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Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2007unnecessary accessory that goes with a car
Hi, There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that goes with a car. What is it? I'd appreciate your help. Ray > Hi, > > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that goes > with a car. What is it? [snip] A car with "all the bells and whistles?" -- Aloha ~~~ Ozzie Maland ~~~ San Diego >> Hi, >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > A car with "all the bells and whistles?" One of which is a "bell and/or whistle" in my experience.  SignatureEvan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------ HP Laboratories |If all else fails, embarrass the 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |industry into doing the right Palo Alto, CA 94304 |thing. | Dean Thompson kirshenbaum@hpl.hp.com (650)857-7572 http://www.kirshenbaum.net/ >Hi, > >There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that goes >with a car. What is it? Dealer Prep. >I'd appreciate your help. > >Ray SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL >>Hi, >> >>There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that goes >>with a car. What is it? > > Dealer Prep. No, that's a charge for necessary (and already paid for) accessories. SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. >>>Hi, >>> [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > No, that's a charge for necessary (and already paid for) accessories. ...including such "accessories" as the engine, the seats, the tires... SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. tony cooper filted: >>There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that goes >>with a car. What is it? > >Dealer Prep. "Cupholder"....r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit > tony cooper filted: >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > "Cupholder"....r Surely you jest. Cup holders[1] are essential, especially if you are driving solo. See for yourself: http://www.familyhomefront.net/cupholders.html Be sure to scroll down for all six photos. [1] Two words. "Cupholder," one word, refers to someone who has won a cup or trophy. SignatureMaria Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them. > Surely you jest. Cup holders[1] are essential, especially if > you are driving solo. > > See for yourself: > http://www.familyhomefront.net/cupholders.html > Be sure to scroll down for all six photos. What an odd place to keep a urine sample. SignatureSML >> Surely you jest. Cup holders[1] are essential, especially if >> you are driving solo. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > What an odd place to keep a urine sample. I assumed that she was in the process of producing it, presumably using some sort of catheter. But I'm not sure the physics would work. SignatureEvan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------ HP Laboratories |Well, if you can't believe what you 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |read in a comic book, what can you Palo Alto, CA 94304 |believe?! | Bullwinkle J. Moose kirshenbaum@hpl.hp.com (650)857-7572 http://www.kirshenbaum.net/ >>> Surely you jest. Cup holders[1] are essential, >>> especially if [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > would > work. Wasn't there a Feynman story about actually testing the hypothesis that you^Wone can't pee while standing on one's head[1]? [1] Whereas, when standing on one's fingers... Maria filted: >>>> There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary >>>> accessory that [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Surely you jest. Cup holders[1] are essential, especially if >you are driving solo. If you're driving solo, why would you need eight of them?... Why, for that matter, would you need any of them if you bring along beverages in containers with caps you can re-close?...r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit > Maria filted: >>>>> There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary >>>>> accessory that goes with a car. What is it? [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Why, for that matter, would you need any of them if you bring along > beverages in containers with caps you can re-close?...r Why, for that matter, do you have to bring along beverages? I never do, and I have driven for over 58 years. Maybe that's it -- I've driven for too long and learned some nasty habits, like not bringing along beverages. SignatureSkitt they just don't do things like we used to Skitt filted: >> Why, for that matter, would you need any of them if you bring along >> beverages in containers with caps you can re-close?...r [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Maybe that's it -- I've driven for too long and learned some nasty habits, >like not bringing along beverages. I'm on hydrochlorthiazide...I get dehydrated easily....r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit In alt.usage.english, Skitt wrote: >Why, for that matter, do you have to bring along beverages? I never >do, and I have driven for over 58 years. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Skitt >they just don't do things like we used to Shouldn't that be, "they do things we just didn't used to do, like"? SignatureV >> Why, for that matter, do you have to bring along beverages? I never >> do, and I have driven for over 58 years. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Shouldn't that be, "they do things we just didn't used to do, like"? Fer sure. Almost. "... didn't use to do ...". So, there. SignatureSkitt Some mornings it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps. --Emo Phillips In alt.usage.english, Skitt wrote: >>> they just don't do things like we used to >> Shouldn't that be, "they do things we just didn't used to do, like"? > >Fer sure. Almost. "... didn't use to do ...". So, there. That's what I wrote first. Then I googled for confirmation ... So I can't even claim it's a typo. Hmmm. I can't even claim it's a typo Hum hitty hum hitty hypo An indent, per Rey Er ... SignatureV > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that > goes with a car. What is it? If it isn't "passenger" or "back-seat driver", then it must be "speedometer". > > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that > > goes with a car. What is it? > > If it isn't "passenger" or "back-seat driver", then it must be > "speedometer". Actually, I'm looking for a word that is quite close in meaning to "frill". > Actually, I'm looking for a word that is quite close in > meaning to "frill". "Boondoggle". -- Stefano >> > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that >> > goes with a car. What is it? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Actually, I'm looking for a word that is quite close in meaning to >"frill". It really depends on whether or not the accessory has a cost that is added as a line item to the sticker price. A cigarette lighter is an unnecessary accessory to many car buyers, but the cost is not added to the sticker price.(1) (The cost is buried in the base price) A rear spoiler or alloy wheels are unnecessary accessories to some buyers (me, for example), but they are added to the sticker price and cannot be removed. The rear spoiler and/or the alloy wheels might be a desired accessory to some buyers, but they are unneeded frippery to me. (1) An ashtray insert *is* added to the sticker price in some models. If you don't pay for it, the place the ashtray insert goes is a plastic change compartment. That's the way it was on my Plymouth Voyager. SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL > >> > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that > >> > goes with a car. What is it? [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > It really depends on whether or not the accessory has a cost that is <snip legal treatise> First one should establish that something can both be necessary and accessory. tony cooper said: >It really depends on whether or not the accessory has a cost that is >added as a line item to the sticker price. A cigarette lighter is an >unnecessary accessory to many car buyers, Couldn't manage without mine. It's the only way I get to charge up my phone. DC -- > tony cooper said: >> It really depends on whether or not the accessory has a cost that is >> added as a line item to the sticker price. A cigarette lighter is an >> unnecessary accessory to many car buyers, > > Couldn't manage without mine. It's the only way I get to charge up > my phone. DC Well, there's also the portable GPS navigation gadgets. My wife has one. SignatureSkitt since giving up drinking has no problem navigating on his own >tony cooper said: > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Couldn't manage without mine. It's the only way I get to charge up my phone. That's not the cigarette lighter. That's the "power point". The lighter is the thing you plug into the power point. Some new cars have several power points, but no cigarette lighters to plug in them unless you purchase one. SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL > On 11 7 , 1 28 , cybercypher <cybercyphe...@aol.com> > wrote: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > meaning to > "frill". furbelow >> On 11 7 , 1 28 , cybercypher <cybercyphe...@aol.com> >> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > furbelow Actually, "frill" would be understood instantly. In fact, I think it's probably the word we'd generally use. But there are some bits, not perhaps accessories, whose only function is to make the car look more dashing: these, especially if on the outside of the car, are often called "go-faster xxxs" --you can have "go-faster stripes", or a "go-faster bump" on the bonnet, for example. SignatureMike. -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >>> On 11 7 , 1 28 , cybercypher <cybercyphe...@aol.com> >>> wrote: [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > stripes", or a > "go-faster bump" on the bonnet, for example. Well, yerce. However, I'm still trying to get over my excitement at my recent discovery that "furbelow" is not, after all, rude; cf. "pussyfoot". > > > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that > > > goes with a car. What is it? . . . > Actually, I'm looking for a word that is quite close in meaning to > "frill". How about "nodding dog," the cheap ornaments some people used to display in the back windows of their cars? But you seldom see them nowadays. SignatureDon Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) > "Ray" <raymondaliasapollyon@yahoo.com.tw> wrote >> > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > people used to display in the back windows of their > cars? But you seldom see them nowadays. I like that phrase: "nodding dog". It's in the same league as "white elephant". For that matter, how about a "plastic Jesus"? cybercypher filted: >> How about "nodding dog," the cheap ornaments some >> people used to display in the back windows of their [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >For that matter, how about a "plastic Jesus"? All unnecessary in the presence of fuzzy dice....r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit > cybercypher filted: >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > All unnecessary in the presence of fuzzy dice....r Uh, no. Dice are for hanging from the RVM; shees, everyone knows that. For the back shelf, nodding dog, schmodding dog; the people want that grass-skirted lady who did the hula-hula... >> cybercypher filted: >>> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >dog; the people want that grass-skirted lady who did the >hula-hula... We just purchased a new car; a silver four-door sedan. My wife has "lost" the car twice already in a mall parking lot. The car we traded in had a hitch attached for a bicycle rack, and was easy to spot by running the eye down the row of cars until the hitch was spotted. We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. A nodding dog or a grass-skirted lady in the back shelf will be considered. An anti-Bush bumper sticker has been considered, but none have been found that adequately express our displeasure. Suggestions welcomed. SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL >>>cybercypher filted: >>> [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Suggestions welcomed. Do let me know what you come up with: I have a similar problem with my silver car, which is difficult to pick out at the Park & Ride. I have thought about attaching a pennant of some sort to its aerial, but have yet to find anything suitable. SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) >Do let me know what you come up with: I have a similar problem with my >silver car, which is difficult to pick out at the Park & Ride. I have >thought about attaching a pennant of some sort to its aerial, but have >yet to find anything suitable. Here in teh US there are a large number of plastic devices to put on the end of antennas, including Jack-in-th-Box heads (Jack-in-the-Box is a hamburger chain) and the likes of small plastic saguaro cactuses. They are only about 7 cm in size; many businesses give them away. Signature************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) ************* * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * * My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps * >>Do let me know what you come up with: I have a similar problem with my >>silver car, which is difficult to pick out at the Park & Ride. I have [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > plastic saguaro cactuses. They are only about 7 cm in size; many > businesses give them away. Dammit, why didn't anyone tell me this before my recent trip? Even a 7cm saguaro would make my car distinctive. But now that the days are shorter I could do with something that lights up. SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) >> Do let me know what you come up with: I have a similar problem with >> my silver car, which is difficult to pick out at the Park & Ride. I [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > plastic saguaro cactuses. They are only about 7 cm in size; many > businesses give them away. There is no externally protruding antenna on the car we just bought. Yeah, we got rid of the Mercedes wagon and got a Honda Civic. The picture at the below link is supposed to be the color of our car (Galaxy Gray Metallic), but in reality our car is much lighter and has a sort of a beige tint to the gray. It is very hard to spot in a parking lot. http://www.geocities.com/opus731/2008civic1.jpg SignatureSkitt my auto page is at http://www.geocities.com/opus731/cars.html Skitt filted: >>> Do let me know what you come up with: I have a similar problem with >>> my silver car, which is difficult to pick out at the Park & Ride. I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Gray Metallic), but in reality our car is much lighter and has a sort of a >beige tint to the gray. It is very hard to spot in a parking lot. That's the problem, all of you...why would you buy a silver car?... My recommendation: take it to Earl Scheib and tell him you want it done over in safety orange....r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit > Skitt filted: > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > -- Many Indian families' cars in the UK have an ornamental tissue-box holder on the back parcels shelf. Generally navy blue or crimson, with gilded plastic decor at the corners and along the edges in a vaguely 'Hindu temple' style. Ornamental and functional; what more do you want? -- Ken >>Skitt filted: >> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > vaguely 'Hindu temple' style. Ornamental and functional; what more do > you want? Me? Tissues that can be reached by the driver and front passenger... SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) >> Many Indian families' cars in the UK have an ornamental tissue-box >> holder on the back parcels shelf. Generally navy blue or crimson, [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Me? Tissues that can be reached by the driver and front passenger... What's this thing about tissues? My wife has tissue boxes in the side pockets of cars in the front and back. I don't dare ask why. Messy riders? SignatureSkitt >>> Many Indian families' cars in the UK have an ornamental tissue-box >>> holder on the back parcels shelf. Generally navy blue or crimson, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > pockets of cars in the front and back. I don't dare ask why. Messy > riders? My messy passengers have mostly grown up but I do sometimes find that the ventilation system makes me sneeze. SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) > What's this thing about tissues? My wife has tissue boxes > in the side > pockets of cars in the front and back. I don't dare ask > why. Messy > riders? Those side pockets must be pretty big. That or the tissue boxes (aka "kleenex boxes") are pocket-sized, and probably not "boxes" but "packets." Also: your Honda Civic is about the same color as my husband's Ford Edge. Pretty, but gray cars and rainy days don't really go together well --or so it seems to me. SignatureMaria >> What's this thing about tissues? My wife has tissue boxes >> in the side [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > boxes (aka "kleenex boxes") are pocket-sized, and probably > not "boxes" but "packets." They are those small boxes -- like 4" x 6" x 1.5" -- something like that. > Also: your Honda Civic is about the same color as my > husband's Ford Edge. Pretty, but gray cars and rainy days > don't really go together well --or so it seems to me. Well, they call it grey, but I'd say it is a dark beige. It does not show dirt. SignatureSkitt > Skitt filted: >> The picture at the below link is supposed to be the color of our car >> (Galaxy Gray Metallic), but in reality our car is much lighter and [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > My recommendation: take it to Earl Scheib and tell him you want it > done over in safety orange....r Oo, oo, I had one of those! A 1969 Beetle. It was originally that nondescript off-white color, but after a fender bender I had it painted hip-hugger orange (well, that was the term in those days). I got two speeding tickets in two weeks. Before, I had driven the car for a couple of years without any tickets. SignatureSkitt Some mornings it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps. --Emo Phillips >> Skitt filted: > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > speeding tickets in two weeks. Before, I had driven the car for a > couple of years without any tickets. Ah, but had you driven it *fast* before? SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) >>> Skitt filted: >>>> The picture at the below link is supposed to be the color of our >>>> car (Galaxy Gray Metallic), but in reality our car is much lighter [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Ah, but had you driven it *fast* before? Oh, for sure! I didn't change my driving habits; that was the problem. That, and the color. It was one souped-up Beetle -- Holley carb, extractor exhaust, certrifugal-advance distributor ... fun, fun, fun. SignatureSkitt > That's the problem, all of you...why would you buy a silver car?... Because it's the only color that really makes my Scion XB look like a toaster. (The white ones look like tipped-over washing machines, which is almost as good.) SignatureSML Sara Lorimer filted: >> That's the problem, all of you...why would you buy a silver car?... > >Because it's the only color that really makes my Scion XB look like a >toaster. (The white ones look like tipped-over washing machines, which >is almost as good.) Does the Honda Element come in yellow?...I want to get one and apply for a vanity plate that reads "SHRTBUS"....r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit >> That's the problem, all of you...why would you buy a silver car?... > > Because it's the only color that really makes my Scion XB look like a > toaster. (The white ones look like tipped-over washing machines, which > is almost as good.) Sometimes they overdo the toast though: http://www.dragtimes.com/images/8488-2005-Scion-xB.jpg SignatureMike. -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com > Do let me know what you come up with: I have a similar > problem with my silver car, which is difficult to pick out > at the Park & Ride. I have thought about attaching a > pennant of some sort to its aerial, but have yet to find > anything suitable. [disingenuously] Very popular here in ZA, since the world cup final, is a SA flag that attaches to the rear side window. >Do let me know what you come up with: I have a similar problem with my >silver car, which is difficult to pick out at the Park & Ride. I have >thought about attaching a pennant of some sort to its aerial, but have >yet to find anything suitable. The new car does not have aerial to which something can be affixed. The function is provided by wires within the windshield. There's a bump thing on the back of the roof which receives XM Radio signals. I'm trying to figure out if this could be spray painted white to distinguish the car but without interfering with the signal. XM Radio is subscription radio beamed off satellites or black helicopters or something. I never thought I'd pay for radio, but we listened to an hour of "old time" radio programs on the way to Jacksonville Beach this past weekend. http://www.xmradio.com/ SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL >>>> cybercypher filted: >>>> [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > thought about attaching a pennant of some sort to its aerial, but > have yet to find anything suitable. You could try attaching a plate to the car with a unique set of letters and numbers. It might be sensible to attach one at the front and one at the back so it doesn't matter from which side you approach it. Or you could invest in a small notebook and write down cabalistic symbols like "Row 4, 7th from left" SignatureJohn Dean Oxford john-dean@fraglineone.net had it ... > You could try attaching a plate to the car with a unique set of letters and > numbers. It might be sensible to attach one at the front and one at the back > so it doesn't matter from which side you approach it. That's no good. In many States (I think this includes Florida), attaching a unique set of numbers on a plate at the front of your car marks you out as a pinko. Or possibly a foreigner. > Or you could invest in a small notebook and write down cabalistic symbols > like "Row 4, 7th from left" There is no cabal. SignatureDavid > john-dean@fraglineone.net had it ... > [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > There is no cabal. But The Committee said... oh, wait. There's no Committee. SignatureMaria >> There is no cabal. > >But The Committee said... oh, wait. There's no Committee. That's not what they told me when I accepted my appointment. >>> There is no cabal. >> >>But The Committee said... oh, wait. There's no Committee. > > That's not what they told me when I accepted my appointment. Anyone purporting to be a Committee member is an impostor, as there is no Committee. This incident should be reported, if you can find anyone to report it to. SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. >>>> There is no cabal. >>> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Committee. This incident should be reported, if you can find anyone to >report it to. You don't need to. THEY are always watching. SignatureRobin Herts, England >>>>> There is no cabal. >>>> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > You don't need to. THEY are always watching. Or so they would have us believe. If they existed. And even if they didn't. SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. >>>> On Wed, 7 Nov 2007 19:11:27 -0500, "Maria" >>>> <maria.c-b@sbcglobal.net> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > even if they > didn't. SCENE IX: A Restaurant (WILL is treating JACK to dinner.) WILL: So we're clear on this, right? You understand there is no gay mafia? There is no network of waiters and florists and cabaret singers who carry out the commands of some shadowy don. Or, in this case, eye-shadowy don. JACK: [NERVOUSLY] Yeah, okay. Yeah, whatever. Yeah. It's no big deal. Doesn't matter, anyway. [LOUDLY] I let Phillip back in my class because he is a talented actor and is under no obligation to make out with me. [TO THE WAITER] Did you hear that? Phillip's back in, pass it on. WILL: Jack! Enough! There is no gay mafia. It does not exist. [JACK STANDS UP.] JACK: [LOUDLY] I do not know this man! We are not here together. [QUIETLY TO WILL] After you pay the check-- [LOUDLY] Leave me alone! [JACK EXITS.] WILL: [TO HIMSELF] [SCOFFS] Gay mafia. I'm surrounded by idiots. [THE WAITER POURS WILL SOME MORE WINE, ACCIDENTALLY SPILLING IT ON HIM.] WILL: Oh, man! My new Gucci suit! WATIER: Sorry, sir. [SNICKERS] Heh-heh... WILL: Hey, it's not funny. [THE MAN SITTING BEHIND WILL TURNS AROUND. IT'S ELTON JOHN.] ELTON: It's a little bit funny. WILL: Oh, my God. You're-- You're... you. ELTON: That's right, and next time it'll be red wine. A word of advice, Will. Don't dismiss things you know nothing about. And don't walk in ten-inch heels-- It's hell on the ankles. WILL: What are you talking about? There is no such thing-- ELTON: Isn't there? WILL: Well, even if there was, it's not like they control the-- ELTON: Don't they? WILL: Come on. It's not like you're the-- ELTON: Aren't I? Listen, Will. You're a smart boy. You've got a good face. A flat stomach. [ELTON SMACKS WILL'S STOMACH] WILL: Hmm. ELTON: I'd hate to see you banned from every gym in America. WILL: And what? End up in a Fitness Protection Program? ELTON: Don't joke. It's real. So watch yourself, Will. 'Cause we're watching you. One wrong move, and this bitch will be back. [ELTON EXITS AS "THE BITCH IS BACK" PLAYS: "Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back--"] [THE MUSIC STOPS AS ELTON RUNS BACK TO WILL'S TABLE.] ELTON: Could you give me $2.00 for the coat check girl? WILL: Sure. [WILL GIVES ELTON SOME MONEY.] [ELTON EXITS AS "THE BITCH IS BACK" PLAYS: "Bitch, bitch, the bitch is back--"] http://www.twiztv.com/scripts/willandgrace/season5/willandgrace-510.htm > john-dean@fraglineone.net had it ... [...] >> Or you could invest in a small notebook and write down cabalistic >> symbols like "Row 4, 7th from left" > > There is no cabal. Anyhow, it would only work if you could guarantee to get the same parking space every time. SignatureMike. -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >>john-dean@fraglineone.net had it ... > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Anyhow, it would only work if you could guarantee to get the same > parking space every time. The problems has disappeared for me since I got an ACROD sticker (for my mother). On the occasions when I don't have my mother with me and can't legally use the handicapped spaces, I lose my car of course. Did I already tell the story about when I had bright orange Ford Falcon? At the drive-in (this tells you how long ago this was), I had to go to the loo. It was an interesting film, so on the way back, I was watching the screen, rather than looking for my car. I arrived at the bright orange car, got in still watching the film, put my arm round my girlfriend... it must have a full five minutes before we both turned and looked at each other: wrong car, wrong girlfriend. SignatureRob Bannister >>>john-dean@fraglineone.net had it ... >> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >girlfriend... it must have a full five minutes before we both turned and >looked at each other: wrong car, wrong girlfriend. Did you consider it an upgrade or a downgrade? SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL >>Did I already tell the story about when I had bright orange Ford Falcon? >>At the drive-in (this tells you how long ago this was), I had to go to [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Did you consider it an upgrade or a downgrade? More importantly, did she? -=Eric >>>Did I already tell the story about when I had bright orange Ford Falcon? >>>At the drive-in (this tells you how long ago this was), I had to go to [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > More importantly, did she? Heavens, you two. I was a young and foolish 35 year old. I was in lerv. Not a bad looking sheila though, from memory, and she didn't complain. SignatureRob Bannister >>>>>cybercypher filted: >>>>> [quoted text clipped - 36 lines] > numbers. It might be sensible to attach one at the front and one at the back > so it doesn't matter from which side you approach it. At the P & R one is more likely to be approaching one's vehicle from the side so back and front distinguishing features don't work. > Or you could invest in a small notebook and write down cabalistic symbols > like "Row 4, 7th from left" A very practical idea but, by the time I've run across the car park to catch the bus, I've forgotten completely. There are helpful "zone" letters so I know roughly where it is and as I approach I can click the key so that the lights flash but I am now fixated on the idea of a remote controlled flashing saguaro... SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) > I am now fixated on the idea of a remote controlled > flashing saguaro... Well, so much for "Sometimes a saguaro is just a saguaro." LFS wrote: > A very practical idea but, by the time I've run across the car park to > catch the bus, I've forgotten completely. There are helpful "zone" > letters so I know roughly where it is and as I approach I can click > the key so that the lights flash but I am now fixated on the idea of a > remote controlled flashing saguaro... Well, they don't generally come with radio-controlled flashing lights, but you want to google up "antenna cactus". Or just go to "The Antenna Ball Store" <http://www.antennaballstore.com/catalog.html> find one that suits your fancy, and I bet that adding a tiny battery and a couple LEDS is something that you could find someone to do for you. And I checked, they do ship internationally (at least their check-out page is deliberately set up to handle international orders..) > LFS wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > checked, they do ship internationally (at least their check-out page is > deliberately set up to handle international orders..) Amazing! Thank you so much! SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) >>>>>>cybercypher filted: >>>>>> [quoted text clipped - 48 lines] >key so that the lights flash but I am now fixated on the idea of a >remote controlled flashing saguaro... I assume that you have considered, and rejected, the idea of fixing a gaily coloured fibreglass shark to the roof of the car. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>>>Do let me know what you come up with: I have a similar problem with my >>>>silver car, which is difficult to pick out at the Park & Ride. I have [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > I assume that you have considered, and rejected, the idea of > fixing a gaily coloured fibreglass shark to the roof of the car. As you may know, there is already a Headington shark http://www.headington.org.uk/shark/ Now a dragon... there's a thought... SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) >> I assume that you have considered, and rejected, the idea >> of [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Now a dragon... there's a thought... As in Welsh rugby supporters? Right. Got it. I fear that, henceforward, you must think twice before arranging to arrive, especially in your own car, at a boink to meet any male with fix-it proclivities, for fear of what he may bring with him as a gift for you, as a token of his esteem, and insist on affixing. "No, no... It's no trouble. I insist." "B-B-B-But..." In fact, if it ever happens that, having just parked your car, some stranger comes up to you and asks who you are, and if that is your car over there, it will be me, setting up a "nice surprise" for you. Tremble, thou. >>> I assume that you have considered, and rejected, the idea >>> of [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >he may bring with him as a gift for you, as a token of his >esteem, and insist on affixing. An AUE "male with fix-it proclivities" might stay firmly on-topic and affix a sheep. Umm. A sheep containing a mobile phone with a "Baa!" ringtone. >"No, no... It's no trouble. I insist." > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >Tremble, thou. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>>> I assume that you have considered, and rejected, the >>>> idea [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Umm. A sheep containing a mobile phone with a "Baa!" > ringtone. <Asperger's>Um... A real sheep, or a representation of a sheep? As in "grizzly or teddy?"/Asperger's> Quiz question: what's the only South African invention to have made it to the moon? (No, dear: not dolosse.) >>>>> I assume that you have considered, and rejected, the >>>>> idea [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] ><Asperger's>Um... A real sheep, or a representation of a >sheep? As in "grizzly or teddy?"/Asperger's> A representation -- probably lying down. >Quiz question: what's the only South African invention to >have made it to the moon? I had to Google for that. I am suitably impressed: http://www.southafrica.info/doing_business/trends/innovations/inventions.htm Pratley Putty Pratley's famous glue is the only South African invention that has been to the moon. In 1969 the putty was used to hold bits of the Apollo XI mission's Eagle landing craft together. Krugersdorp engineer George Pratley invented his famous sticky stuff in the 1960s while looking for a glue that would hold components in an electrical box. Pratley died in 1983 and today the company is run by his son, Kim. Hundreds of tons of Pratley putty have been exported all over the world, and the company has diversified into other products. "Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed." Which fortunately was not followed by "Houston we have a problem. The putty has failed in the cold". SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>>>>> I assume that you have considered, and rejected, the >>>>>> idea [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > craft > together. Bottom line: we can be confident that, when that nice Prof. Spira speeds up enough to tear the {sheep|dragon} away in the slipstream, it will take her paintwork away with it when it goes. >>>>>Do let me know what you come up with: I have a similar problem with my >>>>>silver car, which is difficult to pick out at the Park & Ride. I have [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >As you may know, there is already a Headington shark >http://www.headington.org.uk/shark/ That shark gave me the idea. >Now a dragon... there's a thought... SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >I assume that you have considered, and rejected, the idea of >fixing a gaily coloured fibreglass shark to the roof of the car. When I was passing by somewhere in New Mexico (around Jerry's part of the world IIRC) I saw, not a shark, but a super- sized catfish affixed to the top of a pickup truck - see here http://tinyurl.com/3ctyqz I hasten to add that this was apparently made of fibre-glass and was some sort of "artist's statement". It didn't smell at all - a real one would have gone "off" very quickly in that climate. I like the truck though - a real "good ole boy" kind of vehicle, which together with the catfish makes its own kind of statement about rural simplicity versus urban chic. Maria - anything like your truck? Jitze >>I assume that you have considered, and rejected, the idea of >>fixing a gaily coloured fibreglass shark to the roof of the car. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >http://tinyurl.com/3ctyqz This is an image of a toy car, but the Truly Nolan reps do drive real VWs with the ears and tail: http://www.diecasts.biz/images/M/430/058095.jpg Also seen in this area: http://www.geocities.com/aircoolinn/bostonlobste.jpg This car advertises the Boston Lobster Feast chain of restaurants. SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL > Jitze wrote: >>> I assume that you have considered, and rejected, the idea of >>> fixing a gaily coloured fibreglass shark to the roof of the car. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > VWs with the ears and tail: > http://www.diecasts.biz/images/M/430/058095.jpg That's Truly Nolen, and here's a picture of a real car of theirs: http://www.twincommander.com/images/truly.jpg SignatureSkitt >>> When I was passing by somewhere in New Mexico (around >>> Jerry's part of the world IIRC) I saw, not a shark, but [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > theirs: > http://www.twincommander.com/images/truly.jpg Is Nolen a relative of Donovan? (Someone had to ask.) SignatureMaria [...] >> We just purchased a new car; a silver four-door sedan. My wife has >> "lost" the car twice already in a mall parking lot. The car we traded [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >thought about attaching a pennant of some sort to its aerial, but have >yet to find anything suitable. No problemo with my new car. It is usually the only non-silver one in the car park. What is it with silver? I had the choice of red, white, blue and five different grey/silver variations. SignatureRichard Bollard Canberra Australia To email, I'm at AMT not spAMT. On 18 Nov 2007, Richard Bollard wrote > What is it with silver? I had the choice of > red, white, blue and five different grey/silver variations. You had a choice of five grey/silver variations and didn't choose *any* of them? Why do you hate the free market? SignatureCheers, Harvey CanEng and BrEng, indiscriminately mixed >On 18 Nov 2007, Richard Bollard wrote > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Why do you hate the free market? Heh! After this thread came up I checked in the local supermarket car park and found that more than half of the cars were some kind of silver/gray metallic. SignatureRobin Herts, England >>On 18 Nov 2007, Richard Bollard wrote >> [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >supermarket car park and found that more than half of the cars >were some kind of silver/gray metallic. I did a bit of browsing and found some articles about this. Apparently people think silver is "classy". Blue is popular in Britain but nowhere else much. White is gaining popularity somewhere. Inter alia, I found this: http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/06/25/people_who_drive_silver_or_blue_cars _should_not_read_this.htm SignatureRichard Bollard Canberra Australia To email, I'm at AMT not spAMT. >>>On 18 Nov 2007, Richard Bollard wrote >>> [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >people think silver is "classy". Blue is popular in Britain but >nowhere else much. White is gaining popularity somewhere. When you shop for a new car in the American market you don't specify the color you want; you normally choose from a car on the lot that has the combination of features and accessories you want. The "pool" to chose from may be limited to a narrow range of colors. If you want (color) over features and accessories, there are more in the "pool". You can internet shop and specify features, accessories, and color. A car will be found that matches. That often reduces your price negotiating ability. SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL tony_cooper213@earthlink.net had it ... > >>>On 18 Nov 2007, Richard Bollard wrote > >>> [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > chose from may be limited to a narrow range of colors. If you want > (color) over features and accessories, there are more in the "pool". Most new cars in the UK are ordered weeks in advance, which means that you get exactly what colour and specification you want as the car is created for you in the factory. At least, I believe that's the position - I've never bought a new car as it seems like a supreme waste of money since the thing drops by about 15% in value as you drive it out of the showroom (we have something called "special car tax" which is only due on new cars). If you buy a new car from the forecourt, you can beat the price down significantly as it's sitting on the dealer's books, wasting away. > You can internet shop and specify features, accessories, and color. A > car will be found that matches. That often reduces your price > negotiating ability. Furthermore, my car is silver is because I like it on a car; I also like black, grey, dark metallic colours (e.g. burgundy or dark green) and I would have been happy with one of those if they'd been on offer when I was looking for a used car. I can tolerate red, but I don't like lighter colours or white. I haven't got the slightest interest in what anybody thinks about my choice of colour. SignatureDavid >Most new cars in the UK are ordered weeks in advance, which means >that you get exactly what colour and specification you want as the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >If you buy a new car from the forecourt, you can beat the price down >significantly as it's sitting on the dealer's books, wasting away. Here in metro-America where dealerships tend to be quite large, there will be lots of cars "on the forecourt" ('cepting we don't call it that) - maybe 50 - 100 with a bunch more in a storage lot down the road a bit. And of course, it is expected that one should haggle and/or use any other wiles to optimize the transaction. Both parties follow the same rules of engagement. Lemme tell ya... I was in the market to replace my venerable wimpy truck which had reached its dotage. It serves its own ecological niche as an upscale wheelbarrow - fetching plywood from the local builder's merchants, conveying flotsam and jetsam to the local dump (BritE - tip) and sundry chores. In the local paper I spot a "sale" ad which says something like "8 of these in stock - from $n" where "n" was a *very* good price. We have a law here about truth in advertising so I barreled down to the dealer to purchase said truck. Yes - they had 8 of them in stock in various colors, but only *that* one over there was available at that price. The others were "slightly" higher. And *that* one was a disgusting shade of pea-green, a color for which it is hard to convey the exact emotional response. (The Dutch have a more descriptive name for this color - kinderpoep) Anyway - where was I? Aaah - well it seems that this is what is known as a loss-leader. And it is used just for the purpose of attracting suckers. And not intended to be sold - thus the repellant color. But I don't care - for me the truck is not going to be a "statement" where I flaunt my taste to the neighbors. For me it is to be a purely utilitarian thingy. And I'm quite prepared to have one in that color - thank you very much. Where do I sign? Major consternation ensues. (They don't want to lose their loss-leader as they'll have to go get another one and there aren't many made/available - because that color doesn't sell well). I persist - and only grudgingly am I prepared to accept a white one at the same price... Saved me a bundle and the current geeration of wimpy truck is so much nicer than the 1977 model it replaced. Jitze >>Most new cars in the UK are ordered weeks in advance, which means >>that you get exactly what colour and specification you want as the [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] >wimpy truck is so much nicer than the 1977 model it >replaced. <applause> Well played, sir! >>Most new cars in the UK are ordered weeks in advance, which means >>that you get exactly what colour and specification you want as the [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >it that) - maybe 50 - 100 with a bunch more in a storage lot down >the road a bit. Bill Heard Chevrolet, in Sanford FL, lists 944 new cars currently in inventory. "On the forecourt", so to speak. They also list 147 used cars on the lot. SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL [snip wonderful story] >Saved me a bundle and the current geeration of >wimpy truck is so much nicer than the 1977 model it >replaced. I haven't met "wimpy truck" -- maybe it's pondial. I'm guessing it means bog-standard, bottom-of-the-range, that sort of thing? SignatureKaty Jennison spamtrap: remove the first two letters after the @ >[snip wonderful story] > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >I haven't met "wimpy truck" -- maybe it's pondial. I'm guessing it >means bog-standard, bottom-of-the-range, that sort of thing? I haven't heard the term itself, but I would imagine it's a smaller pickup, like a Chev S10, Ford Ranger, Dodge Dakota, or any of the small Japanese ones. >[snip wonderful story] > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >I haven't met "wimpy truck" -- maybe it's pondial. I'm guessing it >means bog-standard, bottom-of-the-range, that sort of thing? No - nothing pondial I'm afraid. Just my little affectation where I assign names to my vehicles - more necessary when the two teenagers still lived at home and we had 5 vehicles in our diriveway. Seems excessive, but it was 1 per person plus a spare - one of the functions of wimpy truck. You had to be there... many trucks around here are brawny four-wheel-drive big-wheeled monsters with gas-guzzling engines - used solely as boulevard cruisers and never (or hardly ever) used in anything remotely resembling harsh conditions. I refer to these as Macho Trucks - and Wimpy is a consequence of the Law of Bravado Conservation, where I have (as you surmised) a bottom-of-the-line smallest-engine two-wheel-drive bog-standard runabout. But, there is also an in-joke within the family. Wimpy (actualy Wimpie) is also the diminutive form in Dutch of the name William (Willem or Wilhelm). My big Mercedes diesel at the time was named Das Kaisermobiel after Kaiser Billy (the chap with a fine mustache and a spike on his helmet) so it was only fitting that my little trucky-poo be named Wimpie, being the little brother as it were. As I said - you had to be there... Jitze >Most new cars in the UK are ordered weeks in advance, which means >that you get exactly what colour and specification you want as the >car is created for you in the factory. Make that months in the case of Mercedes. My SL was a few months short of its 22nd birthday last May, and although it runs nicely it's of an age where, in my medical condition, it's a bit risky to take it on a trip to Paris and back, and my everyday car, a Nissan Micra, was not comfortable enough for long trips. So I popped down to the Merc dealer and found that off the shelf, more or less, I could have any colour I wanted for a C-class coupé as long as it was metallic silver. I was looking at about $50,000 for a fairly basic spec car, so I though something along the lines of "Bugger this for a lark; the Omrud is right" (for you've mentioned your thoughts about new cars a time or two before). So I went to another Mercedes garage which is not a dealer, and which used to service the SL before I got my own mechanic, and immediately fell in love with a bright red 2.3 litre kompressor coupé with 24,000 on the clock and with a spec that would have cost over $70,000 new. I got a good trade-in on the Micra, the whole deal cost $24,000 with a one-year warranty on the coupé, and I'm delighted with the car, which goes like the clappers. I've had the SL since new, and only use it now during the summer. I guess it's an indulgence to spend so much money keeping up a car that only does 1500 miles a year, but what the hell, every growing boy needs a hobby. SignatureRobin Herts, England docrobin@ntlworld.com had it ... > >Most new cars in the UK are ordered weeks in advance, which means > >that you get exactly what colour and specification you want as the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > car that only does 1500 miles a year, but what the hell, every > growing boy needs a hobby. Excellent. Your IBM pension is being put to good use. SignatureDavid > docrobin@ntlworld.com had it ... [...] >> I guess it's an indulgence to spend so much money keeping up a >> car that only does 1500 miles a year, but what the hell, every >> growing boy needs a hobby. > > Excellent. Your IBM pension is being put to good use. Tr...verily. SignatureMike. -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com <snip> >... >immediately fell in love with a bright red 2.3 litre kompressor >coupé with 24,000 on the clock and with a spec that would have >cost over $70,000 new. I got a good trade-in on the Micra, the >whole deal cost $24,000 with a one-year warranty on the coupé, >and I'm delighted with the car, which goes like the clappers. One year warranty - hope you don't need it. What you'll find is that the teutonic thoroughness that went into your SL is alas not present in its younger sibling. I am now on my fourth Benz in 35 years and regret to inform you that the brick sh.t-house school of design has been in steady retreat for some time now. My 1997 vintage 420E rides and handles just beautifully but pesky things like electric window winders and ignition coils and O2 sensors keep crapping out - never happened on the late lamented Kaisermobiel or Stunkenfahrer which I traded in successively for more modern siblings. >I've had the SL since new, and only use it now during the summer. >I guess it's an indulgence to spend so much money keeping up a >car that only does 1500 miles a year, but what the hell, every >growing boy needs a hobby. Hang on to it. Wish I'd kept my 280CE - a very elegant conveyance and now a collectible. Jitze ><snip> >>... [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >Hang on to it. Wish I'd kept my 280CE - a very elegant conveyance >and now a collectible. I don't see myself ever getting rid of it, Jitze. Apart from a couple of punctures it has only let me down twice in 22 years. One was a hairline crack in the distributor cap, and it failed one late afternoon many years ago during a thunderstorm, on a motorway, of course. After being towed to the nearest garage off the motorway (an expensive business that makes the cost of joining a motoring organisation seem cheap) I managed to get a taxi to and from the local Merc dealer, fitted the thing in the (now closed) garage's car park (never did get the stains out of that suit) and finished the trip. The other was a flat battery a couple of years ago on a very cold morning. It looks as though that warranty on the coupé will have to be activated. After I started it this morning the malfunction system made a rude noise, a malfunction message flashed up for an instant, and the "time to next service" message, which had been reading over 4000 miles, changed to "Service needed in 29 miles". Strangely, on checking through the readouts, "No malfunction" is shown, and the car works perfectly. It's going into the dealer next Tuesday, however, and we'll see what's what. SignatureRobin Herts, England >><snip> >>>... [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] >shown, and the car works perfectly. It's going into the dealer >next Tuesday, however, and we'll see what's what. The warranty worked. Battery was on its last legs, so they fitted a new one and reset the computer. Car collected and delivered within five hours. SignatureRobin Herts, England Robin Bignall wrote, in part: [about his Mercedes] . >> It looks as though that warranty on the coupé will have to be >> activated. After I started it this morning the malfunction [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > a new one and reset the computer. Car collected and delivered > within five hours. Ah, yes -- we experienced similar things with our MBZ C320 wagon. Strange things were happening, and it was because the battery was shot. In the long run, though, we got rid of the car. There were other elecrical things wong that would have been expensive to fix (removal of the dash required). The car was too uneconomical anyway. Our BMW 328i, although older, is better is most ways. SignatureSkitt > Robin Bignall wrote, in part: > [about his Mercedes] >> The warranty worked. Battery was on its last legs, so they fitted >> a new one and reset the computer. Car collected and delivered [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Strange things were happening, and it was because the battery was > shot. That seems to happen a lot with modern cars: the battery can have plenty of amps left to still turn the engine over, but if the voltage drops below a critical level all the electronic chips stop working. SignatureRegards John for mail: my initials plus a u e at tpg dot com dot au the Omrud wrote, in very small part: > Most new cars in the UK are ordered weeks in advance, which means > that you get exactly what colour and specification you want as the > car is created for you in the factory. I tried that once, here in the USA. I wanted a black BMW 328i without a fancy hole in the roof. The dealer said said, no problem. I waited, and waited, and waited. A couple of months later, I was informed that the car was still somewhere in transit. They didn't know where. I wound up getting one with the fancy hole in the roof. I opened and closed it once -- just to see if it worked. It did. Eight years later, I still have the car. Runs and looks like new. http://www.geocities.com/opus731/99bmw.jpg I also had a 2002 Mercedes C320, but I got rid of it. It wasn't nearly as satisfying, in several ways. I replaced it with a 2008 Honda Civic. SignatureSkitt <snip> > When you shop for a new car in the American market you don't specify > the color you want; you normally choose from a car on the lot that has > the combination of features and accessories you want. The "pool" to > chose from may be limited to a narrow range of colors. If you want > (color) over features and accessories, there are more in the "pool". That may be true if you need a car in a hurry. > You can internet shop and specify features, accessories, and color. A > car will be found that matches. That often reduces your price > negotiating ability. When we shopped for our two Chrysler-family cars, we picked the precise features we wanted, including color. The first one our dealer got from another dealer (probably a swap), because he didn't have our chosen color. The second one (many years later) was custom-built (with a 6-week wait), because we couldn't find one of any color that had side air-bags (safety feature) without a moon roof (gimmick for which we were unwilling to pay). It's possible that we paid more than if we'd been able to negotiate a killer deal on an unpopular color the dealer wanted to get rid of, but we got a big discount and a 7-year, 75,000-mile powertrain warranty at no extra charge -- it was almost the end of the model year. Perce > [...] we couldn't find one of any color that had side air-bags > (safety feature) without a moon roof (gimmick for which we were > unwilling to pay). Moon roof? Most people do it through the side windows. SignaturePeter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org For an e-mail address, see my web page. >> [...] we couldn't find one of any color that had side air-bags (safety >> feature) without a moon roof (gimmick for which we were unwilling to >> pay). > > Moon roof? Most people do it through the side windows. Well, to me it was a "sun roof", but Chrysler insists that it's a "moon roof." Perce Percival P. Cassidy filted: >>> [...] we couldn't find one of any color that had side air-bags (safety >>> feature) without a moon roof (gimmick for which we were unwilling to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Well, to me it was a "sun roof", but Chrysler insists that it's a "moon >roof." Lycanthrope-friendly....r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit >>> [...] we couldn't find one of any color that had side air-bags >>> (safety feature) without a moon roof (gimmick for which we were [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Well, to me it was a "sun roof", but Chrysler insists that it's a > "moon roof." I have a Toyota pickup truck with "XtraCab", a feature which on my dozen-years-earlier Datsun was definitely a "KingCab". SignatureFrank S "Verbing weirds language." -Calvin >> [...] we couldn't find one of any color that had side air-bags >> (safety feature) without a moon roof (gimmick for which we were >> unwilling to pay). > > Moon roof? Most people do it through the side windows. But it ought to impress any passing bat. >>> [...] we couldn't find one of any color that had side air-bags >>> (safety feature) without a moon roof (gimmick for which we were [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > But it ought to impress any passing bat. I'm not too sure Flanders & Swann would have permitted themselves a line about ultrasonic flatulence. (My little Corsa has a red-tinted heavenly-body hatch: makes anybody in the car look strangely healthy.) SignatureMike. -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com >>>>On 18 Nov 2007, Richard Bollard wrote >>>> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > car will be found that matches. That often reduces your price > negotiating ability. If buying a new car, I would always go to dealer representing a particular make. You do your negotiating first and then say you want the same thing in a different colour. The price remains the same, but you may have to wait 3 or more months. That was how I ended up with "hip-hop red" instead of the white I wanted: I wasn't prepared to wait. SignatureRob Bannister robban1@bigpond.com had it ... > If buying a new car, I would always go to dealer representing a > particular make. You do your negotiating first and then say you want the > same thing in a different colour. The price remains the same, but you > may have to wait 3 or more months. That was how I ended up with "hip-hop > red" instead of the white I wanted: I wasn't prepared to wait. I don't believe it's possible to buy a new car in Europe other than via a "tied" dealer. All other dealers sell second-hand cars. SignatureDavid >robban1@bigpond.com had it ... > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >I don't believe it's possible to buy a new car in Europe other than >via a "tied" dealer. All other dealers sell second-hand cars. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >robban1@bigpond.com had it ... > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >I don't believe it's possible to buy a new car in Europe other than >via a "tied" dealer. All other dealers sell second-hand cars. The dealership from which I buy cars and which services the cars I've had over a couple of decades is one outlet of Charles Hurst[1], a Belfast-based company, which has 44 outlets here in Northern Ireland and 2 in London. Charles Hurst is part of a larger group including Lookers in England with 71 outlets and Taggarts in Scotland with 10 outlets in Glasgow and nearby Motherwell. The effect of the system of tied dealerships is highlighted at the Hurst's site at Boucher Road[2], Belfast. There are 14 separate dealerships each with its own building and each dealing in one specific make of car. This area is not so much an AmE "lot" as a "campus", or lots of lots. The company has a large used car outlet on the opposite side of Boucher Road. Others of its outlets sell used as well as new cars. I think that if you wish to buy a new car of a particular specification it can be delivered in a few days if it is in stock at any of the group's outlets anywhere in the UK, or if the manufacturer or importer has it in stock. On one occasion my wife and I were at a dealers to buy a used car for her. She chose one she particularly liked. The salesman went to the office to get some paperwork. He returned and explained that the car was in the process of being sold to someone else. We wandered around looking at other cars for a while. We didn't find anything of interest, and were about to leave when the salesman received a message from the office saying that the sale to the would-be purchaser had fallen through. We bought the car. I haven't bought a new car since 1973. [1] The company "Charles Hurst" is commonly referred to as "Hurst's" with or without an apostrophe. [2] "Boucher" is of French origin but is pronounced with "Bou" like cow, sow, bough (of a tree) and bow (bending the head or upper body as a sign of respect). SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) [carcarismes] > [2] "Boucher" is of French origin but is pronounced with "Bou" > like cow, sow, bough (of a tree) and bow (bending the head or > upper body as a sign of respect). Rhymes, in fact, with "voucher". Mother's father's mother's family, changed the pronunciation to appease English types. >The effect of the system of tied dealerships is highlighted at >the Hurst's site at Boucher Road[2], Belfast. There are 14 >separate dealerships each with its own building and each dealing >in one specific make of car. True in the U.S. as well. The Honda dealer I go to is also a Toyota dealer, but other than sharing the same name and curb cut you wouldn't know they were part of the same enterprise. Even the lots and the service departments are separate. There's another Honda dealer that does this one better, with VW under the same roof -- but the sales and service staffs are still completely separate. (This is getting more and more difficult as automakers are adopting techniques from the fast-food industry and requiring their dealers to follow a corporate architecture standard. The latter dealership looks literally like a Standard VW Dealership grafted onto the side of a Standard Honda Dealership.) Note that, like fast food, auto dealerships are franchises, so automakers are given much more control over their operations in exchange for territorial exclusivity. -GAWollman SignatureGarrett A. Wollman | The real tragedy of human existence is not that we are wollman@csail.mit.edu| nasty by nature, but that a cruel structural asymmetry Opinions not those | grants to rare events of meanness such power to shape of MIT or CSAIL. | our history. - S.J. Gould, Ten Thousand Acts of Kindness >robban1@bigpond.com had it ... > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >I don't believe it's possible to buy a new car in Europe other than >via a "tied" dealer. All other dealers sell second-hand cars. This is also true in the US. A new Chevrolet is available only from a Chevrolet dealer, but the Chevrolet dealer may also be a dealer for another make. Usually it's a separate lot and corporation, but not always. SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL In alt.usage.english, Robin Bignall wrote: >Heh! After this thread came up I checked in the local >supermarket car park and found that more than half of the cars >were some kind of silver/gray metallic. Silver has the advantage of not showing the dirt. SignatureMike Barnes Cheshire, England > In alt.usage.english, Robin Bignall wrote: >> Heh! After this thread came up I checked in the local >> supermarket car park and found that more than half of the cars >> were some kind of silver/gray metallic. > > Silver has the advantage of not showing the dirt. That's why I buy brown underwear. SignaturePeter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org For an e-mail address, see my web page. >> In alt.usage.english, Robin Bignall wrote: >>> Heh! After this thread came up I checked in the local >>> supermarket car park and found that more than half of the cars >>> were some kind of silver/gray metallic. >> >> Silver has the advantage of not showing the dirt. Not in America, where, as you may have heard, the streets are paved with gold. All that gold dust settling on the silver paint is quite unsightly. SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. > > In alt.usage.english, Robin Bignall wrote: > >> Heh! After this thread came up I checked in the local [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > > That's why I buy brown underwear. Everyone! Black socks, they never get dirty... SignatureSML > An anti-Bush bumper sticker has been considered Yabbut. Will this be sufficiently distinctive? For this purpose, how about a Ralph Nader sticker? Or, increasingly, it seems, a Barack Obama sticker? > Suggestions welcomed. This won't help you from afar, but a related prollim is trying to unlock a car that turns out to be indistinguishable from yours, but not yours. Friends of Deargrandmamma avoided embarrassment, burglar alarms and police attention by affixing a distinctive sticker next to the keyhole. For distance work, how about a bicycle rack, grandchillun for the catering to? FatherIgnatius@ANTISPAMananzi.co.za had it ... > > An anti-Bush bumper sticker has been considered > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > police attention by affixing a distinctive sticker next to > the keyhole. Keyhole? I don't even know if the keyhole in the driver's door of my car (no hole in the passenger door) has any function. In five years, I've never tried to use it. SignatureDavid > Father Ignatius had it ... >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > five years, > I've never tried to use it. Both our vehicles have keyholes (in the driver's door only), but my husband's car also has a panel of numbers on the outside of the driver's door. Entering a certain code on the panel will open the door. Thus he can lock the keys in the car rather than carry them around when he's out, and run the risk of losing them. Note: the keyhole is actually in the handle. We don't "insert and turn" the key to enter either vehicle. We just depress the little button on the key or keyholder: On the key itself: http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1983285/2/istockphoto_1983285 _car_key.jpg Or http://tinyurl.com/2uhkos On the "keychain" or "key fob" http://www.aacarfair.co.nz/images/pics/CarKeysClear.gif Or http://tinyurl.com/39mrbh SignatureMaria > Both our vehicles have keyholes (in the driver's door only), > but my husband's car also has a panel of numbers on the > outside of the driver's door. Entering a certain code on the > panel will open the door. Thus he can lock the keys in the > car rather than carry them around when he's out, and run the > risk of losing them. All would have been well, had you moved the comma from its present place to just before "rather". As you wrote it, it seems he would be running the risk of losing the keys by leaving them in the car. In English Usage, of course. SignatureSkitt >> Both our vehicles have keyholes (in the driver's door >> only), [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > car. In > English Usage, of course. Hmm. I'm not so sure. Perhaps it would have been better to leave the comma out altogether. Thoughts? Not so sure and not so sharp these days, Maria > FatherIgnatius@ANTISPAMananzi.co.za had it ... > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > five years, > I've never tried to use it. Ah, yes. This is The Sister's car-finding algorithm: she stands in front of a car-park of indeterminate size, and she gestures, conductor-like, with her clicker-thingy. And exactly one car responds. "David": > Keyhole? I don't even know if the keyhole in the driver's door of my > car (no hole in the passenger door) has any function. In five years, > I've never tried to use it. Speaking of car keys: "A breakdown patrol man who came to the rescue of a woman motorist has managed to get her car started using her dog." Explanation: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/5382878.stm SignatureMark Brader, Toronto | Keep out of eyes--if this occurs, rinse with water. msb@vex.net | (Directions seen on shampoo bottle) In alt.usage.english, Mark Brader wrote: >Speaking of car keys: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/southern_counties/5382878.stm For me, that's a description, not an explanation. How did sitting the dog on the front seat allow the swallowed immobiliser chip to work? SignatureV >In alt.usage.english, Mark Brader wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >For me, that's a description, not an explanation. How did sitting the >dog on the front seat allow the swallowed immobiliser chip to work? The immobiliser chip was presumably near enough to the immobiliser chip detector to be detected as the correct immobiliser chip. Presumably it use the same technology as an RFID chippy thingy. It responds to a radio signal from the immobiliser chip detector and is powered by that same death ray^W^W radio signal. There is a discussion on this incident at: http://blogs.herald.com/dave_barrys_blog/2006/09/mans_best_frien.html including: This is all fine, but what if she can't get the dog started? Posted by: Mike Antonucci | 02:56 PM on September 26, 2006 and: How does she pop up the trunk? aim the dog's butt at it? Posted by: Siouxie | 03:01 PM on September 26, 2006 SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) In alt.usage.english, Peter Duncanson wrote: >On Thu, 8 Nov 2007 18:25:30 +0000, Vinny Burgoo >>For me, that's a description, not an explanation. How did sitting the >>dog on the front seat allow the swallowed immobiliser chip to work? > >The immobiliser chip was presumably near enough to the >immobiliser chip detector to be detected as the correct >immobiliser chip. But sans battery the chip is just a lump of silicon, surely? >Presumably it use the same technology as an RFID chippy thingy. >It responds to a radio signal from the immobiliser chip detector >and is powered by that same death ray^W^W radio signal. Ah! No. That's voodoo, surely? SignatureV >In alt.usage.english, Peter Duncanson wrote: >>On Thu, 8 Nov 2007 18:25:30 +0000, Vinny Burgoo [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >Ah! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID >No. That's voodoo, surely? Of course. If you look deeply enough the whole universe appears to be based on voodoo. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>No. That's voodoo, surely? > > Of course. If you look deeply enough the whole universe > appears > to be based on voodoo. Don't look! Don't look! (We all have to get up in the morning.) >>In alt.usage.english, Peter Duncanson wrote: >>>On Thu, 8 Nov 2007 18:25:30 +0000, Vinny Burgoo [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Of course. If you look deeply enough the whole universe appears > to be based on voodoo. Hey, _something's_ gotta hold the turtles up! SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:50:03 +0000 in alt.usage.english, Peter Duncanson <mail@peterduncanson.net> wrote, >The immobiliser chip was presumably near enough to the >immobiliser chip detector to be detected as the correct >immobiliser chip. If that's what it takes to start the car, that would make it a mobiliser chip and not an immobiliser chip. David Harmon filted: >On Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:50:03 +0000 in alt.usage.english, Peter Duncanson ><mail@peterduncanson.net> wrote, [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >If that's what it takes to start the car, that would make >it a mobiliser chip and not an immobiliser chip. I am reminded, for some reason, of a computing feature known as the "SILI bit"...this colorful acronym stands for "Suppress Invalid Length Indicator"...always thought there were at least a couple of unnecessary negatives in the concept; you read a record, and if it doesn't have the length you expect, you turn on an indicator, *except* when the SILI bit is on....r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit >David Harmon filted: >> [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >negatives in the concept; you read a record, and if it doesn't have the length >you expect, you turn on an indicator, *except* when the SILI bit is on....r It's been years since I had occasion to think about the SILI bit. Thanks for the memory. Peter Duncanson: >> The immobiliser chip was presumably near enough to the >> immobiliser chip detector to be detected as the correct >> immobiliser chip. David Harmon: > If that's what it takes to start the car, that would make > it a mobiliser chip and not an immobiliser chip. Well, how about if we construe "mobilizer chip" in the same fashion as "suitcase key"? SignatureMark Brader, Toronto | "Those who cannot Google the past are destined to msb@vex.net | repost it." -- Huey Callison, after Santayana >> Speaking of car keys: >> [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > For me, that's a description, not an explanation. How did sitting the > dog on the front seat allow the swallowed immobiliser chip to work? ... it's just the nearness of ... SignatureSkitt it's not the pale moon >This won't help you from afar, but a related prollim is >trying to unlock a car that turns out to be >indistinguishable from yours, but not yours. Friends of >Deargrandmamma avoided embarrassment, burglar alarms and >police attention by affixing a distinctive sticker next to >the keyhole. This is a foaf story, but from an f who is usually reliable. At a major SF-Bay-area sports arena (I think Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, which is probably called something different now, but it's been a long time since I heard this story), there are (were) two parking areas, mirror images of each other. This particular foaf had unknowningly left the arena in the wrong direction, found a vehicle of the correct make, model, and color in the expected space, and drove off, only realizing when he or she got home that she or he had taken the someone else's car. (This story was told to illustrate the rather limited number of keyings used by car manufacturers of the time, so despite the reliability of the source it has a higher-than-usual probability of being an urban legend.) -GAWollman SignatureGarrett A. Wollman | The real tragedy of human existence is not that we are wollman@csail.mit.edu| nasty by nature, but that a cruel structural asymmetry Opinions not those | grants to rare events of meanness such power to shape of MIT or CSAIL. | our history. - S.J. Gould, Ten Thousand Acts of Kindness >>This won't help you from afar, but a related prollim is >>trying to unlock a car that turns out to be [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >reliability of the source it has a higher-than-usual probability of >being an urban legend.) My father bought a (then) brand new light blue 1955 Chevy. In the first week he had it, he came out to the parking lot near his office, got into the car, and drove off. He turned on the radio and was surprised to find it on a station he never listened to. Looking into the back seat, he saw that there was no raincoat there. He realized what had happened, and returned to the parking lot, finding his car. He left a note, and the owner of the other car contacted him and they had a good laugh about it. They became quite good friends and used to relate the story often. >He left a note, and the owner of the other car contacted him and they >had a good laugh about it. They became quite good friends and used to >relate the story often. My wife caused much unhappiness outside the village shops when she discovered that whereas Ford keys will unlock only the car they're supposed to unlock, they'll lock any unlocked Ford. She made this discovery when she tried to take a car she mistook for hers. SignatureJames Follett > My father bought a (then) brand new light blue 1955 Chevy. In the > first week he had it, he came out to the parking lot near his office, [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > had a good laugh about it. They became quite good friends and used to > relate the story often. General Motors products are notorious for not being very selective in their keyiing schemes. There was a recent TV news item on that. Anyway, here's something I wrote in AUE back in 2003: ================ That reminds me -- In the late sixties, when I worked for Boeing in Seattle, parking at their plant on Marginal Way was an absolute disaster. After all the marked slots were filled, people parked their cars in the aisles, right behind those that were parked properly. The concession that was made to the normally parked cars was that those parked in the aisles would not be locked, so that they could be entered and pushed out of the way, when required. Once, I came out to get my car and, of course, there was a car behind mine, blocking my way. I went to enter it, but found that it was locked! There was also a beautiful pair of gloves placed very neatly on the driver's seat. Well, in those days I was very resourceful, and picking locks was a sort of a hobby of mine. In no time at all I had the car unlocked, started, driven about four aisles away, and parked in the corresponding position in that isle. I placed the gloves in exactly the same position, locked the car, and then got my car and left. I still wonder what the owner of that vehicle thought, finding his car about four aisles from where he had left it, but still locked and seemingly undisturbed. ================= SignatureSkitt Living in The Heart of the Bay http://www.ci.hayward.ca.us/ Skitt filted: >In the late sixties, when I worked for Boeing in Seattle, parking at their >plant on Marginal Way was an absolute disaster. After all the marked slots [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] >thought, finding his car about four aisles from where he had left it, but >still locked and seemingly undisturbed. Late sixties?...Seattle?... Probably just chalked it up to alien abduction....r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit > In the late sixties, when I worked for Boeing in Seattle, > parking at their [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > had left it, but > still locked and seemingly undisturbed. Sorry, that story sucks; TPP want a payoff. Or at leats a moral. Can you work in a blonde tied to the railways trax, or summat? Father Ignatius filted: >> Once, I came out to get my car and, of course, there was a >> car behind mine, [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >moral. Can you work in >a blonde tied to the railways trax, or summat? Or at the very least, an assertion that "in that moment, the novice was enlightened"?...r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit > >This won't help you from afar, but a related prollim is > >trying to unlock a car that turns out to be [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > reliability of the source it has a higher-than-usual probability of > being an urban legend.) It isn't. I once did open another car this way, and realized only inside that the contents were wrong. Relocked, and continued the search. Dealers used to have a complete set of keys, so they could open them all, with some patience. They fitted on a string you could hang around your neck. It has also been made into a film noir scene, with gangster Alain Delon stealing a DS with such a bunch of keys, trying while the suspense mounts until finally one fits. Jan > We just purchased a new car; a silver four-door sedan. My > wife has [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Suggestions welcomed. Well, then, what about a pro-Bush sticker? (Just kidding.) SignatureMaria Resident of southeast Michigan, near Detroit; native of east Tennessee. > >> cybercypher filted: > >>> [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > considered. An anti-Bush bumper sticker has been considered, but none > have been found that adequately express our displeasure. Buy it a sat phone for christmas, so you can dial it up, and tell it to flash its lights, Jan > We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the > car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. That's what cell phone cameras are for -- taking a picture of the surrounding area before walking away. SignatureSML >> We're trying to figure out how to add something >> distinctive to the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > of the > surrounding area before walking away. But what if the surrounding cars are all gone by the time you get back to the parking lot? SignatureMaria > >> We're trying to figure out how to add something > >> distinctive to the [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > But what if the surrounding cars are all gone by the time > you get back to the parking lot? (In case you and Tony are serious...) I take a picture of the sign on the wall showing the level in the garage, or the sign on the lamppost, or on the parking spot itself. Yes, I really do this. Not every time I park -- our driveway isn't all that big -- but in airports and the like. SignatureSML >>>> We're trying to figure out how to add something >>>> distinctive to the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > (In case you and Tony are serious...) I can't speak for Tony, but I was sort of serious (that is, if "smart alecky" is a value of "serious"). > ...I take a picture of the sign on > the wall showing the level in the garage, or the sign on [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > and the > like. Oh. Well, I just consciously make a mental note of the location numbers (C-1, Level 6 west, etc.). Or, if I have pen and paper handy, I write down the location. At home, I have often forgotten where I parked my truck, and have to look. SignatureMaria >>> We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the >>> car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > But what if the surrounding cars are all gone by the time you get back > to the parking lot? Anyway, a quick look at the surrounding area is as good as a photo, but who remembers to do it? After some unhappy experiences, I have at least learnt to check and remember the floor number when I use a multi-storey carpark. SignatureRob Bannister >> We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the >> car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. > >That's what cell phone cameras are for -- taking a picture of the >surrounding area before walking away. How do I make sure the surrounding cars don't move while I'm away? SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL >>> We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the >>> car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > How do I make sure the surrounding cars don't move while I'm away? Boot (BrE: clamp) them. SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. >> We're trying to figure out how to add something >> distinctive to the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > of the > surrounding area before walking away. It grieves me to contradict you, but what cell-phone (note attrib. hyphen) cameras are for is to distract subscribers from how sucky the reception is. >>We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the >>car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. > > That's what cell phone cameras are for -- taking a picture of the > surrounding area before walking away. The problem with that is that other cars may move. I sometimes manage to remember that the car next to mine has some distinctive feature but there is no guarantee that it will stay there. SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) >The problem with that is that other cars may move. I sometimes manage >to remember that the car next to mine has some distinctive feature but >there is no guarantee that it will stay there. Cars certainly move of their own accord in airport long terms. I can park my big, butch R-R Phantom next to an Allegro only to discover on my return a week or so later that it's sidled up beside a sexy little Astra. SignatureJames Follett. Novelist. (G1LXP) http://www.jamesfollett.dswilliams.co.uk >>>We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the >>>car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >remember that the car next to mine has some distinctive feature but >there is no guarantee that it will stay there. A technique that I find helpful, but not infallible, is to look back at the car a few times as I'm walking away from it and then to give it a longer look when I arrive at the entrance/exit to the carpark. In other words, I fix in my mind the image of what I'll see when I return. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) LFS filted: >The problem with that is that other cars may move. I sometimes manage to >remember that the car next to mine has some distinctive feature but >there is no guarantee that it will stay there. You could try letting the air out of its tires....r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit >>>We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the >>>car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >remember that the car next to mine has some distinctive feature but >there is no guarantee that it will stay there. Nono! You take pictures of fixed landmarks. A building in the background with a tree between you and the building. A second picture at a different angle would pinpoint it further, if need be. It's an old trick when trying to return to a good fishing spot, in the absence of a GPS. >>>>We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the >>>>car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > It's an old trick when trying to return to a good fishing spot, in the > absence of a GPS. Thank you. All these suggestions are very practical and would be a great help if I had just a few more minutes to exercise due consideration but Sod's Law makes it inevitable that the bus I need to catch pulls into the P&R while I am searching for a parking space... SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) >>>>>We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the >>>>>car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > Sod's Law makes it inevitable that the bus I need to catch pulls into >the P&R while I am searching for a parking space... Having followed the thread this far, the only solution seems to be to have your car repainted such a yucky colour that others will refuse to park anywhere near it. SignatureRobin Herts, England > Having followed the thread this far, the only solution seems to > be to have your car repainted such a yucky colour that others > will refuse to park anywhere near it. I have already demonstrated that almost fluorescent orange didn't work for me. SignatureRob Bannister >On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:05:39 +0000, LFS wrote: >>>>> [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >be to have your car repainted such a yucky colour that others >will refuse to park anywhere near it. That doesn't work in ad-hoc country car parks rustled up out of a large field, where everything soon becomes mud-coloured and all landmarks are the same. The solution at point-to-points (points-to-points?) is a flag or flag substitute tied to the aerial. Bringing your own flagpole is felt by some to be a trifle ostentatious. SignaturePaul > >On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:05:39 +0000, LFS wrote: >>>>>> [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] >or flag substitute tied to the aerial. Bringing your own flagpole is >felt by some to be a trifle ostentatious. I was about to say that The Queen has the problem solved -- she flies a mini Royal Standard on a mini flagpole attached to the car. Unfortunately that won't work because the flag is flown only when she is in the car. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >> >On Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:05:39 +0000, LFS wrote: >>>>>>> [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] >car. Unfortunately that won't work because the flag is flown >only when she is in the car. It would too work. All she has to do is get in each car and then check to see if the flag on it has been hoisted. -JoAnne -- >> I was about to say that The Queen has the problem solved -- she >> flies a mini Royal Standard on a mini flagpole attached to the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > It would too work. All she has to do is get in each car and then > check to see if the flag on it has been hoisted. *applause* SignatureLinz Wet Yorks via Cambridge, York, London and Watford My accent may vary >>> I was about to say that The Queen has the problem solved -- she >>> flies a mini Royal Standard on a mini flagpole attached to the [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > *applause* Either[1] JoAnne or 'Er Madge must be a mathematician to think like that. [1] To be precise, read "At least one of..." SignatureRoland Hutchinson Will play viola da gamba for food. NB mail to my.spamtrap [at] verizon.net is heavily filtered to remove spam. If your message looks like spam I may not see it. >>>>>>>>We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the >>>>>>>>car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > only when she is in the car. > I think I prefer Barbara's solution of the antenna ball - cheap and cheerful. Unfortunately they don't seem to ship to the UK so if any of my Leftpondian pals want to surprise me with a gift, the saguaro is definitely my favourite. SignatureLaura (emulate St. George for email) > >> cybercypher filted: > >>> [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Suggestions welcomed. Another one: (only outdoors) a friend of mine uses a Garmin Etrex to set a waypoint while getting out, and uses it to get back to his car. It isn't that indistinctive that getting to about 5 metres of it won't do? Jan >> We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the >> car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. A [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >It isn't that indistinctive >that getting to about 5 metres of it won't do? I'm a bit too cheap to buy a Garmin, but I might consider a ball of twine. SignatureTony Cooper Orlando, FL > >> We're trying to figure out how to add something distinctive to the > >> car's rear appearance to aid in finding it the mall parking lot. A [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I'm a bit too cheap to buy a Garmin, but I might consider a ball of > twine. The Minotaur may get you, before you get back, Jan >> cybercypher filted: [...] >>> I like that phrase: "nodding dog". It's in the same league >>> as "white [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > dog; the people want that grass-skirted lady who did the > hula-hula... I was tickled to see from a TV prog about the USS Ronald Reagan that up on the bridge the world's most mind-blasting aircraft carrier had not only a very handsome and absolutely traditional wooden ship's wheel, but, in the "windscreen", a dangling pair of black fuzzy dice. SignatureMike. -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com d.phillipsonSPAMBLOCK@ncf.ca had it ... > > > > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that > > > > goes with a car. What is it? . . . [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > people used to display in the back windows of their > cars? But you seldom see them nowadays. I saw a real nodding dog on the rear parcel shelf of a car at the weekend. Made from, er, dog. SignatureDavid > I saw a real nodding dog on the rear parcel shelf of a car > at the > weekend. Made from, er, dog. Splendid! A cast-iron excuse to rail at the attendant yumans for cruelty. That's what I allus get, anywaze. >> > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that >> > goes with a car. What is it? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Actually, I'm looking for a word that is quite close in meaning to > "frill". Well all of these fall into that category, and could be used to describe an unnecessary accessory on a car: gadget, gimcrack, geegaw (gewgaw), furbelow, foofuraw, frou-frou. [snip] > Actually, I'm looking for a word that is quite close in meaning to > "frill". "Excrescence?" -- Aloha ~~~ Ozzie Maland ~~~ San Diego >[snip] > >> Actually, I'm looking for a word that is quite close in meaning to >> "frill". > >"Excrescence?" Don't tell Mike3 about it. He'll insist on a sparkly one. In alt.usage.english, Ray wrote: >> > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that >> > goes with a car. What is it? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Actually, I'm looking for a word that is quite close in meaning to >"frill". Florid sledgehammer. SignatureV Vinny Burgoo filted: >In alt.usage.english, Ray wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >Florid sledgehammer. Another two-percenter....r Signature"He come in the night when one sleep on a bed. With a hand he have the basket and foods." - David Sedaris explains the Easter rabbit In alt.usage.english, R H Draney wrote: >Vinny Burgoo filted: >>Florid sledgehammer. > >Another two-percenter....r Natch. (Actually, I did pick red, which probably makes me a square-root-of-98-per-center, or something.) SignatureV >> > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that >> > goes with a car. What is it? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Actually, I'm looking for a word that is quite close in meaning to >"frill". If you order them from the dealer at the time you buy your car, these things are called "options." If you buy them later from another company, they are called "aftermarket" something-or-other. >Hi, > >There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that goes >with a car. What is it? > >I'd appreciate your help. Gizmo? SignatureSteve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk On 07 Nov 2007, Ray wrote > fHi, > > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory > that goes with a car. What is it? > > I'd appreciate your help. A "frippery"? SignatureCheers, Harvey CanEng and BrEng, indiscriminately mixed >> fHi, >> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > A "frippery"? Has anyone mentioned "extras" yet? That's what I call, um, extras. SignatureMaria On 07 Nov 2007, Maria wrote >>> fHi, >>> [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Has anyone mentioned "extras" yet? That's what I call, um, > extras. That works, but it depends at least a little bit on the definition of an "unnecessary" accessory. I'd call "extras" things like a stereo or a powered sun-roof -- which, whilst they're "unnecessary", add to the usefulness as well as to one's enjoyment of the car. Stuff like go-faster stripes, special hubcaps, or a metallic paint job -- which may add to one's enjoyment, but which are less obviously "useful" -- are a different kind of "extra", aren't they?. SignatureCheers, Harvey CanEng and BrEng, indiscriminately mixed >On 07 Nov 2007, Maria wrote > [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >job -- which may add to one's enjoyment, but which are less obviously >"useful" -- are a different kind of "extra", aren't they?. Them's customisation, innit? SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Ray This reminds me of a question I had in a quiz in 2nd grade, after the class had watched a presentation about motor vehicles?* One question in the quiz was "What is the most important part of a car?" I answered "the driver". I was marked, perhaps justifiably, incorrect. * I have no recollection of this episode, but it has been recounted to me many times by my grandmother. I can't remember of what form the presentation took, or anything about the quiz afterwards. I'm told I was complaining about the injustice of it all when I was at her place after school....... SignatureStupot http://insignity.blogspot.com Stupot wrote, in part: >> Hi, >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> >> I'd appreciate your help. > This reminds me of a question I had in a quiz in 2nd > grade, after the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > I answered "the driver". I was marked, perhaps > justifiably, incorrect. Ah, yes -- incorrect. The driver is merely "the nut behind the wheel." SignatureMaria > Hi, > There seems to be a word that means an unnecessary accessory that goes > with a car. What is it? option > I'd appreciate your help. SignatureLars Eighner <http://larseighner.com/> <http://myspace.com/larseighner> Countdown: 438 days to go. What do you do when you're debranded? |
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