OT: I think it’s time to let go of my audi…sniff….

[spdrun]

Wet day — condensation? Muffler cooled in 2 minutes allowing water to condense which got blown out. Assuming the muffler was ever warm, since it might have been kept cool by spray or water from the roadways.

Did the smoke smell like oilsmoke?

[poorgradstudent]

16 years is an awfully good run!

[spdrun]

Pffffffft – I’ve owned quite a few cars and motos that were > 20 years old.

[Hobie]

Failing turbo seal. Leaking internally.

If it was coolant you would notice loss in radiator level. If it was steam, you would see water around the pipe. Plus, condinsation is short lived as exhaust heats up fast and this video is after a freeway run. So no steam.

Compression test would be next. Can you have someone else hit the gas and you sniff the puff? May be able to smell coolant vs. oil.

And I would hope a different smog guy might have forgetton his glasses would be good.

[livinincali]

If you do decide to dump it you can get $1000 for it from the CA cash for clunkers program.

http://www.cashforclunkers.org/california-cash-for-clunkers-program/

[spdrun]

Sell it to a non-smog state or part it out — don’t support pigulus programs from Suckramento that encourage more sheepsumerism. (Plus you can get more $ for the car that way.)

Scrapping a car over a $10 turbo seal would be idiotic.

[FlyerInHi]

If you want to keep your car for decades then do not buy a turbo

[spdrun]

Shows how much you know about cars, FIH.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=livinincali]If you do decide to dump it you can get $1000 for it from the CA cash for clunkers program.

http://www.cashforclunkers.org/california-cash-for-clunkers-program/%5B/quote%5DLOL, from what I could see of the back tires in flu’s short video, they alone may likely be worth $1000 (or nearly so).

I’m with spdrun. I’d fix it, smog it and then sell it for “market value” (which is likely $3-5K) if that’s what flu wants to do.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi]If you want to keep your car for decades then do not buy a turbo[/quote]
brian, you ought to come to one of our visiting car shows in dtn Chula Vista and take a look at what’s under the hood! The owner (or their representative) is usually nearby to field any questions. We have these shows about 4-6x per year. There are usually a lot of 1960’s vehicles (and a few 1970’s vehicles) there which were outfitted with aftermarket turbo kits in a past life and are still going strong today 🙂

There is also a large group of 1950’s vehicles to see as well.

Most of the vehicles shown in the display are from car enthusiast clubs out of East County and many of these owners have owned these cars since they were new (or their parents/grandparents did).

[bearishgurl]

[quote=spdrun]Pffffffft – I’ve owned quite a few cars and motos that were > 20 years old.[/quote]So have I . . . and still do.

I got back from a 3500+ mile, 8-state road trip with one just 2.5 months ago.

[bearishgurl]

Unless he’s severely abused it on the road (… or track), flu’s car is likely still a “teenager.”

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=spdrun]Shows how much you know about cars, FIH.[/quote]

spd and bg, I grew up with brothers who were tickerers. they had many cars.

Turbos add complexity and heat. More things to go bad. Like choose a stick shift over automatic if you want to keep your car for decades. Only makes sense.

Now, if you like fixing things and have time and/or money, then all the more power to you. Everything can be fixed. Some people love their old cars and will put a lot of money in them.

I actually understand car culture.. but cars are now more complex and young people don’t have the same passion for cars anymore. I think they care more about the smart phone docking station.

[bearishgurl]

[quote=FlyerInHi][quote=spdrun]Shows how much you know about cars, FIH.[/quote]

spd and bg, I grew up with brothers who were tickerers. they had many cars.

Turbos add complexity and heat. More things to go bad. Like choose a stick shift over automatic if you want to keep your car for decades. Only makes sense.

Now, if you like fixing things and have time and/or money, then all the more power to you. Everything can be fixed. Some people love their old cars and will put a lot of money in them.

I actually understand car culture.. but cars are now more complex and young people don’t have the same passion for cars anymore. I think they care more about the smart phone docking station.[/quote]

I agree about the stick shift, FIH, but there aren’t too many of those models available new anymore (except poss by special order).

I don’t think it’s about “love” or an emotional attachment to a machine that causes people to keep older cars running. It’s about money, plain and simple. It’s far cheaper to register and insure and older vehicle. If it is a “reliable” brand (such as a Toyota product) then they don’t cost as much to maintain as many other brands, aside from the normal parts in every vehicle that need to be replaced at certain intervals, i.e. water pump, timing belt, alternator, oxygen sensors, etc. Some vehicle engines are rated for 350K …. or even 500K miles before they are well-known to need major work. That is … IF they are not abused and are well-maintained. The reality is that new vehicles (luxury cars, in particular) have doubled or nearly doubled in price for same or similar model since about 1991. Some of the newer models have even been “dumbed down” in interior, exterior and trunk size to compete with an ever-widening luxury vehicle market.

If someone who has been driving a “luxury” car for decades doesn’t care about all the electronic BS installed in newer (same or similar) models and their vehicle still runs great, why would they attempt to sell their aging vehicle for a mere $2500-$4000 (or give it to a relative) only to turn around and spend $60-$90K (yes, I said $90K) on a new model (or even $45-50K on a late model similar vehicle) cash or credit? And why would a person over the age of 55 (who doesn’t commute anymore and thus has a lower income) even want an auto loan? (I honestly don’t know anyone in this category who has one.)

And why would a person used to driving a heavy luxury vehicle on the open road (w/dbl wishbone suspension, etc) for decades want to sell it and then buy a new Corolla for $22K? What would be the incentive to do something like that?

Even if one has the money to purchase, replacing their vehicle with another new or late model vehicle doesn’t make sense for everyone because every driver’s circumstances are different.

[spdrun]

A turbo has three moving parts. The rotor, the wastegate, and the wastegate actuator.

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