T to T-squared --- best cars of the millennium

By RICHARD WILLIAMSON

Scripps Howard News Service

As the odometer rolled over to a new millennium, auto writers naturally took a long, backward glance at the rearview mirror for the most important set of wheels in history.

So, here it is: The Ford Model T.

While Daimler-Benz might actually deserve credit for inventing the forerunner of today's automobile circa 1885, Ford made cars affordable through its use of interchangeable parts and mass production.

More than 15 million Model T's would hit the road from 1908 to 1927, giving the basic black car unparalleled longevity until Adolf Hitler convinced Ferdinand Porsche to build a "people's car," the Volkswagen Beetle.

Perhaps you think some other locomobile should be named Car of the Millennium, say the 1896 Quadricycle or the Duryea of the same anno domini. Maybe the Stanley Steamer or the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air really gets your engine running.

If so, know that your verdict is inferior to that of the cognoscenti (me and a couple of guys I know) who gathered to render this decision.

Now that we have our history lesson out of the way, let's move on to the millennium year itself, aka Y2K. And by the way, we cognoscenti have decreed that 2000 is, indeed, the millennium year. Just because the ancient Romans had never heard of the number 0 doesn't mean we shouldn't correct their mistake now.

While our favorite cars this year fall into a variety of categories, it would be a mistake not to give a single car the blue ribbon for "best of show."

Our titlist, then, for Y2K Car of the Year is the Audi TT.

While the name may say "T-squared," this car is as round as a hard- boiled egg without the shell. Has anything this sporty, this audacious, this responsive ever borne the interlocking rings of Audi? Not that I know of.

With its brushed metal accents and great leather interior, the $30,500 TT even trumps the BMW Z3 and Mercedes SLK.

The name TT stands for "Tourist Trophy," an award first presented on the Isle of Man in 1905 after a remarkable car and motorcycle race. The concept car that became the TT was first presented at the German Motor Show in Frankfurt in 1995. The performance is potent (0- 60 mph in 7.4 seconds), but the styling and novelty are nonpareil. Take a victory lap, TT.

BEST LUXURY CAR: If you're going to shell out the big bucks, you want your luxury car to really look like one. While Cadillac may be having its problems competing with Lincoln and Lexus, the prestige division of General Motors shows that it still knows how to build a great car with the all new 2000 DeVille. Instead of letting this franchise lapse, Caddy trimmed the bulk off its best-selling car and added gee-whiz options like Night Vision. With a 300-horsepower, 32- valve Northstar V8 engine under the hood, the DeVille stays well ahead of the competition. This is truly the Cadillac of Cadillacs.

BEST MID-SIZE SEDAN UNDER $25,000: This is the most competitive market in America, but Nissan wins top prize this year with a beautifully restyled Maxima. I've always loved the performance of the Maxima behind a 190-horsepower V6. Now, the rather nondescript body of the predecessor has been replaced by a stylishly sleek skin that you would be proud to have in front of your house.

BEST WAGON UNDER $25,000: There were three really good candidates this year: The new Volvo V40, the Saturn LW and the Subaru Legacy Outback. But after careful scrutiny, the Outback came out ahead. I've admired the smooth ride and handling of Subaru's Legacy models before. I've been impressed with the output of its flat 4-cylinder boxer engines. But until the deliciously detailed 2000 Legacy Outback Limited sedan arrived, I can't say I was blown away by the beauty of all-wheel drive.

BEST COMPACT SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE: The Mercedes-Benz ML is the Alabama-built sport utility vehicle that is battling for the high ground against an array of competitors from Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Infiniti and Cadillac. Compared to other models from Mercedes, the ML320, powered by a 215-horsepower V6, is a real steal in a price range of $34,000 to $44,000. What puts the ML at the head of the pack this year is the 4.3-liter, 268-horsepower V8 in the ML430.

BEST FULL-SIZE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE: The Lexus LX470 is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser and much more comfy at a premium price of $56,205. How Toyota can make a truck this big handle this smoothly really beyond me.

BEST COMPACT PICK-UP TRUCK: It's really no contest after the introduction of the Dodge Dakota Quad Cab. The Dakota is bigger than the Ford Ranger or the Chevy S10 and comes with an optional V8 engine. The Quad cab with four doors and a true back bench seat makes this pickup a viable family vehicle. You can configure this truck six ways to Sunday with rear or 4-wheel-drive. Dakota and its big brother the Ram keep Dodge right in the heart of the truck market.

BEST FULL-SIZE PICK-UP TRUCK: The best-seller is still the best looking and the best value. Throw another trophy on the shelf of the versatile Ford F-Series, with more power plants than a Pennsylvania factory town.

BEST MINIVAN: Mazda became a serious contender in the 2000 model year with a new MPV powered by a 170-horse V6. In hopes of catching up to the leaders, Mazda matched the disappearing third seat in the Honda Odyssey and added roll-down windows for passengers in the middle row. This car is fun to drive and versatile to boot.

BEST SMALL CAR: The new Ford Focus will soon replace two very respectable models: the Contour and the Escort. That's a tall order to fill, but the Focus fits the bill with more passenger, head and leg room than any car in its class. You may also like the blend of soft and sharp edges that accent the rather radical bod.

Copyright 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.