This is a little long, sorry, but here goes. IMHO, most all bagger systems that are designed for a specific mfr brand and mower deck work amazingly well. Non-fan assist bagger/collection systems: these are the simplest and least expensive, roughly from $225 to $375 depending on the mfr and whether 2 or 3-bag setups. These basically consist of a deck discharge connector, a tube to the rear mtd bagger, and the bags with cover. There traditionally was an unpublished rule-of-thumb that a one or two blade mower deck (generally speaking 46-in. width and less) worked best with these non-assist systems (less disturbance to grass flow into the discharge than 3-blade setups. But even that notion has been challenged with Consumer Reports tests of the Craftsman 54-inch deck with add-on bagger which they state works well. Things can change with proper design and testing. Fan-assist bagger collection systems: These use a fan in front of the deck discharge that induces flow of air and grass into, and up through, the discharge tube and into the bags. These systems are more positive and efficient and deal with moist grass better than the non-assist types; they clog up less. Their downsides (isn't there always a downside?): their cost (maybe $800 to $900); the fact that they are driven off a pulley on the deck, which in turn puts an extra load on the engine, reducing available power for cutting tall grass (make sure the engine has adequate horsepower); that in turn burns more fuel; and lastly, if they do get clogged they are more difficult to clean out, although not that bad. I've had since new a 1987 Montgomery Wards lawn tractor made by MTD with a 38-inch wide deck and non-fan assist bagger (designed for that mower and deck) that bags grass and leaves very well. I now also have a JD Zero Turn Radius mower with fan-assist bagger that also bags very well and hasn't clogged up yet in the past year I've owned it. Good luck, hope this helps. There may be others with a different opinion. Bill

To quote Steve...However, the government created a tremendous loophole in classifying minivans, pickups, and SUVs as trucks exempt from those regulations even if people use them as cars (the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law). And everyone pays pretty much the same in road taxes whether they're pounding the roads with a three-ton-plus Lincoln Navigator or a one-ton Nissan Sentra. Everyone's insurance has gone up because of increased damage claims made by people in cars who've been hit by a truck or people who don't know how to drive trucks to begin with. There's nothing proportional about that................... Our government has really fumbled the ball here, and after so many years has yet to rectify this situation. I suspect they are trying to protect the remnants of the American auto industry.. I believe we should be far more united with Europe in protecting the environment - that their approach is more balanced and fair.. We have a government that responds too easily to the pressure groups rather than the people in general. The environmentalists and their supporters are probably the single strongest pressure group in Washington and many state capitols as well. I feel that national interests are more important; that we must no longer continue to be dependent on Islamic oil.. One of the solutions to this problem is the Diesel and a much higher standard for fuel economy...

Golf rebadge proves Rabbit didn't die After two years of waiting and wondering, Canadians finally get a chance at the new Golf and it's not even a new Golf ... it's a new Rabbit. The Rabbit was beaten to Canada by the new GTI, which will also carry its own identity rather than also tie it to the Golf (of which both are versions). A 5-door GTI is available as of July 2006. It was 1984 when the Volkswagen Rabbit was last marketed in Canada to coincide with the change in Golf generations. The Golf has been one of the best-selling nameplates in history and will undoubtedly continue, since the Rabbit is simply a rebadge only for North America (as it was between 1975 and 1984). The reason is that VW wanted to capture some of the nostalgia of the name, but in the process it also brings the car appeal to a younger audience. VW Canada originally projected sales of 4,500 cars through to the end of the 2006, but is already adjusting its projections upwards under the knowledge of initial demand, and an aggressive lease strategy. There are several exclusivities to Rabbit, including the 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine that isn't available to Golf (but is also dropped into Jetta), and its being sourced out of Wolfsburg (most of Canada's Golfs were made in Mexico). The engines continue to be sourced out of Mexico, which means they'll rack up the frequent flyer miles since they get shipped to Germany to be bolted in cars that then enter Canada through Halifax. VW Canada's Executive VP, John White says there is no import gains realized in relation to Free Trade. Rabbit comes to Canada in 3-door and 5-door hatchback bodystyle, all powered by the 150-hp 2.5 20-valve inline-5. Power delivery to the front wheels is entrusted to 5-speed manual or an optional 6-speed automatic with Tiptronic sequential mode. That allows the automatic to actually attain better fuel economy, due to the extra gear and the capability to short-shift. Both transaxles feature gears that take good advantage of the engine's power bands, meaning progressive acceleration. The manual's crisp shifter and smooth clutch make for very relaxed driving. As with any VW, the cars are stocked with an abundance of safety assists, including anti-lock brakes, traction control (ASR, for anti-slip regulation), and electro-mechanical steering assist, which VW claims is nearly an active steering system. A fully independent suspension grants a typically solid Golf ride, soaking up just about any severity of broken pavement. Handling is relatively stable and there isn't any reason to believe the new Rabbit won't adopt the Golf trait of lifting the rear inside wheel on tight, high-speed corners. Standard equipment includes semi-automatic climate control (you can set the temperature and it the system will maintain it, but the fan speed and vent location are manual), power windows, locks and mirrors, height-adjustable driver's seat, active head restraints, and front side-impact airbags and full side curtain-airbags. The 5-door Rabbit adds 8-way adjustable front seats, upgraded centre console with adjustable armrest, and a rear armrest with pass-through for the 60/40 split folding seatback. Popular options include the 6-speed automatic, stability control (ESP), a power sunroof, 16-inch alloy wheels, rear side-impact airbags (5-door only), in-dash 6-CD changer, and heated front seats and washer nozzles. An iPod plug-in is available later in 2006. http://www.autonet.ca/Spotlight/NewModels/story.cfm?story=/Spotlight/NewModels/2006/06/15/1634865.html

Yes, most cars today have two computers (at least). The PCM is the powertrain control module, which controls the engine functions, and the BCM, body control module, which controls accessories such as heating and a/c, and increasingly it even watches over things like power locks, power windows, interior lights, etc. This is what gives functions like "retained accessory power," where the radio and other stuff keeps running for a while after you shut the car off (until you open the front door), and "battery rundown protection," which will shut off interior or exterior lights after a period of time if they're accidentally left on. When you turn on the a/c, that doesn't directly trigger a switch in the a/c system. Instead, you are putting in a request to the BCM, and if various conditions are met, such as engine not being overheated, RPM not above a certain level, etc., the BCM will in turn start the a/c compressor. But all of this is pretty irrelevant to the average car owner like you and me, because if these modules are bad, there isn't much we can do about it. The good thing is, however, that they very rarely fail. Most likely you BCM is working right, and some condition that it's checking for in the a/c is not being met, such as it might have insufficient refrigerant, or maybe there is a sensor that's bad which is giving the BCM faulty data. Bottom line is, you really need to take it to someone who can test it and see what's going on.