Re: Non-Audi Five Cylinder Engines, Honda!

[Brendan <bman@swva.net>]

>Gotta give honda a little credit with designing the ultimate nightmare, the
>CVT (continually varying transmittion.)  Has anyone thought about what it
>would cost to replace?  How about servicing?  What if it does break, I assume
>the car goes no where fast.  Yup, nothing like a little innovation to break
>that wallet open.

I seem to remember Subaru having a car with a rather unusual transmission
as well.  Something along the lines of two cone-shaped gears facing
opposite directions driven by a belt.  Imagine a ten-speed bike's gearing.
The rear sprocket is a series of gears in a conical arrangement, with two
gears up front similarly arranged.  Smooth them out and sub a belt for the
chain and.. well, you get the idea.  Would be interesting to drive, I'd
imagine.  Theoretically you could keep the car at peak torque/hp at all
times if you became adept enough at manipulating the transmission.

I remember a certain innovation called the electric car,
>some moron thought that one up.  What the hell is the point of having a car
>if it can only go 100 miles??  Ahhh!  
>Next up, disposible cars.  I'm sure Honda will "invent" that one from some
>one else's idea.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with you here.  Electronic cars (in general;
there have been some exceptionally designed electric cars with impressive
acceleration figures) may not be what most of us are "used" to or want
right now, but the idea is hardly moronic.  Just as fossil fuel driven cars
were rather crude and limited in their abilities in the early days, so it
was with electric cars.  As technology improves, as with gas powered
vehicles, electric powered vehicles will become more and more appealing.
No more going to gas stations, no more fowl emissions choking major cities
literally to death, etc...  Electric cars may not completely replace gas
cars in our lifetime, but they already have a growing presence, and I think
anyone who considers them to be a moronic idea...  well, I don't want this
to get personal, so let's just say I disagree ;)