M.A. Stewart

Tegger (invalid@invalid.inv) writes:
> "hls" <hls@nospam.nix> wrote in
> news:N_adnfqOvN5yAF7XnZ2dnUVZ_oqdnZ2d@giganews.com :
>
>>
>> "Otis" <rev_otis_mcnatt@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:1f20ce7d-cd39-4208-920c-08032814acbb@37g2000yqm.googlegroups.com..
>> .
>>> Over the years, the inevitable subject of worst cars ever comes up,
>>> and the Vega is always at or near the top of the list. I've seen it
>>> a hundred times. I feel I should put in a good word for the little
>>> car.
>>
>>
>> That is, I believe, the car with the silicon/aluminum alloy
>> engine...That thing went out for most people very quickly.
>
>
>
> Anybody ever read the Wiki page on the Vega? It's a pretty good read.
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Vega>
>
> Maybe I'm weird, but I always thought the Vega was a good-looking car. But
> then I liked the Plymouth Duster as well.
>


Even some dogs can extrude turds that have style.


>
>>
>> Now, believe it or not, I have seen Yugos still on the road. Even the
>> worst automaker allows a good one to slip out occasionally.
>>
>
>
> The Yugo was never sold in Canada, for some odd reason. Around the same
> time as the Yugo was being imported to the US, we DID get all manner of
> other, highly-unusual, Soviet-bloc machinery.
>
> Off the top of my head:
> Lada 1600 (Russian Fiat 124 derivative)
> Lada Niva (small Russian SUV)
> Dacia (Romanian sedan; looks like a Renault 11, but dumpier)
> Skoda (Czech sedan; had rear engine and side-opening hood)
> ARO (Romanian 4WD; about the size of a Range Rover, but impossibly crude)
>
> We also got the Hyundai Pony, a truly, truly, awful car.
>
> The Lada 1600 actually drove pretty well. The new example I test-drove had
> an impressively precise shifter. The salesman kept yammering on about how
> the car's carburetor was "the closest thing you can get to a Weber" without
> actually having a Weber, as though that was the vehicle's only selling
> point.
>
> I never see ANY of the above anymore, EVER. And I drive a lot.
>


The KGB quietly bought them all up (running or not) after the Berlin
Wall fell. They wanted their "special electronic equipment" back.



>
> --
> Tegger
>

Grumpy AuContraire

hls wrote:
>
> "Nate Nagel" <njnagel@roosters.net> wrote in message
> news:ha3d9n21u9q@news7.newsguy.com...
>
>>
>> Yes, but Mercedes and BMW engines are far less likely to need such
>> service...
>>
>> nate
>>
> 1000% right. We had one about a year or so ago. But it is unusual for
> one of them to fail in this way. I thought all the Vega alloy engines
> failed,
> but as I posted early, even the worst manufacturer in the world will
> occasionally let a good one slip through.


My neighbor who had extensive experience with Vegas stated that the
average life of an engine (from new) was about 75K. Sleeving at that
point would make it good for another 200K if the rest of the car held up
and did not rust away...

JT

Otis

On Oct 2, 12:03 am, Grumpy AuContraire <Grumpy...@GrumpyvilleNOT.com>
wrote:
> hls wrote:
>
> > "Nate Nagel" <njna...@roosters.net> wrote in message
> >news:ha3d9n21u9q@news7.newsguy.com...
>
> >> Yes, but Mercedes and BMW engines are far less likely to need such
> >> service...
>
> >> nate
>
> > 1000% right. We had one about a year or so ago. But it is unusual for
> > one of them to fail in this way. I thought all the Vega alloy engines
> > failed,
> > but as I posted early, even the worst manufacturer in the world will
> > occasionally let a good one slip through.
>
> My neighbor who had extensive experience with Vegas stated that the
> average life of an engine (from new) was about 75K. Sleeving at that
> point would make it good for another 200K if the rest of the car held up
> and did not rust away...

Never saw any sign of rust on mine, but I did live in GA. Average
engine
life about 75k? What was the average life of most engines of the
era? I can
remember cars back then with 50k that looked like they were about
ready
for the junk pile. A lot of it has to do with the owners. I smile
when I remember
back in 1990 when I bought a new Mazda. I overheard a dimwitted
neighbor
tell another neighbor that Mazdas were junk and broke down all the
time.
I still have the car and it still runs as well as my '09 Honda, no
shimmy
either.

Also, IIRC the Vega I had was only about $2K, maybe a little more.
That's less than $10K in 2008 dollars.

Clete

On Fri, 2 Oct 2009 04:59:17 -0700 (PDT), Otis
<rev_otis_mcnatt@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On Oct 2, 12:03 am, Grumpy AuContraire <Grumpy...@GrumpyvilleNOT.com>
>wrote:
>> hls wrote:
>>
>> > "Nate Nagel" <njna...@roosters.net> wrote in message
>> >news:ha3d9n21u9q@news7.newsguy.com...
>>
>> >> Yes, but Mercedes and BMW engines are far less likely to need such
>> >> service...
>>
>> >> nate
>>
>> > 1000% right. We had one about a year or so ago. But it is unusual for
>> > one of them to fail in this way. I thought all the Vega alloy engines
>> > failed,
>> > but as I posted early, even the worst manufacturer in the world will
>> > occasionally let a good one slip through.
>>
>> My neighbor who had extensive experience with Vegas stated that the
>> average life of an engine (from new) was about 75K. Sleeving at that
>> point would make it good for another 200K if the rest of the car held up
>> and did not rust away...
>
>Never saw any sign of rust on mine, but I did live in GA. Average
>engine
>life about 75k? What was the average life of most engines of the
>era? I can
>remember cars back then with 50k that looked like they were about
>ready
>for the junk pile. A lot of it has to do with the owners. I smile
>when I remember
>back in 1990 when I bought a new Mazda. I overheard a dimwitted
>neighbor
>tell another neighbor that Mazdas were junk and broke down all the
>time.
>I still have the car and it still runs as well as my '09 Honda, no
>shimmy
>either.
>
>Also, IIRC the Vega I had was only about $2K, maybe a little more.
>That's less than $10K in 2008 dollars.


I can vividly remember breaking the 100 K mile barrier as being the
reason to celebrate. Having said that I also remember my 61 - 225 push
button automatic Valiant having 235 K on the clock.

Grumpy AuContraire

Otis wrote:
> On Oct 2, 12:03 am, Grumpy AuContraire <Grumpy...@GrumpyvilleNOT.com>
> wrote:
>
>>hls wrote:
>>
>>
>>>"Nate Nagel" <njna...@roosters.net> wrote in message
>>>news:ha3d9n21u9q@news7.newsguy.com...
>>
>>>>Yes, but Mercedes and BMW engines are far less likely to need such
>>>>service...
>>
>>>>nate
>>
>>>1000% right. We had one about a year or so ago. But it is unusual for
>>>one of them to fail in this way. I thought all the Vega alloy engines
>>>failed,
>>>but as I posted early, even the worst manufacturer in the world will
>>>occasionally let a good one slip through.
>>
>>My neighbor who had extensive experience with Vegas stated that the
>>average life of an engine (from new) was about 75K. Sleeving at that
>>point would make it good for another 200K if the rest of the car held up
>>and did not rust away...
>
>
> Never saw any sign of rust on mine, but I did live in GA. Average
> engine
> life about 75k? What was the average life of most engines of the
> era?

Any car that was reasonably maintained could expect an engine to last at
least to 125K.


I can
> remember cars back then with 50k that looked like they were about
> ready
> for the junk pile. A lot of it has to do with the owners.

Again, it's the issue of maintenance.


I smile
> when I remember
> back in 1990 when I bought a new Mazda. I overheard a dimwitted
> neighbor
> tell another neighbor that Mazdas were junk and broke down all the
> time.
> I still have the car and it still runs as well as my '09 Honda, no
> shimmy
> either.

All of my Hondas have more than 100K but they are old. I refuse to own
any car that has a computer and the dreaded "check engine" light.


> Also, IIRC the Vega I had was only about $2K, maybe a little more.
> That's less than $10K in 2008 dollars.

And for that you can buy a new Kia or Hyundai with 100K/ten year warranties.

JT

Grumpy AuContraire

Clete wrote:

> On Fri, 2 Oct 2009 04:59:17 -0700 (PDT), Otis
> <rev_otis_mcnatt@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>>On Oct 2, 12:03 am, Grumpy AuContraire <Grumpy...@GrumpyvilleNOT.com>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>hls wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>"Nate Nagel" <njna...@roosters.net> wrote in message
>>>>news:ha3d9n21u9q@news7.newsguy.com...
>>>
>>>>>Yes, but Mercedes and BMW engines are far less likely to need such
>>>>>service...
>>>
>>>>>nate
>>>
>>>>1000% right. We had one about a year or so ago. But it is unusual for
>>>>one of them to fail in this way. I thought all the Vega alloy engines
>>>>failed,
>>>>but as I posted early, even the worst manufacturer in the world will
>>>>occasionally let a good one slip through.
>>>
>>>My neighbor who had extensive experience with Vegas stated that the
>>>average life of an engine (from new) was about 75K. Sleeving at that
>>>point would make it good for another 200K if the rest of the car held up
>>>and did not rust away...
>>
>>Never saw any sign of rust on mine, but I did live in GA. Average
>>engine
>>life about 75k? What was the average life of most engines of the
>>era? I can
>>remember cars back then with 50k that looked like they were about
>>ready
>>for the junk pile. A lot of it has to do with the owners. I smile
>>when I remember
>>back in 1990 when I bought a new Mazda. I overheard a dimwitted
>>neighbor
>>tell another neighbor that Mazdas were junk and broke down all the
>>time.
>>I still have the car and it still runs as well as my '09 Honda, no
>>shimmy
>>either.
>>
>>Also, IIRC the Vega I had was only about $2K, maybe a little more.
>>That's less than $10K in 2008 dollars.
>
>
>
> I can vividly remember breaking the 100 K mile barrier as being the
> reason to celebrate. Having said that I also remember my 61 - 225 push
> button automatic Valiant having 235 K on the clock.


Yes, almost any well maintained vehicle of the era could exceed 200K.

My old Studebaker T-Cab which I sold a couple of years ago was pushing
300K in actual miles and yes, the engine was beginning to show signs of
being "tired."

JT

Stewart

"Clete" <lecllaij@halifax.ca> wrote in message
news:aerbc59h9m208thu8048qmu2d5abnofogc@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 2 Oct 2009 04:59:17 -0700 (PDT), Otis
> <rev_otis_mcnatt@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>On Oct 2, 12:03 am, Grumpy AuContraire
>><Grumpy...@GrumpyvilleNOT.com>
>>wrote:
>>> hls wrote:
>>>
>>> > "Nate Nagel" <njna...@roosters.net> wrote in message
>>> >news:ha3d9n21u9q@news7.newsguy.com...
>>>
>>> >> Yes, but Mercedes and BMW engines are far less likely to need
>>> >> such
>>> >> service...
>>>
>>> >> nate
>>>
>>> > 1000% right. We had one about a year or so ago. But it is
>>> > unusual for
>>> > one of them to fail in this way. I thought all the Vega alloy
>>> > engines
>>> > failed,
>>> > but as I posted early, even the worst manufacturer in the world
>>> > will
>>> > occasionally let a good one slip through.
>>>
>>> My neighbor who had extensive experience with Vegas stated that
>>> the
>>> average life of an engine (from new) was about 75K. Sleeving at
>>> that
>>> point would make it good for another 200K if the rest of the car
>>> held up
>>> and did not rust away...
>>
>>Never saw any sign of rust on mine, but I did live in GA. Average
>>engine
>>life about 75k? What was the average life of most engines of the
>>era? I can
>>remember cars back then with 50k that looked like they were about
>>ready
>>for the junk pile. A lot of it has to do with the owners. I smile
>>when I remember
>>back in 1990 when I bought a new Mazda. I overheard a dimwitted
>>neighbor
>>tell another neighbor that Mazdas were junk and broke down all the
>>time.
>>I still have the car and it still runs as well as my '09 Honda, no
>>shimmy
>>either.
>>
>>Also, IIRC the Vega I had was only about $2K, maybe a little more.
>>That's less than $10K in 2008 dollars.
>
>
> I can vividly remember breaking the 100 K mile barrier as being the
> reason to celebrate. Having said that I also remember my 61 - 225
> push
> button automatic Valiant having 235 K on the clock.

Had one of those Valiants....got pretty rusted after a lot of years in
NJ winters with road salts. The body didn't even feel like it was
attached to the frame, and the gas gauge was making a hard right hand
turn....if you smelled gas, you had some. Didn't think much about it
then (young and dumb), but now it's pretty seems quite scary.

nm5k@wt.net

On Sep 30, 11:46 am, Otis <rev_otis_mcn...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Over the years, the inevitable subject of worst cars ever comes up,
> and the Vega
> is always at or near the top of the list. I've seen it a hundred
> times. I feel I should
> put in a good word for the little car.

A friend of mine had a Vega back in the day, and considering
that he drove the living dog crap out of the thing, I think it held
up ok. I mean he tortured that car, and drove it like it was a
four banger race car. He tortured everything he drove.
His gas pedal had two positions. Idle, and full throttle. :/

I never had one, but I did have a 77 Chevette back in the 80's.
I never had any real trouble with it. It was eventually totaled
when a 16 year old clown decided to smack my drivers side
with his parents Impala. We were out in the country on a
dirt road, and he was playing Dukes of Hazzard. He came
flying around a corner nearly sideways and I left the road
trying to avoid him, but he still smacked me right in my
drivers door. Pushed the door into the left side of the dash.
I had three people in the car and no one was hurt. I was
wearing a belt, and besides having glass in my hair, no
damage. But the car was toast.
I also rented new Chevettes back in the day from time to time.
I liked them cuz they sipped gas compared to most of the
stuff out there. I probably got 35 mpg on the road which was
not too bad. But on long trips it could get to you because
there was very little room to move your legs around.
But the hatchback was handy. Back then I always had
killer stereos in cars, and I had home speaker systems
laying in the back. It was fairly kick ***.

uncle K

"Stewart" <stewartgg@american.org> wrote in message
news:ha18gn$dfn$1@news.eternal-september.org...

> I've had good luck with 60's Ramblers. '63 Classic, and a '66....great
> cars, and the front seat folded down to the rear
> seat......perfect...................

Bwaaaahaha. Memories. I had a '59 Rumbler, stick 6 ("the only foreign car
made in America"). Having done the "nasty" in the front seat of a Hillman
Minx, which requires great agility, effort and concentration, that instant
bedroom feature was a spectacular upgrade. It was also extremely reliable.
The thing would start before you could let go of the key. Also had a '60
American rag top. Very cute, but a real pile of crap, mechanically. Go
figure.

Regarding Vegas, I once had a girlfriend who drove one with that gawdawful
lime green paint. Had to let her go..........................

;-{

Stewart

"uncle K" <nospam@all.com> wrote in message
news:I_-dnWdNf7KVE1rXnZ2dnUVZ_oednZ2d@earthlink.com...
>
> "Stewart" <stewartgg@american.org> wrote in message
> news:ha18gn$dfn$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>
>> I've had good luck with 60's Ramblers. '63 Classic, and a
>> '66....great cars, and the front seat folded down to the rear
>> seat......perfect...................
>
> Bwaaaahaha. Memories. I had a '59 Rumbler, stick 6 ("the only
> foreign car made in America"). Having done the "nasty" in the front
> seat of a Hillman Minx, which requires great agility, effort and
> concentration, that instant bedroom feature was a spectacular
> upgrade. It was also extremely reliable. The thing would start
> before you could let go of the key. Also had a '60 American rag
> top. Very cute, but a real pile of crap, mechanically. Go figure.

Anyone that has ever gotten twisted up in the steering column up front
has always appreciated the good sense Ramble had with the fold down
seat design. If they had sold more of them, we might have had another
generation of "baby boomers"...

>
> Regarding Vegas, I once had a girlfriend who drove one with that
> gawdawful lime green paint. Had to let her
> go..........................
>
> ;-{
>

rd

<nm5k@wt.net> wrote in message
news:d3318ef9-5921-43df-8657-deb763c64a52@k26g2000vbp.googlegroups.com...
On Sep 30, 11:46 am, Otis <rev_otis_mcn...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Over the years, the inevitable subject of worst cars ever comes up,
> and the Vega
> is always at or near the top of the list. I've seen it a hundred
> times. I feel I should
> put in a good word for the little car.

A friend of mine had a Vega back in the day, and considering
that he drove the living dog crap out of the thing, I think it held
up ok. I mean he tortured that car, and drove it like it was a
four banger race car. He tortured everything he drove.
His gas pedal had two positions. Idle, and full throttle. :/

I think I knew this guy. Did he have red hair?

Otis

On Oct 3, 12:31 pm, Grumpy AuContraire <Grumpy...@GrumpyvilleNOT.com>
wrote:
> Otis wrote:

> > Also, IIRC the Vega I had was only about $2K, maybe a little more.
> > That's less than $10K in 2008 dollars.
>
> And for that you can buy a new Kia or Hyundai with 100K/ten year warranties.

And in '73, a computer with a fraction of the capabilities of a common
laptop
today would half fill a room and cost $40,000, if not much much
more.

Technology advancement does change things a bit.

Otis

On Oct 1, 7:55 pm, cf...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (M.A. Stewart) wrote:
> Otis (rev_otis_mcn...@yahoo.com) writes:
> > On Sep 30, 8:15=A0pm, Tegger <inva...@invalid.inv> wrote:
> >> "hls" <h...@nospam.nix> wrote innews:N_adnfqOvN5yAF7XnZ2dnUVZ_oqdnZ2d@gig=
> > anews.com:
>
> >> > "Otis" <rev_otis_mcn...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >> >news:1f20ce7d-cd39-4208-920c-08032814acbb@37g2000yqm.googlegroups.com...
> >> > .
> >> >> Over the years, the inevitable subject of worst cars ever comes up,
> >> >> and the Vega is always at or near the top of the list. =A0I've seen it
> >> >> a hundred times. =A0 I feel I should put in a good word for the little
> >> >> car.
>
> >> > That is, I believe, the car with the silicon/aluminum alloy
> >> > engine...That thing went out for most people very quickly.
>
> >> Anybody ever read the Wiki page on the Vega? It's a pretty good read.
> >> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Vega>
>
> >> Maybe I'm weird, but I always thought the Vega was a good-looking car.Bu=
> > t
> >> then I liked the Plymouth Duster as well.
>
> > My Vega was a sporty bright color, but a plain Jane set of wheels.
> > One of my friends had a GT which was very cool; a sturdy-looking
> > and very sporty ride. Another had one of the "Millionth Vegas."
>
> > I turned a little green with envy when he got that orange babe.
>
> > fromhttp://h-body.org/library/vegabob/vega-history-complete.html
>
> > "In May 1973, the Millionth Vega was produced; a bright orange GT
> > hatchback coupe, with white sport stripes, "Millionth Vega" door
> > handle
> > inserts, and power steering. interior featured neutral custom vinyl,
> > including exclusive vinyl door panels, and orange accent color
> > carpeting.
>
> > "-A limited edition "Millionth Vega" option-ZM5 was offered..one per
> > dealer."
>
> > Another buddy of mine got one of the "Spirit of America" models.
> > It was flashier than mine, but couldn't hold a candle to the GT
> > models.
> > This one ended up sitting in the carport of his parents' house till
> > just
> > recently!
>
> Was it true that those 'Special' Vegas came from the factory with
> a free case of 24 cans of oil in the trunk, and a special engraved
> chrome plated magnetic oil can/spout opener stuck to the
> firewall under the hood?

As I said, I never even *added* any oil to mine. I'm not aware of
this feature you speak of on any model.

dsi1

Otis wrote:
> On Oct 3, 12:31 pm, Grumpy AuContraire <Grumpy...@GrumpyvilleNOT.com>
> wrote:
>> Otis wrote:
>
>>> Also, IIRC the Vega I had was only about $2K, maybe a little more.
>>> That's less than $10K in 2008 dollars.
>> And for that you can buy a new Kia or Hyundai with 100K/ten year warranties.
>
> And in '73, a computer with a fraction of the capabilities of a common
> laptop
> today would half fill a room and cost $40,000, if not much much
> more.

You might be a tiny bit off. 20 years ago, a 250MB hard drive cost about
$500 and RAM was going for $50 a MB. At the rate, a 1 TB hard drive and
6 GB of RAM would cost around $2.4 million. Well, that's what my
calculator sez anyway.

>
> Technology advancement does change things a bit.

Just a bit. :-)

>
>
>
>

E. Meyer

On 10/4/09 4:28 PM, in article
a0ac8289-a19c-4028-a402-931173920a4b...oglegroups.com, "Otis"
<rev_otis_mcnatt@yahoo.com> wrote:

> On Oct 3, 12:31 pm, Grumpy AuContraire <Grumpy...@GrumpyvilleNOT.com>
> wrote:
>> Otis wrote:
>
>>> Also, IIRC the Vega I had was only about $2K, maybe a little more.
>>> That's less than $10K in 2008 dollars.
>>
>> And for that you can buy a new Kia or Hyundai with 100K/ten year warranties.
>
> And in '73, a computer with a fraction of the capabilities of a common
> laptop
> today would half fill a room and cost $40,000, if not much much
> more.
>
> Technology advancement does change things a bit.
>
>
In 1973, the computer we had in the University CS department had a 16K byte
memory, a 2 micro-second cycle time and cost $300,000. My cell phone is
orders of magnitude more powerful. I would say you are off by quite a bit.