Intrepidation

One thing I learned yesterday was that while we do free battery installation on most models, we're not supposed to install batteries that are in difficult areas (like on a 2nd gen LH) or that have a cross member holding them down like in a GMT360. But c'mon, that's not a challenge for me. I had that thing out and back together in 10 minutes.

The mod bug: it's contagious. It makes it more than just a car, it makes it your car.

Or parts for a 1983 Corvette, or a radiator for a 67 Beetle...blah blah.

Now change the intake gasket.

Advance, at least the one I work at, has a pretty high standard for working. One of the big reasons I was hired is for what I know about cars, which pales in comparison to what a lot of the other guys know. In fact there is only one person in the entire store who doesn't know much. We've got a few who have hardcore knowledge of cars, including the old ones. Even knowing how to look up a carburetor just by the number stamped one an old one picked out of a yard from a vehicle the customer forgets the year make and model of. We look down on Auto Zone for the very reasons you just mentioned: completely clueless plus generally lower quality parts. As for the job, I enjoy it. Great people and genuine car guys. A few of them are Jeep modders who go hardcore offroading. There's a nice sense of pride everyone has working at the store, and I have it too. So that's cool. All stores are different and so will be the amount of knowledge employees may have, but next time you run into a problem like that, try asking for a Parts Pro, they're the most knowledgeable people. It's a genuinely small world out there. One guy who I've become friends with told me that he used to live with a room mate in what is now our house...so I got some interesting history on our place. Then yesterday I found out that one guy was an automotive instructor at my old high school, and so in freshman year we met! Friggin' crazy.

Easily the best looking midsize car in the segment. Really like the interior too.

The problems of tomorrow, today!

The ribbing is for people who like to feel up dashboards.

Because loki's logic for this sort of thing is further disconnected from reality than the width of the galaxy.

Yeah having a $100 bill be 100x the size of a $1 wouldn't be a massive inconvenience at all.

Looks like a hell of deal, even at $500, but... Why would you buy another car to fix up when A.) Your DD isn't in great shape and B.) You're afraid to do work on it?

I like everything I see so far besides the squarish pods. I think round ones would look better.

I suggest Seafoam.

Before the inevitable posts about how the Cruze costs so much, let's compare a well equipped Civic. The EX-L starts at $21,955. Option that baby up and you'll easily hit $30,014. Suddenly the Cruze's price doesn't seem so OMFG insane. The Cruze is being aimed upmarket at the likes of the Civic now, whereas the Cobalt was at the bottom end with the old Spectra. The interior looks fantastic, easily one of the biggest selling points of the car. I agree that the exterior could use better detailing. I think dual exhaust and better wheels would go a long way. And better tail light design...

There's a big difference between a purchase on Craigslist and a purchase from Sears. Naturally you would use cash when buying or selling used items like that.

Fixed.

The bang is the only thing I'm not sure about, but considering the sensors probably aren't too expensive (around $40 each, at least for LH cars), its a good place to start. A few years ago I had to deal with a randoms talking problem that wouldn't throw a code and nos hop could locate the cause of. Based on research I did, I narrowed it down to the crankshaft potion sensor. Since had had no other inexpensive ideas and the symptoms sounded similar, I replaced it. Fixed the problem...until my camshaft sensor went a year later.

Could be a camshaft or crankshaft position sensor. Camshaft normally throws a code but the crankshaft doesn't always throw one. Symptoms for both are random stalling, followed by a no start condition after stall, but then it will start back up no problem after time has passed.

Got a source for that? As far as the chop goes, nicely done. However, given the choice I would rather see the new Astra 3-door get sold here. Would be nice if we could get both.

Keep us posted, I'll try to help if I can.

That, is something we can all agree on.

Cadlliac doesn't compete with Bentley, they compete with BMW. BMW doesn't take 120 hours to make a headliners. V12s are great unless you know, they get outpowered by V8's.

FWIW Top Gear hosts are very much Euro snobs and they love the Holdens with the pushrods. It gives the car character.

Well $h!.