Motorweek; 2324

This time on a motorway or some skimpy rock charity in America you look at it without. TV's original automotive magazine. Host for Motor Week John Davis. Well hello and welcome again to motor week. We're glad to have you with us. You know there was a time when the term sub compact car stood for cheap boring transportation. But today the best small cars with their high revving engines and big car features are enjoyable to drive yet still extremely affordable to own. And this week we compare four of these impressive entry level models all with the base price of under $13000. So which one is the best one for your wallet. Not an easy home since all four of our front wheel drive subcompacts

contenders are solid little performers on the road that won't inflate the budget. First in line that just introduced 2004 Suzuki programs are built in Korea by Daewoo Arinze is the latest addition to American Suzuki's bass growing lineup of family cars slotted just below the sportier area. Crisp winds make up the European pin the pin in for in the style port or sedan with a large six sided window greenhouse providing excellent visibility Griz's. Power comes from a two leader Twin Cam 16 valve four cylinder engine. It makes one hundred one thousand orthe Power one hundred twenty six pound feet of torque. The most in our test a by speed manual transmission is standard mated to the optional for speed automatic. Harper runs I hit 60 at a reasonable for its class ten point seven seconds. But we would describe overall performance as happy. Handling is quite nimble and even with typical run driver understeer the friends it is fun to kick around the cones.

The standard 15 inch all season tires grip Well the interior is very roomy at one hundred seven point five cubic feet it is the largest in our test and it has a long list of standard features. All models s l x n r e x include air power locks in windows a cassette CD player and radio controls on the steering wheel are even has leather upholstery split fold rear bench seat is standard trunk space offers up a big twelve point four cubic feet. But is the largest car in our group it was also the thirstiest expect 26 MPG in daily driving. Brings a base prices begin to twelve thousand nine hundred ninety nine dollars for the S and reached of fifteen thousand four hundred ninety nine for the E X the highest of our group. Next up the 2004 Toyota Echo restyled last year Echo was Toyota's attempt to woo young buyers before cyan came along. Eco put Toyota's top quality image on a trendy and usable shape. Riding on a ninety three point three inch wheel base the Echo is the shortest of our lot

but with lots of glass it looks taller than the others. Echoes power is a 1.5 leader Twin Cam 16 Balfour output is 108 horsepower and 105 pound feet of torque typical for its class. Our track results included 0 to 60 runs in a brisk nine point two seconds with the standard five speed manual. Power and launch feel stronger than expected for speed automatic is available. Handling is secure and not stellar but echos soft suspension with 14 or 15 inch wheels. Did the best job of ironing out road bumps and rocks. And those small on the outside the echos interior will surprise you. It feels roomy and chic with a hi driver seat and European flavor dash. The base Echo is however lightly equipped and even power steering air conditioning an AC DC have to be added. A split folding rear seat is also optional but at thirteen point six cubic foot trunk is standard in our test biggest eco easily wins this foursomes fight in fuel economy.

Our test results were an impressive 38 mpg for the manual. Offered in two and four door models eco starts at a low ten thousand seven hundred sixty dollars but will rise to around twelve thousand dollars once you add a few necessary options. Our next candidate the 2004 Chevrolet of aoe is the first of a new generation of small cars for GM as domestic brands. And like this is if your brain is made by day one. This funky and budget friendly import comes as a four door sedan for our five door hatchback and knows it's simple but most attractive appearance to a towel designed only slightly larger than the echo. Ninety seven point six inch will base doesn't compress its appeal of a 0 power comes by way of a 1.6 liter Twin Cam 16 Balfour. It's a class typical power train with 105 horsepower and 170 pound feet of torque and 5 speed manual or four speed automatic transmission are of a 0 0 automatic tooken also typical ten point four seconds to dash from zero to 60.

Noise and vibration however were less than expected. Even with 14 inch tires pedaling on the track proved a bit gritty. But on the road the vale was a joy soft spring provided exceptional ride quality and a surprisingly quiet drama. Inside the five passenger interior is uncluttered and European efficient much like the echo offers lots of headroom and comfortable drivers held a special value model includes power steering but lacks air conditioning adds air while the top has power locks windows and a CD MP 3 stereo in the rear the standard 60 40 split folding seat expands the small 7.1 cubic foot cargo floor to a wagon like forty two cubic feet. Fuel economy is reasonable we managed a good 30 on a mixed driving look as to value the back end sedan started nine thousand nine hundred ninety five dollars for the special value model and topped out at a reasonable twelve thousand five hundred eighty five dollars for a well equipped

LS our last compact contender is the now familiar Hyundai Accent restyled in 2003 and includes Hyundai's 100000 mile power train warranty. The best protection among subcompacts available is a two door hatchback or are four door sedan. The x in styling is uncomplicated and practical X it packs a 1.6 liter Twin Cam 16 valve in line for. Output as 104 horsepower and one other. Six pound feet of torque more or less equal to echo and avail. And with our GLC 5 speed manual a more speed automatic is an optional track times read 0 to 60 in 9.3 seconds. That's right there with the echo ride quality is good but not class best as is handling label it adequate and safe but not much fun yaks and small tires 13 inch on all but the GTI contribute to its limited grip. Overall though every day driving is quite acceptable.

As is the interior. The accent has a comfy driver's seat and a well planned instrument panel. But you have to order an option package for the mid-level G.L. to get power windows and a decent stereo. The standard folding rear seat leads to an eleven point eight cubic foot trunk smaller than both ECO and for. EPA estimates are fine higher test loop yielded 35 mpg for the fire speed slightly less than the manual echo and while base prices range from ten thousand five hundred thirty nine dollars to twelve thousand seven hundred thirty nine dollars before options it's Hyundai's exceptional warranties that just might be the biggest selling point. As to safety. All four of our testers are available with anti-lock brakes but only the accent offers side impact airbags and their standard. So is there a winner here for you. Overall we're most smitten with the Chevrolet of a 0 for commuting enjoyment. But it. Hard to argue with how much car you get for the money with a Hyundai Accent. For pure

size it's the Suzuki for Renzo and for quality the Toyota Echo has an unbeatable reputation. It's so long to those boring econoboxes of our past as we'd gladly endure the daily commute with any of our bad before and seeing their frugal praises mile after mile. Coming up America. On the move at this point in the show we always stop by Goss's garage. So let's see what Motor Week top tech has for us this week. John this time we have some neat accessories for and around your car. First we're going to start over here with what's called the Sidewinder never have to worry about a dead cell phone battery again because with the Sidewinder you can crank it and actually charge the dead battery on your cell phone. Does a great job. Right Next we have what's called the Hot

Shot hot shot. Well doesn't make any difference what part of the country you live in if you live in the north this is wonderful in the winter to melt ice and snow off of the windshield in the south. Well bugs are a problem. And what does this do while it heats the windshield washer solvent so that the bugs or the ice and snow they go away almost immediately. What a neat idea. All right now here's something if you have a short bed pickup or even a long bed for that matter and you need to extend the load carrying capability as far as the Lynx goes this is called a hitch. Hand and it fits into the receiver on the back of the truck and it's adjustable You can adjust it in a number of different ways and it extends your ability to carry long loads. It's a very very clever idea there. All right here we have trip grips. Now these fit on your steering wheel new gel filled so that

makes it more comfortable to drive reduces vibration in the steering wheel and so on but even above and beyond that you can squeeze these for exercise while you're driving that well. Here's something. If you have an older patter even if they aren't older. This is the pet step and it makes it really easy for your pets to climb up into the vehicle especially if you happen to have a sport utility or a pickup that sits a little higher in the air. Very very handy. And over here we have auto taps auto taps are decals that go under the vehicle we've applied the red one on this truck. Looks pretty neat. They come in a kit like this many many different designs so you pick a design that you like and there you go they're really easy to install too. Last but not least this is a very clever idea. This is a belt may come in different shapes and so on different

materials. But the real part of it is that they're made from old seat belt buckles so you get a classic seat belt buckle built onto a belt. They're from wasted designs. Very neat. And if you have a question or comment write to me the address is Motor Week always Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. America is a big country. Even today it takes five hours to fly across it. It's a country that took mechanized transportation to tame it constantly moving people to new opportunities and dreams shaping our communities our culture and our very lives. Well this week F. wire reporter on Connect Crosby visits a national treasure to soak up a few miles of our moving history. Whether we're taking off behind the wheel or riding the rails or cruising to the Highlands. Americans are constantly on the move using every

possible motive transportation usually not even stopping to consider just how difficult the challenge was. To have been faster in more efficiently to get people from here to there. It's mind boggling. Even more so when you turn back the clock and see the. The chemical inventions that brought us here. Now on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington D.C.. America on the move is the museum's largest ever exhibit where visitors can experience transportation as it changed America from the 1800s to the present day. Often times we take it for granted just how easy it is to hop in our cars and go. But we've really come a long way. So take a trip with me back down memory lane and see how cars have really changed our lives like this rickety old Winton which played a pivotal role in changing how Americans view cars. At the time. Many people thought cars were a fly by night invention even going so far

as to nickname them devil wagons. But two men along with Bud the dog prove the skeptics wrong by making the first cross-country road trip. It's 19 0 3 3. They take 64 days to cross the country. It just sort of amazing today since you know we all just jump in our car five days later we'll be in L.A. these guys travel from San Francisco to New York City they broke down a lot. Oh with only they could have traveled along Route 66 which hadn't been constructed at the time. Here you can walk on some of the original 1932 pavement of the famous roadway which carry generations of Americans between Chicago and Los Angeles. By the 1920s Ford Model T's like this one thousand twenty six roadster were the most popular cars in the land. It brought personal mobility to millions of Americans allowing them to get out and see their great country. After World War Two families were drawn to larger upscale sedans like this Buick because we were roomy and powerful complete with a fireball engine. Buick

became one of the three best selling cars by 1954. And let's not forget this 1955 Ford station wagon back in the day families in the suburbs love this car to haul kids groceries sports equipment you name it. I think you've seen the last of them. No way. Station wagons are making a huge comeback. And speaking of huge comebacks even the king gets an honorable mention as having driven one of the coolest cars on display this 1929 Ford Street roadster. It was made by a man called John Atherton. And it was actually use an Elvis movie in the 50s. So we're really lucky to have it because this is a great example of the late 40s early 50s. The hasn't been changed too much. One of things about people who make hot rods is they like to change them. And we really wanted a historic one to put on this setting that's Portland in 1950. I'm giving you a sense of the road and traffic. In the suburbs after World War 2.

And by the 1970s traffic was a huge national problem. That's why the California Highway Patrol began using motorcycles like this 1976 Kallas Saki which helped officers maneuver through traffic more easily. But this is just a small glimpse of what you'll find in this enormous and entertaining exhibit of our cultural mobility and America on the move. Reminds us that transportation continues to shape our lives and our land with a never ending quest to find new ways to explore America and beyond. You know every time I pick up our new car key ring it gets a little bit heavier. Let's see what's been added to it this week. Our first set of car keys fits the 2000 Cornelli Titi three point two. That's why the long awaited V-6 all wheel drive version of ality smooth little coupe and roadster.

That distinctive shape gets only detail changes for over four with a deeper front apron larger reshaped rear spoiler and honeycomb pattern rear diffuser all TT's include self leveling Xenon high intensity headlights and smart 17 inch wheels. But this melted candy skin conceals big mechanical changes starting naturally with. The. First. V-6 engine. Displacing three point two leaders this narrow angle V pumps out a clean 250 horsepower the Titi three point two also gets out E's new 6 speed direct shift gearbox DSG uses two clutches so the next gear up is always engaged ready for a flip of the steering wheel paddles manual ships are instantaneous or if you wish totally automatic a race type launch control allows 30 200 RPM starts and then shifts through the gears for an unbroken power flow to all four wheels. Thanks to standard Quatro always. Drawing.

Its own brush suspension and brakes have been upgraded Cordingley including dual piston floating calipers an oversized ventilated desk. Inside the TT's cockpit. Those new aluminum trim and standard NAPPA leather seating. The Audi A3 point to watch for oh such a wicked car I mean TT's are great cars. But with this engine and direct shift transmission combination and it makes the car really crisp handling it has all the power there that sports car fans desire. And that directional transmission is so smooth. I mean you can almost think the car into gear. Now you can dive into the TTC 3.2 as flying coupe for about 41 grand. While the roadster starts at 43 grams. Neither is cheap but the new 2004 Audi Titi three point two s line models get your blood rushing into a title way. But if you have to haul a family around it's hard to beat the Kings of the minivan world. The 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan and 2005

Chrysler Town and Country to celebrate the beginning of the original front will drive minivans third decade Chrysler group brings us new in trees with the ultimate in seating convenience. It's called stow and go. Reportedly costing four hundred million dollars to develop the stow and go chassis and seat system allows owners to fold not just the split third row seats into the floor but the split second row seats as well lip the floor panels and this easy to flip and bold seating system eliminates the inconvenience of her moving and storing minivan seats just to transport bulky objects. And each of the four seating sections fold independently of the others stow and go convert from all seats to flat floor in 30 seconds. Even with the loss of an all wheel drive option it won't fit with the still Ingo chassis. The new Grand Caravan in town and country are the most user friendly minivans ever. But Chrysler didn't stop there. The

new minivans also boast side curtain airbags for all three rows of seats and a driver side inflatable neve locker borrowed from the Chrysler Pacifica Plus a new door alert system that activate signal lights when the side doors are open. Don't go in all the safety features five Chrysler minivans jump back to the head of the pack in convenience and safety. I think the competition is going to have a hard time talking to them. Prices for the 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town and Country should start around $23000 and top out in the low 40s when they go on sale in April and we expect family buyers will be beating down the doors for stow and go. And we'll have a go at the keys to more new 2005 models in just a few weeks. Rock n roll once touted the excitement of driving a Hot Rod Lincoln. But these days it's Cadillac. It's at the top of the charts in domestic high performance luxury and from the factory no less Cadillacs Hondas property is a euro toon

version of its popular CTF sedan the CTF B. So does the stand for velocity. Actually he stands for the Russians no longer content to be just a domestic luxury brand. The ambitious 2000 or C TSB is yet another exciting Cadillac with a racier image and global appeal and we mean really racing with the full factory effort underway and a very competitive Speed World Challenge Series. The speed series require stock vehicles and that's spurred Caddy's performance division to produce the 2004 CTF the. First look this is certainly not your standard c ts. The front end wears a stainless steel wire mesh grill and deep aggressive front facia with larger air inless the profile speaks with ground effects rocker panels that sweep back towards the rear

wheel while out back the facia is dropped as well with sharp character lines and stainless dual exhaust. The hunker down look is completed by 18 inch painted alloys wearing Goodyear to 45 45 run flat tires. But this si TS is no styling exercise. The seven spokes six bolt wheels barely hide the big brim bow disc brakes with four piston calipers all around. You'll need them to slow the momentum provided by a 5.7 leader LS 68. From the Chevrolet Corvette 0 6. That means 400 horsepower 82. More than that the 60 TS and 395 pound feet of torque. Talk about. Hot Rod Cadillac. But what's the CEO 6 engine without a six speed trim a manual transmission with the same gods as the vet's transaxle. Which when rose through the gears takes the V to 60 in only five point three seconds through the quarter mile and thirteen point seven seconds and one hundred eight

mph and that's heading into abortion territory. The shift linkage isn't as refined as in the Corvette with mental effort required to go smoothly from fourth to fifth. It's no slap and go but there is generous power all along the rev band so few ships are needed and we love the V8 heavy rumble as the drive train catapults the sea TSB out of corners with larger Moto tube shocks stiffer springs heavy duty front and rear cradles retune steering and front shock tower brace the nimble B delivers a great balance and a solid predictable feel. It's much tighter than the standard c ts which was already impressive. There is notable understeer at track speeds along with the abundant body roll of an early 90s BMW 7 Series still along with gobs of power. Us to Bill attract chassis control system defuses most dramas with for stability settings including one for competition mode. The huge grim bow breaks deliver short stable stops of only 123 feet from

60 but a soft low feel pedal long with a fairly soft suspension. Gives the bee a character that still shines brightest as it should on the street. Indeed the sea TSB is a formidable road warrior with a exhilaration that will shock any stoplight bandit and a nitrox breathing import and yet still delivers a refined ride that sucks up rough pavement like a Cadillac should. But will never leave a quarter unturned. We love driving this car anywhere any time and delivers plenty of Cadillac luxury as well. If that too and more of an international style compared to the standard C vs the viz cabin has a sportier atmosphere courtesy of new metallic accents aircraft style white on black gauges and grippy suede leather inserts on the seats. Of course you do pay for all that the base price of the seat TSB is forty nine thousand nine hundred ninety five dollars. That's 19 grand more than a standard c ts but about $30000 less than true Euro tuners like the

Mercedes Benz even if the 5 AM G. Now we know the 2000 Corsi TSB isn't quite in the 55 but it is an exceptional first effort from Cadillacs performance division and gives domestic luxury fans a genuine muscle machine that can hold its head up alongside the world's top quality sports sedan. Delivering style sensuality and speed city in a way that is oh so uniquely Cadillac. Well I hope you'll join us next. For more motor we will test the groundbreaking Enzo Ferrari. Plus the former full size Toyota Tundra double cab will travel to Japan for a look at the history of Honda cool new tools for taxes. Well also see if they use Lexus r x 300 makes us smart. All that plus another long term road test update. I'm John Davidson. Well CNN. To learn more about motorway TV's original automotive magazine.

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