[Candyman]

I am officially a member of the Intrepid family. I own a '98 ES. My questions are:

1. How is the gas milage on your vehicles, year, what octane rating do you use and does it make a difference? (Ex. Reg. vs. Premium)

2. What kind of oil and filters do you use? Synthetic, regular, K&N? Does it improve performance, gas milage, power?

3. Anyone have vanity plates? I am looking into getting some and have come down to a handful of names. Just wondered what anyone else has out there so as not to copy.

4. Does anyone see a value to a hood cover bra or will it harm or damage the paint and hood surface? I have a Platinum color and would rather not have it fade but would like to protect it from chips and scratches.

5. and finally...at least for now, I am getting a Pioneer DEH-P3300 head unit, but would like to replace the factory speakers. I have the cheap audio system and the speakers are pretty weak. How easy are they to cahnge, what will fit and what are your opionions on brand names, prices? I am just looking to getting a fuller sounding sysyem, to hear the whole range of music but be stronger at the low end. I have an amplified Bazooka tube, so I am not worried about too much bass, just a nice good clean full sound.

I know I have written a book here, but I appreciate all the feedback, as much as I can get, remember I am a newbie, and need to be brought up into the Intrepid world! Thanks, all!

 

[Candyman]

Well, here are my ideas on vanity plates:
In Ohio we are allowed a combination of letters and numbers anywhere from 4-7 characters. Let me know what you all think. I appreciate the feedback from my first post, keep the info flowin'!

TRPD8TS {In-}(Trepidatious)
TRPD8TR {In-}(Trepidator)
RTST (Artist)
DZINER
(Designer, my occupation, graphic designer)
98 TREP (98 Intrepid)
CRE8V (Creative)
CRE8V 1 (Creative one)
JO 98 ES (Joe's 98 ES)
KANDIMN or CANDYMN (Candyman)

 

[Candyman]

Well, here are my ideas on vanity plates:
In Ohio we are allowed a combination of letters and numbers anywhere from 4-7 characters. Let me know what you all think. I appreciate the feedback from my first post, keep the info flowin'!

TRPD8TS {In-}(Trepidatious)
TRPD8TR {In-}(Trepidator)
RTST (Artist)
DZINER
(Designer, my occupation, graphic designer)
98 TREP (98 Intrepid)
CRE8V (Creative)
CRE8V 1 (Creative one)
JO 98 ES (Joe's 98 ES)
KANDIMN or CANDYMN (Candyman)

 

[Candyman]

I am a graphic designer for channels 19 (WOIO) and 43 (WUAB) in Cleveland. I do anything from on air and news graphics to promotional and marketing ad graphics. I mostly work in Photoshop and Illustrator as well as a medium called a Paint Box, similar to Photoshop with the exception that you only have two layers to build on. It is pretty much a news media machine only, it really makes you think about what your final product is going to look like because once you stick it down, theirs no going back! I have been doing it for 2 years now, working every weekend from 2-11pm and Mon.-Wed. days.

Needless to say, my wife has put up with a lot of BS with me never having a free weekend to get away with her or anyone for that matter. I have been trying religiously to find a new graphics position, more print related, but can't find a job to save my life. I don't know if it's the economy or the field but I desperatly need something with a normal schedule. 2 years of weekends has really taken a toll on me physically and mentally.

On another note, I do mostly all highway driving (85%) as opposed to city, so I am hoping for good gas milaege. Will I be able to reach 30mpg?

I am going to just get a hood bra just to use for long road trips. I guess as long as I wash my baby every week or two, I should be safe.

CRE8TV 1 seems like the winner, I'll just have to wait and see if it is open in the state of Ohio. I'll put in for CRE8TV 1, RTST, TRPD8TR, and CANDYMN.

Mopar4U,
It is not always good to be creative, too many people expect us to always come up with ideas and we end up with brainfreeze! Just remember, you are the man that makes the job, not the job that makes the man, if that were the case, I would have become an accountant! No money in art.

Buschman,
Thanks for all the info, you have settled a few disputes for me, I guess I'll just have to listen to the speakers, that will just have to come to me as the ear of the beholder! I guess I am going to try Synthetic oil, never used it before.

Couple of other qick questions, how easy is it to get to the spark plugs for changing and how abbout flushing the coolant system and replacing the fluids?

 

[Candyman]

I already posted this in the 2nd gen forum under mods/specs but want to get as many opionions as possible.

Seems the previous owner of may vehicle had a thing for mismatching, so I have Goodyear GA's on the rears and Uniroyal's on the fronts. Needless to say, I am looking to replace all 4. I have been told to either go with the Potenza RE950 or Michelin MXV4. I was quoted at $100 for Potenza and $160 for Michelin. Are Michelins worth the extra $60 a piece? I don't have a lot of money and was just going to go with the Potenza's but read in this post that they are not good snow tires, but here in Cleveland you NEED good snow tires. So, what are my options? I want a good performing tire with good tread life that handles corners, but yet provides a comfortable ride all season long.

 

[Candyman]

Well on my first tank of gas, cheap economy 87 from the dealer, I drove all highway miles and had 26mpg.

I then took my baby and changed the oil, Mobil 1 synthetic, new oil filter, new PVC filter, new K&N air filter (old air filter was a discrace, so black and dirty, really upseting to see such poor teatment), added Slick 50 engine treatment as well as Slick 50 fuel treatment (note car has 62k) and put in a fresh tank of premium fuel (93 grade).

Ran it down to visit family in Columbus and back as well as to downtown Cleveland to work. Just filled up again today, checked my gas milage, averaged 29mpg all highway.

Much better! Gained 3mpg just from oil and filter changes! Now all I have left is to put in new plugs and wires and see if I can't get another 1-2mpg. I am going to try the new Bosch Platinum+4 plugs, see if they are at all what they're cracked up to be.