As a professional auto tech, I'll confirm this. The shop may make some money on the parts if it's an expensive oil change on a luxury vehicle, but your base oil change is really a loss for the company as a whole. The tech makes a few bucks (7-8 in my case, USD), but it's really not worth my time if I have something better to do. This is especially true when you come across customers that you know from the very beginning are there for nothing more than the oil change special.

I spent 1.5 years on campus (kicked out for 1 semester) and two years off campus. I had actually opted for random selection, but ended up with an assigned roommate who didn't really look like he would get along with me. Another guy I was grouped with in orientation found me on Facebook and expressed basically the same concerns. Living together was a better idea than random. We had it changed before ever moving in without incident, and got along great in spite of coming from nearly opposite backgrounds. I got kicked out of school, and was replaced for one semester by another random guy. I hear that was... interesting. The two of us and two girls we had been a close knit group with (dining hall tables usually have 4 seats... you know) got an apartment, and had a great time living together. Everyone pitched in in their own way, and it wasn't a bad place to live. One girl left for the second year of that, but MY previous replacement filled in for her, and it was all good again. He mostly kept to himself anyhow now that he had a room.

Sorry you had a bad experience. Everyone I knew had an easier time than that both on and off campus. Student Services was more than accommodating with any desired room swaps and had waiting lists for people who just wanted out of where they were. Off campus worked pretty well too, I didn't know that many people who hated where they lived.

Virginia Tech, 08-12 for reference.

I have an older Mustang where the shifter rests just perfectly for radio adjustments - keep in mind this is not the norm. I'm an auto tech and have seen it all. The 05 Chevy truck I'm in has steering wheel controls and they work great. It's even better than knowing, you literally don't go anywhere for them. You don't miss features like that until you've had them.

Hey, just wanted to say thanks for chiming in. I have mod points I almost used on you, but thought this might be a little more personal - it's not every day you get a decent informative post on Slashdot you read the entirety of and go... hmm. This sounds like a guy I can probably level with. Have a pleasant Monday, good sir.

Alas, burned by the preview button.

Peace be with you - Ive never flashed a VW ecu, but after tuning an 86 mustang ecu with a hex editor, i can't understand why they got so complicated.

two != too

not a grammar nazi, just found it funny :)

I've been here for 11 years. I still don't understand how this even happens.

Just came to say I'm impressed by you still using 56k AND visiting slashdot. I hope you have ad blockers running (even though they take 20 minutes to download) ;)

Sure, maybe it does indicate something about their personality, but that is neither here nor there. AFAIK this wasn't public knowledge previously, meaning someone went through the effort to find this information and release it against the will of at least one person. Not only is that illegal, but also immoral. It's no one person's place to just find shit about others to smear on the walls. Does that mean cheating/thinking about cheating is okay? Probably not. But stealing this data for a smear campaign is definitely wrong.

Not saying this takes blame off of any of the parties involved, but I think your stance on it is a bit strange.

Way to go guys, now if I click top right to open comments on the reposted poll, it doesn't go anywhere until I expand options.

http://www.exide.com/Media/fil...

More than you ever needed to know about batteries.

As a side note, if anyone is considering replacing a car battery, I highly highly recommend the Optima. I have a red top, and again today it prevailed with flying colors after ten years of abuse - you can't even read the sticker anymore.

decent welder, spool gun, wire, shielding gas, i think youd be lucky to come in under 500 but it may be possible. Soft is one word for it, I think it's best described as "gummy."

I can definitely level with this. Last year I was working with an SD TV, while my roommate had an HD TV. In spite of obvious quality differences, mine was easier to use because the interface was phenomenally faster. It's a sad state of affairs.

MIG welding aluminum is possible, but not without specialized equipment. It's out there, but its gonna cost you. Also takes more practice. I'll take TIG, thanks.

Yes, foam, multiple plastic barriers, huge rubber bushings, you name it. Anything for NVH, damn the drivers or mechanics.