Motorweek; 1426

This time on motorways the hard upper big family truck driver it's rear drive and do it yourself. Charging took up drive without. TVs Automobile magazine. Your host for Motor Week John Davis. Vallone welcome again to motor week we're glad to have you with us. A few months ago one of the most eagerly awaited family vehicles of the decade finally arrived Honda's many van and that many van the Odyssey looks set to become a rip roaring success. Now our first stand for the Odyssey was limited to just a few days but now it's back for a longer stay so we can give you motor

week viewers a better idea of what all the fuss is about. With the minivan segment one of the most competitive in the industry on his new Odyssey needed to offer buyers something different while maintaining Hondas benchmark quality. So the company exhaustively studied what types of people buy minivans and how they use them. After digesting all the data Honda decided to build not just another minivan but a flexible family mover one that is easy to drive and to live with. Confirming our first impressions from last fall Odyssey is the most car like of all minivans to date. Both great odysseys ride and handle much like the front wheel drive Honda Accord. No surprise there for Odyssey is based on the Accord chassis. But here's an even bigger difference for doors regular hinged doors at that. Not slider doors just like an accord sedan. Wide door sill is in a very low step and make for easy entry and exit.

Standard seating is for 7 with 3 place metal folding split bench and a 6 passenger L X and an X test ban. Are these captain's chair. They're both lightweight and easily removable. Even without a sliding side door behind odysseys large hatch and the inside mounted spare tire. The reason this bench only seats two yet it's also the slickest difference just by removing the head rest and turning to rotary latches it neatly folds into the floor giving six passenger vans one hundred 2.5 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seats removed seven passenger elex is make do with slightly less. All a lot of seas are powered by a specially tuned version of the accord. All aluminum single overhead cam to point to leader 16 valve or cylinder engine it produces 140 horsepower and one hundred forty five pound feet of torque. Honda engineers paid particular. Mention the mid range power and given the Odyssey's almost thirty five hundred pounds zero to 60 in time of ten point three seconds is a

pleasant surprise. However with even moderate loads or on a steep grade a little to point to really has to work hard. The only Odyssey transmission is a four speed electronically controlled overdrive with great logic control. That's Honda's version of fuzzy logic. And it reduces hunting for gears on hills. EPA fuel economy estimates are 20 city and 24 highway. We manage twenty two on our test loop. We are impressed with the ride and handling qualities provided by odysseys 4 wheel double wishbone suspension. Another record adaptation cornering is well controlled with a little band style. Also like top accords Odyssey has the real disgrace. Plus an anti lock system is standard on both trim levels. We were delighted that pedal feel is much firmer than typical ABS equipped. Vehicle. Inside the tallest narrow cabin. Our attractive interior fabrics more car like features and the fine ergonomics that Honda is known for. Besides the expected drivers airbag there's one for the passenger along with two glove

boxes gauges are clear analog units but we prefer a smaller speedometer paired with a tack ometer which is not available. The large front bucket seats look comfy and have a variety of adjustments including power height control but they're too firm for our taste and had zero lateral support a tilt steering wheel is standard and goes a long way in accommodating most body types. Most controls are only a short reach away. But it's also quite easy to bang your knee against the large center stack. And hit groups which here runs the main heating and air conditioning system plus rear passengers get a second AC unit standard and these two dash mounted cup holders have four siblings in the rear. When occupying the rear seats you'll be able to see the view directly ahead thanks to raised theater style seating for the second and third rows. And the price for this milestone minivan. Well the elex starts at twenty two thousand nine hundred eighty five dollars and the exit twenty four thousand nine hundred ninety five dollars. High test

fans roof rack and floor mats brought it sticker to twenty five thousand three hundred nineteen dollars. That sounds high until you start pricing the competition. And others agree that the Odyssey should be a real mini van play or Auto Week said Odyssey is a well finished generally refined generally classy minivan. They can be more fun to drive than most of its competition. While Automobile magazine noted but as good as the Odyssey mechanicals are it is in interior packaging that it breaks new ground. Honda achieved a mini van ride that approaches the Accord Honda's initial sales goal of 25 to 30000 units a year is very modest and we think every Odyssey produced will find a willing buyer. What they'll get for their money is a different interpretation of the minivan unique people mover with loads of car like attributes easily flexible seating and cargo carrying abilities and unparalleled safety. And that's what the fuss about the Odyssey is all about. Time once again for automotive answers from motorway star technician Pat

Goss he knows what it takes to get the most out of every car including yours. John seems like everybody is interested in performance these days myself included. Well I wanted to increase the performance on this Ford Explorer but I wanted the increase to be something that was really noticeable. I wanted it to be easy to do and I wanted it to be street legal. So I selected Paxton supercharger and we're going to install that super charger right now installing a super charger is something that just about any experience do it yourself or could do. You know our cases mainly involve rearranging a bunch of parts so that we have room to fit in the supercharger and all of the plumbing that goes with it. In this particular installation it involves changing the windshield washer vital for the ABs module and of course looking up all of the different pieces of plumbing that go along around the super charges. Now what's involved in your particular car may be different. The manual said that it should take anywhere from four to six hours and

it did take us the full six hours to do this installation. But keep in mind that we're professionals we make a living doing this sort of thing. So you might want to plan your time accordingly. One big thing here is to be sure that you read the instruction manual backwards and forwards so that you understand each and every step you don't want to make any mistake that is difficult to correct later on. Some of the parts are really a tight fit. In this case the belt was really snug. Air intake all of these things may need a little personalization they may need to be modified to fit exactly the way they should be and the installation although it requires some common hand tools sockets to drivers cordless drill torque wrench and so on. Are you for Lucian went pretty smoothly testing the car now. Then we're going to take it back and double check everything that we've done to make sure that everything has stayed in position and we don't have any leaks or any problems.

We've already run the time of the installation the supercharger. So now we're going to go back to the racetrack and see what kind of performance we get through the installation of the supercharger. Looking at the power curves both before and after shows is that there's a significant increase in performance. What I'm really impressed with the performance increase that the supercharger has given this explorer especially in the mid-range and passing areas. I remember that super charging is expensive and it isn't for everybody but it does have some advantages. First it gives a significant performance increase. Secondly it legal and it's something that you can do yourself. And if you have a question or a comment write to me. If I use your letter on the air I'll send you a motor week T-shirt. The address is motorway Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. The week is a wonderful piece of work. It's a completely restored 1956

Studebaker White Hawk. It belongs to Jeff Roding of Alexandria Virginia. Now if you have a car there's good submit your car of the week photos to motorway Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. Winter is always a tough time to get around by car unless of course you live in Hawaii. But for those of you that have to battle the ice and snow we have this FII report from Lisa bell. She wanted to know what kind of car works best in winter weather and she found out in a place where everyone is an expert. Players are touting the virtues of front wheel drive for winter driving follow things that we're all dry with the proper set up just as effective. They've invited us to the Arctic Circle with some of the best weather driving conditions around to see if we agree.

With temperatures hovering around minus 10 degrees Celsius we're joined Babo and other automotive journalist behind the wheel of rear wheel drive driving center in Reuben even one at this time of the year daylight is in short supply. Roughly three to four hours I would take it. The reason I think it will drive could be good and slippery conditions is the development of the cars today because if you have a good way to stop the car you have the right there I've been lucky. And also if you have a good automatic you know. They can get us well by with it. Tires are another important factor in winter driving our cars are equipped with Swedish

tires made special rubber compound for winter are also used for extra grip and are accepted in this region of the World here on the slalom course it's very apparent how important weight distribution is when it comes to handling 52 percent of the 960 front and 40 percent in the rear. Both are manual and automatic cars are equipped with automatic locking different dos it gives you a chance but much better chance to get off. It really will start spinning. Transfer of force to the other will with better and that makes a point. And switch to the winter mode on automatic and the 960 starts in third gear which helps to avoid starting out. After a quick sampling of finish delicacies it was time to pack it in. The sun was setting

and hour for hours at shooting time to answer the question is rear wheel drive as good as it will drive in winter conditions. Well the answer is yes and no. If you are a skilled driver and understand the dynamics of each then yes. If you are an average driver and have an older less sophisticated and probably know but any driver behind the wheel of a modern rear wheel drive car full of technical features such as an automatic transmission with winter mode. Abs and the locking of knowing that their journey will be a little bit. Laugh. We never get enough of the information that Lisa Barrow brings us and from the looks of our mail neither do you. There she is again with all the latest Motor News. Making news this week is a one of a kind in Pella and says produced by Chevrolet engineering guru John Laws and while it may look like its dog s s on the outside its cabin has

two critical references. This small tag ometer attached to the gauge cluster and the 60 shifter attached to a Borg Warner G fifty six manual transmission from a Camaro. It was made into a much modified L.T. one which has been disassembled plane board in balance new pistons rings connecting rods and afford a Manchester distributor were used and rebuilt the resulting 380 horsepower and really very poor LB beating George Bush this hot rod S says 1 0 to 60 in six seconds flat two seconds bastard stuck on the ground says. Just last year. I'm like muscle cars of old and some of today the six speed shift action was direct and stable with no rocking back and forth. Combine that with almost limitless power and you get a fourteen point seven second quarter mile ending at 98 mph. Not bad for a 40 200 pound car. This is the first time one of John mosses trick Chevy's has been available for independent testing and we hope it won't be the last and that's it for this week's motoring news.

Hi I'm Craig Singh Hans and this week's Roadside America takes us to the most famous road of all. Route 66 originally stretching from Chicago to California Route 66 has a lovable character that no other road can match. While much of the old highway has been replaced by modern interstates the timeless charm of this legendary road lives on and will never be forgotten. This is a topaz for many years it was Lincoln Mercury's idea of a compact family sedan and he was a good car. The next day many imported for doors it was also something of an antique. Fortunately when Ford introduced its impressive new Contour sedan Mercury got its own version. The mystique. Now we like these cars so much that we gave them our annual

drivers choice award. And here's why. This all new mystique has more advanced technology and creative features built into it than any previous Mercury. No surprise considering Ford Motor Company Six billion dollar investment in its world car platform like its more Euro styled sibling the Ford Contour. But the base mystique G.S. and our LS great test car come only as a four door sedan but with its Chrome grille and stylized him plus narrow wraparound headlights up front and up with light bar in the rear. You know it's a Mercury a dual overhead cam 2 liter 16 valves E-Tec. Provide standard power of 125 horses and 130 pound feet of torque arm is the carry the optional 2.5 liter all women I'm sure a tech B6 who's twenty four valves on the overhead camshafts are good for 170 horsepower and £165 feet of torque platinum tip sparkplug provide a rating of

100000 miles between two notes off first for the compact class. A smart shifting five speed manual as the standard front drive transmission optional is this four speed automatic with overdrive. Ford's first from the ground up electronic transaxle it for the amnesty from 0 to 60 in a better than expected 8.5 seconds. A good number but even more fun for our drivers was putting the mistake or the switchbacks where they were in total control of the steering wheel is excellent and body roll minimal. Our high speed lane change proved no challenge either. We continue to be impressed. Our results. Just as we were with our 118 put average stopping distance from 60 the 6 foot target biscuit each wheel and ours also had the optional anti lock system and all speed traction control. Another first in this class. There's a lot to like inside the mystique as well. Quality fabrics features and safety such as dual airbags and the anti-submarine cloth bucket seats are

first rate lateral support is excellent optional 10 way power seat adjustments are via this pictograph control mounted on the seat corner with manual rake and lumbar support to complete the coming Great picture front seat belts are height adjustable. The 60 40 split folding rear bench seat gives the decent room for a pair of adults while the trunks thirteen point nine cubic feet of cargo room is well above average. If there's room for a mistake in your garage it will cost you only thirteen thousand eight hundred fifty five dollars to start for a GSA Dan begin at fifteen thousand two hundred thirty are very well equipped car was nineteen thousand one hundred ninety five dollars. We think the Mercury Mystique is well worth that and more. We're old cars and set a new higher standard for compact sedan. That's why they're winning the award and why we're cheering them on. The automakers new models are always ahead with motor weight viewers and many of you have

requested another look at our reports on what's new for America's big three. So once again we start out with General Motors 1994 was the turnaround year for GM with sales and profits both rebounding but from the look of what's new. 1995 is the year that will really shift GM and a high gear. General Motors seven passenger car and light truck divisions deliver a wide diversity of highlights for the 1995 model year. First and foremost is the continuing resurgence at volume leader Chevrolet bolstered by genuine early sales success for its new luminous sedan and Monte Carlo coupe Chevrolet is ready with a one two punch in the small car market. The good shake up segment pricing for years to come at only 10000 $60 to start the all new Cavalier is the lowest priced car yet to offer both cool air bags and anti-lock brakes standard. A compact Cavalier also boasts a longer wheelbase and

more rigid body that makes the J car feel like a far more expensive car. Base power is by way of a retune two point two liter for the uses platinum tip spark plugs good probe 100000 miles. In spring a two point three liter quad core engine. Now with balance chaps and a four speed automatic will be available on the Cavalier for the first time. 95 edition cavalier could be the sleeper small car of the year. Although it will have competition from its compact showroom companion the also all new Geo Metro. Once again based on the Suzuki Swift the smart looking Metro is also larger than before. Both hatchback coupe and Newport or sedan include the safety of dual airbags while a 1 liter three cylinder gas Mizer engine is standard. The match against the Swiss 1.3 leader for as an option since metros are assembled in Ontario it's fitting that they will be among the first cars sold in the US with Canadian style daytime running lights.

Speaking of Northern Lights poles Nobilis been delivering its 95 or rather a luxury sedan for several months now and word is that supply is well behind demand. No wonder the $32000 Aurora with its 32 valve core leader Northstar be a robust chassis finely tuned touring suspension. A driver oriented leather and burled wood lined interior compares well to imports costing twenty grand more. Oldsmobile more traditional cars received welcome tweaks. Atlas coupe sedan in convertible again a new interior with dual airbag while both big sedans 88 and 98 see power boost from a new version of GM is three point eight leader V-6 95 new series two three point eight jumps horsepower from 170 to 200 pon. The terrific El SS gets the 225 more supercharged B6 Oldsmobile Buicks biggest news of the year is already in driveway along the Riviera coupe is proving to be a great Buick image booster. While currently also powered

by GM super charge V-6 that series two three point eight becomes the rig standard engine. After the first of the year. Speaking of image you get a load of what a few exterior tweaks did to the more traditional regal. There's so little chrome now that it almost looks like an import. Ditto the new interior and dual airbags are now standard too. After its big homecoming this summer things are quieter at Saturn for 95 at least on the outside but open the door and a whole new Saturn awaits inside restyled interior as adventuresome and well cool. The Dash has dual airbags big gauges and radio controls for fat fingers to open the hood in the anemic base engine gains 15 badly needed horsepower. We're around 100. Its operation is now also quieter. GM self-proclaimed performance powerhouse. Pontiac also boasts the reworked Jaycar But while the old Sunbird was mostly a pageant generic Cavalier the new Sunfire s e n g t tram is in many ways a different car.

Well at least it feels that way when you drive them back to back. The Sunfire definitely has a more boy racer look to it. Call it a baby Firebird especially when quad core equipped the interior is driver oriented with a grippy seat fabrics and dual airbags nicely integrated into a sporty panel. Prices start at just over $11000 and includes ABS brake. The rail Firebird along with the Camaro gets a break and throttle all speed traction control system available with the 5.7 liter V8 on both manual and automatic cars with such dramatic changes that Cadillac in recent years we'd understand if they took 95 easy but there are some changes most notably for the Eldorado new front and rear panels have been largely from far far more serious appearance especially on the touring coupe where the brightwork is moved to the wheels. The TC's highly regarded 4.6 leader North Star B.A. also gets more serious. A new intake manifold pumps horsepower up by 2 0 0 300.

GM has its truck plants working at full capacity so the arrival of two new sport utilities for 95 is giant sized news. Already forging new trails is the best series go anywhere wagons. The Chevrolet Blazer and GMC truck. Jimmy taking the styling of last year's pick ups and extending it. These compact models are sleek outside and surprisingly roomy inside the driver's airbag a standard as our anti-lock brakes. Power comes from a 195 horse for Point 3 liter V-6 and both 2 and 4 will drive trim Oldsmobile similar bravado takes a year off for returns next fall as a 96 model. But about six months before that comes the new Ford or Chevrolet combo and GMC truck. You honk if you think it looks like a short suburban. Your loads this full sized sport huge is 21 inches shorter than a bird but it's mostly new. After the front door easier to drive than a suburban It can still carry six passengers and yards of cargo. And like all S.K. pickup base model gets a new more

far like instrument panel where the driver side airbag and we're out of air time for this review of what's new a General Motors for 1990 plug. Be sure to join us next week for more motor week almost take up fast ride on four wheels and the latest Porsche 911 Carrillo for more leisurely ride on two with a Honda Goldwing. I'm John Davis. We'll see that. 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. To order from the Motor Week home video collection or current and past episodes of the motor with

television series. Call 1 800 4 2 2 0 0 6 4 more to order a catalog send a self-addressed stamped envelope to visit dress. Oh I'm John Day on the next edition of motor week we'll put up power to the pavement with a Porsche 911 call report and ride taking a few will touring and there's no way that you are supposed to Saturn. I want you to see our great city ha stopped by a fantastic glory Festival plus

one have all the latest Motor News. Don't go to miss the next motorway.