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We'll be champs three hybrids two diesels of the smart or two which ones deliver on their fuel sipping promises when really driven to extremes. Find out next on weight loss. Just knowing the code is never enough I'll show you why this time on Goss's garage even this week when Texas where workers take to the streets by the 22nd and can't Buick give Alexis a run for their money with the O-ring let them drive with them. TV's original automotive magazine cars dot com. Let's say you're looking for a car. Cars dot com can help research locate even contact a dealer caused your host for Motor Week. John Davis. Well welcome again to motor

week. We're glad to have you with us. Americans are more concerned about fuel economy than ever before and future high mileage technologies do look promising but what's the best way to go today if you want to fill up less often hybrids clean diesels or just go small. Well we wondered too. So we pick six cars with our fuel economy ratings to see how they would perform when driven to extremes. Welcome to Motor Week 2009 power and economy. We prepared our six green cars three full hybrids to clean turbo charge diesels smart for to the highest mileage non-hybrid car you can buy for a typical weekend family outing. I drive to the mountains for the test we partnered with members of the editorial staff of the Chicago based

cars dot com. Their presence made sure that the big city dwellers perspective would not be overlooked. We also equip each car with a car chip pro data recorder card chip helped us restrain the lead foots among us since it sounds alarm if you're too hard on the gas or the brake. And twenty two thousand seven hundred fifty dollars the 2010 Toyota Prius has a combined city highway government fuel economy rating of 50 miles per gallon. The group's highest the 2010 Honda Insight at twenty thousand five hundred ten dollars is less expensive than Prius but at 41 mpg it's combined fuel economy is smaller to the twenty eight thousand three hundred fifty dollar 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid is the first full hybrid car from a domestic brand. It's combined fuel economy rating is thirty nine MPG the 2009 boat's wagon Jetta TDR clean diesel our drivers choice best of the year is a natural for the drive with a manual transmission and a twenty two

thousand nine hundred seventy dollars base price. Good rates 34 mpg combined with the 2010 Audi A3 TVI goes on sale soon with an estimated price of twenty nine thousand dollars. It has the same engine as the Jetta GDI but with an automatic transmission it to rates 34 mpg combined. Finally the 2009 smart for to coupe with a 36 mpg combined rating. We wanted to see how this twelve thousand six hundred thirty five dollar two seater would perform outside the city environment. Our three day drive covered over 500 miles from our studios in Owings Mills to the Deep Creek Lake region near Cumberland Maryland roads were a good mix of two lane blacktop high speed interstates. Small town streets and of course plenty of mountain switchbacks none of them phased the Toyota Prius hybrid with a total output of 134 horsepower. It seemed up to any challenge to us on the third generation with the Prius I think that really nailed this time the insides much more refined and it's

very roomy. But we were still amazed that the Prius average forty nine point two miles per gallon. That's very close to the government's rating and the group's best result. They've done a great job with the third generation Prius. It's almost a premium car now. Even though the 2010 Honda Insight hybrid has only 98 horsepower it too took the higher terrain in strong comfort was good but noise could be lower. Honda says the inside is the most affordable hybrid on the market and because of that it feels a little bit more like an econobox. But you still get pretty good mileage on in-flight fun to drive a hybrid. Bit of a economy feel but goes along with its economy price inside fuel economy hit forty point five miles per gallon. Again just slightly less than the government rating. We expected the Ford Fusion hybrid to be our least fuel efficient car but that's because it's every bit a typical mid-size family sedan with no compromises.

If you want the comfort and amenities of a long distance car and great mileage the Ford Fusion hybrid is the real deal. Even with a group of high 191 horsepower it still returned thirty two point nine mpg. Well I thought the Ford Is that looks like a family sedan but they need to work on that engine noise it's really annoying at high speeds. Now to our diesels this 2009 vote's wagon Jetta TVI sports 140 horsepower. A manual transmission in German sports sedan suspension tuning. It was easily the group's favorite car to drive a great package overall I mean that's why we called it our car of the year. As to VW has claimed that a turbo diesel can match hybrid fuel economy. We'd say that's debatable. At thirty six point two miles per gallon. It beat its government rating but still trailed Prius and inside the jet ATV has a lot of fun to drive you don't expect that for a fuel efficient car. The Audi A3 TVI showed the best combination of driver enjoyment and practicality of our group with the same turbo diesel as the Jetta. It too

zoomed up the mountains with these rather small wagon roominess of the A3 fun to drive the diesel. I enjoyed the ride the A3 by far the car roll cramped A3 TVI fuel economy actually be gentle at thirty eight point two miles per gallon due in large part to the s tronics twin clutch transmission that when left in full automatic shift faster than the human hand. Finally the smart for two with only 70 horsepower we expect in the mountains and high speed interstates to take their toll. But they really didn't the smart for to manage to keep up very well. This trip proved to me the smart is more than just a city car it kept up with the group and turned a lot of heads to boot. Improvements in the Smarts transmission greatly reduced the jerkiness we noted in our original test given how far this part was out of its element. Thirty five point three mpg again very close to the government rating is impressive.

The forties easy to park and it's pretty roomy for its size and the deal breaker for me are those brakes and the fact that despite its high mileage it needs premium gas. While the toilet a Prius and Honda Insight hybrids delivered the best fuel economy in our test it's clear to us that hybrids claim diesels as well as lightweight designs can all meet the high mileage expectations of consumers when driven the same way. So it comes down to making compromises regarding driving performance creature comforts and just being a hyper milers we found each of our six cars to be capable of handling all kinds of routine driving chores and every one of them. Even the smart can stand alone as the households only car. And that to us is very green progress indeed. Now last drop by Goss's garage and see what pants under a hood investigation spies this way.

John check engine lights can be a real problem. See the thing with the check engine light is number one you have to understand what it's telling you a yellow check engine light is telling you that you have any missions control problem on your vehicle. Well do you have to stop right now oh no you don't have to stop right now but you have to prepare that you need to get your car checked. Now what does checking for the check engine light actually entails. Well somebody either you or a technician is going to connect some type of test device into that diagnostic link under the dash of the car. Now that might be something basic like this simple code reader that we have here or it could be something really complex and exotic like this unit from Snap-On tools. Now whatever you use one of the things that's going to come up is going to be a

code. Because when the check engine light comes on it sets a numeric code in the computer and then a numeric code tells you what is being affected by what's wrong with the car but you've got to remember that the code doesn't tell you what's actually wrong. So how do you find out what's wrong. Well what you do is you referred to a service manual or some type of information service and it will tell you what you do to check to see that cause of the check engine light. This particular code refers to a crankshaft position sensor. But if you walk down through the test procedure you find that there are numbers of different things that could cause that code other than the sensor itself. So always make sure that the technician uses something like this to check to see exactly what's wrong otherwise you may wind up in the world of oxygen sensors one of the most oversold

parts on the planet. Why. Well because there are 100 different things that can cause an oxygen sensor code that has absolutely nothing to do with the oxygen sensor. And far too many people never run the diagnostic tree. So check engine light. Code run the test procedure that matches the code and you'll save a lot of money and if you have a question or comment write to me the address is Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7 4 so on the car is just transportation. For others it's a status symbol but for a growing throng it's a wheeled canvas ready for unlimited imagination. These are our cars and there are dozens of art car parades around the country where artisans can showcase their creations. So with their interest piqued our F1 I-Reporter Yolanda vastus pictured to the art car capital of the world for a closer look. For just a few hours of the day one see here

are marked as displays of automotive artistry comes alive deep in the heart of Texas. It's the day Houston shows its wild side to the world an eclectic mix of local masterpieces take center stage as the 22nd and New York used an Art Car Parade blows into town. It's just incredible like seeing pictures but you have to be here to really experience the fun. It will not be more than 250 cars decorated in everything from bright colorful beads to tennis balls to toilet paper to vote for nowhere else but use the seat of her Lincoln turn his three mile stretch of concrete into a colorful canvas. Few years we get great great entries and there are some great over-the-top entries this year I'm very impressed. Nicole string's car is one of them. She used 350 pounds worth of cut of mirrors to create her shattered vanity concept.

So you think that you're broken bather mare but it's actually not. It's about getting older women getting older and losing their vanity and the clever things kept coming. This 1995 Subaru adorned with recycled dentures and hundreds of toothpaste tubes has been dubbed the shoe Baroud. Actually though people either really like it or they find the most disgusting thing they've ever seen. And where are you in the middle. I personally like it get another crowd favorite was the sashimi Tabernacle Choir was. Was blue Volvo covered with singing back then not through the morning to the store about eight years ago when I saw one of those annoying singing fish. The plaque on the wall. Man it occurred to me that when I was that annoying but could you do with a couple hundred looks like Richard Carter got his answer. The people actually become obsessed with these cars. Steven bridges works with the nonprofit orange show center for Visionary Art.

They help put on the parade which draws in cars from all around the country. We are the Mecca for our cars and there's a whole community out there that says hey we're going to Houston this year. Then 250000 people lined the streets of downtown Houston to get a glimpse of the imaginal. You are the founder of the fantastic I don't know what else you can say but yours and your son are going to know you know we got one of the best our crews in the country. It happens every year but still isn't exciting so I can see some cars use the venue to express their social and political views while others send just strong message. This sock it to me van was designed by a group of spirited senior citizens. They collected over 3000 sockets from retirement communities around the country are of the stone age in a rocking chair they get out there and live life lets their dream in the structure and the minor car that seemed to catch everyone's attention was this hand-painted 1963 Porsche 356 be owner David Duke who had artist Robin Sanders create a psychedelic monk to highlight a more carefree time in his life. We wanted to do was pick up on that 60s you know in a sense

if you will. It was a different time it was a wonderful time. The transformation of these everyday automobiles into wild and wacky wheel blunders represents the spirit of the art car John Rock and its many participants boundless imagination when you see this crazy amazing work of art rolling down the street. Your brightens your day it changes your perception. And honestly it makes her life. Better driving is what we do so for more first impressions. Let's grab some new sets of car keys. The second generation Acura TSX debuted in 2009 supporting bold love it or hate it sheet metal and an underwhelming 2.4 liter four cylinder as the only choice under the hood. That put the TSX at a disadvantage against other premium compact sports sedan. But the Audi A4 and BMW 3 series that offered more powerful six cylinder options as

well. Acura has now responded. The 2010 TSX is available with the free breathing 3.5 liter V-6 from Big Brother T.L.. It's rated at 280 horsepower for 40 percent more go and go. We did from the Jam streets of Manhattan to the country byways of the Hudson River Valley and we were generally delighted with the new V-6 the TSX is now complete. Baxter power was much needed and it made swell to the six feet paddle shift on the Magic Bus to be 6 feels more nimble than the four cylinder car and they managed to do it without a strong rock. Who are the D6 each quarter of the cross brace chassis at tires spring and damper rate. A teenage wheels and high performance rubber the TSX is electric steering is retune for a crisper response. A larger brake master cylinder coupled to a revised pedal ratio also improves the TSX his ability to stop beside wheels.

A revised front facia for better engine cooling and a discrete V-6 badge on the trunk lid. There is little on the exterior to distinguish the TSX V-6 from the four cylinder car. There curvaceous a businesslike interior is little changed too except for a V-6 exclusive one touch ignition. A revised tack ometer and the addition of active sound controlled undercut the power train noise and vibration issues. The TSX B6 also undercuts its rivals in price starting under $35000. And it's in dealerships now. It was the 1996 model year when Subaru unleashed a clever combination of small station wagon garage ability an SUV style all rode prowess and the Legacy Outback. And as the world's first sport utility wagon it helped to inaugurate the crossover vehicle era. Since then crossovers have flooded the market. But the outback with its low roof wagon profile has remained fairly unique. 2010 marks the start of the outback fourth generation.

Unlike most crossovers say it has grown but mostly on the inside. It's a longer wheelbase contributes to a big gain of nearly four inches in rear leg room and nearly 6 extra cubic feet of cargo space. Daylight between the outback and the ground has grown slightly day point seven inches more than many true off road use. News coverage system black rocker moldings are evidence of its go anywhere do anything intentions with many of the same styling cues as the new legacy sedan body color de pillars along with new section taillights make the outback look more like a traditional SUV than ever. All will drive power trains are also shared with the new legacy including the brand's first CVT transmission since the 94 juste standard is a carry over 170 horsepower two point five leader at age 4 with the trifectas 256 horsepower three point six liter Boxer six now an option absent is the turbo charge for use by the legacy 2.5 g t.

But the 3.6 makes almost as much power and is far less peaking thus better for off pavement use inside the outbacks comfortable higher styled interior doesn't break any new ground although the rear seats now recline leather and Bluetooth are available. The new Outback starts at $23000 and it's on sale now. Join us next time for more new sets of Corkey. After decades of being too closely associated with older more conservative buyers Buick made a breakout in appealing to a younger more affluent set. With the 2008 enclave crossover utility the enclave has been an unqualified success. Now a second effort is ready with the all new lacrosse sedan. While the name is familiar the car is anything but it's a fresher approach with stunning good looks. Inside and out. Now let's see if the Lacross can deliver.

Except for the name the 2010 Buick Lacrosse is all new and even that was a point of discussion since it was first revealed as the Invicta concept of last year's Beijing Auto Show that is sold in Canada it has the allure of its sexy Asian pin styling could be mistaken for anything from a Lexus to a Mercedes scimitars blade shaped head lamps blanket enclave like waterfall grill stylized Buick portholes have migrated from the fenders to the hood on my belt line makes room for a deeply sculpted sweep Spira body line and provides the greenhouse a low slung look. Even though this lacrosse is two inches taller the last original rear has lots of chrome on the license plate header edging the tail lights and plating the dual exhaust wheels come in 17 to 18 there are top of the line

CSX Turing's 19 inch chrome painted our oyster wearing a low profile Eagle RSA rubber. As part of the ground up redesign the ongoing Lacrosse is pushrod engines are gone replaced by a trio of Twin Cam motors all with fuel saving direct fuel injection and six speed automatic transmission and launch the base and mid-level C-x l share a 3 liter V-6 with a new Cadillac SRS churning out 255 horsepower and 217 pound feet of torque. Our look Cross see excess sports the same award winning 3.6 leader of the six that powers the Enclave rated at 280 horsepower and 259 pound feet of torque. It will be available in front or all will drive first for a Buick car due soon as the Malibu is frugal eco tech 2.4 liter four cylinder. This new base engine is rated at one hundred eighty two horsepower and 172 pound feet of torque with highway fuel economy into the 30s.

But even RC excess 3.6 did pretty good in that area. Government feel economy ratings are 17 City 27 highway. We achieved a fine twenty four point five mpg and real world driving with regular gas with an energy impact score of sixteen point three barrels of oil consumed annually and a carbon footprint of eight point seven tons of CO2 per year. The lacrosse C excess is on par with its premium rivals. Ditto acceleration 0 to 60 in a respectable 7.5 seconds with a quarter mile of fifteen point nine seconds at 90 mph. The big six delivers far and low wind power off the line shifts however were soft and delayed. Ride and handling from its new generation Epsilon platform or actually better than expected despite some tendency to understeer the lacrosse shifted its weight well along a taut suspension equipped with optional real time damping steering had reassuring happed and a strong self centering feel which standard

stability and traction control flow across as much nimbler then its four thousand sixty five LB curve weight suggest great B.A. locked his brakes on a nicely modulating pedal made for stops averaging a short one hundred twenty five feet from 60 civility was excellent. Now for the best part and Ficht is gorgeous an emotional interior theme was delivered intact for the Lacross including elegant door treatments pon instrument cluster cool blue lighting and graceful center console beefy seats are wrapped and finally stitched off materials with available heat and ventilation. Gateway power is standard for the driver as is an excellent lateral support all trims are well equipped with satellite radio automatic climate and On-Star Arcee access was loaded up with navigation and rear view camera oversized sun roof and head up display. The split rear seat cushions are a little low but there is a generous leg room besting the Lexus

vs 350 by four and a half inches. There's an armrest with passthrough unavailable power rear sunshade and dual screen DVD. The trunk o ever at twelve point eight cubic feet is smaller and less usable than the ES based pricing for the one crosses twenty seven thousand eight hundred thirty five dollars for the C X the C excel of thirty thousand three hundred ninety five dollars thirty two thousand five hundred seventy dollars with all wheel drive and a C excess at thirty three thousand seven hundred sixty five dollars. In China where number one in sales just starting to take hold in America as well. Motor ride looks fantastic for more motorway a

fuel efficient utility you can buy. They were behind the wheel of Subaru is bigger than our legacy so the secrets of the amazing really long term protest thanks to the latest Motor News. I'm John Davis and here to learn more about TV's original automotive magazine visit PBS dot org. To order a DVD of this program Call 1 888 entry 6 1 5 4. Motor Week has been brought to you by car. Let's say you're looking for a car can help. Research even contacted us. This program was produced by public television which is responsible for its

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