Motorweek; 1724

Oh. This time on motorways the all new Porsche 911. We pick the best of 1998 and new cars in the Windy City to come drive with us. TV's original automotive magazine brought to you by Castro's super clean all wheel cleaner. Cleaner that releases brake dust and grime from all types of wheels on contact no matter what age your car. Castrol super clean all wheel cleaner. Your host for Motor Week. John Davis. Welcome again to motor week. We're glad to have you with us. Auto enthusiastic are by their very nature an impatient breed. No sooner does an exciting new

model hit the streets than they're anxiously looking ahead to his successor. But the car most of them are looking forward to this year is the all new Porsche 911 first built in 1964. The rear engine air cooled 9 11 has outlived every challenger to come down the autobahn. But even an icon like the 9 11 must eventually step aside. And in this case make room for the first liquid cooled 9 11 it took company engineers 34 years to replace Dr Porsches original formula. Let's see how well it goes down. Of all the medicines that we must take in our lives change is sometimes the most difficult to swallow though throughout the Porsche 911 34 year existence that change has been evolutionary and therefore easier to take. Until now the 1999 version of the Porsche 911 known internally as the 9 9 6 is still a rear engine rear drive high performance sports car but it's also the most radical departure yet from Ferdinand Porter's original concept.

Unlike the pudgy bugs like 9/11 of old a longer wider 9 9 6 looks closely and refined with all the old cars steroids like birds and bulges now flowing along more generic wind tunnel induced lines. But the Porsche family look is preserved in the stylish run handed lamp housing which are largely shared with its less expensive stablemate the boxster and the retractable rear spoiler which deploys automatically at speeds above 75 mph. The new look carries over into a thoroughly modern interior which finally sheds the last vestiges of 1960s are going Ami's and with the addition of standard side airbags 960 safety standards as well. The dash is as smooth as any Toyota but still retains a distinctly European character with its ignition switch still located to the left of the steering column and the familiar analog gauge is now tightly clustered and overlap all other Boxster the cabin is also expanded slightly in all directions and the seats support more modern power adjustments.

That's not to say that the cabin is now large but it's definitely not as claustrophobic as it once was. Even the traditionally unusable rear seats are roomier but we still found it best to simply fold them and more easily reach the expanded rear luggage. There may be more room in the cockpit with the engine bay as I did ever and now carry the biggest departure from the original 9/11 design 9 9 6 is frequent co-leader classic kitchen is water. Cool off first in the 9/11 history it's also more powerful cranking out 296 horsepower and two hundred fifty eight pound feet of torque transmission's our standard get fragged six speed manual that's now cable actuated for an optional ZF built 5 speed tiptronic automatic with fingertip steering wheel ship control other significant drive train changes include the addition of a dual mass why we'll just bury a variable timing system and automatic brake differential fracturing control which altogether allow 911 to reach 60 and five point

two seconds while the automatic does it in the silence of. The all aluminum suspension still uses MacPherson struts up front and Porsches own five link white variable to a control design in the rear while 17 inch alloy wheels remain a standard with 18 inch hoops and option. We took our first drive in the latest 9 11 at the official press introduction along the twisting back roads and high speed autobahns of it. And found it to be a very different car from its predecessor the traditional 9 11 tail wag already reduced in the last few years is now almost completely gone the way it is now biased more towards the front with noticeable right hand push replacing the old car's propensity to step out at the rear and when it does a burp of the throttle brings it back and will force your firm is now much more supple while 45 percent more structural rigidity and better aerodynamics have substantially reduced noise levels at high speed. We predict that those folks who are always intimidated by the 9/11 character in the past

will love the changes. But we also expect some 911 traditionalist to decry the emasculation of their favorite hairy chested sports car. Both groups however will praise Porsche for holding the line on prices despite the all new design that 1099 US market 9 11 carries a base price of sixty five thousand thirty dollars an increase of only 1200. No matter how you look at the new Porsche 911 whether from the standpoint of performance design or marketing it's an impressive. Former one that moved Automobile magazine to state that there has never been a more complete 9/11 than the News 9 9 6. It's that simple. Esperance we were still in thrall to the new 9/11 with the hands down winner of two weeks 1998 drivers Choice Award for best sports car after 34 years of gradual change. The Porsche 911 has suddenly taken a big evolutionary jump and transformed it into a machine that neither its creator or many of its long time devoted could ever have

expected. But one week they arrived with perfect timing. Coming up motor weeks 1998 drivers choice award. Car owners usually remember a primary maintenance intervals like oil changes and tuneups yet they neglect many smaller but equally important preventive maintenance items. For instance when was the last time you had your car's headlights adjusted. Now it may not sound like such a big deal but as Pat Goss is about to explain it could be the difference between the driveway and the ditch. John over the years just about every part of every automobile has evolved into something better and that includes the headlamps in the old days we used to have these big round single head lamps that well they were very inefficient at best. Then they went to smaller dual head lamps either round or rectangular. Now all of this is come and gone and now we're at a point in time where the

headlamps have really evolved into something that can be very stylish but all of them are very effective. Now most cars today are going to be equipped with halogen headlamps. Well if your car doesn't happen to have halogen headlamps you can retrofit it. There's very few cars that you couldn't retrofit with halogen lamps. They give a much brighter light. You'll really appreciate them but the big thing with headlamps today is that there are different types and different shapes and that means there are some different things that you need to do when it comes to servicing and repairing headlamps. The first thing of course is that if a bulb burns out in today's headlamp most of them are going to be one of these cartridges like we see here. Well if that happens these are easy to replace but where people make a mistake is that they touch the bulb with their hands. You must never touch one of these halogen bulbs with your hand. If you do you have to wash it

with ice a Pro Bowl alcohol before you put it in the car otherwise it could be damaged as a matter of fact it could explode. But above and beyond that you know you put a new bulb in the car and you don't do anything else. Well you may wind up with a head lamp that is totally out of adjustment. Now that can mean that your visibility is very poor. It can also mean that you are blinding drivers coming at you. Now here's where it gets a little bit tricky. Used to be you could go out to the auto parts store and you could buy one of these 6 or 7 dollar headlight aiming tools and it was perfectly acceptable. Well not anymore. These are totally worthless on modern cars. They aren't accurate enough to number one and if you look at the head lamps over here there is no way on earth to fit that to the head lamp. So what are we looking at today well we're looking at tools like this vision one from happy. Now this uses modern technology to give

us an exact reading on the adjustment of the head lamp. And if you do it and do it properly you'll be amazed at how effective your headlamps will be. This is the type of equipment that you look for. And if you have a question or if you have a comment write to me. If I select your letter I'll send you a motor week T-shirt The address is Motor Week always Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. Our harbor we use our kind of convertible. It's a 1963 Chevy to noble SS This little red rag top belongs to Rick and Melvina Homo of Santa Fe in the great state of Texas. You own a classic little sun worshippers dream we'd love to see in the Middle East too good color photos and a description of the car to motorways Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. There's an ongoing debate about whether many of the new compact sport utility vehicles are

trucks or simply more capable cars since the Honda CRV is based on the Civic. We think it falls into the latter category. But that doesn't take away from it just build these they handle some pretty rough weather and terrain. All while hearing family size low after 15000 miles in seven months with us our staff finds only a few wants. We long for more passing power and monotonous highways prompt us to note that the golf ball texture of the fabric on the door armrest. It is uncomfortable. But even with gasoline at unbelievably low prices we paid seventy eight point nine cents for a gallon near Atlanta. We appreciate the CRV. Twenty two point four mpg economy. That's one car like feature every SUV buyer wishes they had. How does a manufacturer know when their vehicle is a benchmark in its class. Easy when everyone else compares their design to it when it comes to full size sport utes the king and still champion. Mark is the Chevrolet Suburban known to its loyal owners as simply the bourbon. These oversized

wagons feature unmatched groom a wide choice of power trains luxury rides and even a choice of split tailgate or vertical cargo door. While some take issue with her fuel economy for us thirteen point eight after six months and eleven thousand four hundred miles you can boost that handily with the V8 turbo diesel option. But if you have up to nine passengers to haul around nothing short of a school bus does it for less gas per Fanny than the burger and talk about Grange. Baltimore to Savannah on one tank full That's six hundred thirty five miles between rest stop. Next week it's the Cadillac of Tara and the Subaru Forester on motor week long term road test update. Forget Bill Clinton Asian economics and Saddam what's his name. Around our office it's new cars that make the headlines. So here's Lisa barrel with the newest and all the other motor news. This week we're in Chicago at the 90th and this and this is how the auto sales behind me board is about

to unveil their latest offerings. Let's take a look. It's no surprise that trucks are big news as Ford took the wraps off the SPG F-150 lightning pickup described as a Mustang G.T. with the box in the back. The lightning strikes with the super charged version of Ford's vibrant world leader Triton V8 and disc brakes and wheel abs. There's more for the fun with the introduction of the funky little gray convertible concept. This family style Roadster has room for four and four doors that are rear hinged at the back. Definitely a high point at this year's show exactly where it is in the 1990s. They are. The fifth generation cruiser gets a Lexus derived 4.7 leader under the hood along with a new exterior improved structural rigidity drive and a first for the Land Cruiser an independent front suspension aimed directly at the Ford F-150. A second offering was the team 150

concept which gives us a very real glimpse at what the production version of this truck will look like when it arrives in spring of 99. Expect to or will drive standard and board or extended cabs and a choice of power. The award for the most impressive goes to the line drawing on similarities between the way cars and clothes are designed both at Mitsubishi and with the House of the fashion industry's finest models and of course the company's own model line a splashy unveiling for the new 1999 galon. Now more aggressively styled the wants new image will surely stand out among the accords and Camry now available with the basics for the first time his longer and wider than its predecessor and has a roomier interior. Back to pickup trucks Nissan showed its board or frontier research vehicle. It's classified as research because the company is testing public reaction to a cooler sized pickup of this type with forward hinged doors. It reaction is positive. Look for this

truck in the near future. On to a vehicle you can purchase right now. The 1999 Nissan Quest is now available with four doors with updated exterior and interior styling. The new West is longer wider and offers ten point seven additional cubic feet of cargo space. Another minivan on the horizon comes from. It's the first Korean built minivan that's aimed at the U.S. market powered by a V-6 engine This front will drive people hauler features plenty of room on the inside. Plus two rear sliding doors and rumor has it that it will be called the Sedona. But nothing is final as of yet. Over at the GMC Stan the hand picked was the one with the deuce. This is the GMC Sierra do sports. Aside from the 18 inch wheels and the obvious aggressive styling the headlands are a big deal. Now more powerful they offer much better visibility and a lot less glare. Our own John Davis showed up at Chevy to present two of our drivers Choice Awards Best

Small honors go to the Chevrolet prison and best convertible to the Corvette. And presented us with two stylized versions of the TA and the TA Hosey 71 dons a topper exterior along with a studio and a border trailblazer offers a touch of luxury pushing the Blazer up scale. Both are due out in 1999 Acura announced plans to build twenty six hundred special edition 3.5 RLC in 1998. The special designation up to features like a two tone paint job and new album. The production version of the series one appearance at the Oldsmobile exhibit deals high output gamma engine should really make this rocket fly. Because that's it for this week's Voter News. In the American drive in movie theater Donna and Susan Sanders have captured

the essence of an earlier time when we had simpler expectations about her and Pt.. The driving was a reflection of America's newfound source of mobility and personal freedom through a rich collection of historic and contemporary photographs and an insightful text the sender's take us back to pre video days when a scary monster movie in a bit of backseat romance could create a lifetime of memories. You can almost smell the popcorn. Here at motorway. The question we get more than all others combined is what's the best car to buy. Well that's a question with lots of answers since every driver's needs are different. But each year we do try to give a definitive answer by picking one vehicle from each major market segment one that we think offers the best combination of value performance and utility. The manufacturer gets a trophy and you get the 1998 Motor Week drivers Choice Awards. Modern small cars have to deliver a high value to get noticed in a market consumed with

sport utilities and minivans. The winners of motor week's drivers Choice Award for best small car the Toyotas to roll up a nearly identical Chevrolet Prizm deliver a high value by the carload. The American made car roll and PRISM already have a quality reputation almost second to none. The 1998 redesign adds more refined styling. A stepper chassis. All new aluminum twin cam engine a Camry like interior an optional side impact airbag a first for its class. We're particularly fond of the Chevy Prizm with optional handling package that proves a daily commuter can also be a rewarding way to go to work with the distinction between imported and domestic cars forever blurred for 98 we've combined our best family sedan into a single selection and the sixth generation Honda Accord seems the perfect choice. The Ohio made accord improves on a popular design by offering more power more comfort and back more of just about everything needed in a family sedan for prices the same or

less than last year. But what makes the new Accord a true standout is the optional American made 200 horsepower V-6. If I lose the new Accord along with a determination that's the only buy Honda's amazingly loyal fans. The winner of our best minivan prize the Pleo to Sienna has another American built import ever designed in the states and based heavily on the popular Camry sedan the Sienna shows that Toyota finally understands what Americans want in a minivan. The V-6 front wheel drive Sienna is not the largest minivan but it is roomy with highly versatile seating and includes all of the best features of competitors including being available with four doors and power assist for the right side slider. The Sienna then had something no other minivan can copy his undisputed quality reputation. While the memories of Martin Milner and George my Harris cruising down Route 66 are part of TV history their convertible of choice is still making history. Motor week's best convertible the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette is many times more

car than its beloved ancestor. The C-5 rag tops three hundred forty five horsepower all aluminum is cradled in a massively stiff brain that lost none of its capabilities with its top. The optional adjustable suspension Taylor's handling from long distance touring across performance while the Corvettes new electronic active handling system is like having an invisible copilot to share the adventure. One of the most amazing things about our best luxury car choice the Audi A6 is that it is the Audi A6. Few companies have made such an impressive comeback is this German brand new especially with the time tested all wheel drive system wowed us with cutting edge styling. It's all for a mere tailor made interiors. There are a list of standard features silky 2.8 leader six intelligent five speed automatic transmission sports sedan style chassis and finally a price that's about a third less than its nearest competitor. Our best performance car choice the fire breathing Pontiac

Firebird Trans Am reminded us of why we became car enthusiast in the first place. The Trans-Am is raw performance that is anything but a blanket for the Corvettes 305 horsepower one be a tucked under a new twin nostril hood optional 17 inch wheels and tires on the ground. An advanced driving age like a novel brake force distribution system the Trans-Am begs to be handled with competent hands. The reward is the kind of driving excitement. While not all modern sports cars are necessarily high performance cars are best sports car of the year the new Porsche 911 is definitely both. The first new 911 in 34 years begins with the basics of last year's winners the boxster and adds a familiar two plus two coupe shapes a two hundred ninety six horsepower six cylinder water cooled engine and enhanced rear suspension optional 18 inch rims and race bred brake. Throw in a choice of six speed manual or speed tiptronic automatic transmission and just about every comfort feature all high end cars

must have and they all knew 911 is a completely satisfying sports car experience. You might wonder if we'd be as excited about our best sport utility vehicle Joyce the American made Mercedes Benz M-L 320 if it didn't have a three pointed star on the grill. True if you take out its exceptional interior packaging side impact airbags luxury car ride nearly unstoppable automatic will will drive system with four wheel traction control and highly efficient B6 engine you would have just another mid-sized body on frame $34000 SUV. But then that wouldn't be the very impressive Mercedes-Benz and 320 the motor weak drivers toys with best pickup for 1998 Dodge Dakota is the only repeat winner on our list this mid-sized pick up with full sized power is the perfect solution for anyone needing a personal use. No other vehicle maker has managed to design an interior that blends work truck utility with car like birds better than the Dakota. We were also

swayed by the fact that this Dakota after taking a full year of our abuse is the most trouble free pickup we've ever tested. The Dakota proves that there is more to making a great pickup than size alone. While not a repeat choice for Best dream machine the Jaguar X Jr. has a lot in common with last year's winner. The Jaguar X board is the velvety smooth 30 Cubao wing campy 8 of the ex who transplanted into a strict sedan body then further fortified by a super charger that makes the 370 horsepower X Jr. a fast way to show you both wrong. Add in other improvements like a stepper chassis and a completely reworked interior and it's easy to see why we trade a share of our lotto winnings were next Jr.. Finally for the first time in the 16 year history of motor weeks drivers Choice Awards we decided to pick a single vehicle from our list of winners that stood out among all the rest our choice for best of the year as the Audi A6 among the nearly

150 new cars and trucks we drove last year. The Audi A6 impressed us the most. It is a truly wonderful machine and we're already wondering what we'll make next year when the next Motor Week driver's choice. Isn't it interesting that while sport utility vehicles are currently winning awards and racking up sales there manufacturers are actually preparing for their demise. This year's auto shows were filled not so much with the gas slurping off roaders but with the heaviest concentration of fuel efficient green machines ever unleashed which makes one wonder what's going to happen to all those spore dudes and the buyers investment in them if their market fades. Will they simply be automotive white elephants foisted on the gullible public by automakers anxious for short term profits as some environmentalists claim. Or do the automakers truly see a future for these appealing but not always eco friendly family back of their own.

Questions that we strongly suggest manufacturers try to answer at next year's auto shows. Now if you have a comment or response why don't you write us. Our address is Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. And I hope you'll join us next week for more motor we will put six of the newest sports units to the test to see what they really offer the family buyer. Also drive Ford's Taurus se sedan. Lisa Barrow shows us how the auto and fashion industries come together for a worthy cause. While Pat Goss warns of the perils of phony refrigerants boss will have all the latest Motor News. I'm John Davis. We'll see you then 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 to order a video cassette of this program call 1 800 4 2 2 0 0 6 4 or Cyn 1095 plus

495 shipping and handling to this address. This is PBS.