Tag Archives: 1999

1999 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (272)

09-11-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

The Pontiac Firebird Trans Am that I tested was the convertible model. It also had the Ram Air Performance and Handling package. I looked but couldn’t find the “oxygen” system I expected to be included. It wasn’t in the trunk because that was just large enough to put my golf clubs in.

But it didn’t lack for excitement. This is as close to being an astronaut as you and I will come. If a car looks like a rocket and sounds like a rocket it’s reasonable to assume it is a rocket. The 5.7-liter V8 engine develops 305-horsepower and comes with a 6-speed manual transmission. The traction control is awesome and makes this fastest of production cars (in the US) much safer. Steve asked, “is it as fast as that 911 Porsche C4?” and you know I said yes, but the Porsche is smoother and more sophisticated. The Firebird is typical “All American Muscle Car”. “Yeah, but the Porsche cost three times as much”, says Steve.

Steve is absolutely correct and that got me reflecting back on my Porsche review. For the dough this Trans Am is a performance car that’s equally fun to drive. The problem is you have nowhere to drive it the way you’d like to. Angeles Crest highway, north of the LA suburb of Los Angeles is a great road to feel the performance and the “Crest Test” will make you a believer. The speed limit there is 55 and that will be good enough to sense the great handling characteristics.

I took the trek over the Crest as the sun was just starting to rise. My destination was Willow Springs racetrack down the road from Edwards Air Force base. After 3,000 shifts on that 6-speed transmission over 40 miles of winding road over the San Gabriel Mountains I was kinda pooped. But after a good breakfast I was up for a full day of zipping around the track to test all the 2000 models. Over lunch I had a discussion with another journalist and found agreement from yet another auto columnist that there are very few differences in makes and models any more. They are very homogenous in overall design and propulsion systems. We haven’t changed much over the past 100 years – not really. Automakers seem to be shuffling paper and marking time in the industry waiting for some magical breakthrough in technology. Perhaps we’ll be flying in hovercrafts next.

And in the meantime, real world, this Firebird for all its improvements still has a “push rod” type engine. Well, I guess “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” applies here. And why not? Does dual overhead cam make the car better? They’ve even managed to get 28 miles per gallon out of this very powerful Trans Am car.

The 2000 model sports 17-inch high-polished aluminum wheels included in the Ram Air package, and the throttle linkage has been revised on all V8 engines equipped with the 6-speed manual transmission. In other words not much change and there hasn’t been much change over the 33 years since its introduction in 1967. Today it remains as one of only three of the so-called “pony cars” of that era.

For the new millennium they come in five trims: Firebird (base) Coupe and Convertible, Formula Coupe, and Trans Am Coupe and Convertible. If you’re in the market for a ride to the moon at economy ticket prices, you have to test this Trans Am, (but don’t let the salesman tag along).

The competition:

Chevrolet Camaro $16,840 – $28,365, Dodge Avenger $18,970 – $21,215, Ford Mustang $16,520 – $31,605, Honda Prelude $23,500 – $26,000, Mitsubishi Eclipse $17,697 – $20,187, Toyota Celica $16,695 – $21,165.

Good News:

Great fun to drive because it’s speed and handling are awesome, good range of models and prices, easy to operate top, very decent mileage.

Bad News:

Starts with P and that rhymes with T and that stands for Trouble – the trouble you can get into driving this high performance car.

Standard Equipment:

5.7-liter V8 305 horsepower engine with 6-speed manual trans, Ram Air Induction with functional air scoops, low restriction dual exhaust, tuned suspension, dual airbags, four-wheel anti-lock power disc brake system (ABS), traction control, power top, power windows, door locks, antenna and keyless entry, cruise control, air conditioning, fog lights, rear spoiler, 17-inch 5-spoke high polished aluminum wheels, a rear window defroster, AM/FM stereo with cassette and 12 disc trunk mounted CD player, low-profile Z-rated tires and power bucket leather front seats.

Gas Stats:

19 City and 28 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $35,030.

1999 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD Extended Cab (271)

03-11-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
This 1999 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab was great to drive. Standard or regular cabs must surely be on their way out because there is nowhere to put your golf clubs. I’ve owned two pickup trucks before extended cabs were available. The first was a 1946 Chevy and the other a 1955 Ford.

And no, I didn’t buy them new. But they were both great vehicles and at the time the love of my life. Young people have weird priorities don’t they? When you’ve owned regular cab pickups you appreciate even more the convenience of an extended cab. Pickups, like almost everything else, just continue to improve every year in every way. You can finally put the kidney belt in storage. Those old “rock and roll” trucks are now in mothballs, except for the ones restored by older guys in rod clubs. They know that old feeling and usually replace the suspension with new stuff. Today’s trucks are almost embarrassingly comfortable for macho guys.

If you look hard enough you’ll find something wrong about everything. But the complaint I saw in this 1999 model is the third door. I know I should appreciate having a third door, but I feel that putting it on the driver side would have been better. I have a keen sense of the obvious and when you look around you find most cars and trucks only have one person in them most of the time. So it stands to reason that the driver will use the third door most of the time. Anyway, if you have the family along it might be better to help the little ones up on your side. Well GM, what am I missing here? Probably nothing, because consumers must have complained too. They added a fourth door for 2000 as an option.

At the end of the day, however, that wouldn’t stop me from buying a 3-door 1999. If you’re like me you like to take advantage of the great deals for end of a model year shoppers. In any case I stopped complaining about the third door when I mashed down on the throttle and felt that old feeling. Raw power. Perhaps it’s the most noticeable impression this truck will leave you with. The Vortec 5300 5.3-liter V8 engine is really impressive.

Historically the GMC brand name goes back 90 years and it’s not surprising that Sierra has been GMC’s bestseller by a two-to-one margin. If you wondered where the “beef” is, you won’t have to look any further than the GMC truck. I like the Dodge Ram and several of my friends and family opted to buy the Ram. Even though I consider them close and tough competitors I lean to GM products because I feel they stand up better, longer. I doubt it would surprise anyone that GM expects that men will purchase 90 percent of their trucks. Women simply have far less use for a truck.

The Competition:

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 $15,355 – $32,050, Dodge Ram 1500 $14,895 – $23,850, Ford F-150 $15,285 – $30,710, Toyota Tundra $14,995 – $27,830.

Good News:

Solid feel, car like comfort, handles great, stops on a dime and you get 5 cents change, GM quality, powerful, outstanding fit and finish, quiet.

Bad News:

Typical poor mileage from a big V8, large size is tough to maneuver, stiff suspension that makes it a truck also gives bumpy ride on cement roads, and third door should be on driver side.

Standard Equipment:

5.3 liter 285-horsepower Vortec V8 engine, 4-speed automatic trans, 4-wheel drive, dual airbags with shut off switch for passenger side, daytime running lights, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), tinted glass, engine hour meter, driver message center, theft-deterrent system, cloth split-bench seat, carpeting, AM/FM stereo, Front frame-mounted recovery hooks, Power steering, wiring harness for towing and third rear access door.

Gas Stats:

15 City and 18 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $27,230

1999 Cadillac Seville STS (265)

16-09-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
This 1999 Cadillac Seville STS has always been a favorite for me. For those of you who follow my column, you may recall I’ve owned eight Cad’s in my life and have loved them all. Cadillac remains the symbol of excellence the world over. It cracks me up to hear that Ferrari is the Cadillac of sports cars.

And now Cadillac is reaching out to the world. The 1998 Seville was debuted in Frankfurt Germany and the 2000 will be the official pace car for the 58th running of 24 hours of Le Mans. You may know that is the third endurance race referred to as the Triple Crown. Price Cobb who does Point CounterPoint with me won that race in 1990 for Jaguar.

Cadillac seeks to achieve the goal of capturing the luxury market in Europe and Asia. And for those of you who travel the globe, you know there aren’t too many Cad’s out there. Fact is there aren’t too many American cars of any kind. But the future may find exports growing. Ford and Cad are big in Germany where both have production plants. I visited the Ford plant in Koln, Germany, which is close to the French border, and perhaps someone can tell me where the Cadillac plant is. They build Catera’s there. Cadillac is obviously getting more aggressive by going after Mercedes and BMW with the STS. And if you test drive all three I think you’ll agree that Cad does a great job representing American technology abroad.

The Seville is a 4-door sedan offered in two trims: the luxurious SLS and this sporty STS. The Northstar System powers both. The Seville shares the Oldsmobile Aurora’s G-platform, but the Seville models exported to Europe and Asia are slightly shorter than those sold in North America, where space is not such a rare commodity.

This car comes highly recommended.

The Competition:

Acura RL $41,900, BMW 5-Series $38,900 – $53,900, Infiniti Q45 $48,200 – $49,900, Jaguar S-TYPE $42,500 – $48,000, Lexus GS 300/400 $37,305 – $45,505, Lincoln Continental $38,880, Mercedes-Benz E-Class $42,400 – $69,100, Volvo S80 $36,000 – $40,500.

Good News:

It’s a Cadillac, great ride, elegant styling, Northstar performance, whiplash acceleration, luxury features that are user friendly (in contrast to its German competitors),

Bad News:

I couldn’t find any bad news so I read some other reviews and knew I was right. Anything said would be nit picking.

Standard Equipment:

4.6-liter V8 Northstar engine, 4-speed auto trans, four-wheel anti lock disc brakes, traction control, front and side air bags, rainsense wiper, theft deterrent, climate control, power tilt and tele steering wheel, Zebrano wood and leather trim, power front seats, Bose stereo system, with cassette and CD.

Gas Stats:

17 City and 26 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $48,050.

1999 Chevrolet Lumina LTZ Sedan (264)

09-09-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
This 1999 Chevrolet Lumina LTZ is a pretty basic sedan, but it comes with a price to match at about $20,000. The model was introduced in 1990 to be Chevrolet’s high-value, six-passenger midsize sedan. They were aiming at the family market where nearly 75% of buyers are married and said price was the primary reason for their choice. The Lumina is available in a base, LS and this LTZ model.

Recently I tested a Mercedes S500 with electronic controls that I hated. This Lumina is the antithesis of that over complicated system. It has easy-to-use controls that provide everything you really need at literally one fourth the cost of the S500. It also hangs tough against its competition noted below. I’ve tested all and a lot of the reason to buy one over the other will depend on personal preference. Daughter Jenny think foreign built is better, but that ain’t necessarily so. In fact they just bought a Dodge Ram. It’s all the rage you know. Of all those noted here I tend to lean to the Toyota Camry, but I’m becoming more impressed with the fit and finish of American cars including this Lumina. US automakers have come a long way over the past 35 to get back at the Japanese auto industry who dealt such a blow our US autoworkers back in the 1960‘s. Detroit was set up by the fat cat union bosses when they pushed salaries so high US carmakers were unable to compete effectively with their hungry Japanese counterparts.

Historically, Unions did a lot of good after the turn of the 20th century, but outlived their usefulness by post WW II days. That appendage is yet to be cut out because too many people have come to depend on unions for their living. Such necessary organizations like laws of the land should both have “Sunset” clauses in them. Thus they go away after they’ve done their jobs. Gets complicated, eh?

In any case a new generation of American car buyers couldn’t be influenced to buy American. They were too many, and they didn’t have loyalty to the war veteran union workers who were making our cars. They bought foreign products in record numbers and had no clue it would ultimately hurt them by contributing to a failing economy decades later. The recent move back to American made cars wasn’t so much a conscious effort to shore up the economy as it was a renewed confidence in the Big Three who have earned their way back into favor. I also believe the revival was in part due to yet another generation of buyers who would reverse their parent’s exodus to foreign made – everything.

And yes, I’m guilty. I was in that exodus generation that abandoned the American carmakers. I had returned from the orient and Japan in particular where I found the enterprising, hard working Japanese people worthy of my support so they could rebuild their broken country. But then I wasn’t around to experience Pearl Harbor and all that followed during the war years. Even if I had been, seeing Hiroshima would still have altered my sense of duty to my own country. I was ashamed and felt guilty for something I had no control over. Plus I was a poor struggling student in the 1960’s and Japanese cars cost a lot less. I sold out for a little bit of what I thought should be the American dream. It was a matter of individual economics.

Bottom line: American cars are now the best value in the world. Nice job Detroit – or is that Germany and Japan. Who owns Detroit, anyway?

The competition:

Buick Century $18,855 – $20,225, Dodge Intrepid $20,390 – $22,085, Ford Taurus $17,560 – $29,115, Honda Accord $15,350 – $24,550, Mitsubishi Galant $17,357 – $23,757, 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:

Well priced, powerful engine, fuel-efficient, roomy interior and spacious trunk

Bad News:

Uncomfortable seats, plain wrap styling.

Standard Equipment:

3.8 liter 200-hp V6 engine, four-speed automatic trans, dual airbags, child safety locks, daytime running lights, anti-lock brake system, air conditioning, power steering, windows and door locks, cruise control, theft-deterrent system, tilt steering wheel and stereo with tape.

Gas Stats:

19 City and 30 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $20,360.

1999 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 (263)

02-09-1999Autolove No comments

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

1999 Chevrolet Silverado LS 1500 (261)

19-08-1999Autolove No comments

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

1999 Mercedes C-230 Kompressor (259)

04-08-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

This Mercedes-Benz C-230 Kompressor 5-passenger sedan is pretty impressive for the money. Price range: $31,200 – $53,000. And if you were wondering what Kompressor stands for, it means it is Supercharged. You’ll recall Supercharged differs from Turbocharged in the manner in which the added thrust is provided.

Superchargers are belt driven and Turbo’s are exhaust driven. For 1999 Mercedes-Benz added more power to the C-Class by taking the supercharged engine from the SLK and putting it in the C230.

Remember when Porsche came out with an affordable car and called it the 914? Well, there was quite a backlash and people thought it more of a glorified VW than a Porsche. Well, it seems whatever Mercedes Benz does, the car is still unmistakably a Mercedes. They come with that wonderful feel of being the best there is in the driving experience. I fall in love every time I get the request to test drive one of these wonderful automobiles. Tuxedo is optional.

Brother John wouldn’t agree since his car of choice is Ferrari. In his mostly foreign auto repair shop he drove them all and worked on Mercedes as well. But his love affair was with his Black Daytona Ferrari, 12 cylinder performance to the max, $150,000 commuter. Hell, a tune up was about $3,000. I wonder if that included spark plugs? In any case a little rich for my blood. I loved to drive it and they have a way of getting your heart started. A relationship without strings. Sometimes even two seats are more than you need. That’s when you get the Harley Davidson out of the garage and go solo. Sorry John, I believe that if any cars achieve overall perfection it has to be those from Mercedes Benz.

History: Mercedes-Benz had its beginnings in 1886 when Karl Benz was granted a patent for the world\’s first motor car. In 1901, Daimler acquired the rights to the name Mercedes. In 1926, Daimler and Benz merged, and since 1989 Mercedes-Benz has been in charge of all motor vehicle business within the Daimler-Benz group. Mercedes-Benz models are now sold in over 170 countries, with approximately 380 dealerships in North America alone.

Although the C-Class is the entry-level sedan it’s a midsize car and as equipped I put it in the luxury category. The C-Class replaced the 190 trim beginning in 1993. The numeric part of a Mercedes-Benz model name reflects the car\’s engine displacement in liters. In this case the C230 refers to it being a C-Class with a 2.3 liter engine. When I was first married our dream car was the 190 SL sports car. But times changed and the dream was cut short by the arrival of children, which meant practical became the new keyword. Dreams are great aren’t they?

And speaking of children, it’s comforting to know that all Mercedes-Benz models now feature a sensor that deactivates the passenger airbag if weight in the passenger seat is less than 26 pounds—a safety feature designed to protect small children in suburbia and poodles in Beverly Hills.

The 1999 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is available in three trims: C230 Kompressor, C280 and C43 4-door sedans.

The Competition:

Acura TL $27,950, Audi A4 $23,790 – $30,040, BMW 3-Series $26,990 – $33,990, BMW M3 $39,700 – $45,900, Cadillac Catera $34,180, Chrysler LHS $28,950, Infiniti I30 $28,900 – $31,200, Lexus ES 300 $30,905, Mazda Millenia $26,745 – $31,245, Mitsubishi Diamante $27,199, Saab 9-3 $25,900 – $43,995, Volvo S70 $27,385 – $33,520.

Good News:

Mercedes safety, meticulous quality, great styling, superb handling, outstanding performance with the supercharger, Unmistakably Mercedes-Benz

Bad News:

Cramped rear seating, entry and exit not built for big people, controls are not as intuitive as many in its class.

Standard Equipment:

Supercharged 2.3-liter 185-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, 5-speed auto trans, air conditioning, 10-way power front seats, remote keyless system, stereo with cassette, leather, Burl Walnut trim, power windows, cruise control, auto-dimming mirrors, dual front and side airbags, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, passenger seat occupancy sensor and baby smart sensor, cruise control and anti-slip system.

Gas Stats:

21 City and 29 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $31,200, and the model I tested added a glass sunroof, special paint full sport package CD changer, phone, rain sensor Xenon headlights for a total of $37,180.

1999 Chrysler Concorde (258)

27-07-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
Perhaps the most impressive thing to me in Chrysler’s Concorde full-size 6-passenger, 4-door sedan is the price. It’s available in a single trim: the LX and the price is $21,740. The available engines are either a 2.7L V6 200-hp or a 3.2L V6 225-hp and a 4-Speed automatic transmission. With the exception of the price and the smaller engine, I found it much the same car as its siblings, the LHS and the 300M. For the money you have to look at this model.

Included in the competition is its close cousin the Dodge Intrepid at about the same money. The attorney’s secretary, next door to my office, visited me when she saw I was driving the LHS and said it was her dream car. Well, so much for dreams – she went out and bought the Intrepid.

As most people seem to know, quality has been an issue in the past for Chrysler cars, and I have always been acutely aware of that criticism. When I drove the Jeep and had the emergency brake release button fall off in my hand, I was not impressed. I wondered at that moment if all the bad mouthing was well founded? But I know better and know that new cars, like computers when new, may have “bugs”. And as you’d expect, that emergency brake handle problem was a recall item and it was fixed at no cost to the consumer. My friend Norm bought a new Jeep Grand Cherokee and was not a happy camper. I think he either got a lemon or Norm is just more picky than I am. I happen to like the Jeep a lot because of the off road experiences I’ve had with them. If you go on a Jeep Jamboree you too will become a believer.

Anyway, for many people, the jury is still out on the quality issue and only time will tell. I don’t think the fact that this Concorde is assembled in Canada makes any difference. People are people and we all make mistakes. The quality of a car has more to do with the attitude of the company and its management. In the meantime, I see a lot of value in American cars and that is particularly true of Chrysler. They are proud of the fact that their cars are the first to be completely computer designed and with these new cost saving computer designs I sense there will be a marked improvement over past products.

The Concorde was first introduced in 1993 promoting the term “cab forward”. The design is known for the roomy interior it has, but I also feel a uniqueness in the driving experience. Road visibility is great and you feel you’re right out there on the pavement. It’s like there is no front end at all. That is kind of true with other car designs these days as well. Perhaps it is more noticeable to us older drivers who remember when hood ornaments were somehow “necessary”. Not only could you see the ornament in those early days, you also had full view of the hood, fenders and even headlights were visible if you were driving many pre 1940 autos. Well, fewer and fewer cars still show much of the hood and fewer have hood ornaments, like Mercedes, Jaguar and Rolls Royce.

Well, it is apparent that American cars are back and worth close attention and consideration when you buy your next car.

The competition:

Buick LeSabre $22,890 – $26,695, Chevrolet Lumina $18,335 – $20,535, Dodge Intrepid $20,120 – $22,965, Ford Taurus $17,495 – $29,050, Honda Accord $15,200 – $24,300, Mercury Sable $18,540 – $19,640, Mitsubishi Galant $16,990 – $24,350, Nissan Maxima $21,049 – $26,249, Pontiac Bonneville $23,010 – $30,010, Toyota Camry $17,098 – 25,058.

Good News:

Great pricing, roomy, comfortable, quality of much more expensive competition.

Bad News:

That same old question of how well they’re built.

Standard Equipment:

2.7-liter DOHC V6 engine delivering 200 horsepower, with the option of a more powerful 3.2-liter 225-horsepower V6, dual airbags, child safety locks, anti-lock brake system (ABS), traction control, air conditioning, power door locks and windows, AM/FM stereo cassette, remote keyless entry, an 8-way power driver’s seat, intermittent wipers. Note: the LXi package adds automatic climate control, a 5-function trip computer, leather seats, an upgraded stereo system and power front seats.

Gas Stats:

21 City and 30 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $21,740

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com

1999 Olds Silhouette Premiere Edition (257)

20-07-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

I decided this year’s trip to Sequoia National Park would be in Oldsmobile’s 8 Passenger minivan. I had the Premiere video edition, which features a foldaway color monitor, video cassette player, CD player, individually-adjustable headphones and universal connector for a camcorder or video game system.

It debuted midway through the 1998 model year. In the past I opted for an SUV like Jeep or Olds Bravada with their off road capability. But with the growing popularity of the minivan it was a good opportunity to experience a minivan out of the city where it shines. It truly is the perfect around town car for mom and the kids, even though dads would rather have an SUV. Those macho men grunt their approval of 4-wheel drive, mega horsepower, limited slip differential, off road, hill climbing, gas guzzling machines – oh yeah.

In reality, however, only 25% of those SUV’s will ever get off road. And in California the road conditions are never that bad to need the 4-wheel drive anyway, but it sounds good. Now mom knows about practical and after she explains why they will buy the minivan I think he’ll agree.

Some of the features mom considers important include the fact that they are low to the ground so little ones can get in and out without a struggle. It’s easy for her to put the car seat in. The double sliding doors, with the passenger side power operated, have inestimable value, especially with the remote feature. She’ll fall in love all over again.

Mineral King is in the southern part of Sequoia National Park and there’s lots of hiking and beautiful scenery. You expect Julie Andrews to show up singing “The hills are alive with the sound of music”. She didn’t so we sang it for her as we shuttled our group of 7 from camp to trailhead. Everyone would toss their backpacks in the back and find a seat. If we were tired of singing I turned on an educational video and we’d be off to see the Wizard, in a land replete with lions (no tigers) and bears.

I kidded with Mark, who served in Vietnam, about how much minivans resembled the army choppers used during that unfortunate war. We thought you could mount a gun turret outside one of the sliding doors and the picture would be complete. But now that I think of it, it would be great for road rage problems. It would have a calming affect on stressed out drivers who contemplate killing you for unintentionally cutting them off.

I was a little concerned about the middle two captain’s chairs because they don’t fold out of the way for people to get in the very back seats. However, passengers had no complaints since they simply entered and exited between them. It worked out just fine.

The video can easily be considered a necessity rather than a luxury. For the longer jaunts it doesn’t take much imagination to see how helpful it can be to keep the kids occupied. In addition to the educational value you can be sure you won’t hear as many “are we there yet’s”.

In the old days Oldsmobile sported a big V8 but these days they come with a 3.4L V6 185-hp coupled to more efficient automatic transmissions you get all the power you’ll need. Pontiac Montana is the only one of the competition I haven’t driven but I can say that none of the rest is more solidly built or quieter than this Olds. Overall I came away with a good feeling and would put this in serious contention when deciding which minivan mom should drive.

Oldsmobile Silhouette is available in four trims: Silhouette GL Extended, GS, GLS Extended, and the Premiere.

The Competition:

Chevrolet Venture $20,795 – $23,195, 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, Nissan Quest $22,159 – $26,299, Pontiac Montana $21,325 – $24,040, Toyota Sienna $21,508 – $26,574.

Good News:

Good gas mileage, great family car, and awesome features.

Bad News:

Limited storage area (requires luggage rack for trips).

Standard Equipment:

There is an awesome array of stuff in this Premiere edition. 3.4-liter 185-horsepower V6 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, air conditioning with auxiliary rear system, cruise control, power windows and door locks and windows, tilt steering wheel, deep tinted glass, fog lights, leather seats, AM/FM stereo cassette & CD, power front seats, power sliding passenger door, manual driver side sliding door, factory-installed video entertainment system, which includes a center-console-mounted VCR and an overhead foldout video screen for viewing from the rear seats, dual front and side airbags, daytime running lights, traction control, anti-lock brake system (ABS), keyless entry, power o/s mirrors, power rear quarter vents, rooftop luggage carrier.

Gas Stats:

18 City and 25 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $ Retail Price Range: $24,610 – $31,200

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is joe@atthewheel.com

1999 Oldsmobile Alero GL Coupe (256)

14-07-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

This weeks Oldsmobile Alero reminds me of youth when dad wouldn’t drive anything but Olds. Some folks are just that way and no matter what YOU think, they simply see beauty where others don’t. Does that sound familiar to you? Viva la diff-er-ence.

Dad felt Olds was the testing ground for Cadillac cars and thus he thought you got some pretty neat stuff for less dough. Made sense to me and thus I always looked at it as the Cadillac of cheaper cars.

There has been some talk recently that GM may have been considering dropping Oldsmobile from its fleet of great cars. Sorry dad, I think it’s a bad idea too, but it’s still with us, and I expect this 100-year-old car will be with us for a long time to come. The Alero went on sale last summer and it simply replaces the Achieva. It shares a platform with the new Pontiac Grand Am and continues the Oldsmobile styling trend with a look similar to the Intrigue and flagship Aurora.

Inside styling is simple and nice and the quality is not unlike more expensive cars. However, I was a little miffed at the way the air conditioning ducts direct the flow of air. They couldn’t be adjusted upward which I think is a design flaw. It bugged me so I had to mention it. But all the rest was pretty nice. The inline 4 cylinder engine provides decent power and I never felt I needed more. It is a bit shorter than Achieva was but wider and taller so interior space is better and the trunk is good sized for a coupe. It has independent suspension with MacPherson struts up front and control arms on the rear, and handling is really good and thus fun to drive.

Alero is available in six trims: GX, GL, and GLS, in either coupe or sedan. Relative to the competition, it is a good value for the money and I liked it a lot.

The Competition:

Chevrolet Malibu $16,000 – $18,960, Dodge Avenger $15,585 – $17,860, Ford Contour $14,560 – $22,665, Honda Civic $10,650 – $17,445, Mazda 626 $17,815 – $22,245, Mercury Cougar $16,390 – $16,890, Nissan Altima $14,990 – $19,990, Plymouth Breeze $15,290, Pontiac Grand Am $16,130 – $21,090, Subaru Impreza $15,895 – $19,195, Toyota Corolla $12,258 – $14,908, Volkswagen Jetta $16,700 – $23,500.

Good News:

Simple, affordable, nice styling and handling, powerful and efficient engine, NHTSA crash tests are tops, assembled in the United States.

Bad News:

Poor air conditioning duct design.

Standard Equipment:

2.4-liter 150-horsepower inline 4 cylinder engine, 4-speed automatic trans, dual airbags, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brake system (ABS), traction control, daytime running lights, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, power door locks, intermittent wipers, cloth interior, AM/FM stereo with cassette, power windows, cruise control, fog lights, tire inflation monitoring system, power driver seat and theft deterrent system.

Gas Stats:

21 City and 29 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

Base Retail Price Range is $16,355 – $20,975 and the GL model I tested was $18,655.

Your comments are welcomed. My e-mail is movello@earthlink.net.

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