Tag Archives: 2004

2004 VW Phaeton (497)

19-05-2004Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week I tested the 2004 Volkswagen Phaeton. In ancient Ethiopia Phaeton was the son of an Ethiopian princess and his father was the sun god. Was this the origin of the Phaeton name VW was thinking about or was it inspired by the elegant 1932 Ford Phaeton?

My burning question is how do you sell a VW that is more Bentley like than VW? It also seems odd that they would market this car through Volkswagen dealers. It would seem more appropriate to go through Bentley dealers. VW owns Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Skodo (Chek) and Seat (Spanish Fiat).

My friend and car nut, Merkel, sums up the ride as “Subdued Extravagance Optimized.” Merkel is not easily impressed since he’s an engineer by training. So you can imagine how surprised I was to hear his comment that this is a “Lovely Car.” He guessed the price should be around $50,000. Wrong. Try nearly double that!

I agree the Phaeton is overpriced and further, it is understated. Someone said it looks like a Passat on Steroids.

General Info:

Parts – Germany 90%

Assembly – Dresden, Germany

Class: – Large

Cars: – Golf, GTI, Jetta & Wagon, New Beetle, Passat & Wagon, Phaeton, R32 and Touareg.

Handling & Performance:

D-lightful comfort and extreme when it comes to power. W-12 means exactly that… two V6 engines side by each and it produces 420 horsepower to really impress you. If it doesn’t you are asleep. I understand this engine will also be available in the Audi A8, which is built at the same plant in Dresden, Germany.

The speedometer goes up to 200 mph and I have little reason to doubt it would do that. I couldn’t find a place here in the United States where I couldn’t quite push the needle that far over. But it does move from 0-100 faster than most cars can go from 0-60.

Auto engineer and professor Merkel feels the transmission is not up to the capability of the engine. I happen to agree that it needs work and I was irritated by the delay between pressing the accelerator and the transmission actually engaging.

Only a handful of automobiles today employ ESP – electronic stabilization program – and it is wonderful. This technology will save a lot of lives and it is standard on this car.

Styling:

Understated elegance.

Fit and Finish:

Pristine. Wonderful attention to detail.

Conveniences:

I happen to love the On-Star feature, but the controls are so sophisticated they are almost invisible.

The Navigation system is awful and turns out to be a liability rather than an asset. There is no nice way to say it. It sucks, big time. And it is endemic of the German carmakers electronics. Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Audi are all terrible. The engineers need to look to the American and Japanese approach to interfacing with the driver and passengers since they do a far better job. Simply put, the longer you must fiddle around at the particular workstation / feature in question the LESS you will want to use that feature. I actually could not justify spending any more time trying to enter an address. I could easily have reached my destination faster than the time it would have taken to input the information. I should have known this would not be easy when they gave me a quick start booklet.

Cost:

Merkel’s guess as well as others I asked all figured this Phaeton would cost about $50,000. Guess again. How about two out of three?

Consumer Recommendation:

I discussed this car at length with Merkel as a sounding board and the conclusion is I can’t recommend purchase of this vehicle in the first year of production. VW looks to the consumer to do their QC (quality control), which is an unspoken company policy. (Insider information.) Frankly I have neither the time nor the patience to hang out at the dealership.

And the case in point is that I did find some subtle flaws I’m sure will cause the consumer headaches. An example is the preciseness of the ignition key. I had a lot of difficulty and several times was worried that I might actually not get the car started. This is the opposite philosophy of Japanese carmakers. They build a car that doesn’t break. Then they give it to the consumer. What a novel idea.

The Competition:

VW Phaeton $65-80,000, Acura RL $45,600, Audi A8 $68,500, Volvo S80 $35-49,000, Jaguar XJ Series $60-75,000, Lexus LS 430 $55,375, BMW 7 Series $69-117,000, Mercedes Benz S-Class $74-123,000, Infiniti Q45, $52-62,000.

Good News:

Outstanding elegance even if a little understated, fast and uplifting to drive.

Bad News:

Terribly difficult to use NAV system and On-Star is poorly displayed, fuel economy is lousy and to add insult to injury you’ll pay a gas-guzzler tax of about $3,000. That will smart a little.

Standard Equipment:

6.0 liter 420 horsepower W-12 48 valve engine, all wheel drive, auto leveling air suspension and electronic damping control (EDC), electronic stabilization program (ESP), 4-wheel ABS power assist disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), engine braking control (EBC), power steering, dual front air bags and side air bags front and rear, child tethers, tire pressure monitors system, anti theft alarm with motion sensor and immobilizer system, Xenon headlights and washer system, auto headlights, climate control, remote keyless entry, rain sensor and heated windshield washer nozzles, power one-touch windows, power opening and closing trunk, leather seating, genuine wood accents, 18-way driver and 16 way passenger power seats ventilated with air conditioning, heat and massage feature with lumbar support and memory function, heated rear seats, rear pass through with ski bag, rear power sunshade with side window shades, power adjustable steering wheel, power glass sunroof, HomeLink system, Navigation system with visual and audible commands, trip computer, heated leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel, 270 watt sound system with digital sound processing (DSP) and 6-disc CD changer, OnStar system,

Gas Stats:

12 City and 19 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $94,615.

2004 Jeep Wrangler Sport (496)

12-05-2004Autolove No comments

Overview:
This week I tested the 2004 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4WD. I guess we just get spoiled with all the comforts of most cars and trucks these days, with lots of room, power and amenities. Perhaps this is more for the super-active lifestyle guys and gals where the image of “Rugged or Macho” needs to be communicated. And it isn’t even subtle. This is ‘In-your-face’ basic, tough it out transportation.

There is no armrest, rides like my tractor in high gear. For the old folks this is an ‘E’ Ticket ride at Disneyland. It is after all an ‘Off Road’ vehicle and in its environment it is an exceptional choice. But in the city it is a ‘Fish out of water’. Surely a more capable Land Rover at $70,000 would add comfort and convenience to the experience, but the feeling and the message is very different.

With that “wide open” feeling of the Wrangler series comes IN-convenience, especially in the city. It is totally unprotected so you can’t leave anything in the vehicle because it invites petty and not so petty theft. In the outback it really doesn’t matter, but 99% of the time you will be driving in the “Intercity Jungle” where life is really dangerous.

General Info:

Parts – US/ Canadian 81%

Assembly – Toledo, Ohio USA

Class: – Special Purpose

Cars: -. Grand Cherokee, Liberty and Wrangler.

Handling & Performance:

Like 40 miles of bad road. It wiggles around like the lug nuts are lose. The Sport has more than enough horsepower at 190 at 4.0 liters but five on the floor and that rough ride gets old, quickly.

Jeep promotion people call Jeep, “Open-air fun” with award winning off-road capability. Well dah!

Styling:

Classic Jeep with a history that is rich and touches so many people. Model range is the X, SE, Sport, Rubicon and Sahara. A hardtop with full steel doors, roll-up windows and tinted glass is available on all models. Also optional is a combo hard and soft top in matching colors.

Fit and Finish:

Rough and rugged permeates every inch. I can’t help but see my friends Army Jeep, painted original green, and 1942 vintage. Not much has changed.

Conveniences:

Few and only by necessity. But they did make the tilt steering wheel standard this year.

Cost:

More than I think is appropriate. They are trading more on the name and image than on cost to produce. I have a suggestion; reduce the price and sell quantity. Get them out there in high demand. Manufacturers need a lesson in Job Costing.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you have a passion for being outside and off road and travel light this is a fun vehicle. If you have a hissy fit when the wind messes up your hair, forget it.

The Competition:

Jeep Wrangler $17-25,000, Chevrolet Tracker $20-23,000, Suzuki Vitara V6 $17-18,000, Honda CR-V $19-23,000, Toyota RAV-4 $18-20,000.

Good News:

Wonderful off road choice.

Bad News:

No improvement in gas performance, pricey for what you get.

Standard Equipment:

4.0 liter 190 Horsepower Inline 6 cylinder engine, 5-speed manual trans, dual air bags, front disc and rear drum brakes, 4-wheel drive transfer case with skid plate, two front and one rear tow hooks, front and rear stabilizer bars, 19 gallon fuel tank, tilt column, console, stereo with in dash CD player with four speakers, reclining front seats, rear folding seat, roll bar with padding, roll up widows, soft top, fog lights and full size spare.

Gas Stats:

16 City and 20 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $21,320.

2004 Mitsubishi Diamante VR-X (495)

05-05-2004Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week I tested the 2004 Mitsubishi Diamante VR-X 4-door sedan. It is perky light on its feet and comfortable. It is also practical in large part because it is built by a Japanese company. Not only are Japanese cars generally better on fuel they are cheaper to operate overall.

They are also more likely to cost more to purchase new or used. That’s the bad news and the good news. Bad that you must pay a premium when you buy one but good news when it comes time to sell.

Wayne (a Chinese friend of mine) asked me to review his auto situation. Seems his wife and son are pushing him to buy a BMW sedan or X5. My first response was why? So we reviewed hi present combo of cars. Two 1990 vehicles – a Toyota Corolla and a Mitsubishi Montero. Annual cost of theCorolla figures to be about $500 per year, after selling it for $3,000 (seems Corolla is in high demand in the Chinese community especially so since it has low mileage (under 8,000 miles a year). Great car, great service. Wayne intends to keep the Montero because it’s in great shape with even less mileage than the Corolla. The big question is should he buy the BMW.

No! My response is based on the fact that I know economy is important to Wayne. Unlike his wife and son who are into impressing others, Wayne is not. How about the cost to purchase and operate the BMW? Surely it would cost three times the cost of the Corolla to buy and depreciation would consume about $3,000 per year by comparison.

I know my kids don’t read my column because they just bought an Acura TL for a lot of money. Ithasn’t got the kitchen sink, nor does it have keyless operation, but it has everything else. Now if they had taken my advice they would have considered this Diamante for about $10,000 less. But who’s kids listen to them anyway? There’s an old saying that … you can tell your Kids, but you can’t tell them much.

General Info:

Parts – Japan 54%, Australia 42%.

Assembly – Adelaide, Australia

Class: – Mid-Size

Cars: – Diamante, Eclipse, Endeavor, Galant, Lancer, Montero and Outlander.

Handling & Performance:

I must say it is a little too light on its feet for my taste. I got a slightly uncomfortable feeling from its loosey-goosey steering.

Styling:

The picture at first blush could be any one of many more expensive cars, like a BMW.

Fit and Finish:

It is clearly Very good, and up to typical Japanese standards.

Conveniences:

This car is Properly equipped for the price level.

Cost:

Ok. Not fantastic, but ok. The Olds Alero is super competitive, but they are, were, promised to, throw in the towel, take the tent down and stop selling Oldsmobiles. Perhaps that’s why they are so well priced.

Consumer Recommendation:

Well, I like Japanese cars but they have some serious competition here. I would look hard at the Olds Alero that is very worth your consideration.

The Competition:

Mitsubishi Diamante VR-X $25-28,000, Pontiac Grand Prix $22-26,000, Nissan Maxima $27-29,000, Mercedes Benz C Class $26-51,000, Lincoln LS $32-43,000, Cadillac CTS $31-49,000, Oldsmobile Alero $18-23,000, Audi A4 $26-44,000, Toyota Camry $18-25,000, BMW 3 Series $28-44,000, Subaru Legacy $20-25,000, Infiniti G35 $28-32,000, Lexus ES 330 $31,725, Jaguar X-Type $29-34,000.

Good News:

Decent fuel performance, smooth ride, roomy, nice styling and surely similar to most of the high demand lines of more expensive competitors.

Bad News:

Some will surely not like the loose feeling of the steering.

Standard Equipment:

3.5 liter V6 210 hp engine, 4-speed auto trans, dual front airbags, child rear door locks and tether anchors, anti theft engine immobilizer, traction control, 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, climate control, infinity audio system with CD player, cruise control, keyless entry, power windows, locks and mirrors, remote trunk and fuel door releases, 8-way power driver seat, power passenger seat, cloth seating, leather wrap steering wheel, fog lights, auto headlights and power sunroof.

Gas Stats:

17 City and 25 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $26,819.

2004 Audi TT V6 Roadster (494)

28-04-2004Autolove No comments

Overview:
This week I tested the 2004 Audi TT V6 and must say I love convertibles but I hate the poor visibility of convertibles generally when the top is up. Top down is great and putting it down is easy too. Even with the top down there is a small trunk but if you’re a golfer, forget about it, because you can’t get a set of clubs in there unless you cut them in half. Could it be that car designers at Audi don’t play golf?

I do love sports cars and have owned several, but I gotta tell you it is scary to drive one in today’s world. The roads are filled with big or bigger SUV’s like the bigger you are, the better you are. That spells danger for motorcycle riders and anyone in a small car. And most everything in the sport class is like a bug to all those big monsters hell bent on squashing the little guys.

How rude!

Handling & Performance:
Well, it’s a sports car, built low to the ground and as you’d expect it corners nicely especially with the all wheel drive, but I didn’t care for the “Cushman” motor scooter centrifugal clutch feeling. That transmission needs some work. Hello Audi, you listening?

They did a nice job with the exhaust that fits the car with a throaty sound that signals performance to those around you. 0-60 is pretty snappy at about 6 seconds, once the clutch engages fully.

Styling:

Only a mother could love this face… but then that is true of everything and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I’m just not real attracted to the ladybug look, although I like those cute little insects. I feel the same about the Nissan 350Z, by the way. I’m also partial to blondes but you may be in love with brunettes. I like short hair; you may feel it can’t be long enough. I don’t like a lot of make up in my women and fewer embellishments in my cars, but I still love ‘em both.

I do like the racing touches like the aluminum accents on the controls, pedals, etc. but do not consider them embellishments. They are simply statements that fit the overall design and purpose of a racecar.

I didn’t like the position and latch on the small storage compartment above the console between the seats. It kept popping open when I brushed up against it with my elbow.

My car design friend Merkel felt the braces on the center console were annoying and didn’t look particularly good either. I must agree on this point and wondered why they did that. I didn’t have time to ask but if Audi is reading this, perhaps they will respond with an answer. Merkel and I do agree on many things, but how the ride is isn’t one of them. Merkel felt it was “too smooth” and I wondered if we were driving the same car. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t need to pull out the Kidney Belt but it is close to 20 miles of bad road. Ok so I know the suspension has to be stiff to perform well, but it still seemed a little rough to me. Then I get into a Jeep Wrangler Sport, more on that later, but you do need the kidney belt on that one.

The seats are extremely robust and rugged looking and remind me of the feel of a saddle when horse back riding. These seats will surely outlive the rest of the car and most of its owners.

Fit and Finish:

Very good actually.

Conveniences:

The trunk is “Inconvenient” quite frankly and I DO play golf and think they could have done more to accommodate them.

Cost:

A little too much for this car.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you are truly interested in this car, you need to test drive all noted here to get a good feel for cost-to-value. Prices vary greatly and for a two seater you may find price will be a big influence on your decision, especially if it is a second car.

The Competition:
Audi TT $33-43,000, Mercedes Benz SLK $40-55,000, Mazda MX-5 Miata $22-26,000, Toyota Celica $18-24,000, BMW Z4 $34-41,000, Honda S2000 $33,000, Porsche Boxster $43-60,000, Mitsubishi Eclipse $18-29,000.

Good News:
Decent fuel economy, sporty and fun to drive, easy top down convertible.

Bad News:

Poor visibility, slipping clutch feels like Cushman motor scooter.

Standard Equipment:
3.2 liter 250 hp V6 Engine, 6-speed auto trans, quarto all wheel drive system with EDL (electronic differential lock), ESP (electronic stability program), climate control, power one touch windows, AM/FM radio with in dash CD player, remote keyless entry, cruise control, leather seats, tilt and tele steering column, power soft top with heated rear glass window, dual front and side air bags, anti theft alarm, headlight washer system, power mirrors & Xenon headlights.

Gas Stats:

22 City and 27 Highway MPG.

Pricing:
MSRP $42,900.

2004 Range Rover, by Land Rover (493)

21-04-2004Autolove No comments

Overview:
This week I tested the 2004 Land Rover Range Rover. Is it just me or should they have named this the Ranger or something like that?

This is an SUV that is noticeably “Substantial” and of high quality. You know, when you go looking for a suit or evening gown and you see one you really like? You just know before you look at the price tag it’s going to be a LOT. It’s the same with cars and in this case the question has to be, “Is it worth all that money”? Will I also have to buy the more expensive suit and go to more expensive restaurants and use the Valet? You know, it isn’t just the car; it’s all the other trappings that go with the price of admission. Know what I mean?

A little history: Land Rover was sold to BMW in 1994 and Ford picked it up in 2000. Both companies have contributed improvements that make this a real contender. The engine is from Germany and the Ford brings organization to the brand as it did to Jaguar. It’s sure to become a heavy weight champion in the class and if I were spending your money, I’d own one.

General Info:

Parts – UK 54%, German 41%, US/Canadian 2%. Engine and Transmission – Germany.

Assembly – Solihull, UK.

Class: – Special Purpose

Cars: – Discovery, Freelander & Range Rover.

Handling & Performance:

This all wheel drive system is arguably the best of all off road vehicles. But you know, I gotta tell you; I have taken all the Jeeps off road in the most unbelievably challenging terrains and most of the other competitors too. It is my opinion that all have capability beyond what we’d ever need, beyond normal driving abilities and when coupled with the fact that few ever get off road anyway, spending the extra bucks for the best of the best is not a good reason to buy.

0-60 is 8.19 seconds which is very good especially when you consider the curb weight is nearly 5,400 lbs. When loaded it is well over 3 tons.

You’ll never want for power getting on the autobahn / freeway or for passing. But putting the pedal to the metal sucks up way too much fuel and we must know carmakers can do much better and should. See my columns on engineering issues with Merkel Weiss in prior issues or my website, www.atthewheel.com.

Styling:

British cars have their unique and particular look because for the most part the British are practical people and very proper. Designs lean more to substance over form, with exceptions such as the elegant design of Jaguar, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin. Well, this Range Rover follows suit in being a performer rather than a looker. It has not been particularly pretty in the past but shows signs of better design touches in the future.

Fit and Finish:

Excellent.

Conveniences:

If it isn’t there you “Bloody well don’t need it”. In fact the navigation system is more sophisticated than most and the off road feature provides longitude, latitude, elevation and heading, etc. It provides “Back Track” routes and elapsed time monitoring and more. If you want simple, this isn’t it. Go to the Japanese and American high tech equipment for simple user-friendly versions.

Cost:

Way too much for traversing the countryside, but the Pentagon would pay twice as much, for a rather capable all terrain vehicle. Do the math; if they will pay $600 for a toilet seat, what do you think they would be willing to pay for a Land Range Rover? Well, enough of how poorly governments care for our tax dollars, which aggravates us all, and as well it should, mate.

Consumer Recommendation:

Where snob appeal is important and money is no object this SUV will surely be attractive. Of course you can’t have an ecological bone in your body to own it because this Land Rover will burn huge quantities of “Fossil Fuel”. Part of that fact comes from the boxy, out of the mainstream design. But then, if the different look is precisely what you’re looking for then this is your cup of English tea.

The Competition:

Range Rover $72-84,000, Volvo XC90 $35-36,000, Lincoln Navigator $49-56,000, Volkswagen Touareg $36-58,000, Cadillac Escalade $52-69,000, GMC Yukon Denali $50-51,000, Mercedes Benz M-Class $38-46,000, Lexus LX 470 $64,000, Toyota Land Cruiser $54,000, BMW X5 $41-52,000, Porsche Cayenne $43-89,000, Hummer H1 $105-116,000.

Good News:

It has an unassuming presence and communicates a quiet quality that is very British, you feel you’re in the “Outback” even on the streets of West Covina… or East Covina for that matter.

Bad News:

Miserable gas mileage, pricey and more car than 99.9% of drivers can or will ever need to do. Professional race drivers do things with cars the rest of us will never develop the skill to do. In golf we know we’ll never, ever be as good as Tiger Woods. But that doesn’t deter us from entering the games.

Standard Equipment:

4.4 liter 282 hp V8, 5-speed auto trans, permanent 4-wheel drive, traction control, power assist ABS disc brakes, DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), HDC (Hill Descent Control which limits speed), EBA (Emergency Brake Assist), air suspension with auto load leveling, SRS (8-airbag restraint system), heated front windshield and rear window, high intensity headlights with power washers, parking sensors, keyless entry, climate control, power tilt and telescopic leather wrapped steering wheel, cruise control, power front seats with memory for drivers seat, steering column and exterior mirror settings, power heated mirrors and power fold, sunroof, one touch open and close windows and sunroof, trip computer with GPS satellite navigation with Off-Road function, stereo with 6 disc CD changer with surround sound, steering wheel mounted audio controls and speed sensitive volume control.

Gas Stats:

12 City and 16 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $73,550.

2004 Ford Thunderbird (492)

14-04-2004Autolove No comments

Overview:
This week I tested the 2004 Ford Thunderbird two-seater sports car. I’ve wanted to test this car for a while and was happy to have the opportunity. It reminds me of my high school days and when the first T-Birds arrived on the scene. Daddy bought one for Janet Z and I think the Beach Boys must have written that song “Fun, Fun, Fun” with her in mind. Some of the lyrics

go like this: … And she cruised through the hamburger stand, now. Seems she forgot all about the library Like she told her old man, now. And with the radio blasting – Goes cruisin\’ just as fast as she can, now. And she\’ll have fun, fun, fun \” \’Till her daddy takes the T-Bird away”.

For many who appreciate revisiting their youth, they will be sad to know Ford won’t keep the T-Bird in production much longer.

Handling & Performance:

Relatively fast (0-60 in 6.7 seconds) and surely faster than the original in 1955.

Styling:

The way we were… very close to the original. They could have done something different with the grill however. I’d like some variations on the theme and let consumers pick the best looking grill.

Fit and Finish:

Very good.

Conveniences:

Good assortment without the navigation systems or communications systems. I didn’t miss their absence.

Cost:

The price of Nostalgia just went up folks. But I guess Ford figures those who will buy this car have very little else to do with their money.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you are into collectibles, this is a nice addition to the stable. But surely this is a “Driver” and it is comfortable even on long trips. Although it only seats two, it does have a small trunk and was just fine for me and my baby taking a trip to visit friends in Arizona.

The Competition:

Chrysler Sebring $19-31,000, Mercedes Benz CLK $45-80,000, Lexus SC 430 $63,000.

Good News:

Unique limited production car, comfortable, smooth and an easy to use soft-top.

Bad News:

Pricey with the hard top option and rumor is it is already a discontinued model.

Standard Equipment:

3.9 liter 280 hp V8 engine, 5-speed auto trans, dual power mirrors, stereo with 6-in-dash CD changer, dual climate control, heated power leather seats, console, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, leather wrapped steering wheel with controls, variable assist power steering, front and side air bags, 4-wheel power ventilated ABS disc brakes, 17 inch 7-spoke aluminum alloy wheels, power convertible soft top and traction control. Note, if you want a removable hard top add $2,500.

Gas Stats:

17 City and 25 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $37,970.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – Wixom, MI USA

Class: – Two Seater

Cars: – Crown Victoria, Escape, E-series Van and wagon, Excursion, Expedition, Explorer and sport trac, F150, F250, F350, Focus and wagon, Freestar, GT, Mustang, Ranger, Taurus and wagon and T-Bird.

2004 Cadillac XLR (491)

07-04-2004Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week I tested the 2004 Cadillac XLR and I’m not ashamed to tell you how hedonistically wonderful a car like this makes one feel. Fact is you don’t know what you don’t know until you DO know when you experience unique and different things.

Many things in life are that way, like the first time you eat an apple or oysters. With this XLR, there were so many neat features to discover and appreciate it was like an Easter egg hunt.

But this was not like testing the surreal oversized toy called the Plymouth Prowler. This XLR is new and exciting serious business. The smaller retractable hardtop Mercedes Benz SLK comes to mind. But XLR is more a rogue. It is less refined but all the more exciting for that fact. Or perhaps it is the wayward child of an SL500 and a Corvette. The male is sure to be the more macho Corvette. No same sex unions here.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – Bowling Green, KY, USA

Class: – Two Seater

Cars: – CTS, DeVille, Escalade, Escalade EXT, Seville, SRX & XLR.

Handling & Performance:

Wonderful. It’s smooth, comfortable and just flat fun to drive … and fast too. That’s NorthStar fast at 320 horsepower mated to a 5-speed transmission gives you super smooth shifting. It also has a manual controlled shift, but the XLR doesn’t offer a manual transmission, rightfully so. Competitors are similarly powered but the lighter weight XLR helps it to sprint 0-60 in just 5.8 seconds, which is a little faster than the others.

Styling:

Forward thinking and very tomorrow. The sharp lines are attractive, strong and confident. The grill is beautiful and daring. This is a “Go For It” kind’a car and the expected production of only 3,000 cars will make it hard to find. It has lots of sex appeal and the expected buyer will be a 54-year-old male with annual household income of about $250,000 seeking much younger woman, the personals will exclaim. But I have news for the ladies – at the end of the day this car will out perform its owner.

Fit and Finish:

Nothing to complain about.

Conveniences:

More than you can imagine. Let’s see, where do you start with a car that has every gadget available?

Ok, start by placing the key fob in your pocket or purse and leave it there. When you walk up to the car the door unlocks and a touch pad opens the door (no handles), then you get in and a light on the dash (where the key would ordinarily be inserted) lights up. You touch the button and wa-la the car starts. Pressing the bottom of the button turns the ignition off. Ok, I just thought of one thing it doesn’t have… remote starting.

Anyway, you tool down the highway seated in heated or cooled power seats. You engage the cruise control and that information pops up on the window reflecting the speed you are traveling, the speed you set for cruise and it then controls and maintains a safe distance between you and the car in front. You can just see it isn’t long before we have “Auto Pilot” in cars. When someone pulls in front of you and shortens the distance between you and that car, braking occurs as needed. Wonderful. I’ve tested this feature before and I’m lov’n it more every time.

The hard top magically tucks away in the trunk at the touch of one button. When it starts to sprinkle or rain, the wipers snap to attention and wipe away the moisture. Just say thank you. The Navigation system provides the usual map and assists you in reaching your destination when needed. OnStar system is available not only for emergencies, but it can be the most convenient thing on the car. You can request help finding a gas station, or any directions or distance anywhere. They will tell you where you are, call for roadside assistance or lead you to the nearest Neiman Marcus or Mervin’s for that matter.

When you get to your destination and parallel park, sensors alert you when you’re getting close to any object. Then with the touch of a button the door pops open. What’s not to love on this car?

Cost:

It doesn’t matter!

Consumer Recommendation:

There are many who would like to drive this XLR, but few who would own it for several reasons. One, it is a big two seater, so it limits utility. Two, it is a retractable hard top car so there is almost NO storage space with the top down. Three, it costs nearly $80,000. But that being said, this is a keeper. That’s my code for I Really Love This Car. When I hate to give a test car back, I know it’s special.

Looking at the cost of the competition the XLR is most affordable of many. But if you want to pop for one, you’d better act fast due to limited production. If you want to open your wallet wider, you can easily find a higher priced competitor since there are far fewer able to afford the ride. But those few are not on this planet anyway. Why, because only race drivers can truly appreciate the handling prowess of such cats. More importantly, those other cars can never really appreciate the average driver. If you’ve ever ridden a horse and think it doesn’t know your ability to set astride that magnificent animal, think again. If they could only talk! Cars can talk, but they would never say anything offensive like, Where’d you get your license, in a Cracker Jack’s box?

The Competition:

2003 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage $142-152,000, 2003 BMW Z8 $132-136,000, Lexus SC 430 $63,000, Jaguar XK Series $69-93,000, Mercedes-Benz SL Class $89-126,000, Maserati Spyder $86-90,000.

Good News:

Fantastic styling, fun to drive and features from the next dimension.

Bad News:

Pricey.

Standard Equipment:

4.6 liter NorthStar 320 hp V8 engine, 5-speed auto trans with driver shift control, 4-wheel independent suspension with magnetic ride control, 4-wheel power assist ABS disc brakes, 18 inch polished alloy wheels with run flat tires and pressure monitors, Stabilitrak and traction control, speed sensing power steering, power retractable hardtop, keyless access with push start, heads up display, heated and cooled 8-way power seats, Bose AM/FM with 6-disc CD changer, DVD Navigation and voice recognition system, adaptive cruise control, climate control, Eucalyptus wood trim, wood and leather wrapped steering wheel, high intensity headlights with washers and twilight sentinel control, ultrasonic rear sensors, dual front and side airbags, fog lights, theft deterrent system and OnStar system.

Gas Stats:

17 City and 25 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $76,000.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu LS Sedan (489)

24-03-2004Autolove No comments

Overview:
This week I drove the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu LS Sedan and I’m not one to complain, but the two ladies riding in the car on this lengthy journey complained about the seat comfort. I thought I didn’t have much rear body padding, and the seats were just fine to me.

Ok, so the Malibu is “Plain Jane” styling but this is a fine, practical car for today with good gas mileage numbers and plenty of room and a great value. Bravo GM.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – Kansas City, KS – USA

Class: – Mid-size

Cars: – Astro, Avalanche, Aveo, Blazer, Cavalier, Colorado, Corvette, Equinox, Express, Express Cargo Van, Impala, Malibu, Malibu Maxx, Monte Carlo, S-10, Silverado 1500,2500,3500, SSR, Suburban, Tahoe, Tracker, Trail Blazer and Venture.

Over the river and through the woods to Brother John’s house for a retreat. John is not a monk or priest, and even further from the city which affords a little solitude… so I made the journey in the Chevrolet Malibu.

Below is a shot of early morning snow that blanketed the area over night. By the end of the day it was nearly Spring again. And a day later it would be Summer.

As they say, if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.

Handling & Performance:

Hitting the road for a long trip is a great test of performance and comfort and Malibu passed the test easily. The V6 engine provides 200 hp that is all you need while providing very acceptable gas performance that is equally important. Gas prices have escalated by early 2004 to over $2.50 per gallon in the western US and 32-highway mpg was welcomed at the pump.

Styling:

Plain Jane styling can be taken wrong and that’s not how it is meant. The lines are simple and clean and that’s a good thing. One of my favorite cars that I’ve owned over the years was a Malibu. It was not too grandiose for the Big 8 CPA firm I joined out of college but it afforded our family a perfect car for the time and place. With a new baby we had to be economy minded but we also wanted a stylish car as well. Chevrolet had always been a favorite of mine and that Malibu didn’t disappoint us.

Fit and Finish:

As good as ever for Chevrolet, and considering the price level of this car it is very good indeed.

Conveniences:

All the bells and whistles you could expect for the money and more. It even included XM radio and the OnStar System.

You’ll also impress your friends with a very unique, first of its kind, remote vehicle start system. Unnecessary you say. That’s what I thought too, but for those in colder climates it is a very nice addition. From the comfort of your home push one button on the remote key fob and start the car. It warms up before you get in. Daughter Jen just bought an Acura TL at nearly twice the money and other than the Navigator system, it did precious little more than this Malibu and it surely didn’t have the remote start feature.

Cost:

Outstanding value, in my humble opinion.

Consumer Recommendation:

Perhaps the most compelling reason to test-drive this car is the overwhelming value for such an “All Around” family sedan. It is the pick of the litter and a must see in your search for a good family automobile.

The Competition:

Chevrolet Malibu $19-23,000, Dodge Stratus $18-23,000, Subaru Impreza $20-31,000, Toyota Corolla $14-15,000, Pontiac Grand Am $17-23,000, Oldsmobile Alero $18-23,000, Honda Civic $13-21,000, Volkswagen Jetta $17-24,000.

Good News:

Very good gas performance, well priced, roomy and lots of conveniences for the money.

Bad News:

Questionably uncomfortable seats, but I’m not buying the complaint.

Standard Equipment:

3.5 liter V6 engine, 4-speed automatic trans, electric variable steering, dual front air bags, anti-lock brake system with traction control, theft deterrent system, auto headlights, rear child latch system, power mirrors, air conditioning, power windows and door locks, power trunk release, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, AM/FM with CD player with 6 speakers, 6-way power driver seat, split folding rear seat, remote keyless entry with remote vehicle start system, power adjustable brake and accelerator pedals, driver info system, XM satellite radio upgrade with 100 channels.

Gas Stats:

23 City and 32 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $22,990 as equipped.

2004 Pontiac GTO Coupe (488)

17-03-2004Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week I drove the 2004 Pontiac GTO Coupe (Coo – Pay as they would pronounce in the 1940’s). You’ll definitely want to buckle up real tight and lash everything else down for rough seas when you drive this bad boy.

I have to tell you up front that the price noted below includes a $1,000 gas-guzzler tax. I agree with half of you that we should tax those who like to burn an inordinate amount of gasoline to travel one mile, while sympathizing with the other half who say, “What’s that all about?” If I burn a lot of gas I pay the tax at the pump.

Well, those who hold the power over these kinds of laws are control freaks and if they want a “Gas-Guzzler” tax they’ll find a way to convince us we need it. I think both halves would agree on that point.

Well, the GTO was first introduced in 1964 and with over half a million sold during the 10 years it was made. It has a lot of followers who think highly of that early GTO. They are primarily made up of energetic baby boomers that came of age with that James Dean rebel in them. Remember the Brando days “On the Waterfront” and “The Wild One”? It was a restless time, and cars were a symbol of freedom that gave a new meaning to independence from parents and authority. It was the vehicle that gave wings to would-be eagles. It afforded a place to experiment and spawn the next generation if you lived through the back street drags. Ok, so they weren’t simpler days and it’s time to come clean with our kids who we’ve convinced we were angles back then.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – Elizabeth, Australia

Class: – Compact

Cars: – Aztek (Specialty SUV), Bonneville, Grand AM, Grand Prix, GTO, Montana (Van), Sunfire, Vibe (SUV).

Handling & Performance:

Awesome. Like, what do I need 350 horses for, dude? My brother has 20 and feeding them takes a lot of hay too. Not as much as the price of these 350 horses, but then he can only ride one at a time, while I was riding all 350 at the same time. Don’t tell the Highway Patrol. Ok so it takes brother John longer to get places but just think how much more of the countryside he gets to see. Oh for the simple life.

I note the pricey price tag on this GTO, but if you are hell bent on performance and brute force from your car, you won’t find one that will give more for the money. Example: I just finished testing the Cadillac XLR at $76,000 that will do 0-60 in about the same 5 seconds. Wanna race for pink slips? Other than racing, however, I just don’t think most folks will ever need this kind of speed capability from either car.

One last observation about these two cars – the GTO gets 21 highway mpg and the XLR is rated at 25 mpg. Why no gas-guzzler tax on the XLR? If you know I’d like to hear from you.

Styling:

I don’t know about you but a GTO doesn’t look like this. Oh, this is a GTO, you say. Well, some folks will always see a GTO like they were in the mid 1960’s to the mid 1970’s.

Fit and Finish:

Actually pretty good for an American car. Ok, so it was built in Australia. But you wouldn’t have known that if I didn’t tell you. Does anyone else wonder what happened to the pride of workmanship in America? We’re not a country who reveres any more the artisan heritage from whence we came. Watchmakers and other fine skilled workers like woodworking, engraving or fine stitch work are no more. Americans simply do not have the patience for that kind of detail. So things are thrown together with little care so they can get back on the freeway and suffer even more.

Not to worry, other countries still have time even though they don’t have watches. But they too will tire of paying attention to detail in time. They will probably have watches by then too.

Conveniences:

Not to many, but enough.

Cost:

Too much for a muscle car. Nostalgia just isn’t worth the extra cost… in my view.

Consumer Recommendation:

Bargain with the dealer because you can. This has a lot of fat in it – from a profit margin standpoint. If you can disprove that statement, call me.

The competition:

Pontiac GTO $31,795, Mazda RX-8 $25-27,000, BMW 3-Series $28-44,000, Volvo C-70 $40-42,000, Chevrolet Corvette $44-52,000, Ford Mustang $18-39,000, Nissan 350 Z $26-36,000, Audi TT $33-43,000, Mercedes Benz C-Class $26-51,000, Infiniti G35 $28-32,000.

Good News:

Powerfully fun car to drive.

Bad News:

Pricey, poor mileage and a Gas Guzzler tax to add insult to injury.

Standard Equipment:

5.7 liter 350 horsepower V8 engine, 4-speed auto trans, 4-wheel independent suspension with 4-channel 4-wheel power ABS disc brakes, Traction control, power steering, dual front air bags, theft deterrent system, rear child anchors, daytime running lights, keyless entry, leather sport bucket seats with 8-way power adjustment, 200-watt 10 speaker audio system with 6 in-dash CD changer, tilt and telescopic steering wheel with radio controls, power windows and locks, driver computer system, air conditioning, cruise control and fog lamps.

Gas Stats:

16 City and 21 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $33,495.

2004 Honda Civic 4-door Hybrid (486)

03-03-2004Autolove No comments

Overview:

This week I drove the 2004 Honda Civic 4-door sedan Hybrid. With gas going “artificially” up over $2.00 at this writing, car-buying attitudes will surely begin to change. The writing is on the wall and once again the oil companies are distracting us while they separate us from our wallets. Those kinds of people used to be called “Pick Pockets”, but today they are anything but common thieves. This is high finance rip off.

Some say don’t buy Exxon or Mobil gas until there is a downward pressure on prices.

The next time someone tells you we need to stop drilling oil somewhere because it will displace spotted owls, one eyed woodpeckers or raccoons who would have to move their home a couple of miles away, pour some water on them to wake them. If people were so environmentally concerned, they wouldn’t buy gas guzzling SUV’s and more Hybrids.

Prior to 1973, Honda was a company known more for its motorcycles than for its cars, which were tiny two-cylinder 600cc runabouts.

My first experience with Honda was riding a Honda Motorcycle in the late 1960’s. Then I became acquainted with early Honda’s when “Pop” (father-in-law) bought one of the early Civics’ (see vintage Honda pictured above) way back then and that little cracker box reminded me of the Fiat 850 (also pictured above) that is so popular in Europe and specifically Poland. With the price of gas over $4 bucks a gallon there economy takes on a whole ‘nuther meaning.

Handling & Performance:

Well of course transportation cars like the Civic serve the purpose just fine with relative comfort and enough speed for anything but drag racing or burning rubber during jackrabbit starts. That is especially true of this Civic Hybrid that sports a 1.3 liter 93 horsepower 4-cylinder engine. That is enough for some, and never enough for others. The normal Civic is powered by a 1.7 liter 4 cylinder 127 hp engine, which isn’t all that much more power, but the performance is close enough considering the fuel economy.

Hybrids are proof of the genius car companies can provide consumers when they want to invest in the future. I suspect they know more than we and are getting in position for the anticipated depletion of oil in the world.

Styling:

Clean lines like most of the competition and essentially the same as the conventionally powered Civic.

Fit and Finish:

The Japanese consistently put out well-assembled cars.

Conveniences:

The same as in the standard Civic. In fact it’s not obvious you are in a Hybrid if it weren’t for the different gauges.

Cost:

How can cars be more affordable? Finally the Hybrids are gaining in popularity and they cost precious little more than conventional gas powered models. And you can’t appreciate the car until you realize you don’t need to stop gasoline as often. A friend says they drive from LA to San Francisco and half way back on one tank of gas in their Prius. Now that’s my kind of car. This Civic Hybrid isn’t far behind.

But when you consider the cost of these hybrids it is important to consider Honda and Toyota are subsidizing the cost of this new technology. Surely they couldn’t sell them for that price considering all the development costs. And that gives rise to a more important issue. How well will the new battery assist and regeneration equipment hold up over time? They don’t talk about it and we won’t really know for several years. I encourage a little risk taking, however, because the product needs a boost to encourage greater production of Hybrids that will bring the prices down even further.

Consumer Recommendation:

I still can’t convince my kids to be more practical when buying a car. This generation has only known good times and has no clue of “Saving for a Rainy Day”. Their mother and I opted to take a chance in the early 1960’s when Japanese cars were first sold in the US. Yes, I was in college and we were cost of living conscious. We had to wrestle with the fear of whether parts would be available with so few dealerships. The danger or inconvenience of being stranded was very real.

If you want to drive an economical car you have to consider this Hybrid even in consideration of the risks. Their first attempt was the Insight, which is only a 2-seater. This Civic Hybrid is almost indistinguishable from a gas engine powered Civic. However, although I like the design better than the Toyota Prius, you need to drive both. I encourage you to discuss the propulsion systems of both with dealers and pay particular attention to what maintenance issues they anticipate. If they offer an extended warranty and if affordable it would be a wise choice to buy it.

The Competition:

Honda Civic $13-20,000, Toyota Prius $20,000, Honda Insight $19-21,000, but the Insight is only a two seater.

Good News:

Outstanding fuel economy, fun to drive, Honda quality and good pricing and it only needs an 11 gallon fuel tank.

Bad News:

We won’t know how well the new technology will hold up over time.

Standard Equipment:

1.3 liter 85 hp 4-cylinder engine with integrated motor assist, CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), front disc rear drum ABS brakes, electric power assist steering, 110,000 mile tune up, dual front and side air bags, child anchors, anti theft system with remote keyless entry, climate control, stereo with CD and anti theft feature, center console, cruise control, power windows and locks and power mirrors.

Gas Stats:

47 City and 48 Highway MPG.

Pricing:

MSRP $13-20,000.

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

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