European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 19, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday april 19, 1990 the stars and Stripe four wheel drive for an extra $2,000�mr Corner Tempo Sedan a Good family car by Russ Devault Cox news service take away its four wheel drive capability and the Ford Tempo is a Basic family Sedan. Its that simple. But with or without Aii wheel drive the compact Tempo is a Eood five passenger car. Its Roomy and comfortable and very drivable. The Tempo and All wheel drive or if your prefer four wheel drive lists for 331 _ about $2,000 More than the Cost of the base front wheel drive version. Fords Well taken position is that this difference is a reasonable Price to pay for having four wheel drive capability. And you get it by simply flicking a switch. Even when the roadways Arentt rain sickened and even if you done to live where Snow and ice Are a major concern there a a lot to be said for the Security of knowing you have the added traction of four wheel drive. Ford introduced the two door and four door Tempo in 1983 and first offered the four door Model with All wheel drive three years ago. But done to blame yourself if the presence of the All wheel drive Tempo appears to be recent news. A we have not advertised the All wheel drive versions much a says Mike Sullivan Fords Detroit based manager of marketing for the Tempo. He Points out that production delays have prevented the Tempo and from arriving in showrooms before the Onset of bad weather most years. But he adds that marketing surveys indicate that buyers Are a a thrilled with the Tempo All wheel drive version. But the favourable response does not come from enthusiast Drivers. When it comes to performance consider the Tempo and a beefed up escort. The the Ford Tempo is offered in four series including All wheel drive. Standard four Cylinder engine used in the go and la models produces 98 horsepower while the Hso version found in the Gas and and models is rated at 100 he. Acceleration is adequate albeit noisy and the 2,500-Pound Tempo has Speed to spare on the interstate. The exterior which is due a freshening late this year or next year suggests the Tempo is a mini Taurus. Its lines Are Graceful and Ford offers the usual variety of dress up options a including a $ 115 deck lid Luggage rack that adds some flair. The Interior design does no to invite criticism unless its from adults travelling significant distances in the rear seats. The White on Black instrumentation is legible and controls a including the overhead console mounted All wheel drive switch a Are convenient and simple. The Tempo delivers a smooth ride broken Only by serious potholes Wash boarded pavement or slightly jarring shifts by its three Speed transmission under hard acceleration. The Power rack and Pinion steering is accurate and fast but it May be a bit numb for some Drivers and tight turns with the All wheel drive engaged cause the inside rear wheel to bind. The tempos Independent suspension and front Stabilizer bar make its Overall handling characteristics above average for a car in its class. Minor annoyances in addition to engine and drive train noise include automatic front shoulder belts that make it awkward to get in or out with a briefcase or other articles and the fact that the optional Drivers Side air bag is not available for the All wheel drive Tempo. So just remember that while the Tempo and is a Good idea a a simple relatively inexpensive family car with the advantages of four wheel drive a its neither luxurious nor a performance oriented machine. As Fords Mike Sullivan says a it s not a dynamic fire breathing dragon but it docs function the Way a family car  the All wheel drive Tempo Sedan has a base Price of $11,331, As noted while the car tested for this report Cost $ 13,966 with its various options. Standard features include the 2.3-liter four Cylinder Hso engine with Multi port electronic fuel injection three Speed automatic transmission Power steering Power brakes am pm stereo radio and motorized front shoulder belts. The Epa mileage figures read 22 mpg City 27 mpg Highway combined average for test car 19.7 mpg. The Tempo uses regular unleaded fuel. For full details on the new 1990 Ford Tempo Sedan models their special military prices Etc., prospective buyers May Contact Ford motor company sales representatives at the cafes new car sales Points on the various bases in Europe new car conversion rules must be complied with the department of transportation and the environmental Protection Agency have issued stringent and additional regulations this year that car conversion firms must comply with to import for eign specification vehicles. A and this is All to the Good a says Kevin a. Smith general manager of overseas express an cafes car shipping and conversion concessionaire. In an interview entering on the . Governments regulation of the car conver Sion Market and some rules updates Smith said that firms converting cars that were purchased after oct. 31,1988, must now Bev monent registered with both   a i a certificates. An  signifies i /hn0 a a department of transport iop registered importer while an no a Means the firm is also an inde nor u commercial importer this rein environmental Protection Agency Epa. A a protect himself the car convern a isomer should be certain that the pm he is dealing with is of both . And i a standing a Smith says a and if he App any f r�?T1 about it he should ask to reproof of  intr fir new Dot regulations which went on Jan involve non-.-on i i 1nnautomo ies purchased after Law u. And imported into the . Folly i they must meet the rowing Dot conditions car must be imported by a Sonve a imp9rter r and Only state a companies in the United Les have this capability. Bond a action to the previous customs Peciu Irementa there is also a Dot Bond requirement based on 1 Xhu times the cards value. A Only automobiles with .-equivalent models can be imported. A the converter must hold the car 30 Days after conversion to allow officials from Dot to inspect the car if these officials so desire. A the conversion companies must guarantee the actual conversion for eight years with a warranty parts program. Smith says that a waiver cars under the a hardship Extension clause cars a chased prior to dec. 1, 1987 and if Ive Model years old or older Are exempt rom the new Dot rules because of Purchase prior to oct. 31, 1988. But these cars must leave for the United states by dec. 31, 1990. Is conversion Worth All the Effort Smith says this is a personal As Well As a financial decision but he Points out that significant savings can be made. Using a 1985 Mercedes 190e As an example the car is Worth some $ 15,000 in the states Smith says but can be purchased for about 12,000 Marks around $7,000 in Germany. If purchased after dec 1, 1987, it needs both Epa and Dot conversion and this would Cost about $5,000. So the conversion would allow the customer to save $3,000 to $4,000 on this Model at the current Exchange rate. If the 190e had been purchased before dec. 1, 1987, and the owner qualifies for the a hardship waiver exemption the car would need Only a Dot conversion about $2,300 and this could save the owner up to $7,000. The average shipment Cost is $575. The european specification car Falls into one of four categories Smith says. A built before Jan. 1, 1968 the car is a Home free and requires no conversion work of any kind. A purchased before dec. I 1987, five Model years old and eligible under the a waiver hardship clause for military and department of defense civilians this vehicle would receive an Epa exemption As Long As it leaves a foreign port by dec. 31, 1990, As noted earlier. This car would still require a Dot Bond. Smith says there Are some 20,000 Usa eur registered cars that fall into this category. A does not qualify for either of the previous two categories but purchased before oct. 31, 1988 this car requires a full Dot Epa conversion under . License but the Dot portion of the conversion May still be done under the old rules still requires Dot Bond. Only fuel injected cars can be converted. A does not qualify for any of these three categories car purchased after oct. 31, 1988 this car would require a full Dot Epa conversion and must be imported by both an . License Holder and a Dot registered importer . The Dot portion of the conversion must be carried out under the new rules . Model equivalent Etc and the car must also be fuel injected. Regarding conversion costs the overseas express charge for Dot conversion including . Bond and broker fee plus . Port fee and cafes guarantee is $2,315. When a car requires both Dot and Epa conversion the combined Cost is $5,315, this Price also including . Bond broker fee Etc. Smith stressed that european specification cars cannot be converted in Germany because there Are no Epa approved . Holders or Dot registered importers outside of the United states. If the car is not imported into the United states under government guidelines the government will impound the car at the port. Smith says. The car conversion must be done in the United states by the conversion shipping company. Overseas express founded in 1984, became the car conversion concessionaire for cafes last summer. The firms conversion work is guaranteed by cafes As Well As by the required Epa Dot guarantees. For additional details those interested May Call the overseas express firm at 089-5026077 or 5026052, or write overseas express attn cafes concessionaire dept.,  113, 8000 Munich 2, West Germany. When writing include Type of car Chassis number Date of Purchase planned pcs Date and overseas  seminars set overseas express has scheduled six car conversion seminars for next month at the following locations dates times and places Frankfurt a May 14, 8 ., Terrace club Ramstein Kaiserslautern a May 15. 8  Ramstein officers open mess Heidelberg a May 16. 8 ., Heidelberg officers club Stuttgart a May 17, 8 ., Robinson Barracks Community club Niernberg Furth a May 18, 6  49er club at William o. Darby Cavern Munich a May 19, 2 ., Community club at Mcgraw Cavern a Randy Barnett Auto columnist