Multi_Car

2000 {{{{{{Jaguar S-Type}}}}}} 4.0Nothing new to report as our S-Type nears the home stretch of its One-Year Test. We didn't think it was worth taking the car back in for service just for a slightly balky turn-signal indicator, as the lights themselves operate fine. There's also a growing gap at one of the places on the steering wheel where the wood and leather come together. Otherwise, the Jag continues to be a pleasure to travel and be seen in. Though the tires have started to issue a bit of road noise at higher speeds, that's to be expected with performance-oriented rubber as it wears out. The staff is still less than pleased with the interior design, which is woefully short of storage and puts the CD player in the glovebox; the nav system doesn't get much use because the screen is relatively small and hard to see from the driver's seat. But that driver is usually busy enjoying the car's superlative road manners and strong, sonorous V-8. The joy of the S-Type is definitely in the driving, and in that regard, this Jaguar can run with any of its competitors.

Logbook Quote"By far the best Jag I've ever driven."-Chuck Schifsky

2000 Oldsmobile IntrigueIt's about time to say buh-bye to our long-term Intrigue; in fact, to Olds altogether. Interestingly enough, Oldsmobiles are selling like crazy, contrary to what some automotive analysts feared. We guess that shows what aggressive discounting and additional warranty coverage on some already worthy products will do for you. The Intrigue's time on the East Coast was over, and it made the 2800-mile trip back to our LA offices absolutely without a hitch; not even the usual quart of oil was consumed during one day when it was on the road for more than 850 miles and four gas stops. The driver commented how easy everything was to use during the long haul, and that there were no seat comfort problems to speak of. It was quiet and rattle-free, and the new-for-2000 "Precision Control System" traction device worked perfectly whenever snow and ice were encountered. While the Intrigue doesn't quite match the fit/finish levels served up by competitors like the Maxima and Camry, it offers engaging looks and high feature content for the money. No mechanical issues to report.

Logbook Quote"856 miles in a day! I'm the man!"-Brad Long