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125,000 miles

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dwight

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Aug 26, 2001, 2:24:16 PM8/26/01
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Yesterday was another landmark.

My car's birthday (sorry if that sounds sappy) was August 10th. It turned
eight. And yesterday, I rolled past 125,000 miles.

To my eye, it's starting to look every bit of its eight years.

The 5-star pony wheels could use a really good scrubbing. There are stains
that need attention.

The molding, especially the horizontal pieces, are looking old, and could
probably use some attention (or replacement). The grill in front of the
windshield is still cracked and broken from where the tree limb came down
last winter, and the roof still shows dimples from that same branch.

There's that scratch on the left rear, that my son gave me, 'way back when
the car was new.

The front portion of the hood, between the headlights, is pitted in a couple
of places, and never seems to shine, even after a polish and wax. The
headlights are showing signs of glaucoma.

The interior is surprisingly clean (given that my kids were 13 and 11 when I
bought the car), and, except for a cigarette burn on the rear seat, would
look like new with a good rug/upholstery cleaning.

The engine is virtually pristine. I make a halfhearted attempt (read: no
toothbrushes) to clean the engine bay once in a while, but the engine itself
has never been "opened". I'm STILL waiting for the water pump to give out (I
went through three of them in the short time I had my '84), but none of the
components appears to be ailing. It's probably time to replace the
serpentine belt (again), but this engine is just humming along.

And I still grin every time I start it up.

And I'm still pleased that I drive a car that has its own club; its own
newsgroup; and instant recognition. I LIKE giving a high five to passing
Fox-bodies, I LIKE being stopped to talk about my car, I LIKE having one of
the "coolest" cars in the parking lot, and I LIKE the fact that it gets
"cooler" with every passing year.

No one sees the flaws that I see; they only see a Mustang - probably on its
way to becoming a classic. My daughter asked yesterday about my plans for
this car, and it's simple - I will still own this car when I die. I look
forward more and more to the restoration in 2003, and look forward to
bringing it out of the garage on a sunny day for a romp or a trip to the
track. It will no longer be my "daily driver", but it'll still be the
automotive joy of my life.

In 2018, when it's 25 years old and wearing classic tags, I might even show
it.

Not all Mustangs are born to be classics. Many of the Foxes are becoming
parts cars (just ask Tim the Musttanguy); many have been criminally
neglected and died an early death. Many are still running around, but
looking so sad that it's pitiful.

But here, I'm surrounded by a BUNCH of people who take pride in their cars
and do their best to keep them looking like new (or better). People who have
gone in different directions, and willingly share their experiences with
others. People who gladly show off their cars, either at MCA sanctioned
events or by just cruising on a Friday night.

People who know what it means to drive a Mustang.

Happy birthday, TFrog.

dwight
http://netzero.homestead.com/tfrog93


Joe

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Aug 26, 2001, 2:44:20 PM8/26/01
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dwight, as you know, we're coincidentally running parallel lives as far
as our vehicles go. Mine's the same age with roughly the same mileage
in roughly the same condition, save for some questionable front end
bodywork on mine. We're both original owners, we both plan to restore
our respective vehicles within a few years, and we both plan to keep
them until we die.

Happy 8th to both our cars, and may we both forever ride into the sunset
with smiles plastered on on our faces from the sweet-sounding tones of a
dual-exhaust 302 V8. Here's to ya <clink>.

Joe
Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies

Michael Johnson, PE

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Aug 26, 2001, 4:37:45 PM8/26/01
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Being the original owner of an '89 LX 5.0L and a former original owner of an '87
LX 5.0L before that I found myself holding back a tear when I read Dwight's post.
BTW, mine also has original paint and has spent most of its life out of a garage.

Tony Montana

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Aug 26, 2001, 4:41:24 PM8/26/01
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*snif* /clear throat/ *snifff* that was beautiful man...i have an 88' 5.0
141,000mi still strong,looks great...

--
"You have never lied to me, yet I no longer believe you. That is what has
disturbed me." -Neitzsche
><((((º>.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º>

"dwight" <tfr...@home.com> wrote in message
news:k9bi7.139967$EP6.38...@news1.rdc2.pa.home.com...

dwight

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Aug 26, 2001, 4:48:45 PM8/26/01
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"Joe" <nob...@home.now> wrote in message
news:3B894384...@bellsouth.net...

> dwight, as you know, we're coincidentally running parallel lives as far
> as our vehicles go.
(>snip<)

> Here's to ya <clink>.
>
> Joe
> Calypso Green '93 5.0 LX AOD hatch with a few goodies

Back at ya, Joe >clink<. It's been a heck of an eight years!

dwight
(The real reason I'm keeping the car is simply because I'm too lazy to
change e-mail addresses.)

dwight

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Aug 26, 2001, 4:56:11 PM8/26/01
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"Tony Montana" <hf...@ptialaska.net> wrote in message
news:toinm92...@corp.supernews.com...

> *snif* /clear throat/ *snifff* that was beautiful man...i have an 88' 5.0
> 141,000mi still strong,looks great...

Looks like we'll have to start two new groups within RAMFM:

The Old Farts Club

The 100K+ Club

(Nah... That would be exclusionary, and counter to everything I like about
newsgroups.)

I saw two visions today, while I was out tooling around.

There must have been an antique car show in my area this morning. Sitting at
a red light, I saw two ANCIENT cars cross the road, followed by a 1930's
something-or-other. (I'm very weak on antique automobiles - they've never
been my thing - but the first two had those big ol' spoke wheels, with tires
that look like they belong on my mountain bike. The third car was at least
enclosed in sheet metal, and its tires had those 6" wide whitewalls - thus,
I suspect 30's.) I wondered if some moron would be sitting at a light in the
year 2030, watching an ANCIENT 1993 Mustang cross the road in front of
him...

I also saw a fairly new Mazda Miata with a big FOR SALE sign on it.

dwight
(Okay, the second vision doesn't necessarily mean anything...)

Kevin McEvoy

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Aug 26, 2001, 5:09:06 PM8/26/01
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How about a repost of your "It's just a mustang" story from a while back? The
one where the guy says something about regretting getting rid of his "hot rod".

Kevin

Troy ( dba Troy The Troll)

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Aug 26, 2001, 5:51:31 PM8/26/01
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> People who know what it means to drive a Mustang.
>

I'll let this one pass Dwight. Sounds like a great lead into the usual but
I'll resist the temptation.


MarkSr25

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Aug 26, 2001, 6:47:23 PM8/26/01
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>Subject: Re: 125,000 miles
>From: Kevin McEvoy kjmc...@pop.mindspring.com
>Date: 8/26/01 5:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <3B896571...@pop.mindspring.com>

>
>How about a repost of your "It's just a mustang" story from a while back? The
>one where the guy says something about regretting getting rid of his "hot
>rod".
>
>Kevin
>
>
Here's the ultimate regret story. My wife bought a 64 1/2 bright red
convert/black top and interior back, 289 auto in 65. Car was brand new , but I
don't have the VIN to know what number off the line it was...anway she sold the
car in 69 to buy a Red Sportsroof...(because the 64 1/2 didn't have an FM radio
(ugh!!!)...anyway..the 69 sportsroof was sold in 75 because she wanted a new
car....bought a Datsun B210 hatchback (double ugh!!!!).

Michael Johnson, PE

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Aug 26, 2001, 7:31:39 PM8/26/01
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MarkSr25 wrote:

On his return from Vietnam my brother factory ordered a '68 S-code fastback with
every go fast part that was available. He sold it for a '70 Torino GT which he
eventually sold. He is still trying to find the Mustang in the hopes of being able
to buy it. He said he has regretted it from the moment he saw the new owner drive
off with it.


Kevin McEvoy

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Aug 26, 2001, 7:56:23 PM8/26/01
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Do you expect some kind of "thank you"?

Kevin

dwight

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Aug 26, 2001, 7:55:25 PM8/26/01
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"Troy ( dba Troy The Troll)" <f4...@home.com> wrote in message
news:Dbei7.49746$c8.21...@news1.denver1.co.home.com...

>
>
> > People who know what it means to drive a Mustang.
> >
>
> I'll let this one pass Dwight. Sounds like a great lead into the usual but
> I'll resist the temptation.

Wouldn't matter, troll. You'd just be shouted down.

Again.

dwight

dwight

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Aug 26, 2001, 8:05:19 PM8/26/01
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"Kevin McEvoy" <kjmc...@pop.mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3B896571...@pop.mindspring.com...

> How about a repost of your "It's just a mustang" story from a while back?
The
> one where the guy says something about regretting getting rid of his "hot
rod".
>
> Kevin

If you can find it, be my guest.

I just did a preliminary Google search, and it started bringing back a flood
of memories. Never found the post, but I DID find a lot of "old friends".

Jeez, I was a wordy son of a gun.

dwight

robert w hall

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Aug 26, 2001, 8:15:36 PM8/26/01
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It reminded me of my old pony also. Original owner, original Medium Canyon
Red paint, no garage since '94. I have an '87 GT with 63,000 miles (just
turned 63k yesterday!). Mine needs a restoration eventually. The paint
is dull, a few chips here and there, the black window trim and door handles
discolored, some scratches on the plastic ground effects and front bumper,
it leaks oil, and the shocks are worn. The interior is in great shape,
though, with only the rear cargo cover and arm rest storage compartment
latch broken.

Rob Hall
Colorado Springs

Michael Johnson, PE <c...@erols.com> wrote in message
news:3B895E19...@erols.com...

robert w hall

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Aug 26, 2001, 8:15:37 PM8/26/01
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How about this one.

Before I was born, my mother was a college student in the late '60s. She
drove a black on black '65 289 HiPo/4spd coupe. In 1969, she wanted a new
car, so she and my dad traded the coupe on a Wimbeldon white '69 Mach 1, 428
w/ automatic. She drove it for many years (I was born the next year in
'70), until it was pretty rusted out (Ohio winters). My dad and I restored
it when I was in high school, she still has it, along with a dark green '89
LX 5.0 conv and an Explorer (her 'regular' cars).

Rob


Michael Johnson, PE <c...@erols.com> wrote in message

news:3B8986DB...@erols.com...

Michael Johnson, PE

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Aug 26, 2001, 8:36:02 PM8/26/01
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Finally, a happy ending. :)

Michael Johnson, PE

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Aug 26, 2001, 8:39:11 PM8/26/01
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Sorry Troy but you're not one of those "people who knows what it means" when
it comes to Mustangs.

Joe

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Aug 26, 2001, 8:43:04 PM8/26/01
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Thought you already did with netzero.. But anyway, here's to eight more
<clink>. And here's to y'all original Fox car owners <clink>.

Kevin McEvoy

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Aug 26, 2001, 9:41:46 PM8/26/01
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Damn, I gotta go find it?
I was hoping you had it saved somewhere.

Kevin

Kevin McEvoy

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Aug 26, 2001, 9:51:24 PM8/26/01
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Joe, are you trying to get us all drunk?
To stay on topic, I bought my 89 LX in October of 96. Drove the piss out of
it, back and forth to either Atlanta and Columbia SC, or Burlington NC and
Columbia twice a month for 2 and a half years.
Never once gave me a single problem on those trips. So what do I do to thank
it? Put steep gears, a loose converter and a bunch of nitrous on it, still
never complained. That motor was removed from my car at 144,000 miles, and
went straight into (after an oil pump change, some new gaskets and an F303 cam
) a friends 90 LX which I got a chance to drive it a few weeks ago, still
doesn't miss a beat.

Kevin

Troy ( dba Troy The Troll)

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Aug 26, 2001, 11:32:29 PM8/26/01
to

> > > People who know what it means to drive a Mustang.
> > >
> >
> > I'll let this one pass Dwight. Sounds like a great lead into the usual
but
> > I'll resist the temptation.
>
> Wouldn't matter, troll. You'd just be shouted down.
>
> Again.
>
> dwight

Oh yeah Dwight, like THAT has me worried.


Troy ( dba Troy The Troll)

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Aug 26, 2001, 11:34:30 PM8/26/01
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"Michael Johnson, PE" <c...@erols.com> wrote in message
news:3B8996AF...@erols.com...

> Sorry Troy but you're not one of those "people who knows what it means"
when
> it comes to Mustangs.
>

Yeah your right. I own one, drive one, fix it when it breaks but
nope.....just because I have one and am NOT a vicious cheerleader for it I
sure don't "know what it means" to own one.


Michael Johnson, PE

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Aug 27, 2001, 12:10:57 AM8/27/01
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"Troy ( dba Troy The Troll)" wrote:

It is kind of like your (or anyone's really) wife. You know there are some
things you don't like about her but when you look at the overall package you
are willing to accept the few bad things to get all the good ones. At least
with a car you can usually fix the bad things though. ;)

Before all you ladies slap me around this analogy also applies to
husbands/boyfriends.


difa...@hotmail.com

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Aug 27, 2001, 12:39:32 AM8/27/01
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On Sun, 26 Aug 2001 18:24:16 GMT, "dwight" <tfr...@home.com> wrote:

>Yesterday was another landmark.
>
>My car's birthday (sorry if that sounds sappy) was August 10th. It turned
>eight. And yesterday, I rolled past 125,000 miles.
>
>To my eye, it's starting to look every bit of its eight years.
>
>The 5-star pony wheels could use a really good scrubbing. There are stains
>that need attention.

>.......................


That was excellent. It almost read as a poem.
Thanks.

Dima F.
1987 Mustang 2.3Lx Pony Car
2002 Mazda PR5 2.0L Zoom Car
(remove "1987" from
e-mail to e-mail me)

"A horse never runs so fast as when he has
other horses to catch up and outpace" -- Ovid


"Words of Wisdom"

"Computer games don't affect kids; if Pac-man had
affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in
darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening
to repetitive electronic music." -- unknown

2.3Sleeper

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Aug 27, 2001, 1:01:39 AM8/27/01
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Here is another. Of my grandparent's 3 daughters (obviously my mother is
included in this group), they all got a car for their 16th b-day. Mom got a
65 Candy Apple Red, White Rag Top 'Vert, with the 289 and 4 speed. Sits in
her garage still. 79k *Original* miles on it. She bought another one in 88.
A 4 banger LX, for those trips to the Marshall's hanger everday and back
home. It had 65k on it when I bought it from her for a dollar. Her husband
(my step-father) was killed on June 1st of 1997, she took over his Crown Vic
PP personal cruiser (he was a cop also) until late 99 when she took it down
and asked them to take it from her and give her a 2001. She paid cash and
left...now she has two again sitting in the garage.

Oh man, oh man, oh man...I would absolutely fall of the earth if anything
ever happened to her...I would be crushed. However, I AM the only child left
out of two. Guess who gets the Mustangs? ALthough, she has mentioned that
she will be buried in the 65...

Don Manning

"Michael Johnson, PE" <c...@erols.com> wrote in message

news:3B8995F2...@erols.com...

dwight

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Aug 27, 2001, 6:49:59 AM8/27/01
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"Troy ( dba Troy The Troll)" <f4...@home.com> wrote in message
news:adji7.50599$c8.21...@news1.denver1.co.home.com...

"Vicious cheerleader". Good one. For imagery, try this on:

Hot summer day. Horse stands in the field, too hot to move. Tail flicks.
Flicks again. As you watch the horse, you realize the tail flicks almost
constantly.

RAMFM is the horse. I (and several others) am the tail.

And Troll is the fly trying constantly to reach the horse's butt.

dwight
(Congratulations. You've achieved gnat status.)

BlueStang

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Aug 27, 2001, 10:46:23 AM8/27/01
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On Sun, 26 Aug 2001 18:24:16 GMT, "dwight" <tfr...@home.com> wrote:

>Yesterday was another landmark.
>
>My car's birthday (sorry if that sounds sappy) was August 10th. It turned
>eight. And yesterday, I rolled past 125,000 miles.
>
>To my eye, it's starting to look every bit of its eight years.

--- snip (a bunch of really good stuff) ----

Damn it Dwight.... <sniff sniff> now you've gone and made me cry....
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

BlueSta...@altavista.com
1998 GT Coupe - Bright Atlantic Blue,
5-spd, K&N FIPK, Triax, 3.73's, SpeedCal,
FRPP Coated Shorty Headers, 2K Heads
and Intake
http://www.bluestanggt.corral.net

I won an "Attaboy" award from Tungsten
and all I got was this lousy tagline.

2.3Sleeper

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Aug 27, 2001, 3:09:50 PM8/27/01
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I though he WAS the horses butt?

Don Manning

"dwight" <tfr...@home.com> wrote in message

news:rBpi7.143950$EP6.39...@news1.rdc2.pa.home.com...

Erik D.

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Aug 27, 2001, 5:40:02 PM8/27/01
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Great story man. Kind of makes me wish I was an original owner but then i
wouldn't have a fox body since i was only 13 the last year they made them. I
never imagined i would get rid of my '91, i was going to keep that car
forever...until some idiot ran a stop sign and hit me. No problem right, i'll
just have it fixed, a little minor cosmetic work, wrong. They totaled my car.
I thought about getting a truck or fixing the mustang but it didn't take me long
to realize that i was happy in my mustang and i really wanted another one. So i
started looking shortly after. I looked at a few(5 or 6) but none of them
appealed to me. Then one day it happened, i drove up to Baton Rouge to look at
this '93. I turned the corner onto the street and there it was. I knew that
this was the one. I never thought that i could find another mustang that i
would love as much as my '91 but i did. My '91 had 122,000 miles on it and
still runs strong(my brother bought it from me and fixed it). Out of those
122000 miles i put 22000 on it in one year. I now have a '93 with 67,000
miles. I put 2000 miles on it in 2 months. I never plan on getting rid of this
car now unless something unfortunate happens again. I will have this car and
possibly even another mustang in the distant future until the day i die. I
hope. Anyway, I LOVE my car and i am happy that there are others out there that
understand why.
Erik D.
'93 lx

dwight wrote:

> Yesterday was another landmark.
>
> My car's birthday (sorry if that sounds sappy) was August 10th. It turned
> eight. And yesterday, I rolled past 125,000 miles.
>
> To my eye, it's starting to look every bit of its eight years.
>

> The 5-star pony wheels could use a really good scrubbing. There are stains
> that need attention.
>

> The molding, especially the horizontal pieces, are looking old, and could

> probably use some attention (or replacement). The grill in front of the

Marc Warden

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Sep 2, 2001, 11:23:49 AM9/2/01
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dwight wrote:

My '96 GT turned '5' either yesterday or today (Sunday, the 2nd). 108,000+ miles
and still counting though albeit quite a bit more slowly, since I bought new car
and am driving that now most of the time...

Sincerely,

MarcW.


double trouble

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Sep 2, 2001, 1:43:23 PM9/2/01
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my 1998 Cobra cranked over 2,250 last week......he,he,he
the 1991 LX 5.0 (real daily driver) is now at 145,000, blows no smoke and still
runs strong.
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