Random Thoughts... [Automotive Edition]

I had a 79 Buick Regal that had those crappy lug nuts from the factory. They lasted about 3 weeks from the day I got the car.

Not sure when they were first used, but it was a terrible way to save money. This is one of those things most people will never notice, but when they are pointed out to a normal person, they always ask why.
 
I had a 79 Buick Regal that had those crappy lug nuts from the factory. They lasted about 3 weeks from the day I got the car.

Not sure when they were first used, but it was a terrible way to save money. This is one of those things most people will never notice, but when they are pointed out to a normal person, they always ask why.

The oldest car I've personally seen that I know shipped with these crappy capped lug nuts was the 1975 Jag XJ-S and I'm sure Sir William/BL got them out of someone else's pre-existing parts bin so they were probably decades older at the time. Not a huge fan of them either; even down here where rust and corrosion on that scale isn't a thing, the caps get loose with use and time and then they rattle. Ugh. Or worse, fall off and then they look like arse.

Apparently there's some sort of (class action?) lawsuit going on in Michigan in Federal court to stop manufacturers from using the damn things. I say good luck to them, a proper shiny nut (if that is what is desired) costs pennies more (especially at car manufacturer volumes) and would not only solve many problems but would drive people to buy replacements when they scuff/scratch them, etc.
 
No problem; those little packets just never have enough. I suspect that a lot of the complaints about poly bushings squeaking right after install is traceable to there just not being enough lube in the kit in the first place.

The second or third time I found myself desperately trying to make a packet last for the entire project, I just said f**k it and got the tub. Never had a problem with them since - being able to slather the lubricant everywhere you need helps a lot.
The really funny thing is that I actually bought a tub but haven't opened it yet because I never actually run out in the squeeze packets.
 
Those aren't all that modern, I've seen them around since the 80s and I think they were around a couple decades before that.
Weird. I've only encountered them on other people's modern crapcan dailies. I've actually never owned anything with them (the wheel simulators and covers on the ambulance are pretty close in concept but you are supposed to remove the covers before undoing the lugs)
 
Bugsy has those, the ones on the road wheels seem fine but the ones on the spare have a love/hate relationship with staying on. I had to remove the spare to sort the wiper out before the MOT (don't ask) and they didn't want to play nice, fortunately the big impact gun and some weight on it did trick for undoing them. I may look for proper lugnuts, solid ones for alloys aren't so much of a thing here.
 
BRZ's throwing catalyst efficiency codes again.

Also a U0155 CAN network code.

I'm due for an emissions inspection. *sigh*
I suspect the network code is just Torque oversaturating the bus with inane queries.
 
BRZ's throwing catalyst efficiency codes again.

Also a U0155 CAN network code.

I'm due for an emissions inspection. *sigh*
I suspect the network code is just Torque oversaturating the bus with inane queries.
You still have that thing?
 
You still have that thing?
Yeah. At this point, it's worth ~nothing so no incentive to get rid of it until a showstopper happens or I need more.

Mind, an actual catalyst problem may actually BE a showstopper, because I need to keep my daily driver CARB-legal (since it may conceivably end up wearing CA plates) - $814 for an OEM front cat, another $400 for the rear cat (and it could be either one), and the only aftermarket parts are 48-state. But it's probably the downstream O2.
 
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Yeah. At this point, it's worth ~nothing so no incentive to get rid of it until a showstopper happens or I need more.

Mind, an actual catalyst problem may actually BE a showstopper, because I need to keep my daily driver CARB-legal (since it may conceivably end up wearing CA plates) - $814 for an OEM front cat, another $400 for the rear cat (and it could be either one), and the only aftermarket parts are 48-state. But it's probably the downstream O2.
Uggh what a PITA
 
...
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That is... Not an attractive car. It looks like they're aping the Escort ZX2, and the nosecone has already shrunk.
 
I appreciate VW's designs there are ridiculous futurey looking stuff more electric cars should look nonsensical like that.
 
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