Desolation Row
I thoroughly enjoyed "Destination Desolation" (May '95), your comparison of the BMW 540i, Mercedes-Benz C36, Jaguar XJR, and Volvo 850 T-5R wagon. Wow! Zero-to-60 times in the low- to mid-sixes, top speeds of over 150 mph, and Z-rated tires on all but one. With "family sedans" like these, who needs sports cars?
Dustin Nichols
Boone, N.C.
I enjoyed the comparison test of the 540i, C36, and XJR, but how could you include the Volvo 850 T-5R wagon and not the all-wheel-drive Audi S6? Audi will have a U.S.-market S6 wagon by this summer. One of the best reasons for selecting an Audi over a Volvo is that the Volvo looks like the box that the Audi came in.
Keith Dolan
Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Audi S6 is a worthy competitor; however, we wanted to focus on the models that were either brand-new or had substantial improvements for '95. As for the T-5R wagon, call us impetuous, but the notion of a truly high-performance U.S.-market station wagon was an oxymoron until this Volvo arrived. We thought it'd be fun to witness the birth of a new performance-car niche firsthand.
-Ed.
Regarding John Pearley Huffman's reference to the Jaguar XJR's Coventry workers "swapping predictions about Manchester United," the workers at the Jaguar factory in Coventry are more likely to be supporters of their own Coventry City premier league. When Manchester United visits Coventry City's stadium, any bets wagered in the vicinity of the production line would probably be in favor of their lads, rather than for United's side.
Steve Myers
Newcastle, Wash.
Who said the predictions were of a Manchester win?
-Ed.
1998 Vette Revisited
Car lovers around the world eagerly await the release of the next Corvette. The more I read about the C5 Vette (April '95), the more I get excited. Longer wheelbase, fatter tires, shorter overhangs, a lighter curb weight, all-new engine with aluminum block and heads...and what does that say? Pushrod? You can't be serious. To say that a two-valve pushrod will be powering GM's technological flagship into the next century stretches my imagination. The Gen3 engine should be a 32-valve DOHC engine-nothing less. Leave the pushrod in the 20th century where it belongs.
Steve Hall
Montgomery, Ala.
Bill Mitchell's '63 Sting Ray not only was a quantum leap from the '62 model, but it was also a huge success in terms of sales, and it established Corvette as America's premier sports car. A golden opportunity to repeat history seems to have been missed since the Stingray III concept car is failing to materialize as the next Corvette (with a Northstar V-8 in its engine bay). I strongly urge GM to reconsider its position on the Stingray III, since the time seems right for another quantum leap in the Corvette's evolution.
Robert Houston
Irvine, Calif.
Price Sensitive
In the article "Dodge Neon Sport Coupe vs. Nissan 200SX SE-R" (March '95), the author lists the Neon's as-tested price as $14,917, and estimates an as-tested price for the 200SX at $17,100; a $2183 difference over the Neon. He selected the 200SX because he didn't like the Neon's "cheapness"-in the trunklid, interior plastic, and hood release-but then, it's an inexpensive car. He then makes the statement, "the Nissan might offer a higher resale value or, perhaps, a lower cost of ownership." Why didn't he mention the Neon's added benefit of not having to pay interest on the $2183 over the term of the car loan?
Joel F. McCulloch
Cedarburg, Wis.
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