Driving The Dream? - automobile related articles

Probably not (yet). Wait until you see what rolls in for the future

With the next millennium literally days away, what will be the hot wheels for Y2K? Practically any model featuring retro styling or the other extreme, cutting-edge design. Whether your top priority is racy looks, a roaring engine or a roomy interior, our annual car guide will help steer you through the many choices.

STARS AND THEIR CARS

Peep the new rides that make some of our hot, young celebs goo-goo-eyed

Missy Elliott

The current high priestess of hip-hop already makes the scene in her choice from her fleet of luxury models--a Jaguar, three Mercedes-Benzes and a Lexus--but her dream ride hasn't even been manufactured yet. The object of her desire? The newly designed two-door Cadillac Evoq roadster (above). This luxe convertible toured with auto shows and was featured in promotional advertising. Missy already placed an order for "one of the first off the assembly line" if the car becomes available.

Ananda Lewis

The sultry model and MTV veejay, known for her great style, is into power and performance when it comes to cars. Few things excite her more than taking long drives in her Toyota Tundra 4x4 pick-up-except, perhaps, for repairing the truck herself. Which model turns her on for 2000? The latest version of her 4x4.

Terri J. Vaughn

Vaughn plays the sassy, outspoken Lovita Jenkins on the WB network's The Steve Harvey Show. She headed for college in a Dodge Colt, but in the next century this fun-loving sister will sport the Mazda MX-5 Miata (above). "It's a fun and sexy car," she says. What more could a rising star ask for?

Da Brat

Versatility could be this newly high-glam rapper's middle name. One day you might catch her rolling up to the office of So-So Def in her rugged Lincoln Navigator or her luxury Mercedes-Benz SLK. The weekend may find her at the wheel of her BMW M3 convertible. What would she love to add to her collection next year? A Jaguar XK8 Convertible (above).

Cars in Cyberspace: Should You Buy?

Remember the Saturn commercial where a college kid buys a car on the Net and within minutes a salesman arrives at his door with the keys? Well, we're not far from that scenario. Buying a car on-line can save time and money. Loads of info is available through automakers and third-party companies wanting to help you compare features and prices and narrow your selection.

All the major manufacturers have sites; use the company's name to search. The features and options for various models are listed, so you can find your ideal car and see what it would cost. Most sites offer a dealer locator, and some even put a dealer in touch with you by phone, mail or E-mail to give a firm quote. Independent sites, such as Microsoft's CarPoint, Auto-Vantage and Autobytel, have the same features as the manufacturers, with the dealer's cost shown in addition to the suggested retail price. On sites like these, you can also arrange the sale at an agreed-upon price through a local dealer. In addition, some dealerships have sophisticated individual Web sites where you may actually select your car and make arrangements for a down payment and financing--all on-line. And I bet many dealers will happily deliver your new car to your door!

Tangi Miller

If you've checked out the WB's Felicity, you know that Tangi Miller's character, Elena Tyler, likes to do it her own way. The same can be said of the star. She's a free spirit and would love to own a convertible Porsche 911 to show off her new star status. To be behind the wheel of a powerful sports car, says Tangi, "is like riding in the wind!"

702

When Irish, LeMisha and Kameelah--the divas of the R&B trio 702--aren't rocking the crowd at their sold-out concerts, these petite sirens wheel around in SUVs--the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota 4Runner and Mitsubishi Montero, respectively. Though they assure us that success hasn't gone to their head, they can't stop daydreaming about the new Escalade, Cadillac's SUV (above).

--CELEBRITY REPORTING BY LATASHA OWENS

What's Your Old Car Worth?

For many people, trading in their current car plays an important role in the process of purchasing a new car. Knowing the general value of the trade-in is vital.

"Unfortunately, we are not always given the fair valuation on our cars on trade-ins because we don't know what the car is worth," says Darryl Brooks of Atlanta-based Consumer Consulting Services, Inc. He has made a business out of helping car shoppers research and negotiate to get the best deal. Called buyer-service agencies, companies like Brooks's and such Internet services as AutoVantage and Autobytel work independently of car sellers and can help you evaluate the worth of your old car by weighing the model year, its special features, the condition of the body and engine, the number of miles on the odometer and the zip code where your car has "lived"--all of which affect the price. The bible used by car appraisers to determine trade-in values is still the Kelley Blue Book. Pick up a copy at the bookstore, or contact a buyer-service company so you'll know the real deal before you make a deal.

CURVES AHEAD

New shapes for twenty-first-century cars

IN MANY WAYS automobile manufacturers, like the rest of us, are entering the next century with one foot still in this one. Carmakers know that some consumers want vehicles to look familiar while others want to roll into the new age in autos like none we've seen before. So for the 2000 model year, consumers have these interestingly opposite options--cars with a very vintage design and others that appear more than modern. As most new models offer the latest technology in engine and gasoline efficiency, safety and navigation, the car's styling may be one of the shopper's bigger decisions. Here's our roundup of cool new rides:

The nostalgia trend was Spurred by the success of Volkswagen's classic Beetle, a 1960's icon revived and redesigned last year and now one of the hottest cars around. Building on the new Beetle's success, Volkswagen offers a great turbo package with a two-liter engine for power-packed performance. The top-of-the-line 1.8T GLS has, among other amenities, a speed-activated rear spoiler.

Of Ford's 2000 model Thunderbird, J Mays, vice-president of design for the Ford Motor Co., says, "Our goal was to recapture that heart-stopping, head-turning `thing' we know when we see it."

This isn't the boat-sized four-passenger sedan Ford retired in 1997, but a reinterpretation of the original 1954 model: a speedy two-seater convertible roadster. Mays calls the reversionary trend in auto design "modern heritage," saying, "Today's Thunderbird salutes the original but also symbolizes turn-of-the-millennium automotive styling." The consumer gets both gorgeous retro design and twenty-first-century engineering and aerodynamics.

The new T-bird, although still a concept vehicle, takes design cues from its 1955-57 forerunners, including porthole windows, a removable hard top, rounded head- and tail-lights and an "egg-crate grill" that bears the trademark Thunderbird badge. But with the thoroughly modern 3.9-liter V-8 engine you can really burn rubber.

BMW of North America, Inc., has also looked to 1950's styling with its BMW Z3 roadster, inspired by the limited-edition BMW 507. But this supersporty convertible is engineered for the future; its aluminum body is lightweight, yet incredibly strong, and a mighty 400-horsepower V-8 engine guarantees you'll leave envious onlookers in the dust.

The new Jaguar S-TYPE sedan takes retro styling to an elegant new level. From the legendary finely tuned engine to the classic grill, to the luxurious wood and leather interior, this classy car will carry you into the next century in style.

In the spring of 2000, we can look forward to a completely new car from DaimlerChrysler, the 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser. Some say the car is reminiscent of 1930's styling, while others place it in the 1950's and 1960's. One thing is undeniable, the PT Cruiser is the perfect combination of retro styling and practical features. Borrowing design lines from classic hatchbacks, this car is engineered to seat the driver and four passengers. The passenger seats fold down or are removable, creating a roomy interior that will even accommodate an eight-foot ladder. With neon-metallic color finishes and an optional flop-top sunroof, the PT Cruiser is ahead of the pack.

Many carmakers, on the other hand, are opting to improve the overall package of their tried-and-true best-sellers rather than concentrating on drastic redesigns. Chevrolet, for instance, is banking on the Monte Carlo, the Impala LS and the newly improved 2000 Pontiac Bonneville--older models that continue to offer value, performance and style. Either way, there's never been a more exciting time to take the wheel!

STICKER APPEAL

When to choose value over vogue

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF looking at the bottom-line price on the sticker before you check out the list of features that precede it, remember this: Value, not price, should be your deciding factor.

Surprisingly, the lowest sticker price is not always the best deal. The real cost of ownership includes not only the price you pay up front but also what you're getting for your money. Find out, for example, if the vehicles you're checking out have good residual value. In other words, if you trade in the car sometime down the line, will it still have worth? If not, you simply haven't gotten the best bang for your buck.

It's also important to find out what kind of reliability rating the vehicle has earned. If it's always in the shop, well, you get the picture. Another crucial consideration: How does the vehicle measure up when it comes to safety? It'll be transporting you and your loved ones, so it should have all the newest in safety technology, including air bags and antilock brakes.

Awesome and Affordable We test-drove the best of the new economy cars, and for looks and dependability without taxing the budget, we put our money on these:

                     The Look                   Safety

Hyundai Accent    Sleek and sporty           Dual air bags
8,999

Suzuki Swift      Functional but fun         Dual air bags
9,099

Saturn LS         Clean lines on a           Driver and passenger
15,010            standard small car         air bags

Dodge/Plymouth    Modern, not as "cute"      Air bags, rear-seat
Neon $12,390      as the older model         shoulder-belt system,
                                             steel door beams

Ford Focus        Innovative,                ISOFIX child-restraint
12,280            aerodynamic, funky         system, SecuriLock
                                             antitheft system

                      Fuel                     Engine
                   Economy, mpg             Performance

Hyundai Accent   38 city, 37 highway     1.5-liter, multivalve
8,999                                    SOHC engine, rear-
                                         deck lid spoiler; reliable
Suzuki Swift     39 city, 43 highway     1.3-liter, 16-valve,
9,099                                    overhead-cam, fuel-
                                         injected engine; nimble
                                         and quick
Saturn LS        24 city, 32 highway     2.2-liter, I-4 engine;
15,010                                   quiet ride

Dodge/Plymouth   27 city, 36 highway     2.0-liter SOHC 16-valve
Neon $12,390                             engine, electronic fuel
                                         injection; nice handling
Ford Focus       25-28 city, 30-35       2.0-liter SOHC 16-valve
12,280           highway                 engine; excellent noise
                                         and vibration levels

Linda Sharp, an automotive training consultant, who lives in Buford, Georgia, writes frequently about automobiles.3

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