And the winner is: the grille, but by only six votes.
Asked your preference of a traditional louvered grille or simply a Ford oval decorating the nose of the 1986 Ford Taurus (Autos, Feb. 24), readers voted 424-418 for the grille.
Jack Telnack, chief design engineer for Ford Motor Co., says the choice of grille-no grille on the new front-drive, midsize Taurus has become a big issue for the automaker. Thinking Telnack a bit overly concerned, we put it to a reader vote. Telnack was right. Of all the votes submitted, only one reader said he`d be happy with either front-end treatment. The rest expressed a love- hate relationship for the Taurus nose depending on grille or oval.
”The grille makes it look American,” said B.M. of Chicago, who went on to note he was going to buy a Honda Civic wagon.
”The oval reminds me of the tab on a sardine can,” wrote D.C.F. of Northbrook.
”The grille makes the car more Audiesque. How about a Euro version with driving lights?” wrote L.F. of Skokie.
”Where would the classic cars of yesteryear be without grilles?” asked J.G. of Bolingbrook, without mentioning the Edsel.
”The grille is a fly-catching pain in the buns,” said J.P. of Lombard.
”With the oval I`m not sure which is the front end, which the rear,”
wrote W.S. of La Grange.
”Anyone who`d buy a car without a grille would wear a ring in his nose,” said E.O. of Chicago.
”With a grille it`s just another Escort,” said S.L. of Palatine.
”Without the grille I`d be more likely to purchase the Mercury Saturn,” wrote M.N. of Downers Grove, who may have meant Mercury Sable, because we have no knowledge of Gov. James Thompson`s flying off to Ford headquarters in Michigan to lobby for a new Mercury plant in Illinois.
The most often mentioned reasons for wanting a grille were that motorists simply were accustomed to one and felt it was needed to provide air to the engine. The most often mentioned reasons for the oval were that it was more modern looking and easier to wash and wax than the louvers on a grille.
One reader urged that the choice of grille or oval be an option, and that`s what Ford is going to do by making the grille standard in the base Taurus and the oval standard in the top-of-the-line LX version.
Several readers said they wanted a two-door coupe version and a sports model with turbocharged engine, handling suspension and 5-speed. No 2-door is planned. At the outset of production, only a 3-liter V-6 and automatic transmission will be offered. A 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed manual will be added later. The LX will be offered with automatic only.
Names drawn at random for a Ford hat or key fob were Ron Hull, Chicago;
Greg Jacob, Chicago; Darrel Bybee, Glen Ellyn; Chris Brinkman, Frankfort; Ken Bouton, Hinsdale; John Henrichs, Beecher; Al Pioch, Elburn; John Walters, Elgin; Paul Van De Mark, Des Plaines; William Bischke, Harvard; C. Citrano, Hoffman Estates; Eric Shaver, Galesburg; George Conrad, Chicago; James Dolan, Chicago; Steve McArdle, Crystal Lake; Mac McElroy, West Chicago; Mark Lunenburg, Palatine; Robert Lajos, Crystal Lake; John Cegielski, Highland Park; Joe Tresnowski, Highland, Ind.; Barbara Palenik, Chicago; Chuck Macchi, Rockford; Henry Jacobi, Park Ridge; Dan Selep, Chicago; A.H. Patwell, Aurora; Jack Bonbelik, Crystal Lake; Larry Mix, Arlington Heights; Robert Stein, Chicago; Frank Puschawtz, Chicago; and Robert Logelin, Homewood.
NOTES
For readers who asked, Chrysler says its fuel-injected, 2.2-liter, 4-cylinder engine started replacing the carbureted version in top-of-the-line Aries-Reliant LE models with those built after Feb. 4; in SE models, after March 4; in base models, they will after May 4.
Honda`s new Acura luxury-car division will offer both a four-door luxury sedan code named HX and an Integra performance sports model starting in April, 1986. Acura`s first-year sales goal is 45,000 cars. . . . Volkswagen reduced prices of replacement seat-belt systems at VW and Audi dealers an average of 55 percent. The system for an `81 Rabbit, for example, falls to $25.25 from $98.35. VW says the reduction is in preparation for more states` adopting laws requiring motorists to buckle up. Such a law goes into effect in Illinois in July.
F. James McDonald, GM president, says one of the victims of the current demand for performance cars will be the speedometer that goes to 85 m.p.h..
”The bulk of our cars will keep 85 m.p.h. speedometers, but performance cars like the Trans Am and Camaro Z-28 won`t,” he said. ”Tires are the difference in what your speedometer says. If the tires hold the car at 120 m.p.h., then maybe we`ll go to 120 m.p.h.” In 1976, GM started lowering speedometers` top end to 85 m.p.h. from 120 as a psychological move to downplay speed.
The calls have started from brides- and grooms-to-be and prom-goers who want to rent a special car. The two most protective people in the world are the parent and the owner of a vintage, collector or antique car. In fact, the parent probably is more lenient. A collector car doesn`t go out the door like your typical Hertz or Avis for $39 a day plus mileage. Some of these collectibles are worth more than a whole fleet of rentals, and customers should be aware of that at the outset. To find a firm renting old cars, we suggest you check the Yellow Pages, go see the car before you rent, and shop prices.
For a quick check of prices we contacted an outfit called Antique Limos of Lyons, Ill., run by Carol and Don Alexander. Carol says that among the cars they rent are a 1935 Studebaker Commander limo, a 1936 Packard Town Car and a 1956 Chrysler Crown Imperial Limo. Typical cost would be $65 an hour, minimum two hours, which includes chauffeur–and don`t expect to rent a prize vehicle without one for obvious insurance and liability reasons. Weddings prompt lots of calls, Carol says, but the biggest demand is anniversaries. Prom-goers often are discouraged by prices.
The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA) is spearheading a used-oil recycling program with proceeds donated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Consumers can take used oil to participating CATA car dealers serving as collection centers. Call first. Not all 700 CATA dealers have begun the program yet.
MINI-REVIEW
From sow`s ear to silk purse in only three years: The subcompact Chevrolet Cavalier J-body was introduced with great fanfare in 1982, then fell on its face because its 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder, carbureted engine was so short on performance you had to be going downhill to accelerate.
In 1984 Chevrolet Cavalier became the best-selling car in America, thanks in large part to two factors: GM executives dictated an all-out effort by Chevrolet division and its dealer network to make it the best seller
(increased production and lots of ad dollars didn`t hurt), and the new 2-liter, fuel-injected, 4-cylinder engine that replaced the sickly 1.8 provided the power the car needed in the first place. Now, for 1985 Cavalier can even be ordered with an optional 2.8-liter, fuel-injected V-6, though as we`ve pointed out (Autos, Feb. 3), demand exceeds supplies. We`d rate Cavalier and the front-wheel-drive Toyota Corolla as the best among the subcompacts in the market.
MAIL BAG
My mechanic says I have a sticky tappet. He advised draining a quart of oil from the crankcase, adding a quart of transmission fluid and running the car a week. Is this wise? D.S., Wilmette.
Son`s car had the same problem. We added a quart of transmisson fluid, ran the car only about 20 minutes, and the noise was gone. We immediately drained the crankcase, filled it with fresh oil and have had no problem since. We decided to purchase a Toyota and had orders at four dealers to insure delivery. The car behaved beautifully at first, but then the problem was diagnosed as fuel-line flutter. A device was installed, but the problem remains. I`ve had other parts installed, and no change. The zone promised to have a factory rep inspect the car, but I fear nothing will come of this inspection. Where do I go for satisfaction? S.L., Palatine.
First off, multiple ordering at four dealers to guarantee one will deliver is no better than some of the stunts salesmen pull. You don`t deserve a deposit refund at those other three. You did the right thing in calling the zone and asking for a rep to check the car out. When the dealer can`t or won`t solve the problem, go to the zone at once, but at least give the rep a chance to check the car before you give up. If the rep is stumped, you can call the Better Business Bureau`s Auto Line (346-3313).
Enclosed is a letter from the Honda zone when I asked about rustproofing: ”There are two problems we encounter as a result of poorly installed rust-proofing that you may want to be aware of. First the rust-proofing sprayed inside body panels can flow down the inside of the panels and block the designed drain holes, allowing water to collect inside the doors, and cause more rust than they prevent. The other problem relates to the holes drilled in order to reach inside the body panels. If the metal on the inside of the hole isn`t carefully refinished, the metal around the plastic plugs will begin to rust several years after the installation.” D.P., Glen Ellyn.
Thanks.
