cadillac eldorado
Don't put faith in 'miracle' products
January 10, 2005
BY DAN JEDLICKA Auto Reporter
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Q. Can I buy a turbocharger that will boost engine power, save gasoline and be environmentally friendly? -- M.A., Chicago
A. Hopefully, you're not referring to one of those "miracle" products that promise the world and usually are introduced when gasoline prices go up. Such products are best avoided. Turbochargers long have been used by automakers to increase power, but they are carefully engineered by the manufacturer to safely work with other car systems.
Q. My lease is almost up on a 2002 Cadillac Eldorado, a model that has been discontinued. I have 30,000 miles on a 36,000-mile agreement, with no refund. All bugs seem to be worked out, so I'm thinking of buying it. Good idea? -- A.S., Chicago
A. Good idea. The Eldorado was an especially nice car, and Cadillac won't be making any more of them unless it puts the Eldorado name on a car with an entirely different design. Keep it long enough and it may become a collector's item.
Q. I have a 1,200 psi pressure washer. Can I use this to wash my truck without damaging the finish on it? -- T.P., Villa Park
A. The general procedure in privately washing a car or truck is to use normal water pressure, such as from a garden hose, to remove some of the grime before utilizing a professional car wash product with a fresh batch of water -- and then rinsing the vehicle mildly before drying it.
Q. I have four children (two infants and two school age) and wondered if you could recommend a spacious car or affordable seven-passenger truck or van, preferably a truck. -- W.B., Chicago
A. This will come as bad news if you dislike the "soccer mom'' label, but you're a perfect candidate for a car-based minivan with a low floor, such as the Dodge Caravan, because getting four kids in and out of car seats in a truck such as a mid-size sport-utility vehicle or four-door pickup is a hassle. A car-based "crossover'' vehicle also is worthwhile checking out.
Q. How long would it take a 140-horsepower four-cylinder Chevrolet Cavalier with an automatic transmission to reach 60 mph? -- T.D., Chicago
A. Approximately 10 seconds.
Q. I'm a 22-year-old college student who inherited my uncle's 1991 BMW 318i. The body is in excellent shape, but the engine has 123,576 miles on it. Could I get another three years out of the engine, and should I go to a BMW dealer? -- R.P. Chicago
A. The fact that the body is in excellent shape indicates your uncle also took good mechanical care of the car. That said, its engine should last another three years if you put average annual miles (about 12,000) on the car, drive moderately and do routine maintenance -- and expect replacement of some parts. A good independent garage familiar with foreign cars should do as well as a BMW dealer, but no BMW components are inexpensive.
Q. I bought a new 2004 Buick LeSabre with 16-inch wheels and 60-series tires but would like to switch to the smaller 15-inch wheels and 70-series tires that were on my 1997 Buick LeSabre so I can get a better ride. -- J.K., Chicago
A. You probably wouldn't notice the difference in ride, and your car's handling would suffer with the smaller wheels and narrower tires. I doubt you ordered the Gran Touring option, which has a firmer sport suspension and 60-series tires on 16-inch wheels, which also are in several regular "softer'' option packages.
Q. I have a 1998 Buick Century and a 1998 Toyota Camry. Both have more than 60,000 miles. Should I be concerned about replacing the timing belts in the near future? -- J.S., Chicago
A. Are we talking about, say, 65,000 miles or maybe 125,000 miles? Check your owner's manual or with your dealer about timing belt replacement. That item can cause a lot of damage if it fails.