To keep the 240?

[SR20Fastback]

First off, I wasnt sure if this was supposed to go in chat or ot... so if it gets moved it wont hurt my feelings... unless you delete it &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>


Well for most of the day today I've been thinking long and hard about the future of my child known as the dual40. Today I was in adv auto tech and went to replace my rear brake pads when I noticed the left pad had worn down past the pad and was now on the medal backing. The rotor was hacked to pieces on the opposite side of that pad. Well my rotor was too thin, so I had to order a new one. I checked out the other side and the pads were fine, but the rotor was also too thin. Then my teacher happened to catch that my boot on the caliper is torn and is really dirty. So we checked them out a little more in depth, and my piston in the calipers are "seized" Long story short I just added a nice fat 410 dollar bill to list of things to pay off.


This is pretty much the last of the problems wrong with the car, I've already replaced the clutch and starter and a few other minor things. Its not the fact that these things have occured, its the fact that the future for the car and the SR just seems to be fading and fading.

Im moving to Arizona next sept to go to school at UTI. I havent really done any research on the state or its emissions laws, so I dont even know if I could slip by with the SR there like I could here (in WA). Even if there are no visual checks there, Im moving back to my born in state of California, and I know for a fact they have visual and strict emissions laws. I cant blame them though theres a lot of polution there. So I've got a 1990 Fastback with just a hair over 100k miles.

On my way to my friends house today I noticed a white FC Turbo II parked about 3 mins from my house. I was thinkin how nice those cars are, well because I think they're pretty cool. Since then about 3 or 4 hours ago, I've been contemplating selling my car and buying a Turbo II RX-7.

I will really miss my 240 if I do, because its been my favorite car so far (out of the 2 I've owned). Im really stuck because I want the RX-7. I checked out Autotrader.com and found a couple reasonable FC's for sale. One a white one that was 4500 (I think this may have been the one I saw earlier), and a black one that was 3600. I dont really know any more of the details, but I will definately call and find out.


Ok so the point of this thread...

Should I sell my 240

I neeed to know the following things; Is there a best year for the FC? How screwed reliability wise will I be if I replace those 2 seals that are known to blow (Im pretty good at keeping up w/ maintence)? What else should I really know before looking at or buying an FC? Do you all think Im stupid for getting rid of the 240? What are my other options for cars that are relatively cheap (in the 3-6 or 7k range) can I get that are rwd?



Cliff notes:

1. Considering selling 240
2. Dreaming of an FC Turbo II
3. Help me answer questions in paragraph above
4. Same as note # 3



I really appreciate any help anyone can give, Im really stuck. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>

[SR20Fastback]

Would just like to add the 3cars I found in my brief search


The white FC (http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/vdetail.jtmpl?car_id=110305500&dealer_id=&certified=n&max_price=&start_year=1982&end_year=2003&address=98258&search_type=used&make=MAZDA&model=RX7&min_price=&distance=100&advcd_on=n&advanced=n&color=&car_year=1988)

The Red FC (http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/vdetail.jtmpl?car_id=110262953&dealer_id=13218550&certified=n&max_price=&start_year=1982&end_year=2003&address=98258&search_type=used&make=MAZDA&model=RX7&min_price=&distance=100&advcd_on=n&advanced=n&color=&car_year=1987)

The Black FC (http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/vdetail.jtmpl?car_id=97304061&dealer_id=81547&certified=n&max_price=&start_year=1982&end_year=2003&address=98258&search_type=used&make=MAZDA&model=RX7&min_price=&distance=100&advcd_on=n&advanced=n&color=&car_year=1987)

[fodive]

*deposits his .02*

OK, OK, first off, thats what you get for putting off getting your pads.... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> , but now, i mean, an FC, they are going to be just as bad or worse, in relibility, and at last check you have no job.... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'> ....if you need to sell your 240 because you cant maintain it, then do, because unless you sell that lude sometime soon you wont have the $$$ to SR, or repair....ever thought about selling the 240 and keeping the lude, since you already have it, and it can hold you over till AZ where you can get something else..,

[SR20Fastback]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (fodive @ Sep. 24 2002,7:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">*deposits his .02*

OK, OK, first off, thats what you get for putting off getting your pads.... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> , but now, i mean, an FC, they are going to be just as bad or worse, in relibility, and at last check you have no job.... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'> ....if you need to sell your 240 because you cant maintain it, then do, because unless you sell that lude sometime soon you wont have the $$$ to SR, or repair....ever thought about selling the 240 and keeping the lude, since you already have it, and it can hold you over till AZ where you can get something else..,</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Yeah I thought about this, but the prelude also has 207k chassis miles... maybe 70 or 80 engine miles since the rebuild I guess.... Its still an option, but Ive been cravin the boost lately &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>


Its not that I cant maintain the 240, its just that I dont want to go SR then not be able to use it except on weekends in CA for track days... That would require me to buy a big truck to tow it along with a trailer...

[fodive]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (SR20Fastback @ Sep. 24 2002,9:38)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (fodive @ Sep. 24 2002,7:36)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">*deposits his .02*

OK, OK, first off, thats what you get for putting off getting your pads.... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> , but now, i mean, an FC, they are going to be just as bad or worse, in relibility, and at last check you have no job.... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/nervous.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':nervous:'> ....if you need to sell your 240 because you cant maintain it, then do, because unless you sell that lude sometime soon you wont have the $$$ to SR, or repair....ever thought about selling the 240 and keeping the lude, since you already have it, and it can hold you over till AZ where you can get something else..,</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Yeah I thought about this, but the prelude also has 207k chassis miles... maybe 70 or 80 engine miles since the rebuild I guess.... Its still an option, but Ive been cravin the boost lately <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>


Its not that I cant maintain the 240, its just that I dont want to go SR then not be able to use it except on weekends in CA for track days... That would require me to buy a big truck to tow it along with a trailer...</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
70 or 80 miles or 70/80k miles....either way, thats probably your best bet, hondas are reliable if you take car of it, a FC rotary is not...im not your mom, but id say honda...even though id love one of those FC's too, but its alot to maintain... <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> get a job and ge the FC <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

[SimpleS14]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Well for most of the day today I've been thinking long and hard about the future of my child known as the dual40. </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

I don't get it? &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'>

[dr2if4ta0sx]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (GT specR @ Sep. 24 2002,8:03)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Well for most of the day today I've been thinking long and hard about the future of my child known as the dual40. </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

I don't get it? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Means that he was thinking about his baby, the 240, the whole day. &nbsp;dual means two, dual40 = twoforty &nbsp; <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

[mbmbmb23]

If I were you, park the 240sx until you can afford to mod it. &nbsp;No sense in putting more wear and tear into it if its in good condition (no rust...straight frame...minimal dings). &nbsp;Let the honda take the wear and tear of daily driving.

$400 total for your repairs? &nbsp;You could have gone to the junkyard for most of those parts (except the pads)...and had your teacher install them for you (automotive shop class I presume).

Those Rx7s are nice...but Ive heard many bad things about rotary engines.

good luck,

-m

[SimpleS14]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (dr2if4ta0sx @ Sep. 24 2002,12:32)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Means that he was thinking about his baby, the 240, the whole day. dual means two, dual40 = twoforty <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Oh now that makes sense &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/whatsthat.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':whatthe:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/huh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':huh:'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/eh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':eh:'>

gotta love these smilies &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/satisfied.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':satisfied:'>

[camppain]

for 410 you could have done the front brake z32 setup and for less than 3 even less could have had z32 rear's

ok so now on to your question you want to bbe a porn star. well leet me tell you from my personal experience, yeah sure i get to pork all day long and cream in faces but there is alot of hard work i mean you have to cum when the director wants yu to otherwise you get the whole crew upset and have to reshoot (no pun intended)

think about it long and hard <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

*camppain who just figured out he was on the wrong forum*

ohh umm keep the car &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'> yeah <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/lookaround.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':look:'>

[SR20Fastback]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (camppain @ Sep. 24 2002,11:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">for 410 you could have done the front brake z32 setup and for less than 3 even less could have had z32 rear's

ok so now on to your question you want to bbe a porn star. well leet me tell you from my personal experience, yeah sure i get to pork all day long and cream in faces but there is alot of hard work i mean you have to cum when the director wants yu to otherwise you get the whole crew upset and have to reshoot (no pun intended)

think about it long and hard <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

*camppain who just figured out he was on the wrong forum*

ohh umm keep the car <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'> yeah <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/lookaround.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':look:'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Thanks for the advice Lourans &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'> I slept on it a bit, and still havent really decided. Im gonna do some more research on rotaries first, then think about it some more I guess...

[SimpleS14]

Sell the 240 and buy another 240 &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sneaky.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':pissed:'>

or just keep your car and fix it up

[Titan]

If you are lacking money, DO NOT get the RX-7. Believe me, I wanted to buy one as well, but they are FAR more expensive to keep then the 240 would be.

I've done alot of research on them and I decided it just isn't worth it, even if my older friend from work was selling his mint 86 FC to me for $1000 Canadian (~$600 US). It had only 139,000 km on it (~87,000 mi), but the motor already needed a rebuild.

In any case, here are the advantages and disadvantages I've found for the RX-7.

Advantages:

Fast, especially the Turbo II
Smooth power band
Great look, unique
Great community

Disadvantages:

- Unreliable (money pit) - contant repairs
- hell ass expensive parts
- Burns fuel like a mother (the N/A gets 17 mpg tops in the city)
- A guy (Aaron Cake) from my city has a heavily modified custom turbo FC and he says he gets 4-5 mpg in the city
- The rotary motor will only take about 140,000 km with decent maintenance, and about 200,000 km with excellent maintenence.
- They are difficult to pass emissions
- There are other weakpoints on the car (the transmission is overloaded from stock, alternator is weak and brakes constantly, certain fuel rail/line problem that has caused thousands of FC's to catch on FIRE! )
- The engine floods VERY easily (if you start the car, you HAVE to drive it for atleast 10 minutes)
- The engine burns atleast 1 quart of oil per 1000 miles, by nature, as it injects oil into the combustion chamber to lubricate the apex seals.
- EDIT: Oh yeah, and they also have massive electrical problems, many people refer to their dash as being "possessed"

If the FC you are looking at needs a rebuild (if it has over 80,000 mi, trust me, it WILL need one soon) then you can't just replace the APEX seals alone. Due to the fact that you teardown the block you also have to replace ALL the other seals. Don't just count on the seals needing replacement either, more often then not it is wise to replace the rotors and housing too.

And my info is not biased, as I do not even have a 240 yet, or any other car for that matter.

Alot of this information was confirmed by Aaron Cake (one of the most respected memebers on rx7club.com). He was infact the one that told me the FC was a money pit, and that in the past 3 years he's dumped $15,000-$20,000 CDN into the car.. including mods of course.

All in all, you have to be a die-hard rotary enthusiast to get this car and enjoy it. Also, this isn't a car I would recommend if it is your only form of transportation, as you WILL see alot of downtime.

In any case, it's your choice... go with what makes you happy.

[240 2NR]

The worst of buying an FC is not how much you know (it helps) but how much the previous owner knows and how well they maintained and serviced it. &nbsp;Otherwise you're buying their neglect of a fickle motor. &nbsp;If they're rotary heads, it might be in great shape. &nbsp;If they're following the same maintenence schedule as their buick, you're in for some trouble.

[Yoshi]

I think I've gotta go with everyone else on this one man... no doubt the FC turbo is a great performance car, but people are dead on with the maintinience comments. &nbsp;If upkeep of your 240 is pissing you off, don't go near the FC. &nbsp;I think the answer for you is probably sell your 240 and maybe get a newer one? &nbsp;My 91 is great, never had and serious probs w/it, besides the used car place i got it from not telling me there was an intermittant problem with the distributor (bastards)... after that was fixed it was smooth sailing.

Maybe you should look for a s14 or newer s13? &nbsp;maybe find an SE/LE with all the goodies, LSD, etc etc etc <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[SR20Fastback]

Thanks titan, that helped a lot. I guess I Will hold onto my 240 for now. Im still trying to figure out what to do, because Im sure the car will be parked in my dads backyard when I move to CA if I have the SR... I dunno, can anyone else think of a car that is rwd, reasonably priced, and maybe turbo?

[Titan]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (SR20Fastback @ Sep. 25 2002,5:06)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I dunno, can anyone else think of a car that is rwd, reasonably priced, and maybe turbo?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Hmm... tough question. I don't know about the turbo, but for those specifications you could take a look at a car I have in mind now. 87-92 Mustang GT 5.0 liter. I'm not sure how fond you are of Ford, or domestics in general, but from what I hear it is a very decent car.

Specs are as follows:

RWD
~2835 lbs. (Not like the chunky 3400 lbs. later generation ones)
225 hp @ 4000 rpm
300 torque @ 3000 rpm
8 cylinder 5.0 liter
Naturally aspired

I haven't researched the car as extensively as the FC, but here again are some advantages/disadvantages.

Advantages:

-The power (225 horse and 300 torque on ~2835 lbs. is nice, to say the least)
-RWD
-Decent reliability
-Cheap parts and mods (you can always add a vortech supercharger)
-And best of all... the sound of a V8! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

Disadvantages:

-Handling is not the best out of the box
-Gas milage (actually quite reasonable for a 5.0, I hear you get about 18 mpg in the city on average, and approximatly 24-25+ on highways.. which is quite good considering the power)


From what I've seen through my searching, they are generally reasonably priced, and have a pretty good community. Also, like James pointed out, you'll find alot of mechanics that know their mustangs well, more so then mechanics who know imports.

I also owe much of this info to BadMoJo, who has owned 3 5.0's. So if you consider one, I'm sure he'll be glad to answer any other questions.

Also, if you are still considering the FC, gimme a pm and I can get you Aaron Cake's contact.

[DrDubbleB]

Finally got around to responding. It's a tough decision, and I think you need to do a bit of homework before jumping into anything. Personally I love RX-7's, mostly the FD's....sexy bitches they are! <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> But the FC's are nice too.

The way they work is you have to give them lots of TLC in order to keep them in good running order. This means that you will end up having to rebuild the engine more often (which isn't really that expensive because rotary engines have something like 7 moving parts...and fewer gaskets and seals also). One thing you would have to keep in mind is that the rotary engines are made to burn a bit of oil...that's just the nature of them, so you would have to be sure to check the levels often (you should do it with every gas fill up anyways).

Parts for FC's are not that expensive at all, which is nice...the most expensive part would be the turbos, but you can get a rotary engine (and parts for it) for dirt cheap (you can also just get the turbos rebuilt...and that would be cheaper than replacing them).

The biggest downside to an RX-7 in my opinion is getting a reliable mechanic to work on it. Dealerships just don't know how to do it properly due to it being rotary...the order that parts get put back together differs slightly from piston engines, and dealerships tend to fuck it up if they aren't used to rotaries (go to a specialist for your engine work).

[Titan]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (DrDubbleB @ Sep. 25 2002,6:40)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">The biggest downside to an RX-7 in my opinion is getting a reliable mechanic to work on it. Dealerships just don't know how to do it properly due to it being rotary...the order that parts get put back together differs slightly from piston engines, and dealerships tend to fuck it up if they aren't used to rotaries (go to a specialist for your engine work).</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I don't know about the states, but here Mazda dealerships don't even service rotary engines anymore. The closest "specialist" to my city is 200km (120 mi) away, and I don't live in that small of a city (300,000 people). Not to mention specialists tend to be expensive.

Yet, you see, engine work isn't the only problem with the RX-7, if it was, then I would have one long ago.

It's all the other things.. weak tranny, brutal alternator, fuel rail/line problem, bad gas mileage, electrical problems, high insurance... sadly, I could go on all day.

[DrDubbleB]

Dealerships in the states (at least where I live) still service them. &nbsp;I know tons about RX-7's and well they might have some problems, they aren't nearly as bad as you are making them out to be. &nbsp;I'd take an FD anyday over my 240.

The insurance would be the only thing holding me back.

[Titan]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (DrDubbleB @ Sep. 25 2002,8:01)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Dealerships in the states (at least where I live) still service them. I know tons about RX-7's and well they might have some problems, they aren't nearly as bad as you are making them out to be. I'd take an FD anyday over my 240.

The insurance would be the only thing holding me back.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
hell, I'd take an FD anyday too if I had an unlimited bank account.

I'm not trying to put down the 7, infact, I love Rex's!
It's just that most people are not able to feasibly own one.

When my friend offered to sell his 7 to me for $1000 I was giddier then a naked boy roaming the country side. But then I began to research the car more, and began to discover it's downsides as well as some advantages.

I was so torn between the idea of getting one that I began to have nose bleeds at night... yeah I know, weird. But the alure of the rotary was that powerful, it was like a drug... a very expensive one at that... one that I could ultimatly not afford.

The thing is, the cars can be great if they are got brand spankin' new, yet as that is impossible, the care of the previous owner has a tremendous effect on the future of that car.

Like I said before, if it makes you happy, go for it, just be smart about it by knowing what you are getting into.

[aqwkmf]

hell im all for the TII.....i almost bought 4-5 rx7s in the past. rode in a 87 TII and all i can say is yes. if i had the money for one i would have one. but i needed reliabilty so i got the 240. but like the sig says....the time has come for the fd saving to begin

[SR20Fastback]

Yeah the FC is starting to seem a little out of my league. I did a little search for S14's though and found one in kansas aprox. 1500 miles from me... Well the description of the car says its a 96 (it looks to be black) and it says "39k original miles" The price is very low, and I havent figured out why yet. Its $3950... No one better buy that car, because its sooo mine!! Well the description also says that it needs suspension work. So my new plan is to contact the guy and find out specificly what is wrong with the car, then Im going to put my prelude on autotrader, keep my fastback for now... and fly to kansas and buy that sonbitch &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'> &nbsp;


Any thoughts, concerns, comments? If anyone lives in Kansas that might be intrested in maybe checking the car out for me? Send me a message on AIM... Im at my friends house til tomorrow afternoon so I will get it then


SR20Fastback for you AIM users <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>