🚀 go-pugleaf

> 
> > It seems to me that there may have been considerable advances in whatever
> > chemical technology is used for rubber weatherstripping in cars - both
> > of ours (an 80 Volvo and 81 Honda) have shown no deterioration whatsoever
> > without any special treatment.  That is, compared to what rubber used
> > to look like after just a few years, it seems more troublefree in late
> > model cars.  The Volvo has lived both up north (for 2
> > years) and in central Texas after that; the rubber has shown no sign
> > of cracking or crumbling or whatever.  I wonder whether other
> > net.readers have noticed similar longevity of the seals or if we've
> > just been lucky in this respect with these cars.
> 
>    No...the better door seals are just because of the fact that both your cars
> are foreign!   :-)
> 
>      SUNY at Buffalo Computer Science
> 

Foreign cars are better huh???   That is the biggest piece of bull that is 
still believed by so many but seems to me that it just is not so any more.
Back in the old oil crisis days of the early 70's when US manufacturers were
still pumping out the big cars and all of a sudden the demand slumped due to
the shortage and the price per gallon increases, habits virtually changed 
overnight to the small cars.  Since US makers did not produce these, the 
public bought from Japan and Europe where those cars had been the norm for
years.  And when GM,Ford and Chrysler did begin to produce these, I agree, 
they were definitely not up to par.  But now I we are making those cars 
with the same types of skills the foreign makers are and I think our cars 
are every bit as good.  It all depends on what you are comparing.  

I have a 1977 Chrysler Ner Yorker, 1982 and a 1984 Cadillac Fleetwood.  All
three cars are in excellent shape and the rubber door seals on all of them
are in excellent condition.  

Obviously I am not a small car driver.  But I must say that the Cadillacs
get excellent mileage (27mpg on a long drive, 20 around the area).  Can't
really complain. Before there are any flames, I did not buy the cars for 
mileage, because I really don't care if they get 8, 15 or 50!!

Keith Titus
Bell Labs

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