Tag Archives: 1999

1999 Corvette Convertible (241)

07-04-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
In a word… awesome. This could be the end of the story about this Corvette Convertible, and surely the shortest review ever. But there are other words to describe this car. Incredible comes to mind. If you don’t read another word, you know enough. I love this country.

I love that we still lead the way in so many things. I love that we have the ingenuity to produce such a great car that is “nearly” affordable. With a retail price range of $38,197 – $45,095, you can own the excitement of one of the world’s finest sports cars.

I was reminded of the reason for our leadership in the development and design of anything and everything. I attended the graduation of a friend from the world famous Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. One of the areas of education they excel in just happens to be automotive design. And I believe one of the reasons for their notoriety is the rich diversity of nationalities represented in that school. One third of the graduating class were from about twelve other countries.

History of the Corvette: It was introduced in 1953, in 1975 the convertible was discontinued, and in 1986 the convertible reintroduced. The 1999 model year is the fifth-generation Corvette and includes the first fixed-roof ‘Vette since 1967. It delivers the same performance of other trims but for a lower base price. Also new for 1999 is a Heads-Up Display, which is a projection of speed and other information onto the windshield only visible to the driver.

Handling is spectacular which is made possible by the cars improved rigidity. It finally gave engineers the ability to improve the handling characteristics that are relatively unique to Corvette. It is very noticeable to those who have driven Corvettes over the years, and is bound to draw praise from supporters and critics alike. The design incorporates a combination of an Active Handling System with the ABS and Traction Control systems to give this car equal or superior handling of any car in the world. This combination of computer assisted handling makes it almost impossible to spin out, or oversteer. I could have used that technology in the Porsche I lost control of on the Willow Springs racetrack. Professional race driver David Murry, who drives for Porsche, was my passenger and although he tried to correct my steering problem he wasn’t fast enough and we did a complete 360 on turn number three. The Active Handling System reacts in a fraction of a second. I drove the same track on the same day in this Corvette and didn’t have that problem. But I have to admit I probably pushed the Porsche harder because of the perception that it is better since it is “more expensive”. Not!

The 1999 Chevrolet Corvette is available in three trims: Hardtop, Coupe and Convertible.

I love convertibles, and have owned several over the years. They are not real popular with the fairer sex, probably having more to do with paying $50 or $100 to have their hair done. King Solomon had the same problem with his 1000 wives. Vanity, he said, everything under the sun is vanity.

The competition is pretty awesome too, and I’ve driven all except for the Lotus Esprit. But I have to tell you, for the money, this Corvette is a hands down winner.

The competition:

Five countries bring us: Dodge Viper $65-68,000, Lotus Esprit $84,000 Porsche 911 $65- 80,000, Ferrari F355 $121-141,000, Acura NSX $84-$88,000, Mitsubishi 3000GT $25-44,000, Toyota Supra $31-40,000

Good News:

Solid ride, handling as if you’re on rails, great trunk space, awesome acceleration, flat out fun to drive, the best control of any car on the market, great pricing, convertible top simple to put up and down, made in USA.

Bad News:

Two-seater limitation, space behind the seats “is” the trunk – which means I could hear my golf clubs rattling around, top is manually operated.

Standard Equipment:

5.7-liter V8 345 hp engine, 4-speed auto trans, traction control, 4-wheel independent suspension with anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), power speed sensitive rack & pinion steering, aluminum wheels, extended mobility tires with low pressure warning, air conditioning, remote entry, theft-deterrent system, AM/FM stereo cassette, sport bucket seats.

Gas Stats:

17 City and 25 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $44,999 and $48,678 after option additions of adjustable seats, Active Handling, Heads up display, climate control, tilt and telescopic steering wheel.

1999 Tracker a 4-door 4-wheel drive hard top (240)

31-03-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
This weeks Tracker is great for those who want a sport utility type of vehicle at half the money of this very popular segment of the automotive market. I’ve heard a lot about the Toyota RAV4 as Tracker’s closest competitor and that is true enough from the Stats where they look like sisters.

The most significant difference is that the RAV4 has 4-wheel independent suspension and the Tracker has a rear live axle. Secondly is that, feature for feature, the RAV4 is about $2,000 more.

Background: Both are Mini Sport Ute’s and the Tracker replaced the discontinued Geo brand for the 1998 model year. In the early days of the Tracker it wasn’t even a mini utility in my view, but Chevrolet has taken it up against the competition and it is very strong. Tracker owners are under age 35, which is right where Chevrolet wants to be and they refer to it as “the sport utility for young-minded, adventurous, expressive buyers.” For off road use Tracker has a full ladder-type steel frame and nearly eight inches of ground clearance. I didn’t drive the convertible model, but I’ve heard the claim is true that folding top is specifically designed to be easy to raise and lower. Trackers are built in Canada by CAMI, Inc., a joint venture of General Motors and Suzuki, which also sells this vehicle as the Suzuki Vitara.

The 1999 Chevrolet Tracker is available in four trims: a 2-door convertible in 2WD or 4WD, a 4-door hardtop in 2WD or 4WD.

The 4-door 4-wheel drive model I tested was well equipped and at the top end of the price schedule. I truly enjoyed driving the vehicle and haven’t tested many of the mini utilities. They have become a player in this segment of the market, and I think folks will appreciate the added fuel efficiency. I also believe they won’t get their knickers in a twist over the obvious trade off of less power and performance of their larger, more luxurious relatives.

If you have money to burn, these Mini’s won’t excite you. But for the cost conscious who share the desire to own a Sport Utility, this is just the ticket. And considering that over 75% are used in town anyway, the lack of size and power will never become an issue. I think we Americans tend to buy more than we really need. Gas prices here in the US have been much lower than the rest of the world so we haven’t paid much attention to making them better. We go for big and heavy probably because we can. The rest of the world is far more practical. I think that mindset will change in the future.

If you’re budget won’t justify a $30,000 sport utility, you can opt for a mini utility from the list below for half the dough, or buy two, one for you and one for your better half.

The competition:

Honda CR-V $18-20K, Isuzu Amigo $15-20K, Jeep Wrangler $14-20K, Subaru Forester $18-22K, Suzuki Grand Vitara $13-19K, Toyota RAV4 $15-17K, Kia Sportage $14-18K.

Good News:

Clean lines, car-like comfort, affordable, good gas mileage

Bad News:

Limited space, lacks power

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter 4-cylinder 127 horsepower engine, 4 speed automatic trans, dual airbags, daytime running lights, child safety locks, 4-wheel anti-lock brake system (ABS), AM/FM stereo, rear-seat heater ducts, fuel tank skidplate, power steering and Scotchgard protection, shift-on-the-fly 4WD system and automatic locking hubs, air conditioning, tilt steering wheel.

Gas Stats:

22 City and 25 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $15,935

1999 Kia Sportage (239)

24-03-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
Slow down, you move too fast…gotta make the morning last. Remember that song from the past. Well, that’s the feeling I got from this weeks Kia Sportage SUV. After a week in a Hummer the Kia felt like a Cadillac for the first day. Kick back and relax after the brief reminder of my National Guard days when we played weekend warrior. Fooling around with half-tracks and the like. That feeling returned some years later during my Naval Air days when we’d step out of our military aircraft into the docile and luxurious comfort of our personal automobiles. For many of you that picture will bring back memories for you as well. Remember hurrying back to the barracks to slip into those civies and “hit the beach” before they could find extra duty to screw up your weekend? Those were also the days when some people put signs on their lawns that read “Dogs and Sailors Keep off the Grass”. We weren’t all that bad. Can you guess what year that was?

Hint: those were the days when you only needed guns and rocket launchers on military vehicles and road rage was played out in places where you “expected” hostility. Times have really changed. Today, the military are wearing “baby blue” helmets and civilians are wearing military fatigues. I think we should reinstate the draft and help a few more Private Ryan’s mature before their time.

In any case, the year was 1959 and Elvis was almost unknown except for his hometown of Memphis where I was stationed. Cars were big, rough and noisy and by comparison this Kia is a pussycat, but a welcomed one I have to admit. Even the simplest of cars today give us reliability we could only dream of back then. The engineering is much better as you’d expect, and that means greater efficiency of operation. We really do have it much easier today. I think dad must have felt the same in his new 1946 Chevrolet after driving model T’s.

For all its simplicity, this Kia Sportage looks like other more expensive SUV’s just like the competition noted here. And for the differences in size and power you get from full size Utilities, the price tags of these mini SUV’s may be just enough to grab your attention. The mini sport utilities are aimed at buyers who don’t need the hauling and trailering capabilities of their larger relatives.

The 1999 Kia Sportage is available in six trims: 2-Door convertible, 4-Door, and 4-Door EX, each in either 2WD or 4WD. I tested the 4-door 2WD model.

I’ve driven most of those listed here and the race is too close to call. You should drive them all if you want or need a smaller, more affordable SUV.

`The competition:

Chevrolet Tracker $13,635 – $15,935, Honda CR-V $18,550 – $20,450, Isuzu Amigo $15,810 – $20,250, Jeep Wrangler $14,345 – $20,135, Subaru Forester $18,695 – $22,495, Suzuki Grand Vitara $13,499 – $18,999, Toyota RAV4 $15,678 – $17,778.

Good News:

Roomy and solid feel, comfortable, decent handling, smooth ride and affordable

Bad News:

Radio controls are too small, engine too small and has to work hard, poor mileage.

Standard Equipment:

2.0 liter inline 4-cylinder 130 horsepower engine, 5-speed manual transmission, dual airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, power windows, locks & mirrors, exterior-mounted spare tire carrier, theft-deterrent system, dual cupholders, split folding rear seat and tilt steering wheel.

Gas Stats:

19 City and 23 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $14,795, and with the addition of 4-speed auto trans, air conditioning, allow wheels, Stereo with CD player the total came to $18,224.

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

1999 Hummer (238)

17-03-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
I could write a book about this Hummer that will have you humming a different tune from run-of-the-mill vehicles out there. But I’ll try to keep it brief. For starters, what do you call it? Some say it shouldn’t be allowed on the street. It doesn’t look street legal, but it is. It’s a SUV, but more appropriately it is a SPV (special purpose vehicle).

Further, I think its adaptation is for the rich and foolish. Who else would shell out seventy or eighty grand to own one? It reminds me of The Village People singing, …macho, macho man. On the other hand, if you have a job to do out on the range under tough conditions and no one to impress, it can make sense. But on the streets of Beverly Hills, it’s a fish out of water.

Rumor is that Stalone and Schwartzeneger have Hummers. And its no rumor that my eccentric neighbor in the high desert of Acton has one and I still don’t know why. I guess the price of being different takes odd twists from time to time. A Rolls Royce by comparison is common place. In my youth we wore jellyroll and duck tail haircuts, T-shirts with Camel cigarettes rolled up in the sleeve, Levi jeans and “bomber” shoes. We’d put “cut-outs” on our car or truck exhaust systems, just because. It was all the rage and when “uncorked” the noise was enough to drown out even the “boom-box low riders” of today. You might want to try that today. Put them on your Beemer and uncork them the next time you pull up to a stop beside one of those obnoxious kids. They remind me of me at that age. How revolting. Sorry mom and dad, it must have been all those Bob’s Big Boy hamburgers we ate back then.

In any case if it’s different you want, this Hummer, built by AM General Corporation will deliver head-turning looks from virtually everyone, even though demographics say only men buy these “bad boy, macho machines”.

I don’t know if any comparison exists, but let’s look at some Stats of the Hummer next to Jeep Wrangler and Range Rover.

Hummer Wrangler Range Rover

Curb Weight 6640 lbs. 3272 lbs. 4960 lbs.

Wheelbase 130 in 93.4 in. 108.1 in.

Track Front 71.6 in. 58 in. 60.6 in.

Track Rear 71.6 in. 58 in. 60.2 in.

Length 184.5 in. 152 in. 185.5 in.

Width 86.5 in. 66.7 in. 74.4 in.

Height 76.8 in. 70.8 in. 71.6 in.

Ground Clearance 16 in. 10.3 in. 8.4 in.

MSRP $56-83K $14-20K $58-75K

If different is your thing, Hummer would win out, but if you’re more practical, the Range rover will likely do enough for you on or off-road. And if MSRP has any impact, the Jeep in the middle will win hands down. I’ve been on Jeep Jamboree’s and I have to tell you, most of what you need to do “off-road” you can do in a Jeep or most any SUV with 4-wheel drive, for that matter. In fact, some of the narrow passages we took the Jeeps through would have been more difficult and flatly impossible in some situations. With the mirrors taken into consideration, the Hummer is almost three feet wider than the Jeep.

Well, you gotta believe I took this humm’n Hummer off-road. And I would have done so even if one of my publishers hadn’t asked me to. I couldn’t have been on course fifteen minutes when I got stuck in mud up to my tousch. But in all fairness, I just wasn’t equipped for the conditions, because the press model comes with street tires. Even with the capability of deflating the tires, when you are up to the floorboards in mud you simply need a winch to break the suction. But no problem, a Chevy Blazer with a winch pulled me out. How humiliating for Joe Rambo who was invincible fifteen minutes earlier. You can just imagine the chuckles of the hecklers who loved to see a “rich dude” being rescued by a $5,000 Cheevy. I had to step out into the mud from the relative comfort of a nicely upholstered, wood grain appointed $83,000 military appearing, go anywhere machine.

The military Humvee (HMMWV, for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) or Hummer was, of course, made famous throughout the world by TV news coverage of the Gulf War – or operation Desert Storm. The operative word here is Desert where there is lots of sand and very little mud. Although I knew this Hummer was not “faster than a speeding bullet”, I truly believed it would be “stronger than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound”. It was, after all, this “Superman” vehicle in its element – “OFF-Road”. Well the lesson learned is that you really need to know the limitations of any vehicle.

Hummer is available in four trims: Hard Top 2-Door, Hard Top 4-Door, Open Top, and Wagon. I have the soft-top. I agree with some experts that it is ok as a work vehicle, geared for really rough terrain. In that case the high price tag and fuel consumption could be justified, but just to meet simple transportation needs there is little rationale.

The Competition:

Chevrolet Suburban $25,675 – $29,855, Ford Expedition $29,355 – $39,000, GMC Suburban $25,739 – $30,323, Jeep Wrangler $14,345 – $20,135, Land Rover Range Rover $58,000 – $75,000.

Good News:

Unique, always in style, versatile, off-road capable in open terrain, auxiliary fuel tank.

Bad News:

Poor visibility, oversize inconvenience, uncomfortable interior, expensive to own and operate, need for auxiliary fuel tank.

Standard Equipment:

6.5 liter V8 Turbo Diesel engine that produces 195 horsepower with 430 lb-ft of torque, 4-speed automatic transmission, air conditioning, full-time 4-wheel drive and 4-wheel independent suspension, power disc brakes, power steering, power door locks, remote entry, power windows, AM/FM Stereo cassette and auxiliary fuel tank.

Gas Stats:

Not available, but not good either.

Pricing:

MSRP $72,790 and for the one I tested the following options brought the price to $83,149: Tire inflation system, cruise control, driveline protection, side guards, towing package, power mirrors, highway touring tires, heated windshield.

1999 Saturn SC 2 (236)

03-03-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

When all is said and done, life is just a series of trade offs. In the case of this Saturn coupe, economy is its real name. And hard sell is not the name of the game for this polite Car Company. They say they are a different kind of sales company, and from my interviews with company personnel and customers, it’s absolutely true. Is it possible from the automotive industry where people equate car salesmen with high pressure? Well it appears to be real and I think it’s a breath of fresh air in the tough job of finding the right car for your needs. I expect Saturn will change the whole industry attitude about selling cars if sales improve for Saturn while others lose a little market share. Saturn must have taken President George Bush seriously when he asked us to be a “kinder and gentler” nation.

Well, Saturn is kinder and gentler but they are also innovative. I particularly liked the driver side third door. It helps to have clearer access to the rear seat to put the stuff you invariably tote with you to the car. You know how you end up standing in the street trying to avoid being hit by passing cars while you wrestle with putting those things in the back seat. Well that problem is reduced with the third door. And beginning with November 1998 production, all 1999 Saturn coupes were produced with that third door. You won’t likely find any other coupes with that feature today, but if it proves to be real popular, others will offer it in the future. Another thing only found on the Saturn are the side panels that are made from Saturn’s trademark ding-resistant polymer material. This is another thing that works well as it helps avoid those annoying dings and dents. Saturn really is trying to be a different kind of Car Company ever since its formation in the mid- 1980s as an autonomous subsidiary of General Motors.

My engineer friend Merkel emphasizes the great engineering of the foreign carmakers with innovative engines and suspension and precision fitting parts, etc. But that kind of precision comes with a bigger price tag. And when I ponder that, I can’t help but recall the difference between the precision of WWII German guns and equipment, and the throw ‘em together, bang ‘em out counterparts of their American adversaries. One case in point was the German Lugar pistol versus the US Government Issue 45 cal. pistol. The Lugar was so finely made that the least bit of dirt would render it useless while the US 45 could be submerged in mud and it would continue to function just fine, thank you. What’s this got to do with cars? Well, precision comes at great expense and if you don’t mind paying twice as much for a car, Saturn’s lack of precision fitting components will likely annoy you. Me? I tend to look at the practical side of things and in the final analysis, both cars perform the same function. And since I’m not picky I take the extra dough I save and take a few world cruises. Let’s see I want to go to Europe and Israel and the Far East again. Or if I’m really practical I can put a down payment on another house at the beach or mountains. Oh, the kids? They can fend for themselves. They may even opt to buy a Saturn and ditch that expensive BMW and visit Europe instead of buying a piece of it.

The competition:

Acura Integra $19,200 – $22,400, Chevrolet Cavalier $11,871 – $19,571, Dodge Neon $11,735 – $13,670, Ford Escort $11,505 – $13,340, Honda Civic $10,650 – $17,445, Hyundai Tiburon $13,599 – $14,899, Mitsubishi Eclipse $15,750 – $26,960.

Good News:

Very economical to operate, third door convenience, new car at used car prices.

Bad News:

Flimsy shifting mechanism, less attention to detail.

Standard Equipment:

1.9-liter DOHC 124 hp engine (SC2), 5-speed manual transmission, dual airbags, daytime running lights, AM/FM stereo, intermittent wipers, tinted glass and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, rear spoiler, fog lights and 15-inch wheels.

Gas Stats:

27 City and 38 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $15,005 Manual and $15,865 for the Automatic.

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

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1999 Porsche Cabriolet Carrera C4 (2PCP)

01-03-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

Hey Joe:

I was almost afraid to welcome the newest edition of Porsche’s 911. As I slid into the slightly more generous cockpit I felt only slightly lost. Some of you will notice a change in the dash immediately, and a general improvement in ergonomics, but I have spent some time in the marvelous Boxster and sitting there I had visions of it instead. Nonetheless I’ve wanted a 911 ever since they hit the streets 33 years ago.

Well Mr. Cobb:

I’m sure many have a passion and desire to own the Porsche image, and I’m always amazed by how awed folks are by this car. It’s just another hunk of metal, right? You tested the Coupe and I tested the Cabriolet. The Cab is wayyy Cooler, because sports cars should be convertible. I restored a 1955 Speedster some years ago and although this car has come a long way they’ve done it while retaining that classic Porsche look and feel.

Technical

The911 have always been air-cooled and out back. Alas Porsche has finally reached a plateau in the development of the opposed air-cooled six, but its still out back! Noise, emissions, and fuel economy issues became nearly insurmountable. This liquid cooled, vario timed four-cam, four-valve, flat six is quieter, more efficient, and more powerful. In the end, aren’t all high performance sports cars measured by their engines?

This Porsche is first to incorporate the new stability system PSM (Porsche Stability Management), but we know it really means Porsche Saves Mavilia. But this can be good for any driver myself included, but its not quite right yet.

Porsche’s Vario-Cam (variable cam timing) helps make this engine extremely flexible and more powerful than its predecessors. When you drop the clutch and stand on it, the engine pulls hard to the rev-limiter without hesitation and the power just tapers off as the tach approaches the redline. WOW.

Exciting says it all for me and you’re right that the stability feature will do a lot for those of us who only think we are race drivers.

However we’ll still get in trouble by driving too fast. In fact I did manage to spin out at Willow Springs racetrack in an all wheel drive model while getting a lesson from your fellow race driver David Murry. Now I know why you guys don’t like to ride on a track with guys like me. I was doing great right up till I went into turn number three way too fast. Before I could say “Oh #@*t”, and David could reach over and grab the wheel we’d done a 360 in the middle of the track.

Everything you said about the engine must be true because it is so impressively strong when you mash down on the throttle.

Features & Design:

German car makers have a pension for silly

radios and this Porsche is no exception. Also as I searched for the keyhole for the ignition, I was disappointed to find it still on the left side of the steering column.

The standard seats are still OK, but lack in overall lateral restraint. This hasn’t changed over the years and the optional sport seats are too much.We agree totally on the non-user friendly radios etc., and we also agree on the ignition key location. They moved the gas filler to the passenger side and leave the ignition on the left. What sense does that make? Hello Porsche. Put the gas filler back on the driver side and the ignition key on the right side of the steering column.

Seating is comfortable, but getting in and out is tiresome especially for older dudes who coincidentally are the folks with enough shekels to buy one. I suggest Porsche take a look at the seat adjustments in the Corvette. Just push a button or two and the seat hugs you for any occasion. Rather, nearly every “driving” occasion.

Performance & Handling:

The steering still has that razor sharp feel that only a couple of manufacturers can approach, and I still give the nod to the Porsche as the worlds best. Just the right amount of power assist without any loss in feel.

Porsche’s all wheel drive system is beyond reproach, and it gives you all the thrills of a two-wheel drive car until rear wheel speed exceeds the front wheel speed.

PSM computer works quickly by translating the car’s motion and grip levels and will apply brake or throttle as needed to keep you going in the same general direction.

To me there is no finer feeling than entering a corner with too much speed, and still get through. Done right the car will rotate on entry, but as you catch it with steering, mashing the throttle will bring the front tires on line and yank you out of the corner. No fuss no muss, just another day at the office. Incredible!Price, I love speed and love the feeling you get from the Porsche that is like being on “Rails”. I also can relate to your explanation of how it all works but execution is another thing altogether. It’s like playing golf. I know what to do but have trouble making it happen. I can’t walk and chew gum at the same time so remembering everything is impossible. To do what you suggest sounds easier than it is to actually do.

The manual transmission shifter is great and you know where you are most of the time, but if you don’t want to be real busy in around town driving I don’t suggest the 6-speed.

Overall, this is a car even the average driver will appreciate the engineering that helps them “enjoy the ride”..

Pricing:

It’s always hard to look at the price of a car and base a purchase on that because today I am numb from what an auto costs. It seems like all bidding starts at $20,000! With this in mind you start to appreciate all that Porsche puts into one of their cars for the money. If you can blow dry your hair at home, the coupe that I drove will leave a cool $4000 in your jeans over the Cab!A guy I used to work with had a favorite saying that “the only thing that money won’t buy is poverty”. At a base retail price of $74,460, the 911 Cabriolet is sure to open your purse wide. Is it worth it? Well, if the price tag doesn’t scare you this is a high performance car you can drive to work every day. I wouldn’t say that for the Dodge Viper, Ferrari or even the Corvette for that matter.

Good News:

Even though the edge has been removed, the 911 has been improved in every way.

You can turn off the PSM system.It’s a driver, handles great, fun to drive and will make you younger than you are, helpful speed indicator, and exceptional convertible top design.

Bad News:

Console and radio overly complicated, seats could be better, Boxster nose.Pricey, makes you want to drive much too fast, hard to get in and out of, instruments not user-friendly, key and gas filler on the wrong sides. Silent turn indicator.Make no mistake that my memories of a 911 have been compromised. This water cooled 911 is not the same tightly focused car of yesterday, yet I am a total convert. I secretly hope that Porsche will fix the nose to give the 911 back its own visual identity.

Now Porsche, exactly where is the C-4 with turbo?

Green FlagIf money is no object the styling and engineering is among the best available in the world.

Quality doesn’t get any better at any price. Definitely worth the price of admission.

Green Flag

The competition:

Acura NSX $84,000 – $88,000, Aston Martin DB7 $130,000 – $148,000, Chevrolet Corvette $38,320 – $45,320, Dodge Viper $67,225 – $69,725, Ferrari F355 $121,495 – $140,885, Lotus Esprit $84,125, Mitsubishi 3000GT $25,450 – $44,600, Toyota Supra $31,078 – $40,508.

Gas Stats:

17 City and 24 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP range $65,030 -79,920

Legend: Checkered Flag =Winner in every catagory; Green Flag=If you like it, go for it; White Flag=One lap to go, too early to tell; Yellow Flag=Caution, go get a hot dog while they clean up the mess.

Your comments are welcomed. You can e-mail joe@atthewheel.com

1999 Daewoo Leganza 4-door sedan

01-03-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

If you don’t recognize the name Daewoo, don’t feel out of it. This is a sneak preview of a new line of cars from Korea. There are three models; Lanos for $9-12,000; Nubira for $12-14,000 and the Leganza for $15-20,000. The trio will hit the market in the Fall of ’98.

My first question was, do we really need another car to clutter our minds? Daewoo joins an already over crowded lineup of cars in this price class from all over the world. Now we have another version of a product from an industry nearly devoid of creativity and where we only see the illusion of progress. At the turn of this century we saw name after name hit the market in a race to make buggy whips obsolete. But cars were new then and ideas were necessarily original. The changes in transportation were as creative then as communication vehicles are today. Computer companies, long distance telephone services and Internet providers are even more numerous today.

It will take some real marketing genius to convince us that this Leganza (elegant in Italian, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro of ItalDesign of Italy) is somehow better. Saturn created its market differentiation via the personal touch. Real people dealing with real people like – well, you and me. Only time will tell if there is a market for another “ho-hum” addition to the automotive scrapbook. The winner in this never-ending stream of new cars is, of course, the consumer. Natural “free market” selection tells us that only the strongest will survive as we vote with our dollars and we beat a path to the best car in the market for our budget.

If you feel like me, all the cloning that’s going on which I refer to as “Cookie Cutter Cars” bores you. What we need is what we’re getting. What we want is something new and different. We want another Star Wars. We want to see forward thinking fantasy come alive and become real. We want some excitement and innovation to capture our hearts and minds. Even the remake of early 1900’s electric vehicles doesn’t stimulate the imagination all that much. What ever happened to all the solar powered ideas? More importantly, where have all the inventors gone? If they’re going to clone something, clone inventors, not cars.

The competition:

Chevrolet Cavalier $12-19K, Ford Contour $13-20K, Honda Accord $15-24K, Hyundai Sonata $15-18K, Nissan Altima $15-20K, Plymouth Breeze $15K, Pontiac Grand Am $16-19K, Subaru Impreza $16-19K, Toyota Corolla $12-16K, VW Jetta $15-21K.

Good News:

Clean lines, comfortable, economical, another well-priced car to keep prices down.

Bad News:

Ho-Hum, more of the same, addition to an overcrowded line up of cars.

Standard Equipment:

2.2-liter 131horsepower 4-cylinder engine, 4-speed automatic trans, front wheel drive, traction control, dual airbags, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, 4-wheel independent suspension, child safety locks, air conditioning, power rack and pinion steering, door locks windows and mirrors, AM/FM stereo with cassette.

Gas Stats:

City and Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP is $ 15-20,000

1999 Cadillac Escalade (235)

24-02-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
This week we look at the Cadillac Escalade SUV or is it just a Chey Tahoe in a tux? If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck it probably is a duck. In this case it’s a duck. It’s built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon. It must be intended to provide the ruggedness of a GMC truck with the amenities expected in a Cadillac.

At first blush I got the feeling of “Big” and that meant more like the Chevrolet Suburban. But after a week in this very special SUV I felt the subtle sense that I was indeed in a Cadillac.

I fully expected it to be a so-so car and folks wouldn’t care about it. The fact that Cadillac got into the SUV fray was still a surprise to me and probably you too. I asked myself, why would they get down to “Truck’n” and off road’n. What’s a luxury car doing playing in the mud? Well, I think it really comes down to money. Sales are brisk in this category of car / truck and I suspect that Cadillac thought they had a market. My guess is that they found that upscale product consumers also want to have the image of tough and tumble kind of people while retaining the luxury of Cadillac.

Well, this surely is the Cadillac of SUV’s but it’s not the Jeep of SUV’s if you get my drift. Don’t get me wrong, Jeeps are very comfortable and luxurious too, but there is no other name that speaks class and quality like Cadillac. It has become a common use term to describe anything from soup to nuts as being the best. I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, that I’ve owned eight Cadillac’s over the years and was always happy with them. The quality is unmistakable. And it’s interesting to note that 75% of SUV’s will never go off road anyway, so Cadillac must have factored that in the decision to produce an upscale Sport Utility.

I liked the partial wood steering wheel because it added that distinction of being a Cadillac and those are the subtle differences buyers would expect in this car. Someone asked, “if it felt so great, then why didn’t they make the whole wheel out of wood?” Good question and I don’t know the answer, but I liked it just the same. In any case I knew I wasn’t driving just any SUV. After all, this is a Cadillac. I knew that, but imagine my surprise when folks actually came up to me and asked about it. When you drive a different car every week, as I do, you notice these kind of attitude changes in people. I experienced smiles, thumbs up, pleasant conversation and sincere interest in the fact that…. “It’s a Cadillac! I didn’t know they made one of these”. They didn’t ma’am until this year and it’s very nice. Then she looked at my shirt and said, “Oh, well you work for Cadillac”. I too then noticed the Icon on my shirt did resemble the Cadillac emblem. “Wait, Ma’am it’s not like that….” Oh well.

I suspect Cadillac’s market research already determined that folks would be interested in the fact that SUV’s could also be classy. And to add even more class to this SUV, Cadillac added OnStar for the rich and famous who would want to be rescued if they went a little too far “Off Road”. If they found themselves in the middle of the jungle with lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Well, they simply push this little blue button and 24 hours a day there is a real live person to talk to who will send whatever help you need. They know exactly where you are via satellite. And there is even a panic button that brings 911 type help even faster if there are bad guys following you. I wonder if that includes cars with flashing red lights? What will they think of next? I guess tough times demand tougher solutions. Speak of being Boy Scout Prepared. And this new version of OnStar is even more simplified as everything is built in. The first year service is free with purchase and then you just get billed monthly after that. And finally, Cadillac Escalade comes in a single trim. What you see is what you get. What else would you expect from a class act?

Would I buy one, you ask? Well, for Beverly Hills bumps it’s ok, but I’m a pretty practical guy. I prefer the 4-wheel independent suspension, 50% more out of the gas tank and a smaller price tag all of which you get from smaller SUV’s. In particular I prefer the Mercedes ML320 or the Lexus RX 300. But let’s face it, American’s like bigger cars for all the gear they carry to go out into the wilderness. You know, generator for the hair dryer, TV and other essentials.

Competition:

GMC Yukon $30,039 – $42,975, Infiniti QX4 $35,550, Jeep Grand Cherokee $25,900 – $34,095,

Land Rover Range Rover $58,000 – $75,000, Lexus LX 470 $55,905, Lincoln Navigator $40,660 – $44,310, Mercedes-Benz M-Class $34,950 – $43,750.

Good News:

It’s new, it’s a Cadillac, it’s great, three cheers for the good guys.

Bad News:

The tow package is for a small gas tanker you’ll need to get across town.

Standard Equipment:

5.7 liter V8 255 hp engine with 4-speed automatic transmission, autotrac 4WD, speed sensitive power steering, chrome aluminum wheels, OnStar system with 1 year service, airbags, remote keyless entry, theft deterrent system, 4-wheel anti lock brakes, air conditioning front and rear, power windows, locks and 10-way front seats, leather and Zebrano wood trim, heated front and rear seats, rear seat audio, cruise control, Bose AM/FM stereo system with cassette, center console-mounted CD changer with six speakers.

Gas Stats:

12 City and 16 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $45,875.

1999 Dodge Ram 2500 (232)

03-02-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
Ok, it’s time to break out the kidney belt. I’ve gotten a little soft since the last macho truck I tested. This “bad boy” 1999 Dodge Ram 2500HD 4X4 Quad Cab ST with a Cummins 24 valve turbocharged diesel is a trucker’s truck. Argh, argh, argh as Tim Allen would say. In fact, along with the purchase price for this “man’s machine” you get automatic bonding with 18 wheel truckers. You sit nearly as high as they do which provides good eye contact, and I found myself reaching for the air horn rope over my left shoulder. I also like how they flash their lights to signal or acknowledge passing moves. You feel like you’re one of the boys. Rodney Dangerfield should buy one of these so he can finally get a some “Respect”.

Well, I believe Dodge has really pushed the truck segment of the market to respectable heights by creating the image of tough, no nonsense trucks to get the job done to “out-truck, out-hustle and out-muscle the competition. I believe they do just that. This Ram has it all, plus the power and torque to tow one of those 18-wheelers while carrying up to six passengers to boot. The Quad Cab (extended) has two small rear doors that provide reasonable access to the rear for those other four people.

Ram pickups are offered in 1500, 2500 and 3500 versions with rear or all-wheel drive equipped with short or long beds. A 3.9-liter V6 engine powers Ram 1500s, while 5.2- and 5.9-liter V8 engines are standard in other trims. This test vehicle was equipped with the turbocharged diesel option. And yet another option is an 8.0-liter gasoline V10 power plant for a whopping 310 horsepower. Transmission choices include a 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic. I tested the 5-speed manual to build up my leg muscles for skiing.

The competition:

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 $20,005 – $32,799, Ford F-250 $17,200 – $30,005, Ford F-250 Super Duty $19,275 – $28,840, GMC Sierra 2500 $20,605 – $29,790.

Good News:

Great styling, tough image, solid feel, four-door extended cab, center section of the front seatback folds down to serve as a useful desk.

Bad News:

Poor gas mileage which explains the 34 gal tank, diesel is noisy, stepladder entry.

Standard Equipment:

Air bags, power anti lock disc/drum brakes, power steering, 4X4 part time shift on the fly, 34 gal fuel tank, AM/FM Cassette, dual rear access doors with rear bench seat, tinted glass, 6-inch by 9-inch outside mirrors and intermittent wipers.

Pricing:

MSRP $24,950

1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager Expresso (231)

27-01-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week’s review is one of the popular mini-vans. The Plymouth Voyager is basic and well priced, but sometime it’s the simple things that impress us. This was the case for simple me regarding the simple addition of a cargo net between the front seats. Does anyone else have a problem with lose stuff flying around at every turn or stop? Well you’d expect the inventor of the Mini-van, Chrysler, to be a step ahead of the followers, and although that isn’t always the case, this Voyager enjoys the prestige of being first with lots of firsts like all-wheel drive, extended-length, an optional driver’s-side sliding door and seats with rollers for easier removal. The operative word there is “easier”. Let’s face it, removing seats is never easy. In fact, where do you put them after removal and you get out of hernia surgery? The garage won’t hold another straw and … well, you know what I mean.

The 1999 Plymouth Voyager is available in six trims: Voyager (base), SE, and Expresso, all with either a short (Voyager) or long wheelbase (Grand Voyager). Engines range from a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder to a 180-horsepower 3.8-liter V6. The only engine I recommend is the V6 for all that we demand of our cars and if nothing else, our road system requires that you can scoot along with an all too fast flow of traffic.

There is a good selection to chose from in this segment of the market and if you follow my column, you’ll remember my favorite in this class leans a bit to the Honda Odyssey. That is partly due to the fact that I love the dual automatic sliding side doors that are standard. They are so practical for today’s lifestyle and demands. The other thing that impressed me and will also impress you is the third seat that uniquely folds completely into the floor. So much for the “easier” seat removal in this Voyager, as noted above.

I also liked the Sienna from Toyota and I’m yet to test the Montana and Ford Windstar. You’ll want to test drive all noted here because they are all so very close in performance, features and styling. Good luck, and let me know which you preferred via my web page at www.atthewheel.com or simply e-mail me.

The competition:

Chevrolet Venture $20,795 – $23,095, Dodge Caravan $18,005 – $31,510, Ford Windstar $18,375 – $30,415, Honda Odyssey $23,000 – $25,800, Mercury Villager $22,415 – $25,015, Nissan Quest $22,159 – $26,299, Oldsmobile Silhouette $24,510 – $31,100, Pontiac Trans Sport $20,840 – $23,190, Pontiac Montana $21,325 – $23,930, Toyota Sienna $21,428 – $26,494.

Good News:

Car-like ride and handling, well priced for the rest of us, easy entry / exit.

Bad News:

Unusual placement of turn indicators and nearly silent warning, rear hatch difficult to close.

Standard Equipment:

3.3 liter V6 engine, 4-speed auto trans., front wheel drive, air bags, 7-passenger seating, air, cruise control, tilt wheel, power mirrors, easy roll out seats, anti-lock brakes, dual sliding doors.

Gas Stats:

18 City and 24 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $22,775

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

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