California front plate blues

You're welcome to think anything you want, Jake. It still looks poopy to my eye, but, you know what they say, poopiness is in the eye of the beholder. Ironically perhaps, I've left the dumb front plate on the *TrailBlazer* *SUV* I sometimes enjoy driving, often with a *hitch-mounted bicycle carrier* (a Thule 996 for the curious). By the way, the motor in that *SUV* is a DOHC 4200cc all-alloy powerplant that smokes out 275HP with a flat torque band from 1600 to

Did the dumbass cretin thief take the bracket, or just the plate?

Wow, were those tickets from poser cops or parking maids?

Have a nice day.

Dana

Yet another reason not to live in Washington. I've heard three stories about Washington traffic cops over the last 20 years, and they all indicate that Washington is a poopy state to drive in. I love visiting WA but always rent a car when there, and $105 for no front plate is just plain chicken-shit. Of course, our esteemed CA governor thinks $700/year to simply register a vehicle isn't well-beyond ridiculous, so what room do I have to speak... oh yeah, we're still light-years ahead of Washington wine. I knew there must be a reason to stay in CA.

Have a nice day,

Dana P.S. C'mon Bruce, you know there's a smiley in here somewhere.

I think the common wisdom is that by flipping the brackets upside down, the plate will block the air inlet and make life less happy for the cooling system. I seem to recall that adding driving lights in the little guy's mouth would also be ill advised. I know that the '90B has always lived on the edge when the mercury got into the mid 90's and traffic here in Silicon Valley dragged along.

Ken

I've never had a problem with overheating, even when I was at Thunderhill last year spending two days at redline with 90 degree heat. I think that "common wisdom" is an "old wive's tale", although I'm not sure if an old wife would drive a Miata. :-)

Yes, it is. I am driving in SoCal with the plate bracket upside down without any problems, even in 110+ degrees heat here in summer.

-Joe

I did not have trouble at Thunderhill either. But I did have troubles elsewhere, including in the So Cal deserts.

Problem spots are extended mountain driving or extended traffic-jams creeping along.

At Thunderhill, you are not long enough on the track, and maximum power is applied only in short bursts anyway, interspersed with none, while your speed keeps a lot of airflow going. Also, you are not alone on the track; the cars in front of you disperse the asphalt-heated air.

The problems with the Miata cooling system are well established. The design problem and its solution are documented at solomiata.com.

Just because you have not experienced the problem yourself does not mean it does not exist.

I doubt that tens of millions of SUV drivers would feel like continuing to pay for road maintenance if they are banned from using them.

Leon

I'm glad to hear it's still a free country.

There's nothing ironic about that statement, Alanis.

Yeah, unfortunately I've driven my share of Trailblazers at work when I've needed 4WD to get someplace my Sable wouldn't make it. Much like the reviews on the vehicle, I find no fault with the engine, but the build quality and the cheap interior materials (especially the dash) would make me rather embarrassed to own one when SUVs like the Honda Pilot exist.

Also unfortunately, while your motor puts out 275 HP, it's propelling a vehicle that weighs dangerously close to 2.5 tons with a driver, so it means little.

They were from cops looking for something to charge me with. I came around a corner on a hilly highway in the Miata once at 80+ mph and saw a cop sitting on the side of the road. Luckily, there was a car ahead of me and my radar detector only beeped a couple of times, so I knew he wasn't able to get me for speed. I slowed down, he pulled me over, and I was ticketed for not having a front plate. It's happened several times and I just decided it wasn't worth it to run without a plate anymore.

Yeah, yeah, you too.

Pilot wasn't big enough; we got the EXT. It's the family truckster, afterall. Also, didn't get the 4WD model since we'd never use that feature. The interior is little on the spare side but it's being beaten up by a serious of teenagers and their friends and gear. It's practical.

Sure, but think about what *less* HP would feel like. Yikes. It would be anemic. Amusingly, the weight/power ratio of the Trailblazer is very close to that of the stock '02 SE I have.

Ah. With the bracket still there, it might have been less noticeable.

Cheers, Dana

No :-) on this one ! $105 is the minimum fine for the the "State" now. ( unless you have CA. plates, then I think it is $210 ! ) :-)

Bruce RED '91

No, but I'm entitled to believe that it is not as widespread or as automatic as we've been led to believe (i.e. flip the plate = overheating problems).

There's nothing in that statement about SUVs, but seeing as how you mentioned it, they'd be forced to drive something else.

A buddy just got back from three weeks in Europe. His comment was that the roads, signage and traffic laws all assume the driver knows what they are doing. He also commented that with gas at $4.00 / gallon they saw very few gas-guzzling SUVs. He saw a lot of Mercedes A-series (not available in the US) pulling travel trailers. Maybe we should start making people take 18 months of driver training and charge more for gas.

I agree with that. Living in Florida, I never had problems, and still have no problems, even with two Catz XLO's in the mouth. But there are situations where my car overheated that are not way out of normal.

Leon

Edmunds says the Pilot carries eight, while the EXT carries only seven, and the Pilot has more room six of the eight "comfort" categories, losing only in front seat leg room and rear seat hip room, though the EXT has more room with the seats folded down.

So why didn't you buy a minivan? While the Pilot has 90 cubic feet of cargo capacity and the EXT has 107, a Chrysler minivan trounces them both by offering *168* cubic feet of cargo room. It also gets better mileage, weighs

There's only one answer that will make me respect you in the morning.

Tell that to someone that owns an Acura MDX and they'd laugh in your face.

Probably, but similiar weight/power ratios mean little when the vehicle weighs 5000 lbs.

At least they reattached the wingnuts I purchased at Lowe's a few weeks before. I thought that was real classy of them.

Edmunds.com also says a Mustang carries 4. Hint: Mustangs have four seat belts, they don't carry four.

But, it's wonderful to think you're figuring my family's needs reading Edmunds.com. You're much more talented than I am.

Well, I'd be happy to give you a ride to the Honda or Chrysler dealer if you need one. My wife preferred the Trailblazer, and I'm not embarrassed to own one. Afterall, I mostly drive a 2002 MX-5 SE. Perhaps you'll tell me I married the wrong woman because she chose a Trailblazer?

I'm not sure what answer you think I should give and I'm now too consumed in shame and despair to think clearly.

How *will* I show my face outside the garage? The shame, the shame.

Perhaps I'll just have to console my shattered ego with the task of installing a Jackson Racing supercharger kit in the SE next weekend.

Dana

My preference would be to take every SUV that is driven primarily on the road to a salvage yard for proper crushing, especially if it has 4WD.

Pat '96M

Don't have any kids, Pat?

On realistic note, come make me an offer for my SUV, I'd be happy to sell it to you for the right price, and you're welcome to crush it once it's yours.

Heck, you might even subsidize the cost of the Jackson Racing 990-280 I'm installing next week. GM would be delighted to sell me another SUV, too.

;-)

Dana

Yep, just one and she loves riding in the miata, including several long trips. I saw no need to help overpopulate the earth (even more) and then drive my numerous offspring around in a trendy, giant, gas-guzzling 4WD tin can. ;-) A friend of mine has three kids, two teens and a toddler and they get around with no problems in a FWD sedan. How do they ever manage?

Pat '96M

sorry...I own a 1985 Toyota 4-wheel drive truck. It consistently gets 24+ mpg in town...always has. I live at the top of a hill that is a long 2 1/2 mile when snow is on it. It has never failed to get me to the top or back down again. 4-wheel drive has its place. I will always try to own one if at all possible. My MX5 is always glad to let it do the dirty work when the weather is bad.

Dana,

"Kids"? Oh yah, now I remember. Those are the people I E-mail stuff to!

They are the ones I sold my "1962 Corvette" for and bought a "waggon" I did have the Vette for 11 years and it was fun too!

The things we do for our kids. ...... then they moved away and are flying JETS ! ....and I sold my "classic '62 Corvette" for them ?

"KIDS", we don't got no S......G kids.

Bruce RED '91

Is the 2.5 mile road shorter in the summer?

SUVs might be trendy, but it's trendier to be an SUV-hater. Most SUV haters are nice people even if they're slaves to fashion Don't let 'em upset you.

Just enjoy driving your Miata!

Dana