ArmyofOne

NC211, you are now my financial advisor! I never thought i would be able to fill my civic from 1/4 tank for $24 again!

We called the police (Baltimore's finest <_< ), waited 30 minutes alongside of the road, and the only person who attended to us was some JHU special police who told us just to wait there for the cops. So we waited a little bit more, no one showed up, and my buddy who owns the Lexus got all *BLEEP*ed off and decided he wanted to leave. He did report the license plate number, description of the car of the guy who did it (who by the way was also driving around drinking obviously if he could get out and throw an open bottle of beer at my friend's car), etc. However, no one ever contacted him after that, which I find fishy as well. The whole situation is fishy. I mean, I know it kind of IS my fault that the whole thing happened, but like you said, I shouldn't have any responsibility to pay for the car. I was drunk and offered to help pay for it in a drunken state and for the fact that I know nothing about cars. I just know that $1900 to fix this sounds COMPLETELY ridiculous and it's totally out of my price range for a long time. Do you know anything about how insurance covers vandalisms/assaults? The car has to have "comprehensive" coverage to be reimbursed for vandalism. There is usually a deductible applied so the insured has to pay that amount and the insurance company pays the rest. If the party who damaged the car can be tracked down you might be able to get him to pay the deductible amount (or his insurance company). This happened nearly a month ago. Do you think it would still be possible to track the guy down even though the police never responded to us at the time of the vandalism nor did they ever contact us back afterwards? I don't think any of us still have the license plate number but I know that it was reported to the police, along with a description of the car and the suspect, which I know at least I remember very well what both of those looked like. I don't think your friend is trying to rip you off. $1900 sounds about right to me. Just getting a hood repainted will cost at least $800-900. A good body shop will likely not even attempt to remove dents from the hood...they will just replace it. That would explain the other $1000. So wouldn't it be more reasonable if around $1000 to just buy a new hood? Why re-paint a messed up one while you can just put another one on for $1000? Maybe I missed something. Sorry I'm a car newbie. And thank you both for the advice. The guy called me tonight wanting to "settle the hood deal" and I figured I should ask some people who may know more about it than both of us before I agree to do anything. It's nice to hear that one person doesn't think my friend is trying to rip me off. If you can direct any friends or knowledgeable people to this thread, I would GREATLY appreciate it. I guess I should probably call him back and deal with this tomorrow as its getting kind of late on the east coast now. :( That quote is spot on for an LS460... Your friend is exactly that, he isnt ripping you off. The new hood from the bodyshop is around $1,000, then an additional $900 for paint (they come primed in flat black most likely).

Very Cool! The plate thing is more of a novelty in your country. Its not illegal for you to display it in russia, as long as its not the ONLY plate on the car. IT IS ILLEGAL for you to display in the united states, since your car is no longer registered (if it ever was) under that plate with that number... It is the equivalent of you putting your friends russian plates on your car in russia....

I used to have an ES250... memories :( Why do you have 2 different kinds of Wheels on your car? Not making fun of you just wondering. ANd if you are in Russia, that minnesota Liscense plate is HIGHLY illegal. It should have been turned in to the Minnesota Division of Motor Vehicles or eqivalent. It is in remarkable shape...needs a good cleaning and shes beautiful and rare!

it is hells waiting room... Fort Drum is hell when it freezes over...

I know, shame on me for driving 2,000 miles in a month...actually it was my wife. I was gone. I did however (last weekend) have the opportunity to play in the snow. So, in addition to my review here: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=51884 I'll post some more info. In the snow: wow...just wow. 3 inches, no problem...6 inches, no problem...1 inch of ice+10 inches of snow and care while driving, no problem. These tires seem to be limited only by the drivetrain of the car. The fact that they are an "All season" and not a "Snow Tire"...well...you couldn't tell the tires that, They would argue with you. Wear: 2000 miles and they are wearing like iron...but driving like silk. Not sure if this will change later...but if it does, as long as i get 50K before it does, its money well spent to me. Fuel Economy: Suprisingly, i have noticed an increase in MPG by about 3...odd, but a welcome suprise. Any questions?

we use the AR-15 (military verson is the M4 Carbine), and really we havent been issued anything new...except for the M4 looking weapon tht can "see and shoot" around corners...

Ladies and Gents, I give you the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk Louisiana (45 minutes from ANYWHERE)... ^The living quarters...hard shelter and hard cots...Card games galore, its worse than Vegas...i lost nearly $100 in a night and said "thats enough" :P See, told ya ;) ^Our Maintenance area...Its where we work on... ...These! The New M1151 Series Up-Armored HMMWV (High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle, or Humvee) with Series II Bullet/Shrapnel resistant Tires, 6.5L Turbocharged GM Diesel coupled to a GM Hydramatic Model 4L80-E Transmission and New Process Gear Transfer case, with Frag 7 Armor Kits (those windows are 7 INCHES thick ladies and gentlemen...and the doors weigh 542lbs.) ^ Our Field Site, after 6 days without a shower in the Louisiana Humidity...you dont wanna know what I smelled like...It was hotter than 2 rats screwin in a wool sock under a woodstove for the first 2 weeks. I can't tell you for security reasons, the intricate details of our training there. I can however, say that this is the most comprehensive (and expensive) training the army gives. It has real world scenarios, and real combat stress...the only thing is, at the end of the day, the bullets are rubber (or blanks) and the Mortar rounds are just pyrotechnics. Everything else is as real as it gets. Best combat training I have ever had...and even though I am a mechanic (not infantry), I walked away learning some stuff.

Blake, Ralph, Im comin to your neck of the woods! Im leaving tomorrow at noon for a 3 week training deployment to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk LA. I should be home before halloween. There will be no computer access, so y'all take care, I'll tty in a few weeks.

road noise is awful from what i have heard as well, head over to michelin or bridgestone for high quality performance tires...hell even BF goodrich with the Traction T/A is better and quieter than those.

You are in miami, so you probably dont need all seasons...but ill include them anyway. Some great pics for replacing all 4 tires are: Longevity and ride comfort/no road noise: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=51884 Goodyear Assurance ComforTread Not sure if they make the assurance line in the sizes you need...you might also check out the TripleTred's... And for a quiet riding high performance tire: http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/f...=014261&1=1 The Falken Ziex ZE 512...be warned though, they only have a lifespan of 20,000 miles...less if you are an aggressive driver.

Thanks Captain! I guess I don't let up much. No, I'm just a HUGE fan of cruise control. I think the OCD works out well for keeping the car clean since it takes no time to wash and vacuum it if I do every week - week and a half compared to if I space the washes out farther. Thanks for the tips! I'm definitely going to make sure that there is some kind of sign on the car before I hand the key over. the honda dealer here sends its customers cars across the street to "A touch of Klasse" Auto Detailing. If you are a Honda owner and you bought your car at their dealer, when your car comes in for service or repair, in addition to a loaner car, you get a simple wash/wax/interior protection. If you spend $300 or more, you get the wash/clay/polish/glaze/sealant. The owner of the dealership also owns the detail shop.

As of 9am this morning, I had a flat. After 31,000 Miles, the Bridgestone Turanza EL-400's from the factory on my 2006 Honda Civic EX were SHOT. They were noisy, bumpy, wobbly, harsh in every way and balder than a babies !Removed!, one was even showing cords. Goodyear Assurance ComforTread in 205/55/16H...quite possibly the best tire I have ever had, hands down, period. 205/55/16 + quiet/comfortable ride + 80,000 mile tread life + all season capability + reasonable price = Impossible? Not anymore...read on. Road Noise: There isnt any...I mean I wish i could say i could hear something....but I cant. They are silent as the dead. I would say if my Civic had more sound deadening, it would be purely silent. Grip Wet: Have not tested cause i have only had the tires since 3pm...but i tested them in a puddle at a light...sure footed (no hydroplaning) and from a stop on the wet they do OK, but my 140HP Civic was able to break them loose in the rain at WOT No problem...but as long as you drive like a normal person in rainy weather, I see no trouble arising. Grip Dry: Well, once again, these are not a high performance tire. The performance these tires concentrate on is a smooth, quiet comfortable ride (more on that later). On straight line acceleration at WOT in the 140hp 1.8L Auto Civic, I could not break them loose. However, making a right or left turn from a stop accelerating at WOT, I could....thru second gear and into third. Keep in mind, this car was NOT designed for burnouts...but for fuel economy. In the twisties, these tires rule till about 80mph...at which point i didn't have the balls to test them further (fear of tickets in NY). Dry Grip in the twisties is the $h!t Grip Snow/Ice:Obviously cannot comment till snow and ice comes...but there will be a snow and ice review, rest assured. We get plenty of both up here (14 feet on avg per year!) Ride Comfort: on a scale of 1 to 10....15045938721906.4 These tires are fantastic. Even in a somewhat lower profile (205/55/16) the ride is comfortable and smooth. No more harsh bumps, vibrations, or bump steer. By having the tires absorb more of the road harshness, it will drastically reduce the number of times I have to have an alignment done due to the pothole filled roads of upstate NY. The Civic's ride is now on par with the accord or higher end cars of its day...what a relief. Install service: I had my tires installed at my local Goodyear store...and i must say, while the service reps were polite and nice, they ROYALLY *****ED my factory Honda wheels...I'm a little perturbed about that. 205/55/16H Goodyear Assurance ComforTread: $136x$4 $544-$80 ($20 in store rebate per tire coupon) $464+$100 ($25 per tire for mt/balance/valve stems) $564-25% (military discount) $423+$25 (sales tax) ----------------------------------------------------- Total: $448.xx Thats out the door, Mounted and Balanced. Apparently I have 2 bent rims that they managed to balance...and they ride just fine so screw it. LOL. Just for the sake of argument, lets price a set of tires I would have bought instead...the only tires i would consider other than the Assurance line. Falken Ziex ZE-512 in 205/55/16= $80 per tire $80x4 $320-$40 ($10 per tire in store rebate coupon) $280+$100 ($25 per tire mt/balance/valve stems) $380-%25 (Military Discount) $295+$25 (sales tax) ---------------------------------------------------- $320.xx Out-the-door for the Falken Ziex ZE-512...a more than capable all season with the quietest/smoothest ride i have ever experienced...only one problem...multiply $320x5=$1,600.xx, because during the lifetime of 1 set of Assurance ComforTreads, I would have to replace the Falken's a minimum of 5x...and thats being generous, I never got more than 15,000 miles out of a set...and my mom is on 83,000 on her ComforTreads in her Camry...and just now needing replacements. Questions, Comments, Concerns? All in all, for 80,000 miles of silent tire life and decent all season traction, I wouldnt complain about the $150 per tire retail price...though they can be found for $102 online at Discounttiredirect.com. Unfortunately, I had to search for a wicked retail deal because I was in a bind. I wasn't gonna make my wife drive to work on a donut. EDIT: One thing I forgot to add...although there is alot of grip in the twisties, during aggressive sharp cornering, be prepared to feel the sidewall of the tire roll over on you. It scared the crap out of me the first time it happened, but I expect it now. these tires are definitely NOT performance oriented, if that's what you are after, the TripleTred would be right up your alley. They have the same tread wear rating (80,000 miles) but a more aggressive, directional tread pattern...they are also noisier (but not by much, i am just that picky) which is why they didn't work for my application on the Civic. what can I say, I'm getting older, and in my old age, road noise is NOT an option i purchase with my new cars. I will however, be putting a set of Tripletreads on the cavalier, if I can find a set for a decent price.

+1 on the Nokian's. I know the RSi has recently been replaced with the Hakkapeliitta R. From what I understand, Nokian has improved upon the RSi 10% overall and the Hakka R is labeled Ultra Low Rolling Resistant: http://www.tiresbyweb.com/p-7147-nokian-hakkapeliitta-r.aspx These are a little more than some of other studless winter tires out there, but in talking with Josh at Tiresbyweb (they seem to be one of the few that stock Nokian) you get what you pay for. Winter tires are the safest way to roll! Anyone thought of the Goodyear Asurance line? i cant advocate for them in snow yet, but my comfortreads are kicking !Removed! in the constant rain we have had here since install, and my friend has the triple treads on a 1993 LS and his car kicked !Removed! last winter.... just a thought...but i agree with the snow tire on separate rims thing. then all you have to do is get a small air compressor, an Air Impact, 2 jackstands and a socket set of choice....all of which can be acquired for less than $500 at sears. The only reason i stick with all seasons is because i HATE road noise and every winter tire i have had or ridden on is HORRIBLE for it.

Name: Joshua Morrison Rank: Specialst (P)/E4P Branch US Army Active Job: MOS 63B10H8 Wheeld Vehicle Mechanic/Recovery Specialist Years of Service: 4, and obligated for another 4 and by then i might as well do 20...I have been at Fort Drum NY the entire time. DOnt nessecarily like it here, but my wife has a REALLY good job here, so rather than uproot her, I am staying so she can further her career. FWIW, You Sir Charles have the same specialty and everything that my dad had in the air force for awhile. I dont know how he did it, but he retired as a Colonel In 2002....i am 23 and i know he was in the service LONG before i was born...he retired at 28 years of active service and it was a medical retirement, thats about all i can tell you.

If its a freeze plug, now is a great time to install a block heater. a great thing for your cars value even if you dont live in a cold area.

LOL prolly so, anyway, the other 2 are on the way!

Well LOC, As you all know, I consider ALL of you extended family. I have been a Valued Member (I hope) on this site for a long time now. Which is why I have decided to include you in some somewhat crappy news I found out today... Some time ago (August), I was injured on the job. This injury required a CT Scan of my lower torso. I was at the United States Military Academy at West Point University, so this procedure was not performed by my doctor. This CT Scan revealed a large (softball sized) tumor on my left kidney. It was found completely by accident, had I not had my accidental on-the-job injury...it would have never been found. The doctor(s) NEVER informed me of this discovery. Today, I went in for a follow-up on the injury with my doctor... And when he looked in my medical records and at the CT scan of my injury, He noticed the previous doctor(s) had noted a large tumor on my left kidney and pointed to it on the image with an arrow. He asked if I was ever informed of this and when I said "No", he stated he hadn't been either. My doctor then ordered another CT scan. The good news is, it hasn't gotten any bigger, and I am exhibiting no symptoms of anything...The bad news is, it might be cancerous. I wanted to let you all know, because everyone here has been an important part of my life for so long. I notify you as I would my family. I am scheduled to have am ultrasound done, then a biopsy from there, and if nessecary...surgery.

and a REALLY dirty engine: And there we have it. But can someone answer me as to HOW all those damn acorns got in the bottom of the airbox? I only paid $1,000 for it...guess the year and you get a cookie :D EDIT: BURN! Its in my sig...LOL

...can someone explain how these got in here: EWWW.... The odometer...:eek2: ^shes dirty ^The ORIGINAL AC Delco Radio ^complete with flat black hood... ^I screwed the mirror back on...the previous owner hit a deer, he replaced the hood (no paint) the windshield, and glued the mirror back on...it fell off 2 days after i bought it...i bumped it while waxing and it fell off. so i screwed it back on! LOL. ^Cavemen are people too

check your fluid level? i never had that problem...

do you know if you have to switch out the wiring harnesses and the intake manifold? or are they the same anyway? ive been swapping engines from a smashed up 89 camry into my 91 es250 for the past 3 weekends. it's taking me forever. dont really know what im doin.lol. kinda learnin as i go. nope, should be a direct swap...no mod needed....anywhere.

Well said Steve.....stay clear of those ES400's. Man its a good thing i didnt Install them yet...steve for once, im happy NOT to have followed your advice. I thought the tires to be wearing a little weird (too fast on the inside in the rear) so when it was at the honda dealer having the 30k service done, i had them look at the alignment in the rear...sure enough...there is a TSB for new LCA's on the honda civics 06/07. they are too long if they are stamped with a "C" causing a NOTICABLE negative camber in the rear (approx 4 degrees...it can be seen from outside the car). They said it causes excessive road noise (which i have) vibrations, and excessive tire wear. the other good news is my honda dealer is replacing the LCA's and doing an alignment in the rear for free. they were going to prorate new tires, but i have too many miles.

Drive up, i will gladly do it for a discounted price :D

Nice job, what was the process... the process for the car, not the kid, i knowse how those are made ;) Looking good Bren! The house, the kid, the car, everything...now lets see the wife! ;)