Auto Club's New Target Car Report Names Top Six Ideal Consumer Vehicles
13 August 1999
Auto Club's New Target Car Report Names Top Six Ideal Consumer Vehicles
LOS ANGELES--Aug. 12, 1999--The BMW 528iT 4-door sport wagon tops the Automobile Club of Southern California's list of 1999's ideal consumer vehicles. The Auto Club's Target Car Report released today ranks cars and trucks by the features consumers say they want in a vehicle.The top five cars listed in the report are:
1. BMW 528iT 4-door sport wagon
2. BMW 328i 4-door sedan
3. Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG 4-door sedan
4. Volvo S80 T-6 A SR 4-door sedan
5. Mercedes-Benz CLK430 2-door couple
The Chevrolet Silverado LS 1500 4x2 full size 3-door pick-up with 5.3LV8 and long bed was the top ranked truck.
The Auto Club's "target" vehicles come closest to possessing the key features that Auto Club members say they want in the cars and trucks they drive. Those features, based on periodic member surveys, include braking, crashworthiness, visibility, handling, ride quality and fuel economy. The Auto Club's Automotive Research Center tests and evaluates dozens of cars each year to determine which ones come closest to being the ideal consumer vehicle.
In addition to the Top Six List, the Target Car Report selected
the following three cars as the best overall value for the lowest
price:
1. Daewoo Lanos 3-door SE hatchback
2. Daewoo Nubira SX 4-door wagon
3. Hyundai Elantra GLS 4-door wagon
The truck with the best overall value for the lowest price is the Mazda B 4000 SE Cab Plus 4 4x2.
The highest scoring alternative fuel vehicle ever tested by the Target Car Program is the General Motors EV1 with NiMH batteries.
"The Target Car program is designed not only to help consumers choose the best vehicle for them, but to keep government and the automotive industry moving toward better and safer cars," said Steve Mazor, principle automotive engineer for the Auto Club.
"The good news," he added, "is that the trend toward safer and lower maintenance cars continued in 1999. Not only are multiple airbags and anti-whiplash systems becoming standard, but new cars require minimal maintenance. Spark plugs, for example, last up to 100,000 miles and many automatic transmissions are sealed, requiring no lubrication service."
Fifty-six vehicles (48 cars and 8 trucks) were tested for this year's Target Car Report. The 1999 vehicles included new models, older models with significant design changes and models that had not been tested for more than five years. The report also includes information on approximately 200 vehicles tested during the previous five years, which have had minimal or no significant design changes. The Target Car program focuses on cars capable of carrying four adults with reasonable amounts of luggage or other items. All categories of trucks are tested.
"This is the first year that all of the Top Six and the best value vehicles have emissions below California's basic clean air standards," said Mazor. "It proves that cars are becoming cleaner and are adding far fewer pollutants to our atmosphere."
Copies of the Target Car Report are available at any of the Auto Club's 70 offices for $6 for members and $7.50 for non-members. Target Car Reports may also be ordered by sending a check for the correct amount payable to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Checks should be sent to Target Car Report, Automobile Club of Southern California, Automotive Research Center, HO44, 2601 South Figueroa, Los Angeles, Calif. 90007. Return addresses must be included with orders.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs and legislative advocacy. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
