Motorweek; 1308

Next on motorway family driving fun from Volvo. The Frankfurt Motor Show and the insurance industry safety Wizards. I'm going with us next. TV's Automobile magazine. Your host for motor. John Davis. Well hello and welcome to motor week. We're glad to have you with us. True or false. Station wagons are fun to drive. Well most folks would say false since most wagons are designed with utility in mind and enthusiast driving pleasures are rarely if ever considered. But European automakers seem intent on changing that. BMW

currently builds a wagon based on its five series Sports Sedan and now Volvo is weight in end with a new wagon based on its lively 850 sedan. So once again station wagons are fun to drive through our faults. The answer lies with the latest edition of Volvo's popular line of station wagons. The 850 sports wagon. Based on the platform that we selected as our Best Import sedan of 1993. The square but stylish sports wagon is the first one or a front drive wagon in Volvo history like only 50 models are turbo test car benefits from the Volvo trend toward smoother styling with trendy headlights bumpers and side molding treatments. While outback a distinctively tall brake light set the 850 sports wagon apart from its rear drive Volvo relatives. While the liftgate has the most effective rear wiper that we've ever seen. Volvo engineers also shaped the roof line for maximum high speed stability. All sports wagons get standard alloy wheels but Turbo models

wear these larger 15 x turbine style units shot with low profile Michelin pilots power to back up the sporty looks comes from either the 850 standard 168 horsepower 5 cylinder engine or this potent new turbo charged version. Two hundred twenty two horsepower and two hundred twenty one pound feet of torque on tap two point three leader all aluminum five is another first. It's the most powerful production engine Volvo has ever sold but there's no manual gearbox. Normally aspirated a 50s offered to transmissions turbos are only available with a smooth four speed automatic with winter storage mode. This did disappoint many of our staff until they drove it watching the 60 and only 6.7 seconds through the quarter mile and 15 seconds of ninety four point seven miles per hour. It easily flattened our best time in a standard 850 manual sedan. And unlike many other automatics the turbo boxes gear ratios are perfectly matched to the engine's torque curve we were. Impressed. Then we turned a

corner on the sports wagon to be every bit as nimble as it is quick. We had to keep reminding ourselves that we were driving a station wagon run dry plow was almost nonexistent while power steering feedback was plentiful and a super sticky tires gave superb lateral stability even at higher speeds. Standard any lock equipped or will this brakes brought the sports wagon down from 60 and 112 feet. A fine average. A lighter pedal would be preferred by our testers of power and stability received no complaints performance like this sometimes comes at the expense of comfort. Our staff also praise the firm but smooth European ride and low 67 decibel interior sound level EPA fuel economy ratings are nine thousand nine hundred twenty six highway. We average 23 mpg. The 850 sports wagon also features of all those most inviting interior yet from the smooth lines and required wood grain trim to eye turbos optional leather. It's pure pee and luxury standard features include air bags and full

power accessories including a sunroof as well as some of the most comfortable seats that we've ridden in for some time prep. memory is standard for the power driver seat and seat heaters are optional for both front and back. A sports wagon also has one of the world's easiest to use trip computers. The analog gauges lack only an oil pressure gauge to be perfect while the CFC free dual climate controls and standard CD ready Alpine stereo feature. Absolutely idiot proof. If you think that we're raving now wait until you see the 60 40 split rear seat with its built in child seat and triple shoulder belts or maximum cargo capacity of sixty seven cubic feet. And it's all usable on third rear facing bench seat will be available soon for seven passenger capacity. And for really long loads the front passenger seat holds down the 850 sports wagon is the Swiss Army knife of automobiles. It would take a lot of pocket knives to equal the price however normally aspirated a 50 sports wagon started twenty seven thousand six hundred ninety five

dollars. Move up to the turbo and you pay thirty thousand nine hundred eighty five dollars with options are turbo test car cost thirty three thousand nine hundred fifty dollars. That price buys plenty of the safety features of Volvo's are famous for like dual airbags antilock brakes and 5 mph bumpers sports wagons also meet 997 federal side impact standards traction control is available but it is performance that sold us on the new 850 sports wagons the kind of performance that has rarely been found in any car designed primarily for family use. So one last time. Station wagons are fun to drive through our faults if their Volvo 850 sports wagons answer is. True. You know many consumers these days rank safety as a new car's most important attribute but safer cars don't just happen. They require

extensive research and testing. Recently asked why I-Reporter Lisa Barrow visited an organization dedicated to this important work. In December 1992 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety which is funded by automotive insurance companies opened its Vehicle Research Center or DRC near Charlottesville Virginia the center is one of the few facilities in the U.S. that conducts extensive independent vehicle safety tests. Second it has range from studying real world crashes to conducting high speed crash tests. Let's take a look at what goes on here and how you as a consumer can benefit a variety of handling and braking tests are on an outdoor track. Where the surface simulates an icy road. Here anti-lock brakes are being tested. The Institute also conducts tests on air bags. Air bags are already saving many lives. They're also preventing serious injuries. But

unfortunately we're also seeing some cases where bags are causing abrasions to the face minor burns to the arms. These are usually in lower severity crashes when the bag deploys. Different design seem to have a different likelihood of producing these injuries. We're concerned with the speed with which the bag comes out and the temperature of the exhaust gas. That's what we're checking for in our air bag testing. Here sun visors are tested for their ability to cushion the head in a low speed impact. The Institute also researches real crashes in a seven county area around the VRC. About 500 crashes are investigated each year. Basically what we plan to do from the real world Christ is understand what kinds of crashes what kinds of events are producing what kinds of injuries we can then go into the lab recreate those kinds of crashes with instrumented the moves that should in turn then lead to ways to improve the designs of cars to prevent those injuries in the future.

What sets the BRC apart from other testing facilities is its capability of conducting different kinds of crash tests. For example this 40 mile per hour offset crash the Taipei Institute would like to see all cars withstand. Current government tests are run head on into a flat barrier. However the institute's research shows that an offset crash which means only one side of the car hit something is more representative of a real world crash. As we move through the 90s and into the next century safety will continue to be at the forefront of what consumers want in a new car. And from what we saw the VRC it's clear the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will continue to have a strong impact on how safer cars are built. Dallas visit with motor weeks Wizard of wheels master mechanic Pat Goss. For in. John in case you're wondering what I'm doing this is a new feature that I'm going to do from time to time.

And this is where I share viewer's tips. Well this one I thought was a great one. This is from Michael Young out of Houston Texas. He says that where he lives they have a lot of hard water and a hard water even if you let it sit on the paint of the car for a short period of time. It'll leave water spots. And he came up with the idea of using a leaf blower to blow dry the car. I think it's a great idea. After all it's basically the way they do it in car washes. Well that can really save the paint because it does away with most of the water does away with the water spots and saves on the amount of abrasion that you wind up with as a result of a lot of shamming. Now the second one this is from Tom Arnold of Fresno California. He says that on his Pontiac 6000 He had a headlamp bulb that burned out or at least he thought it did. But before going out and buying a new one he tried polishing the contacts on the back of the bulb. He says it worked in the lamp and lasted several more months. Interesting thing because a lot of times the only problem with a headlamp bulb is that the

contacts are corroded and of course when you remove the wire to put the new ball B in while you clean the contacts and you establish a new electrical path there. Well before you buy the new ball because they can be quite expensive. Pull the wire off. Clean the contacts and then put it back together and see if it works. Now you clean the contacts on the back of the bulb and in the end of the wire. One way to do that of course is by using contact cleaner. This is used for cleaning switches and connectors and so on in the electronics field. Works real good on the backs of headlamp bulbs can be used on a lot of other areas things like fuel injector wire harnesses and so on where corrosion may build up and be a problem. Now we're speaking about bulbs. Here's another place and this is my tip. Here is where many people get into trouble if we look at these two balls. They have the same basic configuration but if we look on the body of them they have different part numbers. Always make sure that you use the bulb with the proper part

number for your car not just one that looks the same. The internal resistance and the brightness of the bulb can be different and we have a third type over here this is a single contact bulb. Don't ever get that mixed up where you should have a double contact bulb because it can lead to some horrendous appearing electrical problems. Also if you have a car that has a lamp monitor in it always replace all of the tail lamp bulbs at the same time and make sure they're the same number and the same brand and if you have a tip that you think I viewers would enjoy. Write to me if I use it on the air I'll send you a motor week T-shirt The address is Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. Car of the week is this 968 Datsun 2000 roadster belongs to

Craig Johnston and resides in the rust free environment of Tempe Arizona. Submitted color photos of your car of the week where you drive your car not to Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. On motorway. The cars are the stars and some of the hardest working cars in show business make up are long term tests. Let's have a look at their latest adventures. The latest J.D. Power home on initial quality gauging how many things go wrong in the first three months of ownership craze Lexus cars as the most reliable. Well after six months we're inclined to concur. Since our G.S. 300 has not had one single hint of a problem we've also revised our performance impressions a bit. The line acceleration is a bit dull real world highway passing gets glowing comments from our stand. Mileage is also turning out better than expected at twenty two point three mpg. Cost of operation is 6.6 cents per mile we think

between 6 and 7 cents is normal for passenger cars. We actually have a number of normal passenger cars in our test lot that are gliding through fall without new concerns including this Mazda 66 A-S. It's V-6 engine is delivering twenty five point seven miles per gallon after 14000 miles. That's at the top of its government ratings of 21 City 26 highway. This Impreza El soldiers on without pause although the colder than usual weather already has us thinking how glad we are that this is an all wheel drive Subaru mileage here dropped a bit due to more short hop driving although thirty one point one MPG is fine for such a person goes on AM. Given its great performance we see good economy as an unexpected plus for our Ford Probe GTI. After twenty one thousand most enjoyable Miles it is still providing twenty four point seven mpg gonna make. Our Toyota Corolla Ellie on the other hand is seeing more highway duty. It's a combination of roomy interior quiet ride and unquestioned reliability make it a popular

choice for one or two staffers on longer trips. So at the 16000 mile mark it's thirty two point two miles per gallon fuel economy is on the. Ron. Rising economy is also a fact with two less likely candidates. Our North Star V8 equipped Cadillac Eldorado touring coupe is now managing nineteen point four mpg while this also be a power Jeep Grand Wagoneer total sixteen point nine with almost 25000 miles on its odometer. That's still not as far as our Mercury Villager has gone in 11 months. After twenty six thousand miles economy is also up to twenty one point one miles per gallon. However we are concerned about the strange action of the rear wiper. It likes to get stuck on the hatch handle. Clearly an adjustment is called for and will let you know if any other of our fleet adjustments on the next early when her motor week long term protest update. Now for all the latest motor news we turn once again to Lisa Barrow.

This week we look at three vehicles of the near future as depicted by automotive artist Marc neighbor. First is this Honda subsidy designed especially for the U.S. market. Based on a shortened version of the current civic platform this new car would fill the entry level void in Hondas model lineup which resulted from the civics gradual upsizing over the past few years. Look for the sub Civic in early 1995 do at least a year later is this Ford or sport utility version of dodges Bronnie new Ram pickup code named the adventurer. The all terrain wagon will compete with Chevy's forthcoming full size Ford or blazer standard engine will be dodges three point nine liter 175 horsepower V-6 with a power optional 350 horsepower will motivate the restyled 1997 Chevrolet Corvette the new car will be a bit smaller lighter and even less expensive than today's at about thirty thousand dollars. Its new size combined with the LTA 1 vs extra power will give the 97 Vette performance equal to the current Z are one with

increased fuel economy and that's the motor news for this week. You know I had Motor Week our favorite season isn't summer or winter it's the auto show season. That's when the world gets its first close look at all the latest automotive hardware. And as always the season starts out in Europe and our first stop is in one of Germany's oldest cities. While every auto show has its share of new models and far out concepts the focus at Frankfurt this year was on a more viable type of concept known as the city car. And naturally the home teams led the way. BMW showed off to familiar

concepts as a 13 0 rear engine rear drive three seater hatchback and an updated one hybrid which combines Gas and Electric engines and offer space for four Datsun blitzes a tiny well-designed four seater electric car. This fun looking convertible will actually go on sale in Germany in early 94. Ople tested the public's reaction to three concepts that take two plus two and take our roadster along with the Scamp sport utility but without a doubt the hit of the show was the Mercedes-Benz vision a 93. All major drive components are located under the floor allowing maximum interior space. It will accept a variety of engines and includes all of the safety and comfort features one would expect in a Mercedes accord while the Europeans with its new Saab B show car the Subby is a viable concept that meets all upcoming crash standards and uses a low emission to stroke gas engine. Japan weighed in with Subarus latest city car which is actually a van the tiny Barrow offers some of the most versatile seating we've seen and

it's already in production. But the most intriguing Asian concepts were from Nissan sedan and APX coupe both display technology likely to see production in the near future. As for more familiar production cars books wagon drew big crowds to its stand with two variations on the new golf this cabriolet retains the rollbar of the previous carbon benefits from its new bodywork and sporty interior treatment and the golf wagon offers excellent cargo space and a small family car platform or showed its latest and reportedly last iteration of the current 9 11 design the new Corolla boast a smoother lower look and increased horsepower. Porsche also had a hand in alleys hot rod Wagon R S2. Now he is taking all the credit for its space frame concept the Audi s after this polished aluminum beauty as a teaser for the upcoming V8 sedan due out next year. My SO USED the flashy Rube Goldberg style pinball game one nailed a new dodge and Plymouth neon.

This cap lowered subcompact will be launched almost simultaneously in North America and Europe and early 94 with its strong environmental theme and plenty of new models. The Frankfurt Motor Show proved to be a fine way to kick off our tour of auto shows 1994. Pat Goss is one of those people who is naturally mechanically inclined. The kind of person we might say has motor oil in his blood. And sometimes it does seem like he could fix just about any car with his eyes closed. But while we may share his love for cars we don't all have his special talents with tools. If you want to excel under the hood you have to go to school and this path shows us in this week's return visit the school that you need may be just around the corner. I constantly have people asking me how I find the mechanics for my repair shop. I also have people asking me how they can learn to become a mechanic. Well first we have to set the record straight. The word mechanic no longer belongs in the automotive repair industry. See automobiles have become very complicated and very technical.

Therefore we're dealing with automotive technicians. Now we have come to cadence Ville Community College just outside of Baltimore Maryland to learn about three of their very modern programs. Now with me I have Rick Glenn who is the program coordinator here at Cadence ville. Rick can you tell me what's the difference about what you do here and what they do in the trade schools. Well the three programs that we featured General Motors ASAP for the asset in Toyota t 10 are very specific to the product and backed up by the support of the major manufacturer and dealers in the area. And they provide not only automotive courses that are specific to the product but we also provide of course a liberal arts education so the students are getting their academics as well and wind up with an associate in arts to great. OK so they're winding up being well rounded individuals as a result of this. Yes as you well know it takes much more to repair today's car than just turning a wrench. OK let's see what goes on here. All right let's talk about the classroom. Rick

what's going on in this particular classroom. This this is a toy it is a 10 program going on and they're doing it in a theory class or on the alternator and charging system. There's also of course the academic subjects that they'll take as well. Elsewhere on campus English math science speech psychology as well as a hands on portion of the laboratory portion of their course which takes place outside. OK. Can we take a look at some of the equipment they'll actually be using. Sure let me introduce you to Terry Wolf and we'll take a look at the lab. Great. Well Terry this certainly is an impressive repair area that you have here. Yes sir how did 5000 square feet of stop hot very clean and modern not unlike what you'd find in a modern dealership or repair shop. No sir it's not. It's modeled right after a dealership or repair facility. I see. Well I see we also have some very modern test equipment here. Yes sir this is how long and digital engine analyzer that uses and.

For use in engine performance testing. Same thing that you've been holding out of them. I see. Be nice to work with equipment like that every day. It's wrong. What's going on over here Terry this is the Ford asset class. They're doing air suspension. I diagnosis that's computer operated air suspension real high tech stuff. Very high tech. It's one of this. This car is one of 50 that the manufactures have donated to our program. I see very interesting So they're really up to speed on the current technology. Yes and we have cars up the money to. I don't I need to take a look at the GM program and see what they have to offer. OK it looks like an interesting piece of high tech equipment Terry what are we seeing here. We're seeing a General Motors cams machine computer automotive maintenance system. It's designed to communicate with the car and Detroit. OK so it links the car right to the manufacturer to maintain data and I see very interesting. Now are these only in dealerships. Yes the Hohenzollerns dealership haha. So that's an advantage of a program such as you have here that you're going to have

the equipment that they're actually going to be working on in the dealerships and service center. Yes we're kept just like these. Oh yeah thank you Terry. Thank you. And if you have an interest in the automotive repair field it's certainly one worthy of considering if you'd like more information about any of the programs that we've talked about right to me. The address is Motor Week always Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. That's Motor Week. Always Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. The next best thing to a tour of America's top automotive museums may be a copy of the enthusiast originator's Collier Automotive Museum. Video Video tour of the famous Collier museum is predictably pleasant but it's the rare historical footage of miles barren and sand all year. And their involvement in the post-war American racing scene makes this tape a treasure trove for the vintage racing enthusiast. Be sure to join us next time on motor week for a test of the reborn pony car the

1994 Mustang and a trip around the racetrack and Porsches latest 911 Turbo. Well also learn about the future of natural gas for our cars and visit the Monterey historic race is. I'm John Davis. We'll see you then. To order a video cassette of this program call 1 800 4 2 2 0 0 6 4. Or send twenty nine ninety five plus $4 shipping and handling to this address. That expanded version of motor weeks in Jaguar the roar of the cat is available

on video cassette. It examines past present and future Jaguar models. To use your credit card call 1 800 4 2 2 0 0 6 4 4 cent 1995 plus $4 and shipping two motor week home video post office box 6 8 6 1 8 Indianapolis Indiana 4 6 2 6 8. Hello I'm John Davis on the next edition of Motor Week. Ford's revitalise

Mustang galloped back into the pony car fray and Porsches latest 911 Turbo set to Motor Week records will also have an app while I look at the future of natural gas and a bit of electronic advice from Pat Goss last week trip to visit Scott's paradise the moderate historic races. Don't you miss the next motorway.