Recent content by thecritic

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    Who makes the best synthetic oil?

    Can you please point me to the SAE paper containing this information, so that I purchase the SAE paper? Thanks.
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    About to tint my car - what tint percentage?

    I called five shops in the Bay Area and in Orange County, and they all quoted me between $380-$440 for FormulaOne tint. It's expensive, but unfortunately it is also the going rate for this part of the country. I had my friend's car done today at Rocky Mountain with Llumar AIR 80% in the front...
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    I almost forgot how much fun an MKV 2.0T Engine is...

    To the OP, if you have the FSI version watch out for the dreaded cam follower wear that will likely destroy your camshaft. You should get in the habit of checking the cam follower at least every other oil change and replacing it proactively. Also be sure to educate yourself on the issue of...
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    AWD car, with a hatch for around 10k?

    Older Matrix/Vibe with AWD. They are painfully slow and not terribly fuel efficient, but are fairly reliable.
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    Sentra vs. Mazda 3

    My mom owns a 2010 Altima with the V6 and the CVT. I would not even THINK about owning a four-cylinder with the CVT. A four cylinder simply does not have enough power to produce a "livable" combination with a CVT. The engine will sound like a chainsaw all the time and the CVT will have that...
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    UPDATE: The Fit is a GO - Type of car for a 24 year old business owner?

    +1 Definitely go with the Mazda 3 over the Fit. The Fit is terribly underpowered and feels like a tin can. After 32k, my friend's '09 Fit hardly feels new and solid anymore. Besides, with my heavier foot I was getting 19 mpg while driving it around town-- you just have to constantly floor...
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    Lexus IS250 engine problems

    Is it possible? Definitely. http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4442894 Is it a problem with the Toyota DI engines? Not that I'm aware of. I've heard that Toyota uses both port and DI, that way the intake valves stay clean as opposed to the DI-only setup on the VW 2.0T.
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    Car shopping, what else should I look at?

    Just picked up a 2010 Altima 3.5SR V6 a few weeks ago and yes, Nissan retuned the VQ35De for 87, but only for the Altima.
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    Got a new ride...

    Congrats on the new car, but I hope you are aware of the brake system issues with these cars. There have been many brake noise complaints with the factory pads, but have been easily remedied by switching to a premium aftermarket ceramic pads. Also, due to the heavy rear brake bias, the rear...
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    Looking for a new car...

    I don't care for the Malibu's driving position, but then again it's a YMMV when it comes to driving positions. My biggest gripe about the Malibu is the transmission software that is clearly calibrated for maximum fuel economy. It shifts to a higher at the earliest possible time and stays...
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    Suggestions for a new car

    It seems like you're looking at all kinds of different cars. From what it sounds like, you just want something different and with a bit better fuel economy. The new 2010 Prius is a great car and contrary to what some have mentioned, its benefits do not disappear on the highway. The engine is...
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    Tire PSI question

    It depends on a number of things-- the weight of the vehicle, load carry capacity of the tires, ride comfort, having a margin of error, etc.
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    do i need new tires?

    Yup, and a new set of tires is probably less than your insurance deductible.
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    do i need new tires?

    Waiting until 2/32 to replace your tires is like waiting until you are on fumes before filling up. Replacing your tires at 4/32" is like filling up when your low fuel light comes on. Therefore, I would replace the two rear tires immediately. Since you are only replacing two tires, be sure to...
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    Memory Upgrade for Dell Inspiron 1520

    Thanks guys, I just ordered the Kingston HyperX from NewEgg. I'll call Crucial on Monday to cancel my order. Thanks again for all of the great advice!