, until Nanjing Automotive bought them out in 2005. The lower marque, was also Rover, under ownership of Phoenix Consulting (according to Wiki-Wacky-Woo pedia), and, also owned by India-based Tata Motors from 2008 forward. So, only the Rover marque was formerly of British beginnings, and at one point, an American ownership (Ford). So, the answer is though they were originally British brands, they are now (with name changes for one, to Roewe) of Asian and Indian pedigrees.View attachment 80514 View attachment 80515
Pop quiz: Which one is a famous British marque and which one isn't?
BTW a friend of mine drives a new MG 6, bought it from the Morris dealership.
Ah the legacies of British Motor Corporation and then British Leyland.
I've always been a fan of British brands like Vauxhall, Morris, Jaguar, and the MG. I once had an opportunity to drive an MG Midget - it was like driving a 1960s Mini Cooper, but with the predictability of rear-wheel drive. Nifty.
I also had the opportunity to drive a '74 Jaguar XKE, or, the "E" type. The engine's smooth delivery of power was soooo sweet, and the look of the car was beautiful to behold.
My rant? I wish that I had the disposable income to own a collection of cars like these!
You would think that with my Italian ancestry, I'd be all over cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and even a new Fiat 500 Abarth (yes, I'd like to own that one...) - but, here's my dream car - and, it's American:
A midnight blue 1971 Chevrolet Caprice convertible coupe, with white leather interior, dark blue carpeting and dash, whith the interior doors stock, with white & blue trim. I'd have the engine of a modern Corvette ZO6 under the hood (for you, mikedt, the bonnet) and an automatic transmission with at least six forward gears, and a locking torque converter in the transmission to guarantee me gas mileage of 28 mpg... with that monstrous gas tank, I'd have nearly the cruising range of a diesel, and the smooth ride that only 121" of wheelbase can give. Tires would be slightly wider, with Chevrolet COPO rims seen on the late '60s - '70s Camaros, and others...
Ah, such dreams. I hope that I answered your questions correctly, mikedt, and it's always a pleasure to interact with you here, at 'da Rant.'
My lady will be leaving me once again, on the 31st of this month, through mid-February... I'll be around
- LW
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I'll quote the Wiki.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roewe
"Roewe is a vehicle marque created by the Chinese automaker SAIC Motor in 2006. Roewe vehicles were initially based on technology acquired from defunct British carmaker MG Rover.[1] SAIC was unable to purchase the rights to the Rover brand name and created the Roewe marque as a replacement."
"The name Roewe originates from SAIC's failure to acquire the Rover marque from BMW c. 2005 (it was instead sold to Ford in 2006,[4] and the brand is currently owned by Tata Motors). Composed of the Chinese characters Róng and wēi, which roughly mean "glorious power", the name is a transliteration of Rover,"
I don't have any fondness at all for most things that were British Leyland,. Too many memories of hearing about strikes when I was young, something that's often mentioned in episodes of Fawlty Towers.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0578592/quotes
"Another car strike. Marvellous, isn't it? The taxpayers pay them millions each year so they can go on strike. It's called socialism. If they don't like making cars, why don't they get themselves another bloody job - designing cathedrals or composing violin concertos. That's it! The British Leyland Concerto - in four movements, all of them slow, with a four-hour tea-break in between." LOL
Cough!...cough!...Morris Marina...cough!...Austin Allegro...
I worked for BT(British Telecom) in 1990s, and at the time their fleet was mostly Leyland, Morris and Austin. Sherpa vans that were completely gutless, Morris Itals with exploding gearboxes, and Austin Maestros that weren't particularly reliable either, like having to repeatedly fix broken gearstick linkages with cable ties, otherwise you only had 3rd and 4th gears with no reverse. Then about 1996-1998 they switched to a completely Ford fleet, Transits and Escorts, and things improved immensely.
Mini was the only thing associated with British Leyland I ever really liked
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roewe
"Roewe is a vehicle marque created by the Chinese automaker SAIC Motor in 2006. Roewe vehicles were initially based on technology acquired from defunct British carmaker MG Rover.[1] SAIC was unable to purchase the rights to the Rover brand name and created the Roewe marque as a replacement."
"The name Roewe originates from SAIC's failure to acquire the Rover marque from BMW c. 2005 (it was instead sold to Ford in 2006,[4] and the brand is currently owned by Tata Motors). Composed of the Chinese characters Róng and wēi, which roughly mean "glorious power", the name is a transliteration of Rover,"
I don't have any fondness at all for most things that were British Leyland,. Too many memories of hearing about strikes when I was young, something that's often mentioned in episodes of Fawlty Towers.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0578592/quotes
"Another car strike. Marvellous, isn't it? The taxpayers pay them millions each year so they can go on strike. It's called socialism. If they don't like making cars, why don't they get themselves another bloody job - designing cathedrals or composing violin concertos. That's it! The British Leyland Concerto - in four movements, all of them slow, with a four-hour tea-break in between." LOL
Cough!...cough!...Morris Marina...cough!...Austin Allegro...
I worked for BT(British Telecom) in 1990s, and at the time their fleet was mostly Leyland, Morris and Austin. Sherpa vans that were completely gutless, Morris Itals with exploding gearboxes, and Austin Maestros that weren't particularly reliable either, like having to repeatedly fix broken gearstick linkages with cable ties, otherwise you only had 3rd and 4th gears with no reverse. Then about 1996-1998 they switched to a completely Ford fleet, Transits and Escorts, and things improved immensely.
Mini was the only thing associated with British Leyland I ever really liked
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zuben el genub
Extreme Android User
Our complaint with British Leyland was the Bosch electronic system. We didn't hear about strikes in the US. We bought the cars as they were fun to drive unlike the muscle cars. We could corner! We enjoyed the cars even more when gas prices climbed.
I used to lose the resonator off the muffler system frequently. I finally argued a shop into putting a straight pipe out from the muffler. Law says muffler - I had a muffler. Car sounded like the Grand Prix when it started.
Also had a camber compensator installed. Got rid of IRS. Biggest arguments were over the oil filter. Manuals all said male filter, I needed a female. Proved it once and the parts store kept offering me a job.
I used to lose the resonator off the muffler system frequently. I finally argued a shop into putting a straight pipe out from the muffler. Law says muffler - I had a muffler. Car sounded like the Grand Prix when it started.
Also had a camber compensator installed. Got rid of IRS. Biggest arguments were over the oil filter. Manuals all said male filter, I needed a female. Proved it once and the parts store kept offering me a job.
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zuben el genub
Extreme Android User
The one maker that we can't seem to get but Europe can is Opel. We had 2. One was an old Kadett. Bought it for $450, it got totalled twice by Roach Coaches in Boulder, Vulcan fixed the trunk and kept driving it. Sold it for $300.
We also junked a 75 Opel Manta. No parts available. That car had 20 years and almost 300,000 miles on it and still passed inspection when they had emissions here. That was a nice car.
We also junked a 75 Opel Manta. No parts available. That car had 20 years and almost 300,000 miles on it and still passed inspection when they had emissions here. That was a nice car.
LOveWerks
Android Expert
mikedt, thanks for the Wiki... zuben, I had a pal who had a Fiat X1/9 that was a great road gripper.
By the late '70s, Americans thought that Fiat was an anagram for "Fix it again, Tony."
The Fiat 128 was responsible for all of the bad press.
I had a friend in the late '70s that had the 3.2L fuel injected Datsun 280 Z. That was a sweet ride. Yet, there was something special that crackled in the air when one drove or rode in an MGB, or, a Triumph Spitfire.
I restored a '70 Type-1 VW Beetle; I ordered everything through Rocky Mountain Motorworks (Colorado, again).
I installed studio-grade mineral fiber for sound deadening (doors, under the newly-ordered carpet, etc.), ordered all of the seat materials, foam, headliner (which I insulated with the mineral fiber, also).
The engine was a 1688 cc version, with Porsche clutch and pressure plate, and twin 52mm Kadron carbs with fully-electronic ignition, and, I went with the throaty 4 header-into muffler, with four exhausts.
The damn thing could pull wheelies, after destroying my first exhaust system doing so. Wishbone front end (no McPherson struts), and a rear IRS from a Super Beetle.
That sucker would scat, all the way to its 115 mph top speed.
Unfortunately, a hurricane came through and filled the roads with deep water... I hit a good sized puddle, and ended up breaking traction (even the rims were stock, but they were chromed and wider, so, the rubber was wider, too) and I slammed into a Live Oak tree going 40 mph.
My rant? All of that work, totalled. Sold the engine and transaxle, seats and aftermarket steering wheel, carpeting, and I was heartbroken - LW
By the late '70s, Americans thought that Fiat was an anagram for "Fix it again, Tony."
The Fiat 128 was responsible for all of the bad press.
I had a friend in the late '70s that had the 3.2L fuel injected Datsun 280 Z. That was a sweet ride. Yet, there was something special that crackled in the air when one drove or rode in an MGB, or, a Triumph Spitfire.
I restored a '70 Type-1 VW Beetle; I ordered everything through Rocky Mountain Motorworks (Colorado, again).
I installed studio-grade mineral fiber for sound deadening (doors, under the newly-ordered carpet, etc.), ordered all of the seat materials, foam, headliner (which I insulated with the mineral fiber, also).
The engine was a 1688 cc version, with Porsche clutch and pressure plate, and twin 52mm Kadron carbs with fully-electronic ignition, and, I went with the throaty 4 header-into muffler, with four exhausts.
The damn thing could pull wheelies, after destroying my first exhaust system doing so. Wishbone front end (no McPherson struts), and a rear IRS from a Super Beetle.
That sucker would scat, all the way to its 115 mph top speed.
Unfortunately, a hurricane came through and filled the roads with deep water... I hit a good sized puddle, and ended up breaking traction (even the rims were stock, but they were chromed and wider, so, the rubber was wider, too) and I slammed into a Live Oak tree going 40 mph.
My rant? All of that work, totalled. Sold the engine and transaxle, seats and aftermarket steering wheel, carpeting, and I was heartbroken - LW
I used to drive a Datsun 280 Zzzap when I was 14.
Terrible handling.
Main problem with real Datsuns in the UK in the 70s was rust. But then Nissan fixed that.
The last vehicle that I drove that had a British Leyland engine in it was this.
British Rail Class 107
Great handling.
EDIT:
Can actually see part of the engine, the turquoise rocker cover. A six-cylinder Leyland diesel, that was often used in Leyland buses as well.
Terrible handling.
Main problem with real Datsuns in the UK in the 70s was rust. But then Nissan fixed that.
The last vehicle that I drove that had a British Leyland engine in it was this.
British Rail Class 107
Great handling.
EDIT:
Can actually see part of the engine, the turquoise rocker cover. A six-cylinder Leyland diesel, that was often used in Leyland buses as well.
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Opel is a GM marque, that they use in Europe. In the UK, the Opel Kadett was a Vauxhall Astra, same car. Vauxhall is a marque that GM uses in the UK. In the US, GM usually uses the Chevrolet marque AFAIK. Here in China, GM calls their cars Chevrolet as well.
My father drives a Vauxhall Corsa as he's in the UK, we drive Chevrolet Corsa, in Europe they drive Opel Corsa and in Australia it's Holden Corsa, ....same car.
See also things like...
Volkswagen Passat (Europe)
Volkswagen Dasher
Volkswagen Quantum
Volkswagen Santana (Asia)
Volkswagen Corsar
Volkswagen Magotan
Volkswagen Carat
....same car.
These days, car models are much more global than they used to be years ago. In China SAIC calls it a Roewe 550, whereas in Europe etc, it's called an MG 6.
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zuben el genub
Extreme Android User
I think our Opels were made before Buick bought the company. I remember seeing the random Vauxhall here. The one car I did want, couldn't get. The Morgan. Had a wooden dashboard so could not be imported. I see it's still available in EU, but not here.
Kids got "bumped" in a roundabout (UK), and the insurance gave son-in-law a Vauxhall as a temp loaner. That started the Vulcan off. He'd never heard of one.
VW Passat is also here.
Interesting cars:
That's worse than sticking a 283 in a Sunbream Alpine and calling it the Sunbeam Tiger. Front end heavy.
Kids got "bumped" in a roundabout (UK), and the insurance gave son-in-law a Vauxhall as a temp loaner. That started the Vulcan off. He'd never heard of one.
VW Passat is also here.
Interesting cars:
That's worse than sticking a 283 in a Sunbream Alpine and calling it the Sunbeam Tiger. Front end heavy.
Main problem with British Leyland in the 1970s was that they didn't have much money for new development, so some of their cars where actually quite old fashioned at the time. The Morris Marina was actually based on the Morris Minor("Moggy"), a car that was first introduced in 1948. The Austin Allegro was just rather crap compared to something like Ford Escort. BL went bust in mid-70s and had to be nationalized by the government, and that's when most of the strikes happened and they became infamous in the UK, and the butt of many jokes on things like Fawlty Towers.
Austin 1300 Estate.
"Start you vicious bastard!"
Buick is a General Motors(GM) marque as well, because we have that here in China, as well as Chevrolet. http://www.buick.com.cn/ (Buick China). I've never seen Buick cars in UK or Europe though. Buick is more about larger, luxury cars, Chevrolet is for everything else that GM does here, like Corsa.
Opel has been GM since 1948 apparently, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel#1945-1970
I know the Opel Kadett and Vauxhall Astra were the same, even in the late 1970s. It was the same with Opel Corsa and Vauxhall Nova in early 80s, that was the same as well, then their small compact became known as Corsa everywhere. @EM pointed out earlier that "Nova" in Spanish means "doesn't go"... LOL
Morgan has always been independent, and never been a part of GM, Ford, British Leyland, VW, SAIC, Tata, or whatever. Hand-built and very traditional sports cars that cost a lot of money. There was also Austin-Healey hand-built traditional sports cars, but that was actually British Motor Corporation, and then British Leyland. But ended in early 70s.
Anyway, I think that's enough about cars in this thread for the moment, unless it's a rant of course.
We do have an Automotive Talk forum over there -----> http://androidforums.com/forums/automotive-talk.2077/
Austin 1300 Estate.
"Start you vicious bastard!"
Buick is a General Motors(GM) marque as well, because we have that here in China, as well as Chevrolet. http://www.buick.com.cn/ (Buick China). I've never seen Buick cars in UK or Europe though. Buick is more about larger, luxury cars, Chevrolet is for everything else that GM does here, like Corsa.
Opel has been GM since 1948 apparently, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel#1945-1970
I know the Opel Kadett and Vauxhall Astra were the same, even in the late 1970s. It was the same with Opel Corsa and Vauxhall Nova in early 80s, that was the same as well, then their small compact became known as Corsa everywhere. @EM pointed out earlier that "Nova" in Spanish means "doesn't go"... LOL
Morgan has always been independent, and never been a part of GM, Ford, British Leyland, VW, SAIC, Tata, or whatever. Hand-built and very traditional sports cars that cost a lot of money. There was also Austin-Healey hand-built traditional sports cars, but that was actually British Motor Corporation, and then British Leyland. But ended in early 70s.
Anyway, I think that's enough about cars in this thread for the moment, unless it's a rant of course.
We do have an Automotive Talk forum over there -----> http://androidforums.com/forums/automotive-talk.2077/
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nickdalzell
Extreme Android User
Here's my latest rant:
Emojis
WTF is it with them? OMG Samsung Messages is so Gingerbread it doesn't support emoji!!!
Seriously? Am I showing my age already or what? first of all, WTF are emojis? those little annoying animal symbols in FB Messenger? What's wrong with emoticons? that's all i even use! Heck, lately i've been using Gerty Emoticons from Moon (excellent movie) because i'm that Sci-Fi
Emojis
WTF is it with them? OMG Samsung Messages is so Gingerbread it doesn't support emoji!!!
Seriously? Am I showing my age already or what? first of all, WTF are emojis? those little annoying animal symbols in FB Messenger? What's wrong with emoticons? that's all i even use! Heck, lately i've been using Gerty Emoticons from Moon (excellent movie) because i'm that Sci-Fi
LOveWerks
Android Expert
So far, the only rant I have is the soggy weather, as it is a pain source for me.
My lady leaves the 31st, and won't be back until Feb. 14... bummer... rant... grrrr...
You know, I just watched a commercial on Travel Channel re Andrew Zimmern's show Bizarre Foods... the guy eats anything that would make a troll retch...
He was complaining about one of his show guests adding Spam to a recipe that wouldn't make it past my lips.
Aside from the Monty Python "Spam - spam - spam - spam..." - I don't have any problems with eating Spam, Vienna Sausage, even Potted Meat.
I do, however, have a problem with a well-known Minnesota chef eating many of the 'food' items that he eats on his television show.
Whatever blows your hair back, fella... yecch... LW
My lady leaves the 31st, and won't be back until Feb. 14... bummer... rant... grrrr...
You know, I just watched a commercial on Travel Channel re Andrew Zimmern's show Bizarre Foods... the guy eats anything that would make a troll retch...
He was complaining about one of his show guests adding Spam to a recipe that wouldn't make it past my lips.
Aside from the Monty Python "Spam - spam - spam - spam..." - I don't have any problems with eating Spam, Vienna Sausage, even Potted Meat.
I do, however, have a problem with a well-known Minnesota chef eating many of the 'food' items that he eats on his television show.
Whatever blows your hair back, fella... yecch... LW