Tag Archives: 2000

2000 Land Rover Discovery (282)

19-01-2000Autolove No comments

Overview:
The 2000 Land Rover Discovery provides a different “touch of class” to the SUV market. It’s not quite as different as the Hummer is, but it does have that look of take’n care of business. You know, safari style. It isn’t without its faults, but by and large there is little to complain about

A few things that I started to be picky about began with the impaired visibility due to the headrest in the middle of the rear seat. I thought I had found a legitimate complaint but it turned out to be one of many thoughtful touches. I simply had to pull the armrest down and down went the headrest. Wa-la, instant improvement of the rear view. Placement of the door handle inside also bugged me. You must reach down to open the door and that could have been rectified by placing the handle higher on the door. I also had a problem with the power seat adjustments placed on the side of the console. It’s more difficult to reach than it needs to be. And finally, I couldn’t fathom why there was a gearshift indicator on both sides of the shift lever. But then it became clear that this SUV is nearly a perfect “mirror image” on both sides of the interior. Most of the controls are exactly centered for equal access by both driver and passenger. I wondered if there was a steering wheel tucked away somewhere on the passenger side to provide a true co-pilot position.

The Land Rover has been around since 1948 and is sold in 100 countries. If you’re like me you visualize it on the sands of some far away desert or parked by a pyramid in Egypt. But you even find them in Beverly Hills where they can be seen scaling the heights of speed bumps or fighting their way through traffic on Rodeo Dr.

Handling & Performance:

Discovery handles extremely well. The suspension and front and rear sway bars give it a solid feel and the V8 engine is very responsive. I really didn’t expect it to handle as well as it does because it is taller than most SUV’s.

Styling:

Different, but it grows on you. The statement it would make if it could talk is that “I don’t care what you think I should look like, I\’m a ‘Real’ off road vehicle. I make no bones about the fact that Function is more important than Form. I am what the Nissan Xterra only tries to portray.” That may even be true, but Xterra is trying to appeal to the younger set and really isn’t competition for this Discovery. Well, you be the judge.

Fit and Finish:

It’s very good but because it has that rugged “military vehicle” look, you don’t pay as much attention. I like the way the two jump seats in a third row fold away easily and neatly. The rear seats also fold away easily as well.

Cost:

The model I tested included some nice stuff but it added about $9 grand that you could live without – like two electric sunroofs. Quite frankly I was surprised at the price and simply had thought they cost more than they do.

Recommendation:

Even if you don’t end up buying one, I recommend you test drive it anyway.

The Competition:

Acura SLX $36,300, Chevrolet Blazer $18,970-31,570, Dodge Durango $25,975-27,975, Ford Explorer $19,970-34,375, GMC Envoy $34,170, Infinity QX4 $35,550, Jeep Grand Cherokee $26,570-34,345, Lexus RX 300 $32,505-33,905, Mercedes M-Class $35,300-64,900, Mitsubishi Montero $31,370, Oldsmobile Bravada $31,398, Toyota 4Runner $21,938-36,466.

Good News:

Thoughtful touches that set it apart from the crowd, handles well, powerful, function over form.

Bad News:

Terrible fuel consumption, poorly placed power seat controls and inside door handles.

Standard Equipment:

4.0 liter 188 horsepower V8 engine, 4-speed automatic trans, permanent four wheel drive, traction control, 4-wheel power anti lock disc brakes, dual airbags, child locks, front and rear fog lights, keyless entry, dual climate control, power windows, power o/s mirrors, tilt leather wrapped steering wheel, leather, 6-way power front seats, 12 speaker audio system with cassette and weather band, dual electric sunroofs, third row seating with audio controls, leather seating.

Gas Stats:

13 City and 17 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $43,375

2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS VR6 (281)

12-01-2000Autolove No comments

Overview:

This Jetta GLS will put the VW kick back in your britches. I’ve owned a few over the years and always liked them. I’ve had two “bugs” and one Karmann Ghia. Those were fun driving days and this Jetta brought back that old feeling.

Yes, that one too. The ride is solid, fun and as “cool” as it was then. However, those were basic V-dub’s and the Beetle was popular in nearly every circle. The reasons were economic for most and simply “cool”, or “in” for others. Basic was good for the majority because the 1950’s weren’t all that far removed from the end of WWII. People could relate to rationing. The mindset was a mix of save, conserve, rebuild, re-use etc., and “splurge” after all the lean years. The 1950’s were “Happy Day’s” times. You were happy with anything.

Well, people fell in love with VW’s and even fell in love “in” them. Impossible you say. Nothing is impossible. We’ve learned that too. Well, VW’s today have grown and perhaps there is only a slim resemblance to the old. Not even the New Beetle is a basic car. This Jetta I tested had a moon roof and luxury things that take it out of the basic car category. Air conditioning in the “Old” Beetle was crank open all the windows and drive like – well, fast, which wasn’t very. I remember driving up to Las Vegas in the Ghia in a kind of caravan with friends. They all had big American cars with V8’s and they’d pull way ahead going uphill and I’d put the pedal to the metal downhill and catch them. We got there the same time, but for the two of us in the Ghia it was “Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride”. Those things were light and a puff of wind could blow you off the road. Somehow we survived but those escapades gave me sleepless nights when my own kids were out driving after dark. Know what I mean?

Handling & Performance:

Not a road racer since it felt a little loosy-goosey to me. I didn’t feel real “in control”. But it was fun to drive in the context of normal day-to-day driving – zipping around town.

Styling:

but usual. If I wanted different I’d go for the New Beetle or the Audi TT. It isn’t as roomy as you’d expect a 4-door to be.

Fit and Finish:

It’s good like most German cars. Japanese are also better, by and large, than most American competitors. However, you get what you pay for and I’m not sure it’s worth the cost. American cars still seem to have that good old Ford attitude of production line, crank ’em out quickly and make them affordable. And that brings us to cost.

Cost:

For me, VW made getting through college easier. I, like most struggling college students, didn’t have a lot of dough so low operating costs for gas and maintenance was a big help. But things have changed and VW is no longer a low cost car, unless you consider about $20,000 low. That’s where you’ll find prices for the New Beetle and this Jetta. If you want economy you’ll have to go to Saturn, Daewoo Lanos, Chevy Metro, Honda Civic, Kia, Mitsubishi Mirage and Toyota Echo with prices ranging from about $9,000 – $12,000. At these prices that’s even less than the VW bug was back in the early 1960’s considering relative value of the dollar. Money doubles every 10 years at 7%, so $1,500 for a new Beetle then would be well over $12,000 today. So – bottom line, it’s a little pricey for what you get.

Generally, for what we use a car for, and for how long we keep them, it makes more sense (to me) to buy based on price in this “Economy or Compact Car” category. In that regard, I’ve tested all of the competition noted below and for transportation, all are quite equal. So my recommendation is go for the Price Leader.

The Competition:

Chevrolet Malibu $16,460-19,090, Dodge Stratus $15,910-19,810, Ford Contour $16,845-22,715, Honda Civic $10,750-17,545, Nissan Altima $15,140-20,390, Oldsmobile Alero $15,675-21,365, Pontiac Grand Am $15,920-21,350, Saturn LS $15,010-20,135.

Good News:

Solid feel, fun to drive, good fuel economy.

Bad News:

A little pricey for what you get, drive train seemed a little noisy, not roomy.

Standard Equipment:

2.8 liter 174 hp V6 engine, front wheel drive, 4 speed automatic transmission, anti lock braking system, air conditioning, power windows, door locks outside mirrors, cruise control, split folding rear seat, leather, stereo sound system, remote access to trunk and fuel filler, dual front and side airbags, remote access system, anti-theft alarm system.

Gas Stats:

19 City and 26 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $23,970

2000 Honda Accord 4-door EX-VL (280)

05-01-2000Autolove No comments

Overview:

Well, ok I must admit I haven’t driven a Honda in years. This Accord 4-door sedan with a respectable V6 is nothing like the “Honda-Car” image of the early days when they came on the scene and beat the crap out of the competition. In those days, however, you could put them (Civic) in the trunk of your big tank-like American car. Kinda like a spare can of gas with wheels. Come to think of it, they are still competing strongly in the market.

They’ve come a long way babe and I rather liked the latest version of the Honda-Car. Its rather “Plain Jane”, but at the same time they have a lot of creature comforts. The fit and finish is very good, so typical of Japanese made cars. The wood grain trim is simulated, but not bad quality. Today, however, the huge array of competitive cars are also very good in these areas. I’ve driven all either on and/or off the track. Beating out the competition isn’t an easy task in today’s world where there is more to choose from than any consumer really needs. Ever get the idea that there must be a ton of money to be made in the auto industry? Why else would there be so many car makers? They are so prolific and pop new models out like Hershey’s Kisses and with the same generic design.

How sweet it is some may say, but what ever happened to the good old days with great creative styling where cars really differed. You could tell one car from the other with ease. Now they all look the same, right! Remember the Hudson Hornet, the Studebaker, the Edsel? Ok, none of these are still around so I guess generic is better. But I think people still want difference or there wouldn’t be so much interest in the reborn VW Beatle and the new Audi TT.

I remember when grandma took the Santa Fe train from Massachusetts to Pasadena. She wouldn’t get on an airplane. At the turn of the century she’d come to Massachusetts on a boat via Ellis Island like so many new Americans. But California? That was a foreign land to her. Most of my family was still in New England and we were the rebels who left the clan to go to the wild west. Naturally she had to tell us how terrible California was and that not only did they have sin city Hollywood here, you couldn’t tell whether the cars were coming or going. She was referring to the newer Studebaker on the roads back in the early 1950’s. Obviously she hadn’t seen one before and attributed them to the California lifestyle. Well, granny, I’ll give you that one, the Studebaker did appear to have two front ends, but Hollywood wasn’t any more a sin city than Las Vegas was. Ok, Granny you got me on both counts. She never came back.

I rather liked everything about the 2000 Accord EX and since it’s winter the heated seats were nice. The stereo put out great sound and it even had a CD player. The rear seat was roomy for a small compact/ mid-size car and in addition to a good size trunk you could put the rear seat back down for added trunk pass through capability. Like most Japanese cars the ride is quite, smooth and comfortable, has a solid feel and handles well. Power is more than adequate and I had fun driving it. It’s no wonder this has been such a popular car for so many years.

Recommendation:

Since individual appeal is so important you’ll have to test drive a lot of cars. There are so many to choose from in this market segment, and they are all quite good. I can honestly say I can’t even give a biased recommendation. To me they’re like women, I love ‘em all.

The competition:

Acura CL $23,100-26,150, Chevrolet Impala $18,705-22,365, Dodge Intrepid $20,390-24,435, Ford Taurus $17,695-20,895, Mazda 626 $18,245-22,445, Mitsubishi Galant $17,357-23,757, Nissan Altima $15,140-20,390, Nissan Maxima $21,049-26,249, Oldsmobile Intrigue $22,090-25,720, Pontiac Grand Prix $19,815-24,310, Subaru Legacy $19,195-24,295, Toyota Camry $17,418-26,098, Volkswagen Passat $21,200-27,655.

Good News:

Good fit and finish, smooth ride, nice handling, plenty of power, fun to drive, top selling car for 30 years.

Bad News:

Plain Jane styling, V6 puts it high in the competitive price range.

Standard Equipment:

3.0L 200-hp V6 engine, 4-Speed Automatic, anti lock braking system, child proof rear doors, theft deterrent system, security system with keyless entry and remote trunk, leather seating, simulated wood trim, stereo with 6 speakers, auto air conditioning, cruise control, power doors, windows and door mirrors, 8-way power driver seat with lumbar support, fold down rear seat with trunk pass through, alloy wheels, power moonroof with tilt.

Gas Stats:

20 City and 28 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP Retail Price Range $15,350 – $24,550

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

2000 Chrysler LHS (278)

22-12-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
Right out of the chute you have to notice the forward thinking styling of this 2000 Chrysler LHS. You may not like it, but you have to notice it. That’s one thing I sensed immediately. And although I’ve heard it said, you either love it or hate it, my personal experience is that I only heard positive comments. Me – I love the overall design and styling.

Chrysler introduced the LHS as a 1994 model year to cover the full-size sedan segment of the market. They say its “paperless” design CATIA (Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application) trimmed eight months off the total development time for the new LH models. It comes in a single trim so decision making is made simple, especially since there are so many standard features.

Chrysler products were not my cup of tea in years past, and in fact I thought mom’s Dodge, with that old push button transmission, was a piece of junk. I thought it was cheaply made and obviously lots of other folks did too. That fact or at least the publics perception of poor quality took its toll on the company. If it hadn’t been for the efforts of Lee Iacocca at that precise time in history we would have lost one of the Big 3 American automakers. Some thought we should have anyway. Why bail them out? The cries were loud from both sides but there were lots of people who would have lost their jobs if the company went out of business.

Today it is a different story and you have to give credit where credit is due. Chrysler is a contender in the “Rocky” sense of the word. It’s a scrappy company that successfully fought its way back. They seem to have “no fear” when it comes to design and innovation. And because they are state of the art in design techniques, they have kept the prices down to sane levels. One has to wonder what effect Daimler will have on the new Chrysler company in the years to come. But as of now, they produce cars that are extremely competitive.

Bravo, Chrysler, you get the award for tenacity over these many years of rebuilding. Yes, I know time is the test of all things and long-term quality of the new sedans remain a question mark. But, I can only judge based on the many cars I drive. I don’t notice all that much difference in higher priced cars in or out of class. I have encouraged family and friends to look at buying American because they are the best values on the market and have been for the past five plus years. That gap has to close, but it hasn’t yet.

The styling is different but in addition to having sweeping clean lines, the design is practical. It has a spacious interior, limousine-like rear seat, better than average visibility, large doors for wide easy entry, large front seats, quiet and well insulated, elegant interior feel with leather upholstery and nice touches such as a classy looking analog clock in the center of the dashboard, and wood trim. On the negative side I found the seats a little less comfortable than most and I think Chrysler needs to look at the seat design.

In keeping with the LHS being a full sized sedan with a roomy interior, the trunk is huge and even has a pass through to the rear seat. The opening of the trunk, however, is a little high which makes putting stuff in a little more difficult, but not bad. And in spite of the fact that it is a larger sedan, it’s not a boat. Remember American cars of the past that oft times road like boats. The suspension systems were so soft that when you went over a dip the car would float up and down for another block. Well, not so for most bigger cars in today’s world. This is true of this LHS with handling that more closely resembles a sports car.

The LHS shares its platform with the Concorde, 300M and Dodge Intrepid, and all are assembled in Canada.

The competition:

Buick Park Avenue $31,725-36,800, Infiniti I30 $29,465 – $31,540, Lexus ES 300 $31,405, Lincoln LS $30,915 – $34,690, Mazda Millenia $24,995 – $30,995, Mitsubishi Diamante $27,199, Pontiac Bonneville $23,680 – $31,635, Saab 9-3 $25,900 – $44,995, Volvo S70 $27,500 – $33,600.

Good News:

Roomy, classy interior, futuristic design, large rear seating area, fast, smooth ride, large car feeling with small car handling, well priced.

Bad News:

No side airbags, stigma of Chrysler poor quality in early years.

Standard Equipment:

3.5-liter, 253-horsepower V6 engine, four-speed automatic transmission, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, traction control, speed sensitive steering, climate control, power widows, locks, cruise control, tilt leather wrapped steering wheel, memory settings, keyless entry, AM/FM cassette and CD system, security, 8-way power heated front seats, auto headlights, fog lights, power mirrors and 17” aluminum wheels.

Gas Stats:

18 City and 26 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $28,090

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

2000 Volvo V40 Station Wagon (277)

15-12-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

Just last night at a party I listened to a conversation about how station wagons were out. I thought, hey I just drove a 2000 Volvo V40 Station wagon and loved it. The comment was made relative to SUV’s that have been all the rage over the past decade. Now even Porsche is said to be getting into that market. Fads may come and go, but when a fad turns into practicality, the product stays around for a while. And that’s the case with station wagons that have been around since those great old Woody’s. Even Mercedes has a station wagon. I’ll bet Moon Doggie now puts his surfboard on his Benz. What’s this world coming to?

No, station wagons are not out of style. But they have been replaced in large numbers by SUVs. Station wagons smack of the practical family car, and give the impression of “down home” kind of people. It is, after all, just a stretched out family sedan that speaks of mom, dad, the kids and grandma on vacation. Right now SUV’s are the IN thing. They are OFF ROAD for goodness sake. They’re safe. Mom can drive in the rain, sleet and snow to SHOP and get the KIDS to school and back safely. You never know what obstacles you’ll need to negotiate out there on the streets of suburbia.

SUV’s also allow dad to give a SPORTing reason for buying this robust “Wagon”. They can tow stuff, haul other stuff and best of all they’re unisex. Dad can have the benefits of a station wagon and still be MACHO and mom can have practicality and also display that new macho femininity.

Well, in theory that all works, but in the real world 90% of the time the SUV will never get off road and the 4-wheel thing is just a costly appendage. The wagon does it all and does it more efficiently including much better gas mileage.

Think about it. Is that right or wrong? If you said that’s right, you’re less likely to be swayed by fashions and fads designed by marketing experts to separate you from your wallet. You’re probably a leader rather than a follower. You’re your own person who really cares about the real utility of a station wagon to handle the chores of suburbia for less money. Don’t misunderstand me, I love SUV’s. I’ve done off-roading and even gone on a three day Jeep Jamboree. However, two things come to mind to contrast these two options. Consider that both perform relatively the exact same function. Now picture a little child climbing into both. The wagon is accessible to the child while a stepladder is needed for those little kids to get into the SUV.

I’ve owned both and driven tons of others over the years and objectively speaking “That’s the Truth”, as one of Lilly Tomlin’s characters used to say with a slight lisp. And since Volvo is built in Sweden it’s appropriate to recall the Old Swedish saying that “Vee get to soon Oldt, Undt to late Schmart”.

Smart considerate shoppers will consider this Volvo for their small or young family. I was truly surprised at the price after the test drive. I highly recommend you look at this station wagon. There is a window of opportunity to get Volvo quality at a great price. I don’t believe it will be as affordable after folks learn what a good deal it is today. Volvo is trying to appeal to younger buyers who couldn’t afford the usual higher prices. Informed young families will surely take them up on an offer that’s hard to refuse. Are my kids listening?

The competition:

Subaru Legacy Wagon $18,395 – $23,695, All the mini vans in this price range, None of the pricey SUV’s .

Good News:

Compact size to zip around town, powerful, solid and well built, comfortable, handles great and is simply fun to drive, more rounded styling, lots of conveniences and most important it’s an exceptional value for the money.

Bad News:

Compact close quarters for bigger people, ignition poorly placed and hard to get the key in.

Standard Equipment:

1.9Liter inline turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, 4-Speed Automatic transmission with Sport, Economy and Winter settings, 4-wheel power antilock disc brakes, dual front and side airbags, rack and pinion power steering, unit body construction, rear child safety locks, open door warning system, 8-way adjustable driver’s seat, climate control, power windows and mirrors, cruise control, stereo with cassette, remote keyless entry, tilt steering column, and much more.

Gas Stats:

21 City and 28 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $23,900 – $23,900

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

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2000 Audi TT Coupe (276)

08-12-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

This 2000 Audi TT has a lot to offer to the sports car enthusiast but there are some things to consider before you put thirty grand on the table. Is there trouble lurking around the ownership corner reminiscent of some cars from Audi in the past?

I wonder if making a fashion statement is worth the cost. Surely the handling is very capable and you’d have to spend double the dough to improve on it. Yes it’s fun to drive much like the VW Beatle is fun to drive. Since the designer is the same, you too will see the resemblance. It’s like they mashed down and stretched out the Beatle, took the Vaase out and put in a bunch of aluminum tinsel for highlighting.

Cynical, I guess, but there were some things that turned me off. This 1995 concept car turned production has some bugs to be worked out. I recommend waiting for future versions. That was the case with the Dodge Viper. It was a bucket of bolts in the first days of production but has turned the corner, big time, for 2000. If the demand for this TT is good enough now, I predict that it will be a fabulous car in the future.

What will strike you is that it feels solid and although some feel it is a road hugging car, I felt a little less confident in that area. Some of the competition is much more comforting in the corners. In particular the Mercedes SLK, Corvette, and the Acura NSX come to mind. But the price tags loom ominous as well. Like I say, for the dough it ain’t bad. Perhaps the cost control comes from the fact that it shares the same platform as other VW products like the new Beatle and the Golf. VW products, you say! Well that may be good news to many and even reason enough to buy the Audi over other competitors at any price.

I think you’ll be as impressed with the power you get from the 1.8-liter 180-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. It’s quick, with acceleration of 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds. It’s a version of the engine in the VW Passat and Audi A4. But you won’t find much use for the rear seat except to put the seatbacks down to enlarge the trunk. Visibility is only average and rather poor for shorter drivers who will find themselves stretching their necks to see over the nose. The rear roof pillars also cause blind spots. And I know it’s a little nit picky but the cupholders are awkward to reach.

While I was driving this car, it drew a lot of attention for sure, because it’s a one-of-a-kind auto. The first question I got was “is that one of those electric cars?” Another was – “does that come in a convertible?” I got lots of thumbs up so the popular vote is positive. The real ooo’s and aah’s come when they look inside at the truly imaginative and artful interior and an exaggerated attention to detail. Other things are almost invisible, like the power window switches on the doors. By the way, the car doesn’t come in an electric model but will arrive convertible likely in the spring of 2000. Also, TT” stands for the Tourist Trophy races in Europe during the early part of the “soon to be” last century.

The competition:
Porsche Boxster, BMW Z3, Mercedes Benz SLK.

Good News:

Fun to drive, fast, unique styling, true sports car look and feel, space age imaginative and simple interior.

Bad News:

Wouldn’t want to own early release, troublesome shifting, poor visibility.

Standard Equipment:

1.8 liter 4-cylinder 180 horsepower turbocharged engine, 5-speed manual transmission, front wheel drive, sport suspension, 8-speaker sound system, remote keyless entry, tilt/telescopic steering wheel, automatic climate control, power/heated mirrors, power windows, trunk and fuel-filler releases, anti-lock disc brakes, traction-control system, front and side airbags, power steering.

Gas Stats:

22 City and 31 Highway MPG.

Pricing:
MSRP $30,500

2000 BMW 323 Ci Coupe (275)

01-12-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

I totally enjoyed the ride to Scottsdale Arizona in this 2000 BMW 323Ci coupe. It is one of two new coupes for 2000. The other is the 328Ci and sports a 2.8 liter engine with 23 more horsepower. But the 2.5 liter 170 horsepower in this 323Ci is more than adequate. It has the power and handling characteristics of a sports car. And if you only have need for a two door coupe this is a nice quality automobile built for the autobahn’s of Germany and the world. On our trek to Arizona for a wedding we had to deal with typical cross winds but they lasted non-stop for the entire trip. Even so, I felt no worse for wear because the seats are comfortable and the ride was smooth. We arrived rested after a 5 ½ hour drive from L.A.

The rear seat is also comfortable and roomier than I expected for a coupe. And I was impressed with how they made entry and exit for the back seat easier than most coupes. Each front seat glides forward almost 4 inches when you pull the backrest forward. Thus the seat is up and out of the way much better than conventional seat movement. The trunk is also quit spacious. It easily held two suit cases, a gift the size of a suitcase, my golf clubs and all the other stuff women seem to need for a long week end. We didn’t bring the ironing board or the sink because I thought the golf stuff was more important. Ok, the truth – I was simply too lazy to remove them before we left. Well I confess, I had hoped to be forced to play a round of golf while there. As it turned out the groom and his support group did play 18 holes. If I had known, I would have left the night before. My kind of wedding.

In addition to the luggage in the trunk we had hanging suit bags on both sides of the back seat and some junk food snacks. I really thought it would take much longer, but thanks to the speed limit increase in Arizona you can really make good time. I love that state. It reminds me of the old west when men were men and women were women and you could tell the difference between them. On occasion you’ll even see a dude or dudette with a pistol holstered to their side. Never know when you’ll be attacked by snakes. I hate snakes. But I love to drive and I love speed, and if you’re like me you’re going to be as impressed as I was with how much power is available from this inline 6-cylinder.

BMW says there is more difference between the sedan’s and the coupes than just going from 4-doors down to 2-doors. But quite frankly the differences are not all that significant. The biggest dimension difference is that the coupes set 1.8 inches lower than the sedans and the windshield is raked 2 degrees more. More noticeable to me were the frameless windows like those on convertibles. Typically they don’t seal well and you get a lot of wind noise. BMW had the good sense to make the window drop slightly to clear the weather seal while opening and closing the door.

The rear windows open out like prior coupes but are now power activated rather than manually operated. On-board computers are standard on these coupes and although there are a few manual features for this entry level BMW it is as full featured as I would expect for the money, and arguably as much as you need. Cost is kept down with things like leatherette in place of real leather seats and the tilt and telescopic steering wheel adjusts manually. I’m not the biggest BMW fan because of the high repair cost typical of model years of Christmas’s past. However, I could see myself buying a BMW today in light of the improved quality over the years. It’s a cute coupe that handles well, is comfortable and has lots of power.

The competition:

1999 Acura TL $28,400, 2000 Audi A4 $23,990-$28,790, 2000 Cadillac Catera $30,860, 2000 Infiniti I30 $29, 465-$31,540, 2000 Lexus ES 300 $31,405, 2000 Mazda Millenia $24,995-$30,995, 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class $31,750-$53,000, 2000 Saab 9-3 $25,900-$44,995, 2000 Volvo C70 $34,000 – $45,500.

Good News:

Roomy interior, nice styling, good fit and finish, smooth ride and in the hunt with the competition.

Bad News:

Steering is desensitized so you get less road feedback.

Standard Equipment:

2.5 liter inline 6-cylinder 170 horsepower engine, five speed manual transmission, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes, Dynamic Stability Control, traction control, dual front and side airbags, antitheft system, halogen headlights and fog lights, keyless entry system, climate control, tilt and telescopic steering column, cruise control, audio system with cassette, 6-way front adjustable seats, split fold down rear seats, 4-function computer.

Gas Stats:

20 City and 29 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $28,990

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

2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS (274)

24-11-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
This 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS is a bit of American space age design. Not too far out but definitely new especially in the rear end. Don’t get me wrong, General Motors hasn’t gone out on a limb with this but anything that’s a variation on the all too common theme of cars today is appreciated by me.

I was looking out the window of my hotel in Phoenix this past week end and couldn’t help noting that every car in the lot were so generic looking you couldn’t tell what make they were. They simply all looked the same. This Monte Carlo has a different look about it and I was aware of the increased number of looks or stares relative to most of the cars I’ve been testing lately.

This is a very capable car and the price must really tick off foreign competitors. I can just hear them in their board room meetings asking how those damn Americans can produce such good cars for so little Yen or DM’s. Relying on “Snob Appeal” just won’t work forever, will it? American buyers must eventually tire paying a premium for badges on the car that serve no other purpose than to broadcast the price they paid? Well, if you read my column very often you know that I have a bit of a bias toward American cars these days. I remain objective but I can’t ignore twelve years in the foreign car repair business I co-owned in La Canada, California. I experienced first hand the cost disparity in repairs of certain cars just because they were German or Italian, for example. I learned that BMW was terribly expensive to repair mostly because of the high cost of replacement parts. Jaguar was great looking but they were in the shop too much. There was an old joke that when you went to buy a new Jaguar you first had to test drive the mechanics car because that would be the one you’d be driving most of the time.

Jags, Ferrari’s and other Italian cars tended to do utterly stupid things when it came to mechanical design. And all that stupid stuff complicated the repair process, which of course translated to higher repair cost. Fiat stood for Fix It Again Tony and other high maintenance cars were branded with similar tongue in cheek criticism.

On a positive note however there were foreign makes that were famous for low maintenance. Brother John convinced me to buy Toyota Cressida and I ended up with two of the ’80’s era models. Even though I liked both a lot, the best cars I’ve owned were still American, from Chevrolet and Ford. The styling was classic and remains so to this day. The 1955 Ford ½ ton pickup and the 1957 Chevrolet 2-door hardtop are as sought after today as they were back then. The Chevy even had an electronic ignition system my good friend Aldo built way back in 1962. I wonder why he didn’t patent it?

Well I don’t know if this Monte Carlo will become a classic too, but it has unique styling and I think it will appeal to a lot of people. It got a lot of looks and it also has all the comforts of its competition and more. And finally, you need to look at the competition to appreciate that you get a lot for the dough with this Chevrolet. It is definitely worth including in your search if you’re looking in this price range.

The competition:

1999 Acura CL $23,100 – $26,150, 2000 Dodge Avenger $18,940 – $21,185, 2000 Honda Accord $15,350 – $24,550, 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix $19,815 – $24,310, 2000 Toyota Camry Solara $18,938 – $25,838.

Good News:

American quality with lots of features, great pricing, fast and fun to drive, and lots of room inside and large trunk.

Bad News:

This Coupe is a pain to get in and out of the back seat, seat belts don’t store very well so they get in the way entering and exiting, long heavy doors are difficult in parking areas,

Standard Equipment:

3.8 liter V6 200 horsepower engine, 4-speed automatic trans with overdrive, front wheel drive, power steering, tuned 4-wheel independent suspension, 4-wheel antilock brakes, dual air bags, theft deterrent system, power steering, door locks, windows, trunk, dual power mirrors, remote keyless entry, tinted glass, air conditioning, AM/FM Stereo with cassette, bucket seats, cruise control, tilt leather wrapped steering wheel, SS package that includes computer information center, heated power mirrors and 6-way power driver seat.

Gas Stats:

20 City and 29 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $22,471

2000 Jaguar S Type Sedan (273)

17-11-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:
This 2000 S Type Jaguar ushers in a new age with even more technology. After all it is the new millennium and the advent of more innovation. Perhaps we’ll start to see some changes in an industry that’s been pretty blah for a lot of years. Most of the improvements over all these years from the model T to now have been subtle and not real noticeable. Engines for example have become rather generic and trouble free. They are no longer a real issue in decision making for the consumer. Transmissions, like kids, as my parents used to tell me, should be seen and not heard. Well, guess what? Now transmissions are quiet and smooth and the kids are real vocal even when rough around the edges. It gives a new meaning to the saying, “hire a teenager while they still know everything.” Electronics are ho-hum in that they always work. I know that’s hard for younger people to appreciate unless they’ve had the opportunity of driving dad’s antique auto. And finally, this Jaguar is no pussycat. Its 4.0-liter engine is fast.

This new 2000 model was first sold in mid-1999 and offers some pretty unique features you will find only on a few high priced cars. Most are enhancements to the performance and also enhance safe driving, like the DSC for Dynamic Stability Control, and C.A.T.S., for Computer Activated Technology Suspension system. Other interesting features include convenience Rain Sensing windshield wipers and an innovative Voice Activation system that doesn’t even have to learn your voice.

Perhaps the most important is the DSC because it helps the driver stay out of trouble by controlling vehicle yaw or movement that can cause over steer. That computer control of brakes and power to the wheels keeps the car going in the drivers intended direction. The second feature for safe driving is the ability to control the radio, CD or tapedeck, temperature and also make a phone call without taking your eyes off the road. “Voice Commands” can be used for these functions by simply pressing a button on the steering wheel and clearly enunciating words and numbers like, “Tune ninety nine point seven FM”. You get an audio confirmation of what you just said and the radio changes band and station. You can also control the tape deck and CD player as well. For the telephone you simply say “Dial [number] and the phone dials for you for hands free operation. For the climate control you can say “Temperature seventy-two degrees” and wa-la the temp setting changes.

At Comdex (the largest computer show in the country each November) in Las Vegas voice control of computers echoed this new Jaguar feature. I suspect “Hal” is now a reality and soon voice control of computers will be taken as much for granted as the car is today. And, of course, just when you think that’s all they can do, voice commands for the car will include “Altitude 500 feet” or “Turn Level to 320 degrees”, etc. Freeways? Who needs freeways? Cal Trans employees better start learning Air Traffic Control skills for the crowded and unfriendly sky’s we’re sure to have sooner than we think.

Ok, back to earth and the real world we still need to deal with. And for the near future you’ll need cars like this S Type Jag to make you FEEL you’re on “cloud 9”. The quality sound system and great insulation from outside noise help to calm you for an otherwise stressful, road rage ride home from the office. It puts you in a whole different world. And what’s even more amazing, it’s a Fooorr’d.

The competition:

2000 Acura RL $42,000, 2000 Audi A6 $33,950-$48,900, 2000 BMW 5-Series $38,900-$53,900, 2000 Cadillac Seville $43,880-$48,480, 2000 Infiniti Q45 $48,895-$50,595, 2000 Lexus GS 300/400 $37,600-$46,000, 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class $47-$69,800, 2000 Volvo S80 $36-$40,500

Good News:

Silky smooth ride, quiet, fast, great handling, traditional Jaguar styling, improving quality, neat features and elegant appearance.

Bad News:

Jaguar has historically been poor in quality both in assembly and mechanical design, so the jury is still out as to whether Ford will be a positive influence.

Standard Equipment:

4.0 liter V8 281 horsepower engine, 5-speed automatic transmission, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, speed sensitive power steering, traction control, front and side airbags, security system, auto headlights, fog lights, climate control, cruise control, fold down rear seat, power front seats, power tilt steering column, power windows and door locks, computer, real wood trim and steering wheel, leather seating, moon roof, FM stereo with cassette, and alloy wheels.

Gas Stats:

17 City and 23 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $48,000 and the model I tested included the special communication, sound and weather packages bringing the total to $55,600.

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

2000 Nissan Xterra SE 4WD (269)

13-10-1999Autolove No comments

Overview:

OK, this Nissan Xterra is nice with a bit of different styling, and although it was no surprise it’s Motor Trends choice for new Sport Utility Vehicle of the year. However, when you look at the competition below and you compare it with Jeep Cherokee Limited for example you may still lean toward the long time leader – Jeep.

For about the same money you get more power in the Jeep and I feel that is perhaps the major drawback of the Xterra.

I drove the Xterra in the boring 80-90 degree fall weather of California where the alarm clock for my 6AM flight to Denver was the 2:45 AM, 7.0 earthquake of October 16, 1999. Then when I got off the plane in Denver and picked up my Xterra I had the thrill of driving it in a snow storm. The weather conditions are ever changing in the Colorado Rockies, so this gave me the opportunity to put it through its paces in winter like conditions from mile high Denver to the 8000 cold feet of Evergreen.

Xterra and Jeep are good values and are in good company but at altitude the Nissan Xterra was a gutless wonder. Price Cobb, my race driving buddy, and I took it on a trek to the high plains of Nebraska. Most of the ice and snow melted from the time we left Evergreen to about ten miles north of Denver on highway 76. We could now use the window washers, that had finally thawed, to clean the windshield. You know how guys are. They won’t stop for anything once they get on the road. Well, I take that back – we did stop at Mac Donalds for some good old American fast food.

Price made a great observation that I pose to Nissan for their consideration. Why didn’t they put the Maxima engine in the Xterra so it wouldn’t be such a dog? Price didn’t say dog… that was my interpretation.

The climb from Denver to Evergreen is about 3000 feet and Price would push the overdrive button to turn it off when I wasn’t looking. I was more interested in talking and he wanted more speed. The point is you have to keep the RPM’s up just to keep up with traffic.

On the optimistic side of the coin, however, “the lack of horsepower and torque will likely keep you out of trouble when driving in snow”, Price said. The Xterra we tested in Colorado had the roof rack with a safari basket. The problem is that it sat over the moon roof so it couldn’t be lifted. You wouldn’t opt for both in the real world. I personally couldn’t find a use for the safari basket but it can be used for drying wet gear or securing it.

The drastic change in temperature from California to Colorado points out the need to consider what uses you’ll make of your SUV. The heated mirrors and 4X4 have little application in Los Angeles but they become obvious necessities in freezing conditions.

Xterra is based on Nissan’s Frontier pickup truck and they say it targets younger people who lead active lifestyles and find Pathfinder more expensive. The Xterra is built in Smyrna, TN and is available in five trims: XE 2WD with standard 4-cylinder or optional V6; SE 2WD V6; XE and SE 4WD V6. In other words the engine option is for slow or slower.

The Competition:

Chevrolet Tracker $13,925 – $16,250, Honda Passport $22,700 – $28,950, Isuzu Rodeo $18,180 – $30,650, Jeep Cherokee $16,445 – $25,210, Mitsubishi Montero Sport $22,527 – $31,357, Subaru Forester $20,095 – $22,595, Toyota RAV4 $16,668 – $18,078.

Good News:

Another lower cost SUV to put pressure on pricey competitors. It does everything others do and is in fact larger than the Jeep, for one.

Bad News:

Not enough engine for my taste, even with the V6, poor mileage, step rails on the side only get in the way.

Standard Equipment:

3.3 liter 170 horsepower V6 engine, 4-speed automatic trans, 4-wheel drive, skid plates, dual airbags, front disc/ rear drum anti-lock brake system (ABS), power steering, child safety locks, air conditioning, privacy glass, rear step bumper, fog lamps, a full-size spare tire, AM/FM stereo with CD player & cassette, security system with keyless remote entry, power windows, mirrors and door locks, cruise control, intermittent wipers, a limited-slip differential, step rails and roof rack.

Gas Stats:

15 City and 19 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $26,069

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