So I blew my upper radiator hose today two hours before I had to go to work. I called all the auto parts places and no one stocked them regularly, all special order.

AutoZone was the only place that could help me, they had those "flex" hoses. They're straight and ribbed with some big metal coil inside and you just bend them to shape. It was an emergency so I got it but is it okay to keep this as a permanent or should I get a pre-curved one?

 

Get a pre-curved one.. because if your hose gets in contact with something like your air intake box, it will rupture soon.

 

it doesn't touch anything, it's totally clear. Any other reasons why I should get a pre curved one?

 

no... not unless your crap says APC on it

 

haha no it's plain black, it's supposed to be model specific, like length and width, it's not like extra long or anythin

 

pre-curved flows better? you said the one you have is ribbed

 

i don't see why not but i am skeptical to how durable those metal hoses are. metal gets fatigued over time as it keeps flexing, with the engine torque i could foresee the metal line rupturing in time where a rubber hose should last quite a bit longer.

 

I used a flex one for quite some time with no problems.