Hell of a week. But it was more of a doing things week than a writing things week. So although brother Bark and I managed to get a few things published, the cupboard is relatively bare.
Regarding the 3.5-liter Duratec V-6, Bark writes “…the power has always felt more than sufficient, and I’ve never felt like it had insufficient power.” Will that suffice? He also talked about the woes of being a subprime person… er, customer.
If you are interested in the car that noted dipshit Wayne Gerdes called “A SUBARU KILLAR!!!!1!!eleven!!!!” then check out Bark’s new Golf review as well.
I shared the story of my son’s first race and my dealership’s worst human being.
That’s it for last week! This week should be a little more prolific on both of our parts, so check back!
Am I the only person who hates using jacks? I look at that picture and shudder. There is not even a jackstand under the car. I was so happy when I acquired a lift.
-Stephen
I try to not work under a car unless there’s something BESIDES a jack under it.
I’ll sometimes leave the chassis jack in place after I use jack stands, just in case. I also sometimes wear a belt and suspenders.
Like your brother? lol
Jack stands are a must in that case. That body structure is very stiff.
When performing any engine/transmission drop on a ‘modern’ car, a 2 post lift is a must. The whole assembly is installed from below at the factory and is usually a royal PITA to do that sort of work from above. Any other under body operation is just gravy.
I’d love to have a 2 post lift. Servicing the car would be a walk in the park.
In my defense, I wrote that Edge post during the same press conference where I scooped the world on the death of the 2-door GTI.
Helluva scoop, Bark, helluva scoop *thumbs up*
That said, I saw the pic and thought, that color wouldn’t look good on any of my cars. Then I read comments and realized no jack stands. O. M. fucking G. I won’t hardly take a wheel off without a stand under it (though I confess to having done it many, many times, but only one wheel at a time).
And Stephen, stop bragging about your damned lift! I have to go to a buddy’s place to use his…. 🙁 *jealous* I’ve gotten to the point in life where, although I can use jacks, I druther not. I used to drop down under a car, whip around on the creeper, pop up from under the car, for 10 hours a day. Holy crap now it’s just hard to do. That was 35 years ago. Fuck it. I druther let someone else work on the car. Except the Vette.
“Fuck it. I druther let someone else work on the car.”
*GASP* .
Say it isn’t so ! .
-Nate
Who’s looking at pulling the cast iron cylinder head off an old Mercedes Diesel and thinking of letting Victor do it as my back can’t stand that anymore =8-)
I’ve got that jack. I think almost every car forum picture I see of a car jacked up is on that jack.
Liked the Golf review. That’s probably the first/last time one of those will be driven off road. They should put the 2L in that one.
I think the R8 takeoff/ landing would have been one of those instances where a video clip would have added to the story, perhaps as a GIF for the header as is common on R&T now.
Another great fatherhood piece.
This might help, Larry took this during my warmup lap
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGnKt66CgUg/
I have that same Harbor Freight Aluminum jack but it has been put out of use due to the front wheel scraping. I would definitely have a jack stand for that one or any jack for that matter.
Bark’s piece on sub-prime customers was spot on. Good as it was, he failed to grasp the fact that being poor (in general) is incredibly expensive.
Coming from the 3rd world, even basic staples like cooking oil are brutally expensive. A 250 cc bottle would cost, on a per litre basis, almost 4 times what a 1 lt bottle would. Not to mention the markup people has to pay to buy 1-2 nappies. And on and on.
In my defense, here’s a direct quote from my piece:
“It’s incredibly expensive to be poor in this country.”
Jack, that Bob piece had me literally laughing-out-loud in the local coffee shop I go to. I’m laughing right now thinking about it. Hahaha!
BTW : SAFETY KNOWS NO SEASON ! .
Lotta cripples and dead guys in the Barrio/Ghetto from vehicles crashing down on them for lack of safety stands or at the very least shoving a spare wheel under the vehicle as hydraulic jacks , when they fail, do so instantly , no chance you’ll jump clear and looking at someone’s head popped like a ripe tomato isn’t fun nor funny .
-Nate
You can paint a pretty clear picture with an economy of words.
It hasn’t been that long since my last jackstand scare so I’m sensitive to these things as well, but if no one’s under it and it’s Not Your Lotus, then hey.