Random Thoughts

[DanO]

My son and his friends went to the movie Friday. Then they spent Saturday evening after the Lion game, Sunday and Monday having a Star Wars extravaganza in my living room banishing me to the den and the small TV. Uhhhhhhh. I hate Star Wars.

[Cody_Russell]

You guys are Spartan High School Style.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTin-eTnkOM"]Spartan High School Style (REUPLOAD!) - YouTube[/ame]

[CGVT]

Do you folks that live in the north still have to replace exhaust systems on your cars?

I don't remember the last time I replaced a muffler (and I put a lot of miles on my cars).

Is it because they are making them better these days or the fact that I don't drive in the snow and salt?

[Malto Marko]

Actually I have driven vehicles for over 12 years without having to replace either pipes or muffler. I believe it is because they are using corrosion resistant parts. I noticed about the time that catalytic converters became mandated that replacement of mufflers became less necessary. Not sure if that had anything to do with it or not but, I concur that even in a rust belt state, I have not replaced as many mufflers as in the old days.

[edindetroit]

Do you folks that live in the north still have to replace exhaust systems on your cars?

I don't remember the last time I replaced a muffler (and I put a lot of miles on my cars).

Is it because they are making them better these days or the fact that I don't drive in the snow and salt?

I haven't replaced the exhaust on several cars now. I'm guessing they are making them better these days and there seems to be fewer muffler repair shops.

[CGVT]

That's kind of what I thought, but wasn't sure.

I'm surprised that they didn't go the other way and make them near impossible to change unless you had some special tool or technology. That seems to be the way with most other auto parts and systems.

[edindetroit]

I'm surprised that they didn't go the other way and make them near impossible to change unless you had some special tool or technology. That seems to be the way with most other auto parts and systems.

If Apple ever builds a car you can bet on it.

[dpatnod]

Do you folks that live in the north still have to replace exhaust systems on your cars?

I don't remember the last time I replaced a muffler (and I put a lot of miles on my cars).

Is it because they are making them better these days or the fact that I don't drive in the snow and salt?

I would bet both reasons are true.

Last summer I replaced the whole thing (pipes, muffler, catalytic) on my 20 year old Jimmy, which I did once before about 6 years ago. The muffler had holes. The rest - just a lot easier than having it fail somewhere else again in 6 months. But I did paint every part with Very High Temperature ceramic paint this time, and sprung an extra $80 or so for a stainless steel muffler with a lifetime guarantee. I don't plan to be doing it again on that vehicle.

I can tell you that here in Michigan, most every car I see that is 10 years old has only remnants of their rocker panels under the doors remaining. Rust is still pervasive, and seems like the body panels are more prone to it than when they were a little thicker years ago.

[bimmer84]

Do you folks that live in the north still have to replace exhaust systems on your cars?

I don't remember the last time I replaced a muffler (and I put a lot of miles on my cars).

Is it because they are making them better these days or the fact that I don't drive in the snow and salt?

I noticed this too, and agree with the subsequent comments about better exhaust materials. Maxi Muffler, a local chain, said they had to change their business model to do more than exhaust systems or they would be out of business.

[edindetroit]

I can tell you that here in Michigan, most every car I see that is 10 years old has only remnants of their rocker panels under the doors remaining. Rust is still pervasive, and seems like the body panels are more prone to it than when they were a little thicker years ago.

I gave my 2003 Focus ZX3 to my son in law last year and the only rust on it was where a stone hit the leading edge of the hood.

[CGVT]

When I lived in Michigan 35 years ago, every car over 5 years old had qtr panels flapping in the breeze. When I have visited over the last few years, I don't remember seeing so many, it any at all.

[dpatnod]

I promise, I see them every day like that. Otherwise nice looking cars, so it is easy to miss. But those bottom couple of inches.....

[dpatnod]

We probably get more snow and salt on the West side of the state than maybe the East Side (which I think is where UKBB is?).

[edindetroit]

We probably get more snow and salt on the West side of the state than maybe the East Side (which I think is where UKBB is?).

We get a lot of salt here too but less snow than the west side of the state.

[dpatnod]

I turned on NBC. If you are awake now, you will understand.

WTF?

Dammit it ended. If you saw it you know what I am talking about.