The Last Bass Outpost

After some quick research, my recommendation is to use synthetic oil and skip the additives.  This Xado stuff sounds like a rewound version of teflon additives with a little STP thrown in.

One of the problems with this approach is that bonding chemicals to the surface of engine parts requires a LOT more heat than you encounter inside a motor, and it has to be done in controlled, clean conditions.  That's why the teflon never stuck, but ended up in the oil pan.

I haven't used the stuff, but I flat don't believe their claims.  My suggestion is to run synthetic lubricants and you'll be well-served.

One reason I take consumer reports car surveys with a grain of salt is that I don't think people report or evaluate cars the same way.  For many people if their "US-made piece o'crap" has a problem, then they think it's a bad car and give it terrible ratings.  If they have the same problem with their 'Reliable Japanese car" or "Finely crafted German car", they shrug it off and don't report it!

I think the same is true for many other consumer survey sites - people have expectations, and those expectations influence their reporting.

I've had two cars that had TERRIBLE ratings from C.R., and both of them served me very well and were fun to drive.

BTW - this is not a general condemnation of C.R.'s reports, because I think most are very helpful - I just think they fail to account for the emotional aspect of how people regard cars.  The same issue doesn't apply to toasters and vacuum cleaners.

How about using a cable from the accelerator pedal to the injectors like back in the olden days.  Acceleration by electronics (drive by wire) just seemed like a bad idea when they first started using it. 

YES!!!!!

Three things that should NEVER be drive-by-wire:

Steering
Brakes
Throttle

Gorgeous but that headstock could take an eye out!

Yeah, I've never thought that Jackson headstock was attractive.  But at least they came up with something distinctly their own.

Love the finish!

Dun' like the headstock.

The potential for driver failure is indeed high since so many people are woefully ignorant about how to operate a car and unwilling to admit their incompetence.

Remember the Audi "unintended foot-on-throttle" events in the 80's?  People's claims were ridiculous...the problem was that the gas and brake were set up ideally for the joy of heel-and-toe driving, but the idiots missed the brake.

My wife and I ran out and got a great deal on an Audi 5000 Turbo during that mess - drove the costs of used Audis way down.  We drove Audis for 20 years after that.

So, for someone not fluent in Gibson....

1) What is the new two-piece bridge called?

2) Does the saddle assembly mount to the original bridge posts? 

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011159167_aptoyotarecall.html

The president of Toyota's U.S. operations acknowledged to skeptical lawmakers on Tuesday that the company's recalls of millions of its cars may "not totally" solve the problem of sudden and dangerous acceleration.

"We are vigilant and we continue to look for potential causes," Toyota's James Lentz told a congressional panel. However, he repeated his company's position that unexpected acceleration in some of the company's most popular cars and trucks was caused by one of two problems - misplaced floor mats and sticking accelerator pedals.

He insisted electronic systems connected to the gas pedal and fuel line did not contribute to the problem, drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers who said such a possibility should be further explored - and from a tearful woman driver who could not stop her runaway Lexus.

"Shame on you, Toyota," Rhonda Smith, of Sevierville, Tenn., said at a congressional hearing. Then she added a second "shame on you" directed at federal highway safety regulators.

Texas Republican Rep. Joe Barton cautioned his colleagues early in the hearing against conducting a "witch hunt" and said "We don't want to just assume automatically that Toyota has done something wrong and has tried to cover it up." But midway through Lentz's testimony, Barton said of Toyota's investigation of the problems: "In my opinion, it's a sham."

(I used to live in TX in the district Barton represents - he's such a business advocate that if he doesn't believe them, I doubt anyone will.)

(More story at the link)

I heard a story on NPR this AM...a gent was sitting at a light with his foot on the brake and the engine surged with his foot completely off the gas.  He shifted into neutral and turned it off....but he had no idea how a problem with the gas pedal sensor could cause that.  Neither do I.  If the sensor itself is running amok, then the spacer Toyota is installing isn't going to help.

My money's on Toyota NOT having the fix for this...and it's going to hurt them.  This is just what domestic automakers have been waiting for.