European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 16, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday january 16,1993 automotive the stars and stripes b Page it the Federal traffic safety Agency has upgraded an investigation into complaints that doors inadvertently open on certain Mazda 626 and 929 models. The probe involves 19881989 Mazda 929s and 19881991 Mazda 626s, the National Highway traffic safety administration said. The safety Agency has received 10 complaints that the outer door handle Assembly Falls off allowing a Rod attached to the handle inside the door panel to fall under the window. When the window is rolled Down that triggers the Rod and the door flies open. Consumers demands have moved from a desire for a cheap Quot cars to one of Quot Quality at a fair Price Quot a top Nissan executive said. Quot in the �?T80s, Auto manufacturers around the world lost touch with their customers Quot said Earl Hesterberg vice president and general manager of Nissan motor corp. Usa at the automotive news world Congress. A everyone was chasing everyone else a latest greatest hits. But along the Way we forgot to listen carefully to what our customers . Hesterberg Saidt search conducted by Nissan showed a a tremendous Market for a vehicle which provided a luxury without  a a. A a a a a Ford is taking its customers seriously. Taking a Cue from the Appeal of a a no Haggle Quot sticker Ford is offering its 1993 escort la at a one Price Quot with air conditioning Power steering am pm stereo radio and Power outside mirrors Standard. The Price is $10,899 for the Sedan. Station Wagon or three door Hatchback with a manual transmission. Choose the automatic and the Price goes up to $11,631. One Price packages Are gaining increasing popularity. Fora test marketed the concept in California last Spring before going nationwide with it for the 1993 escort and the manufacturer has a similar package on the thunderbird la. A. About 27 years after Bow last offered a car with a v8 engine the German automaker has a new one for its 1993 7-series sedans and its a Power Plant certain to leave Well peeled buyers grinning and putting their right feet Down. A 4.01 iter 243-cubic-Inch displacement mostly aluminium engine it produces 282 horsepower at 5,800 rpm 295 foot pounds or torque at 4,500 revolutions per minute and eagerly pulls through its suggested limit of 6,200 revolutions per minute. Serious car buffs will take note of its four overhead cams and 32 valves less intense Drivers will notice Only that it hums a smooth Highway tune and growls thro Atily when sprinting away from stoplights. The engine is Standard in two of by we sip Ricy 7-series sedans a the base 7401 $54,000 and the longer and More lavishly equipped 740il $58,000. The flagship 750il $80,900 continues to be powered by by we a 5.0-liter, 296-horsepower v-12. A a David c. Hill was named As the new chief Engineer for the Chevrolet Corvette Only the third person to oversee general motors  venerable sports Coupe in its 40-Yeajr history. A from wire reports tracker sidekick go head to head against wrangler by Tom infant fluid new Day Ever since gis drove the army s first Willys Overland jeeps americans have had a thing about Small Utility vehicles with open tops. The jeep Cj-5, Cj-7 and wrangler have been a Small but durable part of the Auto scene since i love Lucy was a prime time show. And so naturally they be been imitated. Enter the Geo tracker and nearly identical Suzuki sidekick built jointly by Genera motors and the japanese automaker. Dig Brothers to the much maligned Samurai the twins offer four wheel drive in an affordable and attractive package just like the wrangler. Both the tracker and wrangler come with soft tops or hard. Both have Interior that Are quite up to Date both offer steering that is highly assisted and considerably less responsive than that of most cars and both Are rather noisy but the tracker is sni Aller than the wrangler in every major dimension including length rear seat Mcgroom and cargo room. Wrangler Are More expensive starting at $11,410 with freight but Alt wrangler have four wheel drive. Tracked with four wheel drive Start at $11,885, with freight. Wranglers come with a 2.5-liter, 123-horsepower engine a 4-liter, 180-Horscpower six is optional. The tracker is More fuel efficient than the four Cylinder wrangler. The fancier tracker Psi starting at $12,985, with freight for a convertible v s s i just an idea at Chrysler corp. Unveiled its jeep ecco concept car this week at its technology Center in Auburn Hills Mich. The ear is powered by a 1.5-Hter, three Cylinder two stroke aluminium engine. The company says the car is a prototype for a new generation of vehicles. T ,. A y. Adds an am pm stereo automatic Locking front hubs wipers with an intermittent Mode and several cosmetic items. Our Psi tester with automatic transom Sion air conditioning Alloy wheels and tilt wheel sticker cd at $15,245 with freight. One thing not available is four wheel anti lock brakes they Are in six Cylinder wranglers. Finally a word about safety and reliability prospective buyers should keep in mind that Utility vehicles High centers of Gravity make them More prone to rollovers than cars a More so when they have Short  for reliability consumer reports which rates vehicles based on Reader surveys has insufficient data to draw conclusions about new trackers and wranglers but it says earlier wranglers were a much worse than average and earlier trackers were Quot average a pm moves to fix paint problem by Alan l. Adler. A Auto writer Detroit a peeling paint on some general motors corp. Cars and trucks has led the automaker to Tell its 13,000 dealers to Cut deals with customers for new paint jobs on affected vehicles. The problem similar to one encountered by Ford motor co. On its of series pickup trucks last year could involve millions of vehicle models made from 1986 to present. Pm however says it does no to believe the problem is widespread. Regardless the automaker sent a service bulletin to dealers in All seven of its car and truck sates divisions last fall. It included a videotape explaining How to Check for the problem. Paint on the affected vehicles was Likely either under or Oye baked in the factory. Dealers were Given authority to work out deals on affected cars with pm paying up to the full Cost of a new paint Job. That a apparently not sufficient for the Center for Auto safety the Washington  automotive watchdog group that first pressured pm to do something a a Quot 1 a a a. It says us should have written to All owners about the peeling paint six months ago. Says pm should Nave written to All own alerting them to possible paint problems. A the problem with secret warranties in general is that you done to have Consumers notified and some of them fall through the cracks Quot Center spokeswoman Debra Barclay said. Pm spokesman Jack Dinan denied the automaker was engaged in a secret warranty program. A we feel we re being very open about it a Dinan said. A when you Send out dealer service bulletins to 13,000 dealers and videotapes that s All very  he said tetters to All owners a pm has sold about 30 million can and trucks since 1986 a could Lead to unnecessarily dogged service departments and body shops. A we re not certain we have to go to those extremes a Dinan said. A we be told our dealers what to look for. The customer has the privilege logo to the paint shop supervisor and request an  consumer with specific Auto Deled Cornel sunts can write the Centor Tor Auto safety 2001 South St Washington . 20009, Tor information. Include make Model year of vehicle end a description of the select. Include e sort addressed stamped envelope. Dodge Bow models rated High Orlando Fla. Up one of Chrysler  new la sedans and by we a first station Wagon for the . Market Are among the Best new cars in their Price class for 1993, the american automobile association said. The Dodge intrepid is is one of the three new models from Chrysler featuring a cab Forward design that results in a More Roomy Interior. The Bow 525i touring is the Only station Wagon to make Aaan a list. Nine other models round out Aaan a new car selections for 1993. Details on the associations top new car selections will be published in aaa membership publications and Are available in aaa Auto esl a the motoring federations third annual review of new car models. For 1993, Auto test rates 121 new models based on Aaan a 20-Point evaluations. Ranked highest in their Price class under $10,000 by aaa were the Ford escort la and the Toyota Tercel do in a tie aaa rated vehicles in 20 categories including acceleration braking Comfort convenience fuel Economy handling and workmanship. Cars evaluated for aaa Auto test include Ali Price ranges and most popular models. Each review highlights the cards Best and worst features its specifications Price safety features and performance. There Are easy to read tables a Point rating system and two pages of text and photographs of each car. Best car buys the american automobile association s picks of the Best new cars in their Price class for 1993 Ubhi Price Range Quot under $10,000 $10,000-615,000 $15,000620.000 $20,000-$25,000 $25,000-630,000 $30,000-$35, $35,000-640,000 $40,000-$45,000 $45000-650,000 Over $50,000 Best new cars Furj escort us Toyota Ter not do goo prize Isi Dodge intrepid a Oldsmobile eighty eight is. Saab 9000 is Turbo lexus so 300 Bow 525i touring station Wagon Cadillac Seville its lexus is 400 Mercedes 400sel