Motorweek; 1802

Adn. This time on a motorway full size pickups from GM a hot new sedan from BMW and a home massive Miata. So come drive with us. TV's original automotive magazine brought to you by Castro's super clean cleaner the cleaner that uses brake dust and grime from

all types of wheels on contact no matter WHAT DO YOU DO YOUR CAR Castrol super clean all wheel cleaner. And buy Michelin. Makers of the pressure Michelin. Designed to let you drive up to 50 miles at 55 miles per hour with out air pressure. Just what you expect from Michelin. Your host for the. Week. John Davis. Well hello and welcome again to motorway court glad to have you with us. Having the best selling vehicle in America is an achievement that every automaker wants to add to its resume. But for the last 16 years one machine has monopolized the number one position the Ford F-Series full size pickup. But for 1999 General Motors is going to try and be thrown forward with its all new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra. And with light trucks now being the most profitable market segment that quest has taken on an added importance. So do the Silverado and Sierra have what it takes to make GM the

biggest and richest truck maker in America. Well the folks at General Motors certainly think so. They claim that the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are the most sophisticated. Full size pick ups Yeah. Well they are all new and from the ground up there are solid square masculine styling is the only trait carried over from last year and even that has been smoothed out just enough to improve aerodynamics. The only real exterior differences between the GM cousins are in the front end treatments the traditional hard tonally split grilling gold bow tie for the Silverado and the familiar red GMC logo on a deep black grille for the Sierra. While we're in treatments reflect only the most gradual styling evolution from the C K series cargo volume has grown slightly shortened sports boxes both measure over seventy eight inches in floor length while the long box stretches to ninety six point seven inches. Features include a plastic tailgate lip protector easy to open the latch and two tier loading capability

with a unique provision for front to stop shifting load. But the new trucks three section brain is a real change for GM. We'll base variations of one hundred one thousand one hundred fifty seven point five inches can be accomplished by simply changing one center section rather than building or separate brains and the much steeper lighter structure rides on five different suspension packages including the first driver selectable shock damping system ever offered in a pick up. The independent front uses an equally AA arms and coil springs for a two wheel drive models and torsion bars and four wheel drive machines. Rear suspensions consist of typically rugged multi leaf springs and gas charge shock absorbers light weight by two models get new power rack and pinion steering while all others stick with time and 16 inch wheels are now standard on all GM full size pick ups engines for 99 begin with a carry over 4.3 leader v 6 with 200 horsepower at £260 feet of torque. Next up comes an all new Corvette based V8 family with a four point eight leader pumping out two

hundred fifty five horsepower and two hundred eighty five pound feet of torque a five point three leader V8 generates 270 horsepower and 315 pound feet of torque and a really big six leader pounding out three hundred horsepower and a whopping three hundred fifty five pound feet of torque. HB 8 is more powerful cleaner and more efficient than the one it replaces these old fans have not been forgotten. They get the familiar 6.5 liter turbo charged boost you two hundred fifteen horses and four hundred forty pound feet of torque. Gasoline vortex engines carry features like coils located near each spark plug and a fail safe cooling system that allows the truck to keep going even with a total loss of coolant transmission choices or manual or for speed automatic with the unique toll it saves wear and tear by holding the gear longer during starts and he can be hooked up to a GM auto track system which provides drivers a choice of part time drive first for full sized pickup. Another first for a half ton pickup brakes all around with equipment and how does it all

together. Well are you grateful. For with the 5.3 liter V8 an automatic transmission easily ran from 0 to 60 and 9.1 seconds the quarter mile to seventeen point two seconds at 80 mph. Bottom end was strong of course but it was the smooth blast of mid range power and crisp transmission that impressed us the most with the Z 71 off road suspension package our Silverado felt very nimble for a full size pickup yet delivered significantly better stability thanks to us different chassis and wider track at both ends. The new antilock brakes brought it down from 60 in an equally stable average of one hundred thirty six feet out on real roads. Seventy one suspension delivered a very for but not too jarring ride. GM has firmed up the ride on all of its full size pickup in 1999. We didn't mind it off road however. The one package and other track drive system combination. Of course it wouldn't be a modern pickup truck without plenty of comfort and

convenience. All cabs are larger than the new dash is attractive as well as very functional. The analog gauge cluster is one of the most comprehensive ever and is backed up by a driver message center that keeps track of everything from transmission temperature to windshield washer fluid to completely redesigned buckets each are wider taller and stronger with integrated shoulder belts are very they suited a much wider range of body types so if you found them firmer than they'd like. Though all welcome the addition of optional seat heater sound systems ranging from simple radios to cassette in compact disk players. A well organized and set high in the dash while rotary HP AC controls are as simple and straightforward as last year. There's also a shut off switch for the passenger side air bag and plenty of cup holders. The roomy rear seat area is reached by a third door on the right that now has an inside release for the door to match Ford and Dodge is still a year away. The rear bench seat is taller and deeper yet still offers increases in both leg and behind the seat storage room and can be folded up or carrying larger loads.

This is no mild redesign and shows just how serious Chevrolet and GMC are about taking control of this personally competitive market segment. With 20 different models available from Chevrolet alone. We can't give you every price but we can tell you that Silverado prices start at fifteen thousand three hundred fifty five dollars for two will drive fleet side regular camp and can climb as high as thirty thousand seven hundred twenty five dollars for the top line 4 wheel drive extended cab BLT grade drive extended cab Silverado that we drove thirty thousand four hundred twenty five dollars and left the dealer allotted 30 2010 dollars. It's an impressive achievement and we're not the only ones that were impressed after a drive in the GMC Sierra Automobile magazine said that it has moved decisively ahead of it or to dodge competition. Serious praise but then the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are seriously good trucks good enough to drive General Motors at the first place in full size pick up truck sales.

Coming up going for me. You know there are a few things more nerve racking than suddenly hearing your car make a noise that you've never heard before. Fortunately motor week's top technician Pat Goss has heard just about every noise that a car can make. So let's see how he'll quiet this one. John I sure get a lot of letters about breaks. And one of the most common themes in the letters is I have a break noise What can I do about it. Well first we're going to be talking about brake replacement. And you want to replace the brakes before they reach this stage. The driver of this car didn't get the brakes checked frequently enough. The brake material wore away the rivets that hold the brake material in place. Well it ate into the rotors on this car. The rotors are now no good and it costs a lot of money to fix it. All right but what do you

look for for a good quiet brake job. Number one the brake pads. High quality. Some cars only from the dealer but make sure that you get a brake pad kit. Now they're available for most cars and they're going to include things like brake shims and all of the springs and hardware pieces that keep the brakes in their proper position and that avoids squeaking and squealing. Now if the rotors don't have to be replaced they definitely have to be machined. This is the old way of doing it. This is a rotor laze that does the rotors off of the car. Most manufacturers say that this is no longer acceptable. They want either the rotors replaced or they want the rotors machined on the car using a piece of equipment like this. This takes into consideration any of the tolerances that may be a little bit out of spec about the

car. Does an excellent job look for it. All right once the rotors have been machined then it's time for this tool. This is a brake grinder. This works by holding it up against the side of the spinning rotor. It does away with any concentric circles from machining the rotor. It's called a non directional finish. It is critical. Last thing before you put the car back together or your technician puts the car back together is to take the rotor to a parts washer or just a sink and you wash the rotor very very thoroughly. Reason on the surface of the rotor are going to be fine metal particles left over from grinding and machining. The brake rotor itself these metal particles will become imbedded in the surface of the new pads they will create noise. If you do all of the steps you'll wind

up with a good brake job. That doesn't make a lot of noise and if you have a question or a comment write to me if I use your letter. I'll send you a motor week T-shirt The address is Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. Car car of the. We. Took years to complete. It's a beautifully restored 1956 Packard patrician that belongs to William Ho-Chunk of Seattle Washington. Now if you have a classic American cruiser European roadster or any other special car that you'd love to show off we'd love to see it. The Middle East to get color photos and a description of the car to Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. Some people are passionate about cars and some are passionate about one particular car like the Mazda Miata. These are the real enthusiasts the folks that never miss a

chance to drive their cars to talk about their cars or spend time with other folks who are equally excited about a special set of wheels. But why the Miata. It's not the fastest sports car and it certainly isn't a rare one. Always a great thing haas to find out. It's no secret the Mazda Miata offers performance reliability and great looks at an affordable price. But according to some Miata owners it even does something else. It makes you feel young again. To test this theory. We sent our cameras to the yacht out mountain madness. Sponsored by the Delaware Valley Miata club. This Seine celebration attracted two hundred sixty five Miata is from twenty seven states and four different countries. This is the kid's car. It's amazing how kids are attracted to this car I have a little boy myself six years old who's fanatical about it as I am.

And and in effect it brings out the kid in all of us. Bringing out the kid in all of this was clearly a priority here. And many of these Miata owners seem to be seasoned experts at it. I want them back. A lot of us don't want to feel you don't want to have that joint feeling. I think a smell a feel a breeze the sunshine can imagine when things were simpler. And if you can get back to that moment just for a microsecond you can last can last for a week. Now that I can do that better than a car out there. Many of these owners stress the sense of fun and even renewal they experience from owning and driving a Miata. While feeling young again was not part of the design concept for Miata it seems to have become a part of the identity of this car. The original concept owes much to executive designer Tom autonomy. I call it a jogging shoes you know you just hop in do a little running in the morning right you do

are exercise and you know you smell the flowers you smell the air like early morning you get the door in your face it's like you were running you know jogging you know in the morning. Another celebrity frequently on hand at Miata club events is retired reverend Jim Massey was the last shoe at the age of 90 there was a woman who bought a Miata. She drove it for a year and decided that she shouldn't drive it anymore but kept the car parked in the garage Weekly would drive it out of the driveway. Sit and read a book. The car made her feel young even though she was too old to drive. Of course we're not trying to claim that owning a Miata will make you feel young again but for some Miata owners that seems to be true. There is a woman in Chicago who found out that she can.

And all she wanted in her life was a Miata in she wanted a British racing green. And so people went on the Internet we did it through the magazine. We found a British racing green Miata for her for sale about five states away. And what had been a case of a woman with terminal cancer became a case of woman with terminal hope you realize you're just between the car and its owner is very special and ours with me out as is most unique. A lot of my friends are down on the others just don't get it. It's a very personal satisfaction that if you're not a Miata owner you just don't feel it. The car is more than just an object in which to have flooded the car. Is that something that has a personality too. How many people need a designer their car. I've had a Chevrolet. I don't know who designed it. He never came to sign my truck just driving this car for him 15 minutes

into it. You forget everything else about your world and just enjoy the fun driving you just to find your friends. And. That ain't you. The Miata is a lot of fun. Toyota should be very pleased with the public's acceptance of the American made Sienna minivans. Toyota sells over a dozen 1098 Sienna's for every imported Rebbie a minivan delivered in 1997. While it is far from the most popular front wheel drive and available the Sienna is the only one based on the extremely well regarded Camry sedan. We've had our long term test Sienna for 10 months now and after twenty two thousand eight hundred miles have only a few suggestions on how it could be improved. We'd like to see a stretch version of the Sienna that could truly compete against the Big Three and Hondas new Odyssey. With that the Sienna's 3 liter V-6 needs a boost in torque to improve loaded passing power. Also wind

noise is more than it should be at highway speed. Sienna's economy is fine for a minivan and a car like twenty one point nine mpg in normal use the standard four speed automatic transmission shifts easily but quickly and cornering Understeer is moderate. Even on switchbacks. Again most car like and competent. A CNA its all the important family minivan buttons and it's a Toyota to boot. Next week we check in on another staff favorite the Nissan Altima on motor weeks long term row desk update. Time once again for Lisa barrow and this week's Motor News. Let's see what's fresh and exciting in the automotive world. A lot of history has been written and rewritten in the 90s and Cadillac plans to write a little history of its own when it introduces the first truck in its 96 year history going deescalate this slightly redress GMC Denali. We get Cadillac a foothold in the booming luxury sport utility segment. Outside the escalators monochromatic theme is fronted with the Cadillac reason crest centered in the large

oval chrome trim grille inside the escalator offers all the comforts one expects from a Cadillac. In fact no options are available. Serrano wood accents are sprinkled throughout the cabin and the tilt steering wheel and shift knob or leather wrapped all seeds are covered in nuance leather. The same found in Cadillac Sedan and feature perforated inserts with heat were front and rear passengers. There is no memory feature however overhead the On-Star GVS system is now automatic requiring nothing more than the push of a button to connect like the Denali. The escalators powered by GM stalwart 5.7 liter V8 with 255 horsepower and 330 pound feet of torque available at just twenty eight hundred RPM. All escalates are four wheel drive using the auto track on demand system. The track use of this is clutch and can deliver up to 100 percent of the power to the axle with the most traction for additional 4 high and 4 low settings are also available. In 1999 Cadillac escalator will carry a price tag of forty six thousand five hundred twenty five dollars when it rolls into showrooms later this fall. And that's it for this week's note.

This week our eyes by focus is on the focus towards Americanised player and its world car lineup slated to replace the escort the focus will be available here and four door sedan and wagon configuration and will probably be available in late 1999 as the 2000 model with its front showing a conservative amount of new edge design. Sources say that worldwide the focus will be available with a wide choice of gasoline engines as well as a one point eight lead or turbo diesel. However it's likely only a 2 liter gas engine will be available in the US. We all strive for success but once we reach that goal we're presented with a whole new set of problems. For instance if you have a popular product do you simply stick with what works or try to improve it. For BMW and its successful three series sedan the answer was easy. Build a better 3 series. But considering how fine and well received the previous model was some may wonder if BMW could

improve the three series on enough to make it worth the effort. Well those folks need to wonder no longer because it didn't take that much time behind the wheel of a new BMW 328 II to convince us that any effort taken to improve the already superb three series was well worth it. Take the 328 High's engine for example. The new 2.8 leader in line 6 still has the same torque output 206 pound feet as the previous car horsepower is up slightly for 192 193. But like the 2.5 leaders 6 in the 323 II the 2.8 cylinder block is now aluminum. That shaves off 51 pounds of weight. The new double Vanno has variable valve timing system which now controls both camshaft brings access to the broad linear power band down to 30 500 rpm versus thirty nine fifty before. This helped us launch. Our compact cruise missile the 60 and 6.8 seconds on our way to a quarter mile run of fifteen point four seconds at 92 mph.

Although after several enthusiastic send off we did detect a bit of clutch slippage which is now self adjusting and designed to keep the pedal effort constant and increase clutch why it connects a five speed transmission that several of our drivers found the shifter to be a bit on the rubbery side. A new bike speed automatic is also available. Definitely not robbery is the suspension of wider track two point six inches in the front and two point seven inches in the rear improves the 328 eyes already impressive capabilities. The strut type front suspension is still in place but now features forged aluminum lower arms and hydraulic cushions and back the sensor. Link set up comes with twin two gas shocks and new cast aluminum upper transversely. On the track this translates into a nearly neutral handling car that offers up razor sharp turn ends with very little understeer directional changes are effortless and side to side transitions are tightly controlled with just enough body roll to keep the car from being overly harsh. Our drivers like the feedback from the evenly weighted engine speed sensitive

variable assist power rack and pinion steering and it's quick turning ratio thoughtful upgrades to the braking system include larger ventilated desk front and rear and electronic brake proportioning. We thought the average of one hundred twenty three feet from 60 rather long for a BMW although the more we use them the stronger they got abs of course is a given and straight line stability is rock solid out on the open road ride and handling are nothing short of superb despite its modest one hundred seven point three inch wheelbase with 328 ice soaks up the bumps with the boys of a much larger car. At the back country blacktop and you'll quickly find that with the standard all season traction and new cornering brake control it takes some serious obstacles to grow this. Are off balance a fine sense of balance. Also applies to the three series new evolutionary design. The most obvious changes coming to the front end where the three series now gets a grill set into the hood like its larger 5 and 7 Series sibling and a larger 17 by 8 inch cast alloy wheels that come with the optional support package.

Any of the 5 and 7 Series interior attributes have also percolated down to the 3 series like the newly available Myrtle wood accents throughout the cabin. There is now a standard tilting in telescoping steering wheel and a new more refined looking IP and easier to use audio and climate control. Now much has been written about the improvements in cabin space and overall it is 5 percent larger in total interior volume. The 3 series has moved from subcompact to compact size but rear seat room improvements are minimal and quite frankly we don't care. We've said it before and will say it again. Cars like this are driver's car that's concerned with passenger space via sport. Q. We do care about price however the 323 I began to twenty six thousand nine hundred seventy dollars higher 328 I started thirty three thousand nine hundred seventy dollars with an as tested price of thirty six thousand seven hundred seventy dollars. This puts the 1099 328 I put in shouting distance of it's rare and race your cousin the M3.

But life is full of compromises and if we can't have an EM we'll gladly take a knock. I'm new 328. Oh I that is. And it's worth it. I hope you'll join us next week for more motor we will test the new Jeep Grand Cherokee sport utility vehicle and a trio of new sedans from a new name. Day two Lisa Barrow meets a modern artist in love with vintage cars. Well Pat Goss becomes our fixer upper boss will have another long term road test updated all the latest Motor News. I'm John Davis. We'll see you then. To learn more about Motor Week TV's original automotive magazine visit us at PBS online at the Internet address on your screen. Motor Week has been brought to you by Castro super clean all wheel cleaner the cleaner that releases brake dust and road grime from all types of wheels on contact no matter what age your car. Castro super clean all wheel cleaner and by Michelin. Makers of the zero pressure Michelin.

Designed to let you drive up to 50 miles at 55 miles per hour with out air pressure. Just what you expect. From Michelin. To order a video cassette of this program call 1 800 4 2 2 0 0 6 4 4 send 1095 plus 495 shipping and handling to motorway Post Office Box 5 5 7 4 2 Indianapolis Indiana 4 6 2 0 5. This. Is PBS.