Date:         Sat, 12 Feb 2000 12:17:59 -0500
Reply-To:     Lawrence Johnson <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Lawrence Johnson <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject:      Re: OIL FILTERS? & lube guys
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Per Lindgren wrote:

> And under the hood of many new cars, you only see a huge black plastic
> cover and the dipstick and window washer bottle cap colored yellow. These
> are the things they let you do, leave the rest to a mechanic! <snip>

Ultimately, there will be no engine hood. There will be "no user components
inside - danger of electrical shock". There will be no dip stick,  no place
to add oil or coolant or brake fluid. First service interval: 100,000 miles,
cost $4,367.45 (i.e. exchange motor).

But ultimately, ultimately there will be no motor, no transmission, no
clutch, no differential, no starter motor, no gear shift, no clutch pedal.
Instead there will be a "Ballardesque" power plant with direct drive
electrical motors ar each wheel giving true "All Wheel Drive", true "Traction
Control", shiftless drive, high  torque at low rpm, uniform acceleration,
plus energy recovery on "braking".

In the meantime, we're off the the Auto Show in Toronto, Feb. 18-27 at the
Convention Centre to see the pretty girls while there still are engine hoods
for them to lean on.
-L&A