Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site ihlpm.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!bellcore!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!ihlpm!gti From: gti@ihlpm.UUCP (Phelps) Newsgroups: net.auto Subject: Re: Mustangs and GTIs (and a longer story) Message-ID: <730@ihlpm.UUCP> Date: Tue, 25-Feb-86 13:17:14 EST Article-I.D.: ihlpm.730 Posted: Tue Feb 25 13:17:14 1986 Date-Received: Thu, 27-Feb-86 03:30:58 EST References: <487@ssc-bee.UUCP> <533@eneevax.UUCP> Distribution: na Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 85 > In article <487@ssc-bee.UUCP> thill@ssc-bee.UUCP writes: > >It has been interesting reading Chuck's flames about GTI's. I own a GTI > >and I have never thought of it as a sports car. After driving a 1978 > >rabbit (absolutely no power) I bought the GTI because I like the old rabbit > >body style and I wanted something that could do 65+ w/o the struts bouncing. > >Now for the story... > >... > >I watched him go into the turn but unfortunately for him he hadn't slowed > >down and I saw his break lights go on as he entered the first dog-leg. > >Naturally it was already too late or I wouldn't be telling this story :-). > >He started sliding but I lost sight of him because of a guardrail on the > >right, however, I did see his headlights spin so I knew he didn't make it. > >when I came around the first curve there he was rear ended in a ditch at a > >35 degree angle with his lights peeping up over the edge of the highway. > >I honked and waved and I have been laughing ever since. > > > > SOMETIMES THE NICE GUY WINS, > > > > Tom Hill > > I wrote the original Mustang article, so I suppose in a way I'm responsible for > a good percentage of recent net traffic, if indirectly so. However, our site > (boo hoo hoo) has NOT gotten more than maybe two of the GT/GTI battle reports, > and I feel very bad when I see an article float by which makes references to > some obviously interesting reading that I've missed. So, I thought I'd throw > my own thoughts out to the...the, uh....masses, as it were. > > First, a quick update on the GT's status. It went back to the shop 4 days > later due to carbon deposits and astronomical fuel consumption (~9mpg) and > quickly returned from the shop...there was a leak in the vacuum system and so > the EEC-IV was getting false readings. Also, they replaced a buzzing speaker. > BTW, the 0-60 times are down to 6.2 with one passenger, still shifting low > at around 5000. > > Secondly, I must say that the GTI drivers who have been posting have been very, > well no, make that unbelievably mild in their defenses. On the other hand, > this seems to be raising great consternation among my fellow cubic-inches > fanatics, and I think I'll leave it at that. > > Nice story, Tom; I'm not certain whether to take it as an observation about > Mustang drivers in general, or about the mentality of high-school evening > road-cruisers. It is, however, amusing to bait them and haul them out onto > that twisty road that You know like the back of your hand. So far I haven't > been as lucky; they just give up after the hard right on Glen Rd. You get a > different perspective of the world when you're flying around 90 on an undivided > and shoulderless road that started life as a horse path. BTW, there wasn't a > true performance option on the '82 Mustang; the GT package was introduced in > '83, with the quadrashocking-and-engine-mods in '85. > > But, just in case you WERE reflecting upon Mustang drivers :-), I probably > should sneak in the observation that Scirocco drivers are also prone to the > same annoying habits. Yep, there I was, pottering along in the '83 T-bird > (5.0L V8, auto trans) returning in mild drizzle from the DC Auto Show, when > this Scirocco decides that he doesn't like to be passed in the right lane. > Let me see, I was carrying 4 passengers in a car built for one less, and he > was only carrying one. Didn't help him too much, though, since I don't like > to be passed in the right lane either. So there we were, the passengers in > back with their necks craned all the way around to watch him recede into the > distance. I'm sorry, guys, but I blew it when I-495 splits into two, and > somewhere on that exit ramp, I became extremely unhappy with the Michelins. > Pumping brakes wasn't going to slow me down for the turn, and I hadn't > discovered trail-braking yet. So what did I do? That's right: I panicked, > and decided to try locking brakes to see which way I'd end up facing. Despite > Consumer Reports' claim that the front brakes lock first, my rear end locked > (as it has before), swung wide, and pointed me....right where I wanted to be. > Unfortunately, the time lost in that maneuver was enough for Mr. Scirocco to > make up a lot of distance, and we ended in a draw behind a long string of cars. > > I'm becoming a believer in 4wd now. BTW, he wouldn't follow me onto another > of the local back-roads. Drats. > > So, what was the appropriate thing to do on a wet ramp? > > -dave > -- > David Hsu Communication & Signal Processing Lab, EE Department > University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 > hsu@eneevax.umd.edu {seismo,allegra}!umcp-cs!eneevax!hsu > > "Godzilla has been spotted in Sector 5!" Dave...I doubt seriously that Tom was assailing Mustang drivers in general, or Ford drivers in particular. *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***