Q–In your Jan. 26 Letters column, you made comment about the letter-writer spending time at American Legion meetings. I assume you alluded to him being a prejudiced World War II man out of touch with reality. If Japan had won that war, you wouldn’t have the right to sit at your keyboard and write and express your opinions. I wore the uniform during WW II so you would have the right to express your opinion and I resent being considered out of touch with reality. V.I., Bloomingdale
A–If you slipped on the uniform so this scribe could express his opinion, then you performed your job well. Thank you.
In the letter you refer to, a reader from Ocala, Fla., said there are no Japanese manufacturing plants in the U.S., just assembly plants and “since there are no American-made parts in Japanese cars, how can the Japanese claim that they build cars in America?”
We pointed out that Toyota bought $6 billion in U.S.-made parts last year and expects to buy $7 billion this year and that companies such as Honda build 900,000 engines and transmissions here each year so the writer’s charges were erroneous.
We then concluded by saying we hoped the reader didn’t spend too much time at his American Legion meeting because most of the anti-Japan mail we receive comes from folks who fought and served–or at least served.
However, there was no mention of the war or being able to slip into a 50-year-old uniform.
Unfortunately, in the same reply, we made a passing reference to Rush Limbaugh, a remark that touched off a letter-writing protest you wouldn’t believe. It took a week to get the crayon marks off the desk top.
Q–I’m the original owner of a 1991 Lincoln Continental with 36,000 miles. The transmission slips/shakes a few seconds when in overdrive. This occurs every few minutes. The dealer added an additive to the transmission to stop the slipping. My extended warranty expires in a few months. Should I accept this condition or have the trans repaired? L.S., Westchester
A–Obviously the additive didn’t work. So let’s see, you can have your transmission slip and shake or have it repaired under warranty so it will slip and shake no longer. Gee, that’s a hard decision, L.S. Let’s flip a coin. Heads it is. And unless your head has a hole running through it, you’ll choose to have the trans repaired.
Q–I never stray far from home so please tell me, on a right-hand-drive car, are the clutch and brake pedals in the same configuration as in a left-hand-drive car or are they mixed up? And where is the gas pedal? P.C., Peru, Ill.
A–Excellent questions. We called a couple of Japanese automakers to double-check, and they confirmed that pedal location is the same as in a left-hand-drive car–only on the right side of the vehicle. In a left-hand-drive car, you have clutch/brake/gas pedal; in a right-hand-drive car, you have clutch/brake/gas pedal.
Q–I’ve had an incredibly positive experience from a dealer with the purchase of a used car. I purchased a used Honda and started to drive home. I had only driven 15 miles when the oil light flickered. I quickly pulled into a service station and checked my oil level, which was OK.
I drove on. The light went on again. I called the dealer, and they towed the car to their shop. The dealer called the next day and said the previous owner apparently never changed oil and the engine was ruined. I was given the option of having my money refunded and my trade-in returned; looking at other cars to work out a different deal; or having the engine replaced with a rebuilt. I chose the rebuilt. I was expecting a fight, but the dealer stepped up very admirably and made me feel special.D.B., Chicago
A–While your story has a happy ending, it would have had an even happier beginning if the problem of the former owner failing to change oil and the resulting engine trouble had been spotted when the car was traded in. But we’re happy the dealer gave you a choice and that you are happy with your choice. Now to keep that rebuilt engine warm when parked outside in the winter . . .
– A reminder: Unsigned letters aren’t read, much less answered.
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Send questions to Jim Mateja, Chicago Tribune, 700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Suite 135, Vernon Hills, Ill. 60061-1523.
