[net.auto] Clutch Life Survey: Results!

wsm (01/14/83)

HERE IT IS!!!  THE RESULTS OF THE GREAT CLUTCH LIFE SURVEY!!!!!!!!!!!!

I received 19 responses to my request for clutch life data.  The
statistical breakdown of this data is as follows:
(all figures in miles)

Average life - 52,400		Standard deviation - 21,600
Average cost of replacement:  $275
(parts only avg: $55)

Breakdown by car type:

TYPE			AVG LIFE	STD DEV		SAMPLE SIZE
----			--------	-------		-----------
Front drive		38,200		18,700		5
Rear drive		55,200		21,400		14
Japanese		45,000		20,400		4
American		47,000		21,200		8
European		58,300		33,500		7

The shortest life was a 68 Maverick which needed a new clutch
`every' 20,000 miles, the longest was a 73 Fiat 124 which was still
on its original clutch at 115,000 miles!

My thanks to all who supplied data: ihuxx!ignatz, uwvax!michael,
ihuxk!rs55611, druxi!jkl, ih1ap!lrd, brunix!mjb, hogpc!garyj,
ihuxr!dlr, harpo!ghe, houxn!3383mdm, aluxz!ltn, eisx!wpw, and
ittap!pedalman.  

Walt Morris		BTL-MH		...mhtsa!mh3bs!wsm