mileage
 

We were talking milage on one of these threads and somebody was unhappy with their hybrid Toyotas mileage. NPR did a story last week on the problem. Apparently the epa tests are ideal for hybrids but real mileage will be lower. The program noted that even if the wanted to, which they just might, Toyota cannot advertise the actual mileage because of the way the laws are written.

dulp! this is griff

Ok Jimbo , here's a good one for ya , we have a dodge mini van with 140k+ on it . My wife is in withdrawles about replaceing it but i am trying to think ahead . We don't need all the room of a mini van any more , she wants a convertable , i am thinking a small suv ( maybe a liberty ) . What are your thoughts ??
Oh and we DON'T trade cars every 3-5 years , we buy new and drive them till the wheels fall off .

sorry for the dealy in replying, zip. the liberty is a good choice, but there are so many factors in picking the right car, a lot of times it just comes down to your emotional response. if you are thinking convertible vs suv, maybe the wrangler? it comes in a model called the unlimited now, which is still a 2 door, but it's 15" longer than the standard jeep. i think it looks a bit dorky, and it only comes in automatic, but that top comes down or flips up like a big sunroof. pretty nifty.

A car how-to question....
 

Any advice for runinng a cable into and through a car? Specifically, a 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan. And the cable in question is for a magnetic roof-mount satellite radio antenna. Being a very informal kind of guy (just ask Emily Fucking Post if you don't believe me), I had previously just run the cable in around the front door. The problem is, it's very easy for the cable to get crushed if it ends up between the sliding rear door and the frame. So now I've got a busted cable, making the antenna useless, and another antenna on the way. And I'm wondering if I can do a "real" mount this time and run the cable in through a non-door space.

most vehicles have a wiring harness running somewhere through the car to get to the read electronics. i'll check on wwhere the caravan's is, and get back to you. just a moment.

steve, the antenae connection is behind the glove box. Remove it, and you can splice it in there, and run the cable out the right side, down to the floor and then along the passenger side under the doorsills and then up the C pillar( the frame post behind the door opening) to the roof. the plastic door sills snap out so you can get under them.

I'll check it out, thanks! The satellite radio I have is one of the removable ones, so the cable needs to actually come out rather than stay in the dash (another reason it just seemed easier to come in through the door). But coming in the glove compartment has possibilities.

you mean the antana wire comes out the front of the radio?

This is the idea.

http://www.xmfan.com/viewtopic.php?t=1956

The radio detaches from the dock so you can take it with you to different cars or use it at home.

WHOOK.

you're on yer own with that mess. you might try mounting the unit in your underseat drawer under the passenger, and running the cables under the rug to the radio.....

do you have the powered center console? there's a phone charger jack in there that could be used to power it.

The unit is mounted, for better or worse. (It's on a bracket that attached next to the radio.) I just need to replace the antenna and, hopefully, run the cable somewhere where it's less likely to be crushed than around the door. (The front door is OK with the rubber seals, the problem was when it got slack and ended up between the frame & the sliding door.)

well, then i think that going along the floor under the plastic doorsills and up that C pillar is the way to go.

DUCT TAPE. :D

Well come on Bruce, how did you think I had the power & audio output cables reined in?? ;)

Hey I forgot to ask LJ, what does satellite radio look like from the dealer standpoint? I know Chrysler is supposed to be offering Sirius radios as factory-installed options on some models--and I think most of the major auto mfrs have deals with either Sirius or XM. Is it a selling point? Do people care one way or another? Are you actually selling cars with the satellite radios in them or is it just a corporate thing that never managed to filter down to the consumer?