Motorweek; 2702

Minivan pioneers reinvent themselves with the new Grand Caravan for storytelling. Free. Cruising for an innovation. That God used cars this time of crisis to Raj. I mean what. Do you mean. We. Need. To. Think. And try out some new XP to comply with. What a week. TV's original automotive magazine. Brought to you by cars dot com. Let's say you're looking for a car. Cars dot com can help research locate even contact a dealer. Cars dot com. Find the right car for you. And buy the tire rack. Ever notice how tires are like shoes whether it's everyday coffer seasonally correct. For real performance the tire rack knows

how to help you dress appropriately. You could learn more at Tire Rack dot com. My idea of a symphony a Pistons playing the tune my ride for you tells it to me. With the ballot for 100 years and with. And by Dunlop tires the search for true performance is part of our heritage. Dunlop is proud to present the Dunlop drivers Cup where amateurs from around the world compete head to head in the on and off road competitions. Information and come up tires dot com. Your host for the week John Davis. Well hello and welcome again to motor which we're glad to have you with us. Minivan sales are not what they used to be. But while most brands are spending a lot of money ditching the mommy van segment for trendy or crossovers Chrysler continues to embrace it. After all they invented the front drive minivan and they're fifth generation 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country represent

nearly 25 years of experience combining practicality and agility into a single box. But can the latest reincarnation of the minivan convince new buyers that it's still hip to be square. Simply improving segment leading icons like the Dodge Grand Caravan a Chrysler Town and Country is never enough. While the minivan market has shrunk it's still extremely competitive. Simple improvements won't do. So except for the basic two box form. Chrysler started from scratch with an all new platform for their fifth generation seven passenger minivans and they're the biggest yet now sitting on a single stretch wheel base that's grown to one hundred twenty one point two which is the 200 2.5 overall link beats the Honda Odyssey by an inch and a half. Both versions wear more slab sided styling with the familiar Chrysler wing atop the Town and Country grill while the grand caravan's knows sports the Dodge cross hears

and Rams Head. And Chrysler designers really went to town with a host of new and familiar family friendly features. One of the most popular with parents may be the yes essential stain and odor resistant cloth fabric and floor mats. The popular and still exclusive stowing go fold into the floor seating comes with upper level trim and with new twist. The second row can now be heated while one touch power fold can be added to the third row. Another first in the minivan segment. But this year's biggest seating innovation is the available swiveling go seat system. This almost RV like feature allows the second row seats to swivel 180 degrees and face a removable table when not in use the table is kept in the big second row covered storage bins and integrated child booster seat comes later. All but base models have power sliding side doors. Now with power windows and a power lift the family is protected by all rows side curtain

airbags and sit beneath a new overhead console with more storage available infotainment systems include navigation surround sound satellite radio harddrive and all five hundred six watt amplifier with 10 speakers and a subwoofer DVD multimedia system sports twin 18 screens an optional serious back seat satellite TV which shows Disney channel Nickelodeon and the Cartoon Network. All size drivers will fit thanks to a standard tilt will with power driver seat and power adjustable pedals available. And of course there are oodles of cup holders. A rear seat conversation mirror two huge glove boxes and even an umbrella holder plus plenty of luggage space from thirty two point three cubic feet behind the third row to a maximum of one hundred forty four point three cubic feet. All this family convenience moves thanks to a trio of six cylinder engines. The smallest is a three point three leader flex fuel B6 with 175

horsepower and 205 pound feet of torque. Next the familiar 3.8 leader pushrod B-6 one hundred ninety seven horsepower and 230 pound feet of torque and at the top of the line the new four leaders single overhead cam 24 Val B6 the pumps out two hundred fifty one horsepower and two hundred fifty nine pound feet of torque. Automatic transmissions are for speed for the three point three and a minivan first six speed with a 3.8 and 4.0 driving aid comes from standard electronic stability control tire pressure monitoring and an available rear backup camera. We spent most of our miles with a Chrysler Town and Country while it still delivers a family pleasing ride there's less rolling corners than before. A 4.0 V-6 gets slightly firmer tuning and we liked it even more. The steering is light and very direct with good feedback for a family hauler. With three point eight leverage is certainly adequate for most uses and likely to be the most popular choice. But

the new 4.0 lieder engine is a real powerhouse with an abundance of passing reserve and short shifts from the six speed transmission. But here's the best news. Prices for all Chrysler minivans are reduced for 2008 by an average of almost $2000. Dodge Grand Caravan prices go from twenty two thousand four hundred seventy dollars for the SE to twenty seven thousand five hundred thirty five dollars for the F-16. Chrysler Town and Country prices range from twenty three thousand one hundred ninety dollars for the elex to thirty six thousand four hundred dollars for the LTD. The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan a Chrysler Town and Country show that the inventor is still the innovator. And as far as minivans go the more things change the more they stay the same but with the better. Coming. Living of the super car like stuff. Now let's stop by Goss's garage and see what our top tech has for us this week.

John Hughes cars can be a tremendous value but you have to buy them properly. And of course one of the ways to do that is on the Internet. Now make sure that when you're checking prices on the Internet that you're checking prices on vehicles in your part of the country because prices vary around the country. All right. But once you have selected the car and you've got an idea that you really want to look at this particular car what are some of the things that you need to check out. Well one of the things of course is to make sure that there's a service history with the car and that's especially important if the car has warranty remaining on it because if it hasn't been properly serviced the warranty might be void check to make sure it has all of its books and papers as well. Then you actually have to look at the automobile itself. And one of the first things you do is you look through the windshield at the VIN the vehicle identification number plate you're looking

for scratches or marks on it which could indicate that it's been tampered with. You're also looking at the little rivets that hold it in place the rivets should be hollow. If they're not for those little pieces of metal sticking up out of them well chances are there's some kind of a story with that automobile. So certainly you also want to look down the sides of the vehicle for any signs of an obvious accident damage. And then you want to get serious in the reason you want to get serious is because there's a group of individuals called curbstone owners they'd like to take cars that have been damaged. Fix them up make them look great and sell them. And you don't get a good value. All right inside the door. Look for overspray. Any signs of overspray in there any signs of body work. Get down under the doors look for remnants of tape and things like that. Anything that's suspicious now doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't buy it if there is overspray or something but you need to know why it

occurred. And remember the curbstone as well they'll replace a lot of things inside a car like seat covers and carpeting and so on they're easy and inexpensive to do make the car look great too. What they can't do in most cases is replace door panels and steering wheels and various things like that because they cost too much they take too long to get. So if you see abnormal wear any place on any of these hired items around the car well you probably want to walk away from it or at least do a lot more research. If you do it all right you can get a great deal and a great value. And if you have a question or comment write to me the address is Motor Week. Owings Mills. Nearly. 2 1 1 1 7. Whenever we test a super car one that has super performance and a super price we get two reactions. Some viewers question while we test outrageous cars like Ferrari's and Lamborghinis while others love being able to taste the experience through us. Well if you're in that second group you'll be glad to know

that Yolanda vastus has found a way that you can have a hands on super car experience without having to come to work for us or going broke. With. With. Them. Imagine being able to test the limits during morning. A. Very mild. Form of these five super charged high performance sports cars. It's a lifelong dream come true for the dozen or so car enthusiasts who plunk down close to $5000 to participate in super car life's track day at Pennsylvania's Beaver Run Motor Sports Complex. It's an experience of a lifetime to be able to drive all these different cars. On a track back to back and compare the vehicles and super car life fleet include a Ferrari f 430 Lamborghini Gallardo Porsche 911 Turbo Aston Martin DV 9 and a Mercedes-Benz SL 65 is the best car. Bill.

Owner Jan Otto says he wants people to drive these cars the way they were meant to be driven. By one hour. If you're on the right away on a well regarded racetrack in a safe environment and under the watchful eyes of professional race car drivers. We don't just throw you in the car. Give you a lot of instruction. I couldn't do it without these guys. I mean they are just that good. We're ready for the first demonstration run. The day begins at the vehicle dynamics area. We practice slalom 0 to 60 runs and braking distance drills. As I discover this is also the best time to familiarize yourself with the nuances of each vehicle. You were very careful with the Porsche. Yes I mean this is your chance really. Absolutely. Practice outside is followed up with further instruction inside. The theory behind that is actually this little formula here which is sort of the MC squared of racing instructor Darrius crawler revues tire position turning points and brakes set up.

Diligent note taking is recommended as this is the last stop before hitting the track. The second half of the day is by far the most exciting this is when everyone gets dedicated track time. It's set up in a lead and follow sequence. You have an experienced driver in front that's Dagen the red Ferrari and I simply follow. All right let's go. They get out of the track as fast as the instructor drives as long as the clients keeping up with the instructor instructor keep going to the limit of the car navigating your way around the twisty turns in hilly terrain of this 1.5 mile track is no easy task especially at speeds of 130 to 150 mph. Cameras inside the car captured the action from two different angles. Watch as I got it to keep pace with the lead driver on the straightaway. Over there. Pushing the pedal to the metal was the high point of the day for Howard K. dish. His wife Heather surprised the New York native with a day at the track. He thought it

was a reality show that he was going on Survivor but he was going visited thought he was singing with some celebrity. You know what he was doing. It ended up being the perfect birthday present. How many great causes one get to drive in a lifetime here one one day boom your fantasy is this fulfilled Ohio resident and fellow attendee David Jackson agrees. It's like a friend of mine always says he said someday I want to remember my experience it's not my dream to and this is one you always remember. Beaming smiles on clients faces let's I don't know his track day concept is in full gear. When we started the company we said OK what's our mission statement. And what's our purpose. Having from supercars. We just left that over. Because that's what we want to do. The pace of new models arriving in showrooms and onto our lot is exhilarating. So let's check out some of the latest car keys to come our way. We've run out of superlatives to describe what it's like behind the wheel of a BMW

M3 and with an all new one for 2008. That task hasn't gotten any easier although it was easy to take the venue where we were introduced to the new M3 sunny southern Spain. After a brief run about through the countryside we arrived at the Discovery race resort in Rwanda. After a few quick laps getting up to speed you quickly realise how much more capable this car really is. The steering is so precise and the overall balance so refined that you cannot help but push harder and harder. It's not just another into the driving experience but am taken to a new level. 414 oars power V-8 moves the spirit of this driving experience. The first V8 ever in an m3. The four leader M. is based on BMW Zefi tan used in the M6 3 Not only has more power with more capability overall. And is still a great. Comfort for every day grabbing and sure what more you can ask hearing.

And when you drop over $60000 for three series you wanted to stand out a bit from the Beemer masses. The M3 does that none too discreetly with a super aggressive lower facia. Good balls aero shaped mirrors and quad exhaust. Inside you'll find a few specific n bits as well plus all the usual technical gizmos BMW owners can't live without. For now six speed manual is the only transmission option but look for an improved SMG manual matic later. The only sour note is that the new AMP 3 won't arrive here in the States until next spring. Looking for a little retro fun they can also do a day's work then check out the 2007 Chevrolet HHR panel to get that vintage panel van Look the side windows are replaced with a steel canvas while the side cargo doors are opened by concealed electric latches. This gives the HHR panel super clean flanks with plenty of space for your company logo or even a

tacky 70s style mural inside the rear seat to replace with a solid load floor 57 cubic feet of cargo space. A standard folding front passenger seat allows really long loads of room for smaller items as provided by storage boxes under the floor propelling the HHR panel is either a one hundred forty nine horsepower to point to your four cylinder or a 175 horse 2.4 leader for. Our spin in an HHR panel showed it to be an entertaining little ride that receives plenty of attention on the road. The lack of Windows does restrict Rear Vision however so be careful when backing. Prices for this cool little retro workhorse started sixteen thousand seven hundred fifty dollars. The 2007 Chevrolet HHR panel is available at your local Chevy dealer right now. Few things get sports car enthusiasts more excited than a new Porsche. So imagine how excited they are by the 2008 911 Turbo cabriolet

one of the rarest of all production forces only 300 will reach U.S. shores. The turbo Cabrio is also one of the most potent the three point six leader twin turbo classics engine puts out 480 horsepower at four hundred fifty seven pound feet of torque variable blade turbo chargers allow for an additional over boost when the sport mode is engaged. The races peak torque a five hundred five pound feet all of which feeds through a sophisticated all wheel drive system where the multi plate clutch they can shift traction between the front and rear in less than 100 milliseconds. Forster claims the manual transmission turbo Kerio will reach 60 in only three point eight seconds and the tiptronic as in only 3.5 seconds. The three layer convertible top rises in only 20 seconds. Even while moving it speeds up to 31 miles per hour. But it's at much higher speeds at the turbo Cabrio showing exhilaration is smoother than lightning quick.

The steering is precise with an excellent feel and the chassis is superb tune for all speed. The 911 Turbo cabriolet is no lightweight soft top cruiser. This is a pure super car with massive power a rigid chassis and a standing fraction of the convertible top is just a bonus. A few open topped cars can approach the turbo Cabrio performance for its price of one hundred thirty six thousand five hundred dollars. The 2008 fortune m 11 turbo cabriolet is available now. So did yours before all 300 are gone and will crank up more new car keys first driving impressions and just a few weeks. Whoever said a circle doesn't fit in a square didn't have Cylons vision rounding out the corners of their signature boxcar the x b sign on thinks that they're all new and larger 2008 redesign will draw even more young fans to their brand. Now science says everything they did to the new XP reflects what

their owners wanted but in the end while it's a smoother box is it a better box. If they did it once they can certainly do it again. That's what sign on had to be thinking when they embarked on their first major overhaul in their brand's brief history spearheaded by an all new version of their hip shoe box on wheels the 2008 X speak sign on says they listen closely to fans in designing the new XP 5 door. And they wanted more room so the XP has grown its longer and wider wheelbase is up four inches to one hundred two point four and overall link this trend still fulfilling the one hundred sixty seven point three inches grabbing elements from the T to be concept vehicle the new XP still retains its wide angle shape. But now with smoother edges surrounding its flat panels. Up front the long gated headlamps and face your brake cooling ducts set off and now open up are grilled to

create an almost pouty facial expression. Outback tail lights are now inset towards the hatch and a single rear backup lamp is on the left bumper. The XP rides on 16 inch steel wheels ready to be re excess or rod and side things have changed even more dramatically. Total cabin volume is up from 90 to a whopping one hundred twenty two point five cubic feet. The dash is a more linear yet still quirky design. The old car's higher mounted speed tack fuel grouping gives way to a row of around read outs including a digital info display. The Front Seating position offers a roomier allowance like feel despite the surprisingly lower specs for a head and leg room hip and shoulder room however have increased since all XP has come almost mottos fact the array of standards is generous from cruise control and steering wheel switch gear to a full complement of air bags. Naturally the standard 161 pioneer audio has iPod connectivity a premium unit further adds the ability to

download images and video clips to an electro luminescent screen. The rear seat remains adequate for three bodies. Typically it is split 60:40 and folds flat for a larger smoother cargo floor. And therein lies the XP as most sizable improvement with twenty one point seven cubic feet behind the second row Max cargo space jumps by more than 60 percent to a gaping sixty nine point nine cubic feet. The XP also gets a huge jump in power. The original XP is miniscule 1.5 liter engine is replaced by the Camry smoother 2.4 liter double overhead cam four cylinder with variable valve timing output is a galloping 158 horses that's 55 more than before and 160 two pound feet of torque trendier siddur stack mounted gear shift controls either a 5 speed manual or a four speed automatic with new manual mode shift the XP automatic has government fuel economy ratings of 22 city and 28 highway on regular gas.

We were turned twenty four point two miles per gallon in real world driving X BS energy impact scores a moderate fourteen point three barrels of oil consumed per year on the track our automatic XP proved to be. Look Arctic no more. Zero to 60 in 9.4 seconds. Well not a rocket it's still a two second improvement and the manual does even better the engine cool smoother for a competent quarter mile of seventeen point three seconds at 82 miles per hour. The next piece driving dynamics are defined by simple MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam in the rear. Standard vs Seaway traction control is there but not overly intrusive. Handling is guided by quick steering. There's just enough oversteer to enjoy driving at the limits. The XP felt smoother and sports car tight managing its added horsepower like a champ. Breaking news courtesy of 4 will disc with ABS and brake assist aero straight halt. Everest a good one hundred twenty nine feet with minimal fade. The XP

sticker with a manual is a thrifty sixteen thousand two hundred seventy dollars with the automatic It's just seventeen thousand two hundred twenty dollars. You may have noticed how many times we use the word smoother in this road test. While the 2008 sign on XP still caters to its cult there is no doubt that Toyota style refinement has made its mark that mainstreaming may put a few diehards off but we predict that the XP still for he styling more likable interior safer performance and continued bargain pricing will make the XP even more addictive. Well I hope you'll join us next week for more of motor which will test the most mainstream offering from Mercedes-Benz. The new C-Class and a big crossover from Buick. The law jury yes. On playing I'm John Davis. We'll see that. To learn more about Motor Week television's original automotive magazine visit

PBS daughterboard. To order a DVD or VHS copy of this program call 1 800 8 7 3 6 1 5 4. Motor Wake has been brought to you by cars dot com. Let's say you're looking for a car. Cars dot com can help research locate even contact a dealer. Cars dot com. Find the right car for you and buy the tire rack offering a wide selection of tires wheels and more with professional advice and online shopping tools. Plus a national network of tile rack recommended installers. Maybe oil and water don't mix. But oil and blood do. Novel. 100 years under the. Add by Dunlop tires. The search for a true performance is part of our heritage. Dunlop

is proud to present the Dunlop drivers Cup where amateurs from around the world compete head to head in the on and off road competitions. Information at Dunlop tires dot com. This program was produced by American Public Television which is soley responsible for its content. On PBS.