Motorweek; 1938

This time on motorways a topless tee tee from an Audi Subaru suppression Forrester and back to basics on a motorbike so come drive with us next. TV's original automotive magazine brought to you by Priceline dot com with Priceline dot com you name your own price for new cards all makes and models of cars trucks sport utility vehicles minivans and more. When you log on to Priceline you name your own price. And buy the duplicate or truck bed coding kit. The truck bed protection that you can apply yourself with won't brush or spray. It's the rust and impact resistant coating that fits any size bed truck bed coating kit and by pep boys no matter what you drive Pep Boys Over 27000 items in stock virtually any part for any car with all the name brands you know plus service pay staff with certified

technicians Pep Boys parts tires accessories service. Your host for Motor Week John Davis. Oh and welcome again to motor week. We're glad to have you with us. In the distant past whenever a car company wanted to include a convertible in its lineup it simply took a popular selling model like this Audi coupe and whack the top off and presto instant convertible. Well today even the most blasé car buff knows this approach doesn't exactly produce the most solid and safest of convertibles. So when Alli was developing the NTT they took to heart the axiom start at the beginning with the end in mind and they knew from the beginning that the coupe would indeed lose its lid and designed it accordingly. The result is one of the tightest little drop tops yet. And one of the most distinctive like its hard top sibling the 2001 Audi roadster stands out from the crowd no matter where it goes. Especially in top

down mode striking lines blending retro and modern into a look that recalls Audi's auto union race cars of the 1930s. While still retaining a cutting edge style We love the look of those polished aluminum roll bars. But despite its possible benefits the rear spoiler that Audi has now attacked on the road to cure a reported high speed stability problem does its looks no favors. The power operated soft top of our two hundred twenty five hour car on the other hand is very well integrated into the overall styling. It does like so many convertibles have prominent rear blind spots but then so does the hard top coupe and like the coupe the Roadster has a glass rear window with the defroster. Lowering the top requires you to release a single central header latch and massage a single switch. The top then drops in about 8 seconds on 180 horsepower. The power is an option however the manual top is a snap to use too. Once the top is down an

electrically powered blast wind brake can be raised to cut buffeting and promote conversation in the cockpit. The power level. Determine which top both come from a 1.8 liter dual overhead cam twenty four cylinder engine and base form with a single intercooler it makes 180 horses and 173 pound feet of torque. Those seeking more pawns can move up to the all wheel drive model with twin inline air coolers that deliver 225 and 270 pound feet of torque. Both engines utilize only manual transmissions the 180 engine a five hundred twenty five engine sharp shifting gearbox and despite a grabby clutch uses them to reach 60 in seven seconds flat a quarter mile passes in just fifteen point four seconds at 90 miles per hour. Power delivery feels soft at first then kicks in hard as the turbo reaches maximum boost.

Once on the pace the engine revs quickly but keep those revs up with the Turbo quickly loses pressure. Handling is controlled by make fearsome strut front and on the quad multi link rear suspension very well-controlled that is with short turn and crisp transitions and plenty of feel for both chassis and steering. Partly due also to extensive structural reinforcements in the Roadsters floor assembly areas and Winchell frame sticky set of Bridgestone tires on 17 wheels don't hurt handling either. Brakes or any lock equipped for will vs 60 in an average 115 feet feel and stiff. They are excellent. The ABS hardware is also the basis for the optional corner correcting electronic stability program. The interior is much the same as the coupe but here it's a two fer to make room for the top. The instrument panel looks like a car again with a modern yet retro appeal to interior trim However the

optional amber red leather with that unique stitching is very much an acquired taste for some seats themselves are very comfortable with good support. Behind them for cargo as the extra space not consumed by the top mechanism. A usable 6.4 cubic feet in volume loading however is quite high prices for purchase however are not atmosphere of a unique open air machine. A 180 horsepower thirty three thousand three hundred seventy five dollars two hundred twenty five and thirty nine thousand seventy five with the optional car comes to forty one thousand seven hundred twenty five dollars. It's quite an impressive combination of high performance and high style for the price Automobile magazine called it a joy to drive and surprisingly economical to buy and run. The 2001 everything that a

21st century sports car should be. Trick. Tight fast. And fun. The kind of car that makes other carmakers green with envy and makes us wish for summer all year long. Do antilock brakes always reduce your stopping distance in emergency situations. A new government study concludes that except on loose surfaces like sand and snow all panic stops can be shorter which will anti-lock brakes. Then without shorter on what pavement. And shorter on dry pavement. Remember ABS works best when you stop the brake pedal stay on the brake pedal and steer where you want to go. Coming up biker basics. Now for some of the most balanced Karkare advice we've ever heard Here's our own Pat Goss. John Karr is that shake and vibrate are ever more common. Now the reason for that is very simple cars have evolved to such a degree that tires

and wheels are now a component part of the suspension system springs are calibrated to match the weight in the style of the tire in the wheel and the shock rate is calibrated the same. All of this stuff fits together as a package. So that means that it is more difficult to mount and balance tires and do it properly these days. Well to give you an idea of what we're going to be talking about. If you look at this unit if we spin it you can see that it doesn't spin on center. Also when I spin it you'll notice that it vibrates my hand quite noticeably. Well any tire can be balanced. Even a square tire could be balanced. Let's see if we can balance this one will put a weight in here. Get it in the right spot. There we go. Now we spin it and it spins perfectly smooth. But you certainly wouldn't want to ride on something like that. But guess what. Many of you are writing on something that is very similar to that.

Now what's the answer to it. A technician can solve this problem through the use of oh oh some sophisticated tools and a lot of time sometimes as much as two or three hours on one tire but that's way too costly and you're not going to find many technicians that know how to do it. So what do you look for. This is the hunter GSP 97 100 road force balance or now what this does is very simple. Well it's simple once you know how it works anyway. This roller in the back comes against the tread of the tire and applies up to seven hundred pounds of force to the tire. Will do that. Run this through. Right now it's starting the operation. It's applying the force to it and it is measuring variations in road force. In other words how the tire is actually going to react as it rolls down the road. Now it does that

operation. Then it changes directions and balances or checks the balance of the tire. Now this is State of the art and this can resolve those tough problems because what comes up on the screen as a result of all of this is going to tell the technician whether he just balances the tire whether the wheel is defective or whether the tire is defective or maybe that the tire isn't properly mounted. Anyway you go about it you get quick inexpensive and very efficient results. This is a piece of equipment you ought to look for 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. Our car of the week is a one thousand seventy two Plymouth Road Runner. It's owned by Merrill

Crosby of Ogden Utah loaded with every available option this is one of just one hundred twenty five with power windows. Now to give him some extra zip to stay ahead of that wily coyote. Merrill has replaced the original 400 engine with a 440 Police Interceptor but other than that there's not an Acme part to be found. Now if you have a speedy bird nesting in your garage We'd love to see it. It's into good color photos to Motor Week Owings Mills Maryland 2 1 1 1 7. With spring in the air the thoughts of our staff naturally turned to open air motoring both the four wheel and two wheel kind in the wind cruising on a motorcycle however requires a little more preparation than simply dropping the top especially if you're a beginner. So this week FII reporter Jennifer because novice takes us all through some basic training so to speak that will make your two wheel crews safe and fun. The thing.

Believe it or not there's a right way to learn letter cycle scales in a wrong way. The state of Maryland wants those who are ready to hop on a bike to get started off on the right foot. With. Riding a motorcycle is an amazing experience but it's obviously more risky than just getting behind the wheel of a car. So over the past 16 years the Maryland MVA has been trying to make the motorcyclist safer mode of transportation by teaching proper and thorough instruction to beginner riders. The traffic mix out there on the highways especially in your more congested metropolitan areas present a much much greater challenge for the rider. And by taking a course such as the issue of basically get a little bit of a head start on what's going on and it enables you to better deal with what you're going to face out there as you begin learning to ride on the street. The motorcycle education course is a four day class which delves into all the aspects of safer and responsible riding. The classes are only in session from April to October and they fill up quickly. Those involved with the program say taking this class gives the beginner the precise

knowledge needed to prevent accidents. Although it is not a state law to get to take this course in order to get your class some license we believe it's a great way in order to kick start your motorcycle career. And over 50000 students in the 16 years we've been doing this I happen to agree with that 90 percent of the riders involved in an accessible more than half of them have been self taught. Now also a lot of riders involved in accidents don't have proper licensing. Which is another. Another big issue with this when you complete Acworth. Get a certificate to get your motorcycle license. The state of Maryland isn't the only state to offer this course. Forty seven other states participate in the program as well and the majority of those states use the curriculum developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. A national nonprofit organization promoting safety awareness. Day one is mostly classroom and being seen let's talk about being see how open day to you is when you get started with the actual riding.

Gentlemen start your in these instructors start from the very beginning. Every topic from mounting a motorcycle to maintaining balance is covered. That's what's telling you it's all right. Not this that so the students also learn principles like the base of maneuvers maximum braking and tight turns. Instruct. Your set of specific exercises which focus on these important skills for those who are intimidated not to worry. His class takes you step by step. I would not consider to be a challenge and I think that the way the classes handled the extreme hands on nature of the instructors the fact that it's done in an open parking lot none of the classes has taken place out on streets or competing with other cars or other vehicles. But according to the instructors the real reward is the feeling you get when you're riding. Writing to me is is very exhilarating. It's a lot of fun. There's a saying that says if some people ask me why I ride a motorcycle you know for those that understand no explanation is necessary for those who don't no explanation is possible. There's a fear in the power. There's a feeling of being in control of

what you were doing. And once you complete the class you're ready to get a taste of that feeling. It was great I would recommend it for anybody who would even consider on a bike ride a lot of people offer to teach me at home in the street but. I would never did it before but after taking a class I would recommend for everybody who would sit around a bike. This class does get you started but you may need some practice before you tackle the main roads. And sorry but you have to learn how to pop your first release somewhere else. The new breed of truck is more than just a solid worker it's a friend a highly valued companion. That's how we sum up our feelings about this 1999 Ford Ranger XSLT super cab. As we close out its year visit. While the majority of pickup owners prefer a full size unit this Ranger's combination of sensible size useful 6 foot beds and of course four doors make it the perfect personal used truck. You can carry a growing family of four as well as a sizable lot of two by

fours. We found a chassis to be very balanced and while a two wheel drive model easier to handle in snow than most pickup the seats are comfortable for long trips and the ride is an excellent cross between car smooth and truck taught like a friend this Ranger was highly reliable. We had no mechanical maladies and nearly 14000 miles fuel economy even with a gutsy B6 and 5 speed automatic finish strong with a total test average of eighteen point six to us the addition of rear doors whether clamshell type as on our ranger or in many crew cab style is going to reinvigorate the compact pickup market. The ranger just got there first and we enjoyed knowing this partner from first mile to last. Meanwhile our 2000 Suzuki Grand But Tara jail X plus has just turned the half way corner and its long term stay. After six months and six thousand miles we also are pleased with how the market's first V-6 mini SUV is making its day count.

But the full perimeter frame a mechanical four wheel drive system is among the most ruggedly built on the queue. Like most owners we use the Grand Vitara on road 95 percent of the time. We do find it's tall the study nature a real plus on tight trails. You also said hi with wide visibility in the Grand Vitara no matter what the terrain. Now the ride over that terrain may be a bit rough and noisy. Suzuki vehicles have generally trailed the pack in sophistication but we've always found them highly durable and the Grand Vitara is no different. No problems to tell you about so far and mileage at twenty two point five is enough to make another SUV as environmentally green with envy. Our advice before you start monthly payments on a four cylinder CRV or Rav 4 Get This is icky Gravatar a very close look. Next week we'll be taking a close look at the latest Subaru Outback and the Lincoln LS on our next motor week long term road test update. Time now for an update of another kind as we check in again with Jennifer because not all

the latest Motor News. Last year Suzuki grabbed the attention of the motorcycling world with the introduction of their one hundred sixty horse power. This 194 mile per hour sport bike brought a whole new level of excitement to this is the brand. Well on to 2000 and in time for a new GSX r 750. In order to that level of excitement up and evolution would not be enough. A revolution was necessary. What makes this bike remarkable is that Suzuki managed drop a full 30 pounds off last year's weight. Virtually every ounce of fat has been shaved already a top performer in its class the new GSX r 750 has been totally redesigned with more power and better handling. The letter smaller seven hundred forty nine CC four cylinder engine has been reworked to provide five more horsepower handling improvements come by way of a longer swing arm a lighter more compact frame and a smaller 180 rear tire proving that bigger is not always better. Suzuki has gone from six piston front brake calipers to a new aluminum

for piston design. Styling updates include a redesigned fairing with a new ram air system and slimmer headlight assembly. The rear tail section has been also updated with a smoother look. If you like your performance in the two wheeled variety you owe it to yourself to check out the GSX r 750 is sure to be the hot ticket this summer. And that's it for this week's Motor News. More than 25 years ago a little Japanese car company began selling a four wheel drive passenger car here in America. It quickly developed a small core of devoted believers but it was largely overlooked by the masses. Years later when the company announced that it would build all of its cars with full time all wheel drive the response was hardly overwhelming. Then a funny thing happened. The term sport utility vehicle took hold in the mainstream vocabulary and that company Subaru soon found its cars very much in demand. Plus Subaru even did its own SUV. The forester and now with a new freshening the latest

Forester is all the reason Subaru is still riding and all will drive high. And that hive with the public showing a continued thirst for SUV doesn't seem likely to end anytime soon. So with the 2001 Forester Subaru has taken off the mantra often echoed in times of prosperity don't mess with success. So with the exception of a new chrome bumper on the front and a new premium package for models that adds monochromatic styling freshly designed six wheels and a new rear bumper and tail lights the Forrester concept basically remains the same rugged little ride we came to appreciate when it was a member of our long term test fleet several years ago. Much of that rugged reputation is to proven drive systems that come standard on vehicles equipped your farceur with a five speed manual transmission and you'll get the continuous all wheel drive system that employs a viscous coupling of the center differential that delivers power at an

even 50/50 split between front and rear with the four speed automatic and your all wheel drive system is governed by an electronic variable transfer clutch and a transmission control module. With this system power split at 90 percent 10 percent rear bias in normal driving conditions and slippage is detected in the front wheels. Hydraulic pressure is applied to the plates in the transfer clutch sending the needed amount of power to the rear wheels. Models also get a standard viscous limited slip through differential. Also contributing to the forester's rugged character is the sturdy 2.5 liter single overhead cam 16 valve cars not only opposed four cylinder that powers this little sport use with 165 horsepower and 166 pound feet of torque running through the four speed automatic it powered to 60 and nine point one seconds and through the quarter mile at sixteen point nine seconds said 80 mph torque comes on strong at 3000 rpm reaching its

peak at 4000 but the forester continues to pull strongly all the way to the redline at 60 100 rpm. Before Will desk ABS control brakes also perform strongly bringing us consistently to a stop from 60 and an average of one hundred twenty nine feet. Pedal feel is excellent and tracking is true despite a fair amount of nosedive. Forester L models come with a disk drive configuration a run to the low speed revealed a fair amount of body roll entire rollover. But the forester still felt nimble. Turning and displayed a bit of mild understeer are not overly precise but nothing in the forester's demeanor is unpredictable. The fully independent heavy duty crazed type strutting coil spring suspension. Stabilizer bars its softness so noticeable in low speed maneuvers pays handsome dividends on the highway by delivering a ride that belies its relatively short ninety nine point four inch wheel base while inside the Forresters a comfortable

accommodations belie its rugged nature. There you'll find manually operated firm and supported bucket seats that are available with heated surfaces and side impact airbags. The forester also adds a leather wrapping to the tilting steering wheel shifter and handbrake as well as a very nice in dash 6 this CD changer to the AM FM casette stereo. Go all out and add the premium package model and you'll get a move that rivals the Texas guy for size that's big broom in the back is more down to earth with seating for three and three point belts for all passengers. The 60 40 split seat backs fold nearly flat without having to remove the headrest opening the back up to sixty three point one cubic feet. Fifty eight point five cubic feet. If you have the moon roof we told you that thing was big enough then you have 30 cubic feet at your disposal moonroof are not. Or just the forester you'll need twenty three thousand three hundred ninety dollars at your disposal. Slightly more for models like our

forester asked tester with premium packets which went out the door for twenty five thousand four hundred twelve dollars in a field of small SUV where new competitors are sprouting up at a rapid rate. The 2001 Subaru Forester uses handsome styling in a well-appointed cabin to distinguish itself from the rest of the ground while a proven engine and all wheel drive systems provide the distance that should keep it ahead of the crowd. It's a market tested formula that has proven successful for Subaru. Not unless someone messes with it. She continued to do so. I hope you'll join us next week for more motor weight. Well test Hyundai's new accent on economy and Porsche is punchier Boxster ass. I'm John Davis. Well see you then. To learn more about Motor Week TV's original automotive magazine visit us online at PBS dot org or America Online keyword PBS. Motor Week has been brought to you by Priceline dot com with Priceline dot com

you name your own price for new cars. All makes and models of cars trucks sport utility vehicles minivans and more. When you log on to Priceline dot com you name your own price and buy the duplicate truck bed coding kit the truck bed protection that you can apply yourself with rolled brush or spray. It's the rust and impact resistant coating that fits any size bed duplicable or truck bed coating kit. And by pep boys no matter what you drive Pep Boys Over 27000 items in stock virtually any part for any car with all the name brands you know plus service based af with certified technicians Pep Boys parts tires accessories service to order a video cassette of this program call 1 800 4 2 2 0 0 6 for. This. PDA.