Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 22:56:11 +0100 From: Grunff <grunffnopsam.com> Subject: Re: Help - motor crashed on 94 V6
Wyatt Taylor wrote: > You seem very much an expert on this subject, so answer a couple of > questions for me: > > How many Indy, Formula 1, or any other sport racing cars use rubber timing > belts? > > How many military vehicles use rubber timing belts? You are totally, and repeatedly, missing the point. No-one is saying that belts are better than chains - they aren't. They suck. I love the old Saab engine - it powers my 2 900s, my 99, and my 9000, very nicely. However, it is a simple fact that the vast majority of current production cars (at least European and Japanese - I'm not familiar with US cars) use belts, not chains. This is for economic reasons, nothing else. When someone buys a car, it is their responsibility to make sure it is serviced correctly. If the car has a belt, unless they *know* that the belt has been changed recently, they should change it. If they don't, it will break. Maybe in 100 miles, maybe in 50,000 miles. Your friend was unlucky, and his belt broke sooner rather than later. It was still his fault for not changing it. I hate cars with belts. The only car I own with a belt is my 325i. But the engine is *sooo* good, I'm prepared to forgive it the belt. I changed that belt the same week I bought the car. I will change it again every 40k. It's just part of the servicing. No biggy. In short - tell your friend to learn from this experience, get over it and move on. Maybe then you can start to get over it yourself... -- Grunff