Disney may lose GM sponsorship for Test Track

Of course, and depending on your age, its likely you have as well. Preemptively changing the timing belt in IC engines is beneficial when you're talking about interference engines (where the pistons and valves may come into contact in the event of a complete belt failure). In non-interference engines, there's really no need to replace the timing belt until it has failed completely, since no valve damage can occur - your car will simply stop operating.

In interference engines (which, admittedly, most modern engines are), if the belt fails completely, you could end up needing a valve job, which is comparatively inexpensive compared to the $400+ you'll be spending to replace the belt and pump.

True, I was incorrect in calling out timing belt replacement as not scheduled (though most manufacturers recommend replacing it between 50,000-70,000 miles, not 100,000), but let's be real here. Not that many people actually follow a maintenance schedule, beyond oil changes (cue the anecdotal cries to the contrary...). My original point still stands, though - that replacing a water pump is not required maintenance.

From memory, the '87 Toyota Camry, '01 Honda Odyssey, and '93 (or was it '94) Subaru Impreza all recommend *inspecting* the timing belt once or twice between 50K and 100K, but *replacing* it at 100K plus or minus (whether it "looks bad" or not.) At the time the belt is replaced, I think all three recommend inspecting (but not necessarily replacing) the water pump. On the Camry and the Odyssey, the water pump has a pretty good reliability record, and both were fine, so I didn't change either of them at 100K. The pumps on the Impreza have a "reputation", and mine was leaking, so I did that as well. Given the "reputation" they had acquired, I probably would have done it anyway, even if it wasn't visibly failing.

Not that many people actually follow a maintenance schedule, beyond oil changes (cue the anecdotal cries to the contrary)

I was going to let that slide, because I believe it, until you pulled the old "anecdotal" card. So: evidence?

Bears 54 said:
Ford was too late on getting the huge suv market with the Excursion, but that was nice as well.

The Excursion got railed for being a gas hog. Not towing, I've gotten upwards of 22mpg in my Grandpa's. Not too bad for a gashog.

Brian Noble said:
I was going to let that slide, because I believe it, until you pulled the old "anecdotal" card. So: evidence?

As Sympatico, msn.com'sauto advice site, recently noted: "Many owners are confused about whichitems need service and often place all vehicle maintenance in thiscategory." Such confusion about reduced maintenance needs can lead,ironically, to undermaintenance, Sympatico reported. "Experts estimatethat about 70% of today's vehicle owners neglect routine maintenance ontheir vehicles, compared with 40% 15 years ago."

Source

Results of vehicle check-up events at community car care events acrossthe country in April and October 2008 revealed that 80 percent ofvehicles need service or parts, the Car Care Council reported today.The unsatisfactory condition of vehicles also reinforces the continuedneed for consumer education about the benefits of regular vehicle care,maintenance and repair.

Source

Merci. That wasn't so hard, was it?

No, it wasn't.

Precisely! But, the burden of proof is on the claimer, not the claimee.

I change my oil every 6,000 or 7,000 miles, if that. That's how much I care about cars.

Disposable society! Part of the problem! More exclamations!

-brian, who likes to drive cars into the ground, and even so has a spotty record with respect to maintenance.

That's about how often I do it as well because that's when the oil change light comes on in my car.

And that's appropriate. Regardless of what Uncle Ed wants you to believe, its perfectly fine to change your oil every 5,000-7,000 miles on any vehicle designed in, say, the last decade or so.

djDaemon said:And who the hell cares if something is "un-American"? Since when did all things American (whatever the hell that means) become the absolute, unquestionable way to do things? That's absurdly arrogant, at best.

ROFL....thanks! Somehow I get the laughs even when the joke is lost. As for "when did American become unquestionable" - you'll need to review OUR history since WWII. The arrogance is overwhelming, and probably the major reason that we are now having to wage a peace campaign with our own allies. That very same arrogance prevents us from learning when others have a better plan, because "if there WERE a better way a doin' it, a Amurrhican woulda figgered it out by now." (Lord I need a sarcasm emoticon)... :)

My Taurus get 27 miles to the gallon and Yes I consider that good. It's not 40 but I also have more trunk room for shopping and a 5 star crash test rating. Our previous Taurus was hit and no injuries. Prior to that my wife hit a deer and NO INJURIES. That's the key. I can't say the same for others I know who hit deer in the 30 plus miles per gallon imports. I will be happy to lose my 3 - 10 miles per gallon and know I can haul more in my trunk and I am safe if a deer jumps out. More importantly my Kids are safe if a deer jumps out. I do not know the 09 Taurus gas, but I can say personally 27 miles is correct. I hit 30 plus when it's all highway to Cedar Point.

Regardless of what Uncle Ed wants you to believe, its perfectly fine to change your oil every 5,000-7,000 miles on any vehicle designed in, say, the last decade or so.

Consumer Reports did a study on this, maybe 10-12 years ago---the took a bunch of NYC cabs, changed one set every 3K miles, and the other according to manufacturer recommendations for "standard" driving.

Their conclusion: there was no reason to change the oil more often than recommended, even given the insane things that cabbies do to cabs, let alone what the average soccer mom is up to.

I love the hauling capacity and safety arguments for big gas guzzling cars and SUV's. How do people survive and drive 15,000 miles a year with anything less?

Bears 54 said:
My Taurus get 27 miles to the gallon and Yes I consider that good. It's not 40 but I also have more trunk room for shopping and a 5 star crash test rating.{snip} .. I can't say the same for others I know who hit deer in the 30 plus miles per gallon imports.

Again I'll throw out my gas mileage stats. - I get around or over 40 MPG, have a trunk that is larger than my very first car (oddly enough, a Taurus), 6 air bags, and one of the highest government crash ratings around. (five star front and rear, 4 star side and rollover).

I have a 2007 Honda Civic coupe.

I have been able to fit, in my trunk, everything that I've ever needed. Groceries? Hah - there would be room left over. I fit an eliptical machine in there at one time, and I even brought home my 42" LCD back there.

Gee, you guys talk about cars, but what about compact TRUCKS, like the Ford Ranger and the Chevy S-10?

I have a '94 Ranger (4 cylnder, 4x4 & a 5-speed stick), and I can get about 25 mpg, even with my lead foot.

Plus, I haul a lot of stuff on short notice for my theater group and work. I'd like to see you put 10 cases of chicken in your carpeted trunk and not freak oout about the upholstry.

Well, there's a reason both are dead-end markets, and are being all but abandoned by their makers. People don't really like small trucks, probably because (much like CUV's or XUV's) they try to do two things - be economical and truck-like - and fail at both.

They're not quite tough enough to do even medium-duty hauling over the long term, and not economical enough to justify owning, if you only occasionally haul... chicken, or whatever. :)

Of course, things like cases of chicken are what they make all-weather trunk mats for. :)

What I love about trucks is that, outside of contracting blue collar workers, most people don't use their trucks for anything other than commuting. That was an actual statistic I read, and I wish I could give you the source. One of the owners at the company I work for has some giant Chrysler truck, and it's obvious the bed has never been used. He co-owns a freakin' Internet company.