BLACKWOOD AN EARLY GONER
Planning on buying a Lincoln
Blackwood? Buy soon — Lincoln spokespeople told various press outlets on Monday
that the limited-production, rear-drive, luxury four-door truck would be a lot
more limited than originally planned. After debuting the 2002 model last year,
Lincoln will not build the 2003 model-year Blackwood after all, officials said.
After setting out to make about
10,000 of the trucks — which sported covered beds with brushed aluminum and a
$53,000 price tag — the company will stop after the 2002 production run ends.
Lincoln has shipped only about 700 copies thus far, according to Reuters,
because of production problems.
2002 Lincoln
Blackwood by Paul Wiley Cockerham
(10/8/2001)
TOYOTA
TRIES TO MAKE SLUDGY OWNERS HAPPY
Toyota will widen its warranty coverage for
vehicles that some owners say are susceptible to oil gelling and subsequent
engine damage. Japan’s largest automaker will extend its engine warranties for
1997-2001 Toyota and Lexus vehicles with 3.0-liter V-6 and 2.2-liter
four-cylinder engines to eight years from the date of purchase. Some 3.3 million
vehicles are included in this action, which Toyota insists is the result of
oil-change schedules not being followed. However, the company is also reworking
the engines in question to make them more resistant to damage from oil gelling.
The company, says Reuters, has received more than 3000 complaints of engine
damage and has reimbursed a few hundred owners for repair
costs.
GM
RECALLING 1.9 MILLION COMPACTS
In the biggest vehicle recall since the 1.6-million
Jeep Grand Cherokee recall last year, GM says it will bring back 1.9 million
1995-1997 Chevrolet Cavaliers and Pontiac Sunfires and 1996-1997 Buick Skylarks,
Pontiac Grand Ams and Olds Achievas because of the possibility of engine fires.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has logged some 159
complaints that bad ignition wiring has caused smoke or fires in affected
vehicles. GM will fix the cars for free.
CHRYSLER RECALLS MINIVANS, JEEPS
The Chrysler Group will recall 545,000
minivans and 95,000 Jeeps in two separate recalls. The National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA) is issuing the recalls for the minivans built
between June 1996 and October 1998 for a seatbelt fix that will keep insulation
from falling into the seatbelt assembly. In the second recall, Jeep Wranglers
made from June 2000 to December 2001 will be brought back to fix the ignition
switch, which is prone to shorting out if exposed to water or dirt.
2003 Chrysler PT Turbo by TCC Team
(3/26/2002)
2002 Ford F-150
FORD
F-150 HAS LEAKY GASKETS
The
latest quality glitch to hit Ford Motor Company vehicles affects the 5.4-liter
V-8 found in the Blackwood as well as a host of other Ford trucks. On Monday,
the automaker said some examples of the big V-8s — mostly found in ’99 models of
various F-Series trucks — suffer from leaky head gaskets. The problems are being
fixed under warranty, but at least one source says some vehicle repairs are
costing Ford upwards of $4500. Last month, Ford had to catch its breath when a
defect in four-wheel-drive electrics caused a hiccup in production of the ’03
Expedition and Lincoln Navigator; production problems have also plagued the
launches of other new Fords like the Focus and
Escape.
ANOTHER
BIG CHILD-SEAT RECALL
The
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says it is issuing a
recall for some 55,162 Peg Perego infant child seats. Those seats made from May
20, 2001 through Feb. 15, 2002, under various brands (Martinelli Primo Viaggio
with base, Pliko Travel System, Primo Viaggio System, Atlantico System, and
Atlantico Trek System SNG) may fasten improperly. The company is alerting
customers on adjusting the seat to work properly while it sends out new plastic
upholstery covers. For more information, owners can call the company toll-free
at 877-737-3468 or click over to http://www.perego.com
POWER:
DIESELS COULD MAKE SHOPPING LISTS
A new J.D. Power survey says that about one-third
of car shoppers might consider a cleaner diesel in their next vehicle even
though they don’t know much about the latest diesel technology. The J.D. Power
and Associates Consumer Diesel Overview StudySM studied more
than 5,200 survey respondents, of which 31 percent indicated they might be
willing to buy a vehicle with a new-generation, cleaner-burning diesel. However,
just five percent of the respondents said they were familiar with the technology
that’s been unleashed on diesels in the past decade. Power defined a “clean”
diesel for the study as a powerplant that offered comparable gas-engine
performance with similar noise, vibration and pollution as gas engines as well.
Regardless of persuasion, those answering the survey expect to see more in
American trucks in the future.
LEXUS
GETS COACH SEATS
Toyota’s
upscale Lexus brand is adding two special edition vehicles this fall, including
one with Coach seats. The GS300 mid-range sedan will offer a SportDesign package
with revised suspension tuning, upgraded 225/60R-16 tires and polished alloy
wheels, along with perforated leather-trimmed seats and walnut trim in the
cabin. Along with other features in the Premium package, the SportDesign package
will add $4050 to the GS300’s sticker. The RX300 Coach Edition, meanwhile, wraps
the sport-ute’s seats in Coach-branded perforated leather and adds maple trim, a
honeycomb grille and 16-inch alloy wheels, as well as a pair of Coach bags. The
package retails for $2830.
CONTI
COLLECTOR’S EDITION SAYS GOODBYE FOR NOW
The last Continental to be offered by Lincoln —
“for now,” as the release says — will be a special Collector’s Edition with more
than the standard Lincoln luxury accoutrements. The 2002 special will include a
wooden steering wheel, suede and leather seats, 10-spoke chrome wheels and a
platinum-painted grille, and “New Shiva” carpeting. On sale this week, Lincoln
expects to sell about 2000 copies before the Continental ends its long run in
the Lincoln showroom.
AAA:
DRIVING COSTS DOWN
Your wallet
might not feel so much thicker, but the AAA says it costs 0.8 cents less to
operate your car for one mile. The first decline in driving costs since 1993
means that it now costs the average motorist 50.2 cents per mile to operate a
vehicle. The decline, AAA says in its Your Driving Costs study, is largely due
to falling fuel prices. The agency figures its data from a composite average of
three fairly un-dramatic vehicles: the Chevy Cavalier LS, Ford Taurus SEL Deluxe
and Mercury Grand Marquis LS. You can get your own copy of the study at AAA
offices or by writing to: Your Driving Costs, Box 75, 1000 AAA Drive, Heathrow,
Fla. 32746-5063.
Email This Page