Roof Rack or Cargo box?

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 13:15:46 -0600, AstroPax
wrote:

I'm sorry, but first thing on a fresh dump winter morning, I have
better things to do than wasting time scraping ice and snow off of my

Here in South Jersey I have to clean off my car maybe 5 times a year.
I'll take that over losing all the space in the garage for 365 days.

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 15:33:09 -0400, Rich Heimlich
wrote:

Here in South Jersey I have to clean off my car maybe 5 times a year.
I'll take that over losing all the space in the garage for 365 days.

Here in Utah, I probably get a phenomenal powder day 5 times a year.
I'll take being first on the lift (because I wasn't wasting time
cleaning snow off of my car) and a warm place to change the engine oil
on a cold day over a few extra square feet of storage space any day of
the week.

I will admit, however, that I can only fit *one* car into my *three*
car garage. ;)

-Astro

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On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 13:49:00 -0600, AstroPax
wrote:

cleaning snow off of my car) and a warm place to change the engine oil
on a cold day over a few extra square feet of storage space any day of
the week.

I will admit, however, that I can only fit *one* car into my *three*
car garage. ;)

I understand entirely. Here, it's a long drive to any ski resort
anyway so being first is pretty much out of the question unless it's a
planned trip. I also haven't changed my oil in years. It's all handled
by my dealer as part of the normal servicing which I find quite
affordable and hassle-free.

I HAVE thought about freeing up one of the bays for these sorts of
situations.

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 13:15:46 -0600, AstroPax
wrote:

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 11:25:24 -0700, The Real Bev
wrote:

Garage space is much too useful to waste on cars. If a car can't stand
being outside, pitch it!

I use my garage as intended, that is, parking a car.


Boat first, car second. I make my tenant park outside.

I'm sorry, but first thing on a fresh dump winter morning, I have
better things to do than wasting time scraping ice and snow off of my
Subaru.

I hate scrapping ice. I our humid midwestern winters it can be a
nightly event. Plus, the Subaru fits in the garage just fine with the
box on.

nate

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 16:01:40 -0400, Rich Heimlich
wrote:

I also haven't changed my oil in years. It's all handled
by my dealer as part of the normal servicing which I find quite
affordable and hassle-free.

Oh, ummm...I thought that just changing the oil was a complete and
normal service job all in itself.

You must not own a Subaru.

3 years, and 70,000 miles later, "servicing" I've done to my Outback:

Regularly:
-Change the oil and filter every few months.
-Check all fluids every now and then.
-Check tire inflation (including spare) every now and then.
-Check belts and hoses every now and then.
-Check lug nut torque every now and then.
-Windex and Rain-X the windows every now and then.
-Wash and wax once/year.

One time (so far):
-One round of complete fluid changes (diff, tran, cooling, etc.)
-New font brake pads/re-surfaced front rotors (canyon braking).
-New tires.

And, of course, attach the Yakima...remove the Yakima...attach the
Yakima...remove the Yakima...attach the Yakima...remove the Yakima...

You know what? It just occurred to me, I spend more time tuning my
skis than I do fiddling with the car.

-Astro

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AstroPax wrote:

wrote:

Garage space is much too useful to waste on cars. If a car can't stand
being outside, pitch it!

I use my garage as intended, that is, parking a car.

I'm sorry, but first thing on a fresh dump winter morning, I have
better things to do than wasting time scraping ice and snow off of my
Subaru.

You know, "things"...like *skiing*, maybe ?

No tarp? OK, that never occurred to me. Here a storm means "Hey, free
carwash!" and the worst stuff that falls from the sky is smog, which is
actually pretty damn sticky.

--
Cheers,
Bev
------------------------------------------------------------------
It doesn't matter who you vote for, the government always gets in.

AstroPax wrote:

-Check lug nut torque every now and then.

Have you EVER found them to be loose?

--
Cheers,
Bev
------------------------------------------------------------------
It doesn't matter who you vote for, the government always gets in.

Rich Heimlich wrote:

wrote:

Garage space is much too useful to waste on cars. If a car can't stand
being outside, pitch it!

That's pretty much our view. grin I've yet to have a car outside
that doesn't look tremendous after a good detailing. I just had a car
cleaned up for trade-in purposes that hadn't been washed in over a
year. It looks fantastic and the dealer commented about how clean it
was and that it helps that I keep my cars in such great condition.
hehehe

Road grime exerts a certain protective quality. It isn't invulnerable,
though -- witness all the cars with a permanent WASH ME rubbed into the
trunk lid.

--
Cheers,
Bev
------------------------------------------------------------------
It doesn't matter who you vote for, the government always gets in.

On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 14:12:18 -0700, The Real Bev
wrote:

AstroPax wrote:

-Check lug nut torque every now and then.

Have you EVER found them to be loose?

Well, I guess it all depends exactly what your definition of "loose"
is.

I have found them, a few times, to be at the very low end of the
specified/published torque value...no big deal.

But I use a torque wrench for almost everything...lug nuts, drain
plugs, spark plugs, etc.

Just the way I am, except when it comes to the DIN settings on my
Marker's...then I play it by feel. Screw the binding specs!

-Astro

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AstroPax wrote:

wrote:

AstroPax wrote:

-Check lug nut torque every now and then.

Have you EVER found them to be loose?

Well, I guess it all depends exactly what your definition of "loose"
is.

I have found them, a few times, to be at the very low end of the
specified/published torque value...no big deal.

I have nothing against torque wrenches, except (1) you have to find the
right one, and (2) you have to know what the torque is supposed to be.
I go by feel, except for torquing headbolts, which I have to ask husband
to do anyway -- I can't pull 150 foot-pounds. I am comforted by the
fact that old-time machinists could get better readings with an ordinary
micrometer than with thom new-fangled ratcheting gadgets.

But I use a torque wrench for almost everything...lug nuts, drain
plugs, spark plugs, etc.

Big grandspawn used one to try to do something involving aligning the
trans and the engine and ended up breaking it. Husband took the head
apart to try to fix it and lost a spring. Feh.

Just the way I am, except when it comes to the DIN settings on my
Marker's...then I play it by feel. Screw the binding specs!

Or perhaps unscrew them. I set mine a bit light because I'm such a
smooth skier I don't need to worry about pre-release :-)

--
Cheers,
Bev
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Do not try to solve all life's problems at once -- learn to
dread each day as it comes. -- Donald Kaul