28. August 2009 by admin.

DETROIT—The first station wagons were cool. These trusted family conveyances proclaimed that their owners lived the suburban American dream. They were so popular, in fact, that they became ubiquitous and eventually lost their cachet. Then Detroit gave us the minivan, the SUV and the crossover, all with tailgates and ample storage space—wagons all but disappeared. But Europeans never lost their interest in these cars, so BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi all offer sporty and luxurious wagons.

Enter Cadillac, whose mission is to compete with those luxury brands on nearly every level. The first wagon ever to wear the brand’s crest-and-laurel badge was the BLS, a compact built and sold only in Europe. Now, America gets its turn with the CTS Sport Wagon that Cadillac hopes will revitalize and grow the small market for station wagons here. In other words, it seeks to make wagons cool again. Does it? —Kevin A. Wilson

The Specs

Mechanically, the Sport Wagon is identical to the CTS sport sedan, offering a choice of rear- or all-wheel-drive, two engines and standard six-speed automatic transmission. For 2010, the base 3.0-liter direct-injection V6 makes 270 hp with improved fuel economy, and new engine mounts cut noise and vibration. But our test car had the optional 304-hp, 3.6-liter V6. There is, for now, at least, no CTS-V V8-powered performance variant. Our car wore 19-inch wheels with Continental summer performance tires. The base wheel is a 17-inch alloy, and there’s an 18-inch option too, both with all-season tires.

The distinction between the sedan and the wagon is the 200 pounds of metal and glass behind the vehicle’s rear doors. Designed in a studio led by Bryan Nesbitt, recently promoted to general manger of the Cadillac division, the high-style wagon frames its tailgate with extended taillights that reach to the roof. The roofline sweeps downward to a slanted rear window, and the sides taper, prioritizing elegance over cargo volume. Yet the Sport Wagon boasts twice the capacity of the sedan. There’s 25 cubic feet behind the rear seats (the sedan’s trunk is 13 cubic feet) and 58 cubic feet with the seat folded, about the same as a BMW 5 Series Touring or Audi A6 Avant. The rearmost roof pillar is thick and, less evident from outside, there’s stout rollover protection structure over the top of the power tailgate. A rearview camera is standard and handy.

The Drive

We used the wagon to perform our usual weekend chores and found thoughtful touches throughout the cargo area. A concealed area a few inches deep beneath the floor is covered by a cleverly designed folding lid that can be propped in different positions to keep smaller items from sliding around. Adjustable tie downs atop the plush carpet ride on chrome rails. The liftgate opening angle can be adjusted for use in garages with low-hanging doors or to make sure access to the power lift button (on the door bottom) is within reach for short users. Need to carry even more stuff? The concealed rooftop rack can be equipped with optional accessories to suit most any lifestyle.

Like any CTS, the Sport Wagon offers a luxurious and entertaining driving experience. Rear visibility is a bit tunnel-like, but not as badly impeded as you’d imagine when looking at the design from outside—the rearmost pillar aligns roughly within the area already blocked by rear headrests. We’d think twice about choosing the 19-inch wheels—we noticed an SUV-like ride harshness and noise level that would make the all-weather utility of the smaller wheels our choice.

The Bottom Line

CTS Sport Wagon pricing tracks the sedan’s, with a base MSRP at $40,485. That’s a healthy price advantage over German-brand competitors, boding well for Cadillac’s ambition to sell upward of 4000 units in a narrow market niche of fewer than 40,000 vehicles from all brands. The luxury crossover segment, by comparison, is 10 times that size, so Sport Wagon sales are unlikely to cut into the Cadillac SRX crossover’s sales. But we think that this sport wagon is hipper than the now-ubiquitous SUVs and crossovers. Are wagons back? Could be

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28. August 2009 by admin.

Chrysler has announced that they are recalling certain models of the 2009 Dodge Ram light duty pickup trucks equipped with manual temperature control (MTC) only.  They stated that the software programmed into the heating ventilation and air conditioning module may cause the windshield defrosting and defogging functions to become inoperative.

This can decrease the driver’s visibility under certain driving conditions and result in a crash without warning.  Dealers will reprogram the HVAC module free of charge.  The recall is expected to begin during August 2009.  Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-835-1403.

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28. August 2009 by admin.

Are your headlights aimed correctly?According to the National Safety Council, the number of traffic deaths is three times greater at night than during the day. Since ninety percent of a driver’s reaction depends on visibility, it is extremely important that your headlights are aimed correctly, are clean and are working.

If other drivers are flashing their lights at you, it could be a sign that your headlights are not adjusted correctly. Another telltale sign is when you cannot see the full road with your high or low beams.

Even if your lenses are only slightly off the mark it still reduces your ability to see, increases night time glare and throws off depth perception.

All the bouncing around your car does going over bumps and potholes will gradually throw your headlights out of adjustment. If you get into a small fender bender or are carrying a heavy load in the trunk, this will also throw off the aim of your headlights. Some high end automobiles aim their own headlights and some you can aim yourself using a level driveway, a screwdriver, measuring tape and patience. But most headlights need to be aimed at your local repair shop or dealer using their expensive, specialized headlight aiming equipment.
Why is night time driving more difficult?
It’s all about the light. Without sunlight you just can’t see as much during the night as you can during the daylight hours. Your headlights are the main source of light for your car, and this is the reason that having correctly aimed headlights that are clean and in working order are imperative.

Did you know that headlights lenses used to be made out of glass and now are made out of plastic?

Glass headlights only came in a limited number of sizes and shapes. If they cracked or broke, they had to be replaced. Approximately 10 years ago, automakers started using plastic headlight assemblies. The plastic material is easier to mold and the auto designers love it because the plastic lends itself to unlimited styles and reduce drag because of better aerodynamics.

Unfortunately the plastic headlight lenses become yellow and cloudy overtime. In only 2-3 years the light output can be cut by 75 percent, which may make it unsafe to drive at night. What happens is that the sun’s harsh UV rays, acid rain, harsh weather conditions, and chemicals all wear on the lenses. Plus, while driving, the lenses pick up dirt and grime. When the lights are on, the plastic gets hot and expands. After you are done driving you turn them off and the plastic cools and contracts. This can trap the dirt and grime on the lenses.

According to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, “An average of 9 out of every 10 cars on the road today has dirty or yellowed headlights that greatly reduce vision and need to be replaced, cleaned, and/or repaired.”

Until recently, plastic headlights had to be replaced to correct this problem. The average replacement was on the average $200.00 each, not including installation and aiming. High end headlights can cost in excess of $350-$400 each.

When the headlights get cloudy and yellow, they will not pass the yearly Vermont State Inspection. Now a days, there are ways to repair cracks, repair leaks and even clean plastic headlight lenses. Consider having them restored at a fraction of the cost. When you have your headlights restored, you be able to see again! Plus, your car will pass state inspection, will look almost brand new, be safer to drive and give you piece of mind.

Can you do it yourself?
Sure you could. Would I? Nope. I do love to wash and clean my car inside and out on a beautiful summer day, but this is more then I want to do.

If you have a crack or leak and there is water inside the lenses, you need to get the water out and repair the crack. This involves removing the lense, drilling a hole to get out the water, drying out the inside, resealing the hole with a silicone seal and reinstalling the light.

If the lenses are just yellow and grimy, you can purchase a restoration kit. They range from $19.95 to $49.99.  Most of the kits have you do 3 steps that involve a drill or a sander. Step one is cleaning, step two is polishing and step three is applying a surface sealant. It can take anywhere from half an hour to an hour per headlight.

You can also ask your friendly repair shop to do it for you. It costs approximately $50.00 per side. So depending on how you want to spend your time, you can do it yourself or have the shop do it for you.

To help slow down yellowing and clouding of headlights you can clean the headlights once a week and more often if necessary. Don’t forget to clean the parking lights, back-up lights and turn signals too.

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