Customers Knock GM on Noisy Engines

Detroit Free Press ^ | November 14, 2003 | Jocelyn Parker

[carpio]

For Ghandi's sake.

As long as this Ghandi person is not rattling my windows.

[ShadowDancer]

We certainly agree on that. Let me ask you this then. What do you feel would be an acceptable time of the morning for your neighbor to cut his or her grass? Most cities have ordinances on this but I would like your own opinion on this.

[billbears]

Let me ask you about that PT Cruiser. When they first came out, the wife didn't like them a bit. But I've been thinking lately if they dropped the right engine in there and a few cosmetic changes, it could be a good looking car. I've just always steered away from them because it seems most of them come with the V-6. Kind of like that other car Dodge came out with, the roadster. It was a good start but only having the 4 cylinder of 6 cylinder option just seemed a bad idea

[WKB]

ping

[ShadowDancer]

But I've been thinking lately if they dropped the right engine in there and a few cosmetic changes, it could be a good looking car.

It looks like a hearse for midgets.

[billbears]

LOL!! But it's still a throwback to the cars of the 30s and 40s. You drop a Hemi, and I'm talking about a true 426 Hemi not like that 360 'Hemi' I've got in my truck, and that thing could take a lot of cars on the road. Would want to lower it a bit, not much or to the ground mind you, darker color, but it reminds me of the older cars.

The problem with it is image. I think Dodge put that out and was looking for a more car enthusiast group than it ended up with. The problem is a lot of them I see out on the road are driven by soccer moms wanting to be hip

[carpio]

We certainly agree on that. Let me ask you this then. What do you feel would be an acceptable time of the morning for your neighbor to cut his or her grass? Most cities have ordinances on this but I would like your own opinion on this.

I guess my home is impervious to lawn mower sounds. I have no memory of ever actually hearing a lawn mower running while inside. Also a lawn mower is a natural sound to hear in a residenial area. It doesn't grate on your nerves like the Noise for Noise's sake of the Hot Rods. I don't have any Beef with lawn mowers. That said when I mow my lawn I usually try to do it between 12-4 in the afternoon. That seems pretty civilized to me.

I am also about 300 yards from a major north south highway and while I can hear traffic noise while outside if I listen for it. But I have never heard that while inside my home either.

I truly don't think I have adequately described the noise created by these vehicles of my neighbor's. It is a stunning low frquency RUMBLING sound that will make you sit straight up in bed from a dead sleep. Absolutely unbelievable.

It seems to penetrate anything and is impossible to ignore. At times it has drown out the sound of our television in our Bedroom. My wife says it actually changes the rythmm of her heart when they rev the engines.

What pleasure anyone could take in creating such a racket is beyond me. I was in an artillery battery in Vietnam. Eight inch and 175 Howitzers. Big guns with big noise! Those guns were like a lulaby compared to the noise of these Hot Rods.

I am a registered Libertarian. I do not like to see more laws on the books. But protecting citizens from force and fraud is a legitimate function of government. And when these auto enthusiasts intrude thier noise into the privacy of other peoples homes it is force by definition. Is it not?

[carpio]

billbears!! It just wouldn't be a real auto enthusiast thread without you here. Why so quiet???

[ShadowDancer]

The problem is a lot of them I see out on the road are driven by soccer moms wanting to be hip

Seriously, if a Cruiser was meant to be hip, I will forever be out of the loop. That is the goofiest looking car I have ever seen. I have seen uglier, but goofier? No way. But, I'm not a soccer mom so what the hell do I know?

[ShadowDancer]

I am a registered Libertarian.

I'm not registered but I definitely lean more libertarian than anything else.

I do not like to see more laws on the books.

Neither do I.

But protecting citizens from force and fraud is a legitimate function of government.

Where is force and fraud being committed here? I agree with you that I would like to strangle that idiot if he were my neighbor but force and fraud? What does your city (county, township) ordinance say about it?

[billbears]

Okay I'll give you goofier ;)

[carpio]

Where is force and fraud being committed here?

When someone creates a noise that intrudes into my home and wakes me from a sound sleep while I am in repose in my own bed force has been committed.

What does your city (county, township) ordinance say about it?

We are within the corporate limits of a city. Both Codes Enforcement and the Police have busted this cookie before. He has also been the target of criminal complaints by myself and other neighbors. He pays the fines, threatens the witnesses and resumes Vroom Vrooming!!

The city is not very aggressive and the fines are small. At most a few hundred dollars. Actually I think the record was $500 for a zoning ordinance violation for running a business (building the Hot Rods) in a residentially zoned area.

[ShadowDancer]

When someone creates a noise that intrudes into my home and wakes me from a sound sleep while I am in repose in my own bed force has been committed.

I live about 50 yards from a dumpster. Every Friday morning Waste Management comes and empties it at five in the morning. It wakes me even in the winter with my house closed up. This is force being committed?

Don't misunderstand, you have a legitimate gripe with your neighbor. But, labeling it under force is a little over the top. And, speaking of sound sleep, I'm off to that myself. I hope you get that tonight, too. And yes, I really do mean that.

[billbears]

Now that is sort of good looking...

[Cloud William]

Ask my neighbors about my modified 03 Cobra with its Borla cat-backs.

I'll bet. :-) My '65 Mustang restomod / GT-350 clone with its 289 HiPo (solid lifters, Flowmaster Delta Flows, etc.) is also very popular with the neighbors. Really!

[Pete-R-Bilt]

Good Grief!! What sort of a person takes pleasure and pride in frightening small children and dogs? Do you have any idea how that makes you look to people? Surely not or you wouldn't post such a thing.

obviously he's only got a teeny weeny s.u.veeny, now my Chev. 1 ton dually, with the Tonawanda 454 cid 400 hp 525 ft.lbs. of torque w/flowmaster 40s thru a 3 in exhaust scares kids, dogs and most bavarian, swedish, and finnish vehicle owners who are otherwise oblivious to EVERYTHING! o and it runs on gas and yugo's "burp!"

in otherwords, i'm doing a public service just as GR sounds like he is, keeping people and animals around him sharp...

[B4Ranch]

"I am stumped as to why anyone would want a car that goes 150 MPH??"

On public roads we have speed limits!

[glock rocks]

hehehe

[Pete-R-Bilt]

Are you kidding?

try your barbara streisand on someone who doesn't know what goes on in your state!!!

http://www.silverstateclassic.com/

[B4Ranch]

I know this owner operator who runs between Salt Lake and the Mexifornia who doesn't think the speed limit applies to him. 135 mph isn't even a reasonable limit for that Petercar driver.

Is 80,000 lbs traveling at 135 mph scary, yeah but the truly scary thing is he drives his kid to school in a souped up Corvette. When I think of the parental example he is setting for that poor child I know she will drive just like he does!