My lunchtime trip to Advance Auto Parts....(kinda long rant)
 

All I went in there looking for was new ends for my battery cables and a thermostat rated at least 195 for my VX.

I found the cable ends myself but had to go to the counter for the thermostat. I should have just left right then. I tell the guy (well older kid I would guess about 25) I was looking for a thermostat for my Honda. We go through the year and model and that stuff. He says oh I have the same car only a 93 I am like cool. His next question is are you going to race it? I tell him no I got it to maximize my fuel milage. Oh he says you should get a Cold Air intake for it then. He gos on to tell me that the colder air takes less energy for the engine to suck in there for giving you more power and if you are not using all of that extra power it will just use less fuel. I was dumbfounded at the "information" that I was being given from someone that you would think would know what he was doing. He then told me that they only make 170 and 180 thermostat for that car. I told him that I know other people have them so I know they are out there. He again replied that they dont even make them so those people must be mistaken. I thanked him for his help and left the cable ends on the counter.

Thank god for the internet and books or everyone would know nothing!

Looks like I will have to find another auto parts store. I dont think that I will be going back there anytime soon.

For what it's worth, I tend not to listen to racers any more about anything. Most don't know what they're talking about when it comesto fuel economy.

And why should they? I wouldn't listen to me if someone wanted to know how to make their car faster.

Do you have a honda dealership nearby? They might be able to help.

Ya my brother works at the dealership as a Honda Tech but this was one of those "on the way" kind of stops.

But hey I learned my lesson.

I got the 192F for the Del Sol at Autozone. It was the gold plated variety that cost $17.

Ah, you paid extra for the bling I see.

autozone is the absolute worst, they always tell me to go to napa cause they don't have the part... (autozone is 2min away, napa is 15)

One thing I've noticed about autozone is that depending on where you live they can either be amazing or terrible. Around me they're by far the best but in other states I've seen some awful AZs. Napa around here really sucks, as well (not to mention 40 minutes away).

luckily I live 5 minutes from two autozones, one checker, and about 8 minutes away from the regional Napa distributor (they have a warehouse FULL of stuff).

Back before the internet and before the big parts stores...if you were pretty new to the car game...you were limited to local mom and pop parts stores where trying to get a part was like applying for a job...they had the goods and the power...and you did it their way.

those were the days... :rolleyes: