About: Autolove

Overview:
This 1999 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 takes me back to 1991 when I bought the second Camaro of my life. It was new, white with a black convertible top, and only $22,000. The first Camaro coincidentally was white with a black top as well. It was a used 1967 model that I bought in about 1974 for $1,100.

The Alpha and the Omega of my Camaro experience and coincidentally the Alpha and Omega for Chevrolet’s Camaro, which it introduced in 1967 to compete with the Ford Mustang.

Things were much less expensive in the 1970’s and in 1974 my house cost $43,000 which isn’t uncommon for the price of some of today’s cars. The 1967 today, in its then condition, would probably go for nearly the $27,000 you’d pay for this new 1999.

Yes we made much less income back then, but the disparity somehow didn’t seem that great. Today that same house is on the market for about $450,000. If you analyze the numbers however they come out amazingly consistent, on average, over the past 40 years. Take a look at some ballpark figures:

  1964 1974 1984 1994 2000

Salary $10,000 $20,000 $40,000 $80,000 $120,000

House $20,000 $40,000 $80,000 $160,000 $320,000

Car          $2,000  $4,000   $8,000  $16,000   $24,000

From this you can deduce a car will cost you about 20% of your annual income to pay cash. It would cost you about 30% of your annual income each year to pay to live in the house.

If you ever wondered where your money goes it boils down to some pretty basic stuff. Two cars and a house, fairly typical, take about 40% of your income, Uncle Sam takes about 50% and food clothing and recreation take about 20%. That leaves a minus 10% that comes from savings or is charged to your credit card. I have a suggestion for that budget surplus Clinton is boasting.

Well in keeping with the formula to keep us surfs too busy to complain, the car plays its roll by giving us the wheels to get to that job to pay for everything – almost. Bob Barker would say “Come on down”, the price is right at between $16,705 – $28,115. Trouble is Bob; mom didn’t work back then. Dad could make enough for the family including a vacation. Now mom works and the two can’t coordinate time for a family outing.

Anyway, what you get in this Camaro is relatively very good. This classic muscle car gives much better mileage than did that 1967, which got about 7-12 mpg compared to 17 and 24 mpg today. Gas has gone up from about $.35 / gal to $1.35 / gal, so for every 10 miles driven you paid about $.35 back then and today it costs about $.70 to travel that same 10 miles.

You also get a safer more comfortable car today with gadgets like Acceleration Slip Regulation (traction control) and a high-powered Monsoon stereo system as available options. Camaro’s middle name is performance and has been a successful racecar for many years. Today, there’s bound to be a Camaro racing somewhere in America on any given race weekend.

Camaro is available in four trims: Camaro (base) and Z28, each as a 2-door coupe or convertible.

The competition:

Chrysler Sebring $19,735 – $26,560, Dodge Avenger $18,940 – $21,185, Ford Mustang $16,520 – $25,270, Honda Prelude $23,450 – $25,950, Mitsubishi Eclipse $17,697 – $20,187, Pontiac Firebird $18,250 – $30,460, Toyota Celica $21,440 – $25,009.

Good News:

Heart stopping styling and heart starting performance, thrilling acceleration, ease of use convertible top that adds to making this car flat out Fun to drive and relatively speaking it is a decent value for the money.

Bad News:

Tiny back seat makes this car, for all practical purposes, a 2-seater, visibility is not too good with the top up, difficult to get in and out of, poor storage area in the trunk, passenger side bump in the floor where the catalytic converter is situated.

Standard Equipment:

5.7-liter 305-horsepower V8, auto trans, power 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, dual airbags, daytime running lights, air conditioning, theft-deterrent system, 200-watt Monsoon AM/FM stereo cassette system, 16-inch aluminum wheels, a limited-slip differential, tilt wheel, folding rear seat, power folding top, and an available 6-speed manual transmission.

Gas Stats:

17 City and 24 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $27,850

Overview:
Nice styling and handling with reasonable price tag was my first impression of this Y2K Chevrolet Impala LS. Impala is available in two trims: Base and LS. It is considered a full size car but it has a smaller look and feel while retaining the roominess. Its name has been around for over 40 years since its introduction in 1958.

It became Chevrolet’s best-selling car in its second year of production. More than a million were sold in 1965 alone—a record that still stands for a single brand name.

I really did get a good feeling driving this car. It’s the kind of car you’d guess the price to be much more than it is. But moreover it has a feel of more expensive cars. Solid ride and comfortable seating and other interior features to enhance the perception. The interior is not only well appointed, the fit and finish is high quality for the price. I had just come out of a big top of the line Mercedes so the mere fact that I didn’t sense a huge step down speaks volumes of what the car is like.

Brother John had a black 1958 Impala that he wrapped around a telephone pole when we were in our late teens. I remember that car well and can still recall that awesome indentation of what that phone pole did to the drivers side door. With a whack like that you had to be in your teens to survive the blow. This 2000 model doesn’t look like that car but has the same unique character. Perhaps the only similarity is that it has round taillights like those on the Impala’s of the 1960s. But unlike earlier Impalas, the 2000 model features front-wheel drive.

In addition to having a great looking interior it is also very roomy. Friend Ilona thought the back could seat four big people, but it really isn’t made for four. Only three seatbelts. The trunk is also very spacious, but I bumped my head on the latch when I reached in to get my golf clubs. That smarts. Either I’m a klutz or the design lacks something. It doesn’t fold out of the way as well as it could. The door handles also bothered me. You know, the kind that your fingers slip off as you pull it up and out. I’ve always liked the look of those handles, but I’ve never liked how they operate. However, the design if modified slightly can work very well. For example, the Chevrolet Camero handle operates on the same principal but it is much better. In spite of these complaints I could see buying one of these and would recommend it to my kids. They have young families now and developing careers so the looks coupled with the economy make this a great car for the times. It would be great for the working mom or dad. Less expensive to operate than that yuppie BMW and still looks great. For the mom who takes the kids and being a mom a little more seriously I still like the minivan line, like Venture from Chevrolet.

The competition:

Buick LeSabre $23,235 – $27,340, Dodge Intrepid $20,120 – $22,965, Ford Taurus $17,560 – $29,115, Honda Accord $15,200 – $24,300, Mitsubishi Galant $17,357 – $23,757, Nissan Maxima $21,049 – $26,249, Oldsmobile Intrigue $21,640 – $25,020,

Subaru Legacy $19,195 – $24,295, Toyota Camry $17,098 – $25,058, Volkswagen Passat $21,200 – $28,150.

Good News:

Rich styling, very roomy, good performance and great mileage, feel of more expensive foreign cars with reasonable American prices.

Bad News:

Difficult door handles, trunk lid opening could be better.

Standard Equipment:

3.8-liter V6 200 horsepower engine, 4-speed auto trans, includes air conditioning, power windows and door locks, intermittent wipers, rear window defroster, theft-deterrent system, AM/FM stereo system, cruise control, center console, power driver’s seat, 16-inch alloy wheels, split-folding rear seat, traction control, dual airbags, a driver’s side airbag, daytime running lights, child safety locks, and anti-lock brake system.

Gas Stats:

20 City and 29 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $22,365

Overview:
Well, it was a bit of a surprise that this Chevrolet Silverado is GM’s best-selling vehicle. But it should be no surprise considering it is flat out one of the best pick ups on the market, in my view. It is slightly behind Ford’s F-150 in overall sales. One of my favorites is the competitive Dodge Ram, but if you have a thing for Chevrolet you’ll likely lean toward the Silverado rather than the Ram or F-150.

I have to tell you it was culture shock after the prior week in an S500 Mercedes Benz – the cost of which would buy three of these Silverado’s. But I also have to say that the truck was a refreshing change. I was thrilled to once again operate the radio and air conditioning on my own without computer interference. Literally those high tech cars try to take over your life. Sometimes less is better. I could actually rotate a dial to change radio stations. Know the feeling?

Naturally I’m not comparing this truck to the Mercedes, but try this one on for size… this Silverado doesn’t even have a vanity mirror on the driver side visor. Instantly I had a flashback to my 1955 Ford ½ ton pickup. It didn’t have vanity anything. Check it out. Roll up windows, manual seat adjustment, rubber mats separating you from a metal body and frame.. you get the idea – real basic in those days.  What then? Does GM expect only men will buy this truck? How would a woman put on her makeup while driving?

Ok, so it’s a truck. That’s something I forgot until I went over the same dip I just went over the day before in the Mercedes at about the same speed. This Silverado took it like a truck. But from the inside the luxury and comfort makes you forget you’re IN a truck. And this is really a truckers truck. It’s beefy, solid, sits high for good eye contact with drivers of 18 wheelers and has the power to pull a house. I’d rate it at the top of the truck competition.

I don’t like to complain, but the mileage sucks which is especially noticeable with rising gas prices. My 1955 Ford V8 got nearly as good mileage and the price of gas back then was about 20 cents a gallon. And while I’m complaining, I think the third door should be on the driver’s side where it is likely to be used. Take a look around GM. Most cars “and trucks” on the road only have one occupant – the driver. Hellll-oh, anyone home?

You’re right –  “me thinks I protest too much”. But some things just bug you. Anyway, on the positive side, even though today’s trucks are quieter and more luxurious than we deserve they are still trucks nevertheless. The suspension is stiff for the jobs a truck is called to do. So the ride is not exactly car like, but in all fairness manufacturers have done a great job of giving us the best of both worlds.

I like the truck a lot and shouldn’t compare with how things were baaack in the good old days. Ever get flashbacks of those days? In a dream state this morning I drifted back in time to the nostalgia of my pre-teens. I revisited the wonderful feeling of sitting on the living room floor listening to “The Shadow” or “The Lone Ranger” by a warm fire on a cold evening. It snowed in Pasadena that year and it was a welcoming we hadn’t expected moving from Massachusetts to sunny California. Dad must have cringed to think he hauled a 25 foot trailer behind a 1946 Chevrolet sedan only to have to shovel snow again. He’d given away his snow shovel when we left Boston. Ever get those flashbacks?

This Silverado 1500 is a ½ ton and the 2500 is a 3/4 ton and they come in regular and extended cabs, two or three doors, a pickup bed with flared sides or straight sides, multiple wheelbases and 2- or 4-wheel drive. It is interesting to note that 75 percent of pickup trucks sold are half ton; 60 percent have extended cabs and 56 percent are 4X4s.

The model I tested had a bed liner, and it was a bit of a disappointment in how it fit. I thought there must be options, so I asked around. Partner and race driver Price Cobb told me about an alternative that’s hot right now. He said Rhino Linings has a “Sprayed-on” liner called Tuff Stuff and it even comes in colors. It is made of polyurethane so things won’t slip and slide. If you have questions on this option, e-mail me or call 626 398 3054 for the low down.

The competition:

Dodge Ram 1500 $14,795 – $23,580 Ford F-150 $15,285 – $29,995 GMC Sierra Classic 1500 $22,796 – $25,946 Toyota Tundra $14,995 – $27,830.

Good News:

Quiet ride, handles well, four-wheel disc brakes for reduced stopping distances, Chevrolet quality, powerful, car like roomy interior.

Bad News:

Poor mileage, long turning radius, bumpy ride, restricted visibility, third door on wrong side, poorly installed bed liner.

Standard Equipment:

Vortec 5300 5.3 liter 270-horsepower V8 gas engine, 4-speed auto trans, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, dual air bags with deactivation switch for passenger side, three door, tilt wheel, power steering – windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, independent front suspension with multi-leaf rear springs, trailering wire harness, front recovery hooks, air conditioning, dual power mirrors, stereo with CD and cruise control.

Gas Stats:

15 City and 18 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $25,895

Overview:
This week’s review is the Chevrolet Venture minivan. It is perfect for young families and I wish they had them when my kids were little. And it’s interesting to note that my rich and not so rich relatives like what minivans have to offer. When they have real family concerns this vehicle platform is very appealing for a few basic reasons.

For starters, it is easy to get in and out of for young and old than its more popular rival, the sport utility vehicles, or SUV. It is car like in most every way but better. Cars are good before and after kids and the SUV is fine after the youngest kids are twelve and older. That’s when they have outgrown their little league and soccer uniforms and are ready for some serious “off road” camping trips. It’s like the auto industry is actually listening to consumer needs. In this case they hit the jackpot with the minivan, because it falls smack dab between the old style van, (like the Chevy Astro Van, Chrysler’s Caravan and Voyager and VW’s Euro Van, etc.), and the sport utility’s (like Jeep, Chevy Blazer, Ford Explorer, Infiniti QX4, etc.). It fits so well and serves a need so perfectly that it’s no surprise this vehicle has grown so in popularity.

A couple of years ago after daughter Jenny had been wrestling with car seats, toddler and all the rest for about a year, her wish was to someday own a minivan. The need has grown by magnitudes now that she has number two child. I thought twice about visiting while driving this Venture but I did anyway and it heightened her sense of urgency to buy a minivan. “Which one is best, dad?” – Jen, they’re all really good and they all look the same. The only difference in appearance is the manufacturers badge. I suggested they test drive a few to get a feel for which seemed better from the standpoint of: ride, solid feel, and be sure it is well insulated (so the world can be sparred the screaming kids), and neat features like this Venture’s baby seat built in to one of the seat backs, and of course PRICE. And since all the competition is closely priced, that will be more a factor of how much the dealer will “DEAL”. As for this Venture, Jenny, I like it just fine. It handles great, is powerful, comfortable, fun to drive, good gas mileage and I simply like Chevy’s.

My first car was a 1934 coupe with a rumble seat – and no, I didn’t buy it new. I’ve since owned a 1946 Pickup, a 1957 2-door hard top, a 1967 2-door Malibu hard top- which I did buy new and that’s the one I brought you home from the hospital in, a 1967 Convertible for the fun of it, a 1971 Station Wagon – to be practical (they didn’t have minivans then), and finally a 1991 Camaro Convertible – to relive the thrill of it all when I wasn’t riding my Harley Davidson. And I loved them all.

Chrysler dominates this class but since its introduction in 1997 Chevrolet’s Venture seems to have met consumers wants. It is squarely in the current mainstream of minivan design and if you, like me, lean toward Chevrolet products, you’ll include this one in your test drive and consideration. Venture is available in three trims: Regular 3-door and 4-door and an Extended 4-door. Venture’s windshield features a unique metallic coating that helps keep the interior cool and serves as the radio antenna as well. I like the look of the regular length model, but I have to say the storage space is almost useless. You literally have about one foot of depth to the last row of the eight seating configuration. If you don’t need more than five seats, forget my last comment.

I hope I answered your question Jenny….(buy the Cheeevy), love, Dad.

The competition:

Chrysler Town & Country $27,385 – $36,340, Dodge Caravan $18,205 – $31,710, Ford Windstar $18,425 – $30,415, Honda Odyssey $23,000 – $25,800, Mercury Villager $22,415 – $25,015, Oldsmobile Silhouette $24,610 – $31,200, Plymouth Voyager $18,205 – $23,075, Pontiac Montana $21,325 – $24,040, Toyota Sienna $21,508 – $26,574.

Good News:

Comfortable ride, good performance, smooth shifting trans, lots of neat features including built in baby seat, storage compartments and cupholdera galore for all the rug rats, Chevy reliability.

Bad News:

Less than solid sounding front doors, poor engine access – but only the service department will complain.

Standard Equipment:

3.4-liter 185-horsepower V6 engine, 4-speed auto trans, dual front and side airbags, anti-lock front disc – rear drum brake system (ABS), daytime running lights, power door locks and outside mirrors, theft deterrent system, dual sliding doors, air conditioning, integrated pollen filter, multiple cupholders, intermittent wipers, tilt steering wheel, and AM/FM stereo.

Gas Stats:

18 City and 25 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $22,045