Tip of the Week

Now that warm weather is here, drivers will be hitting the road in earnest. In fact, according to Hankook Tire's latest Quarterly Gauge Index, 56 percent of Americans are planning to take a road trip that involves driving 50 miles or more. On average, they estimate they will drive 1,025 miles. What is it about spring - besides the obvious pleasurable weather - that has so many people hitting the road?

- Family time: The same survey found that one third of Americans will consider taking a road trip for family reunions. Not only is the warmer weather ideal for driving, it is perfect for picnics, barbecues and other fun outdoor activities.

- Music concerts and festivals: The sounds of birds chirping aren't the only tunes filling the spring skies. From Coachella to the New Orleans Jazz Festival to Bonnaroo, music fans will rack up the miles to jam with their favorite artists.

- Sporting events: With America's favorite pastime in full swing, many people will be traveling to their local ballparks to take in all the action. But why stop there? Avid fans also pack up and follow their teams to opponents' stadiums.

- Brandpoint

There’s something pleasantly old-school about this car, and this is a bit odd since it’s a crispy new, redesigned (although familiar) model from a maker known for engineering brilliance — that is, Honda. No, we don’t have to crank the engine by hand (a pushbutton does that), but there is a third pedal under the dash and the only switches on the deck around the gearshift lever are for the seat heaters. There are no knobs or buttons labeled “Normal,”  “Sport” or “Sport plus,” or even “Snow”; there’s no monkeying with the suspension, steering or throttle, nor is there an auxiliary electric motor to call upon. Just push in the clutch, engage first or reverse in the 6-speed gearbox — by hand — and drive off. Want to go faster? Push harder on the pedal on the right.

Oh, my — that’s a 278-horsepower V-6 underfoot, which explains the squealing and tire smoke from, unfortunately, the front wheels. (We’ll get back to this.)

Since fewer than 10 percent of new cars sold in America now have clutch pedals, Honda may have put one on this Accord Coupe just for us motojournalists, who tend to think that car control comes before, oh, answering the phone. Or Honda may be showing off a bit, as if to say, “Yeah, it’s an Accord — but lookit how sporty it is!”

That the Coupe is such a close cousin to a sports car tells us how capable Honda’s popular Accord family sedan is to begin with. Just lose the sedan’s back doors, whack two inches out of its length and steepen the roof line, and we get a car that not only looks athletic, but also can tear up pavement. (It dropped a couple hundred pounds in the surgery, too.) Yet even as an agile two-door fastback, the Accord still has usable back seats and a decent trunk. Also an “Econ” mode, which most Coupe owners likely will ignore till they’re on the last teaspoon of fuel en route to a distant gas station.

Only about 10 percent of Accord buyers take the Coupe, but my guess is that a fair number of them opt for the third pedal too. Both the clutch and the gearbox feel eager and nicely mechanical; driving this car makes us think we’re accomplishing something. (Accords are made in Ohio, but the manual transmission is shipped in from Japan.) You say you don’t want a clutch? A 6-speed automatic is available too, for the same price, and it bumps the V-6 Coupe’s MPG rating from 18/28 city/highway to 21/32.

There’s nothing at all old-school about the rest of the Accord Coupe. It has all the latest active and passive safety systems that the feds demand — and this optioned-up, $33,000 EX-L V-6 has a few extra, including lane-departure and front-collision alerts, an adjustable rear-view camera and Honda’s clever LaneWatch: Signal for a right turn and the entire starboard side of the car plus the lane you’re about to veer into appears on the dashboard screen.

Our car also came with a long list of creature comforts as well as digital features (satnav, Bluetooth, Pandora, SMS, USB and AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3), many of them feeding into an acronym: i-MID, Honda’s Intelligent Multi-Information Display, with not one but two computer screens. Blessedly, this is simpler than it sounds; I could dope out all the functions quickly and without resorting to the owner’s manual or voice commands. (Talking to a car makes me feel like an idiot.)

A 4-cylinder, 185-horsepower Accord Coupe starts at about $24,000; with less weight up front, it may be slightly more nimble than the V-6. However, this gets us back to the “unfortunately” comment above: Like the Monday-through-Friday Accord sedan, Accord Coupes too are led around by their front wheels. Honda has done a good job of engineering away torque steer, but 278 ponies is a lot; whip them hard enough, and torque steer and understeer do show up.

If Honda could somehow turn this car around and put the driven wheels at the back, the Accord Coupe would instantly graduate from sporty car to sports car.

Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at calabi.silvio@gmail.com.

Tip of the Week

If you worry about the kind of car your teen will drive, you're not alone - especially in this age of distractions behind the wheel. In a survey commissioned by USAA, 81 percent of parents put reliability first when choosing a vehicle for their teens, followed by a high safety rating. The good news is that teens also want cars with the latest safety features. Here are features parents and teens should look for in a vehicle:

- Newer cars with newer technology. While a used car may seem budget-friendly, it may lack the technology that could save your child's life.

- The right size. Avoid sport-utility vehicles, which have higher rollover rates and can prove tougher to maneuver; and tiny cars, which may offer less protection in a crash. Moderate-size vehicles offer more stability and easier, more predictable handling.

- Sedan style. High-performance sports cars may beckon your teen, but steer clear.

- Crash-test ratings. Check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Picks each year on its website.

- Accident history. If you're in the market for a used car, get a vehicle history report.

- Unbiased mechanic's signoff. Have an Automotive Service Excellence-certified mechanic check the vehicle.

- Brandpoint

Q: Hello, Greg! I remember many years ago you wrote an article about car songs and the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean that I saw in a car magazine. It had to do with the best car songs, and I’d love if you could touch on some of these great car songs again. I remember you mentioned a performer by the name of Dick Dale in that article, and would love to learn more. Janet S., Illinois.

A: Janet, I’d be glad to. Dick Dale is a recording artist that deserves praise beyond The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean, as he pre-dated these groups with his “surf sound” music about cars and surfing. A talented guitarist and muscian, Dale was known as the “King of the Surf Guitar” and actually pioneered the sound utilized by The Beach Boys and Jan & Dean. Dale’s songs both solo and with his backup group “The Del-Tones” were very, very popular and ushered in the car and surfing craze tunes. Two Dick Dale albums I had were "Checkered Flag" and "Mr. Eliminator," both having lots to do with fast cars and the surf scene.

Born May 4, 1937, Dick Dale is still performing to huge crowds. He received a career recharging when his 1962 hit "Misirlou" was used in the 1994 Hollywood hit "Pulp Fiction" by Oscar winning director, producer and writer Quentin Tarantino, who won most recently for “Django.” (Interested parties or venues can contact Dick Dale by mail at Dick Dale, P.O. Box 1713, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277.)  

As for specific car songs, my favorite continues to be "Don't Worry Baby," by the Beach Boys. This song, if you listen to the words, has to do with a drag race. The guy in the song was bragging up his car to his friends, and they finally challenged him to a race. He's concerned, but his girlfriend tells him "don't worry baby, everything will turn out all right." When you decipher the words of one of the groups top medleys, you realize it’s a car and love song combined, unlike the others of the day that pretty much had to do with just fast cars.

The other car group of the day (this is the early to mid 1960s) was Jan & Dean, most famous for their album “Drag City,” and hits "Dead Man's Curve," and all-time great "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena." To set the record straight, there never was a real “Little Old Lady from Pasadena.”

Jan & Dean and The Beach Boys are still well known to this day. The Beach Boys, however, had way more hits, scoring big with the flip side of "Surfin' Safari" with their legendary "409.” Add "Little Deuce Coupe," and "Shut Down," and they are at the top of the list overall.

Ronnie and the Daytonas (Little GTO) and the Rip Chords (Hey Little Cobra) were two others that made the charts. Other car songs were big, like Commander Cody's "Hot Rod Lincoln," the funny “Beep-Beep” by The Playmates, along with the teenage tragic songs like "Last Kiss" by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers and Ray Petersen's "Tell Laura I Love Her.”  

Thanks for your letter, and if you ever get a chance to hear Dick Dale in concert, make sure you do.      

Greg Zyla writes weekly for GateHouse Media and welcomes reader questions on collector cars and auto nostalgia at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840 or at greg@gregzyla.com.

Q: My boyfriend recently purchased a new 2010 Mercury Mountaineer. He’s having a problem with the brake pedal being too small and his foot often slips off of it. Do you know if Mercury, or anyone for that matter, makes a larger pedal to correct this problem?

A: I have never seen a new car dealer that would alter the factory placement, because of the liability. You will have to find an independent shop that will make the modification. You can also check with companies that modify vehicles for special-needs persons as well. This should not be a big deal or expense.

- Junior Damato, Talking Cars columnist

Auto owners can do some of the work themselves to lower maintenance costs. Anyone interested in saving money and increasing pride of ownership by doing their own work can spend just a few minutes and accomplish the following four maintenance tasks easily, without any expensive tools or training.

- Cabin air filter replacement: The air conditioner is cranked up on those hot summer days. The cabin air filter keeps the air blowing through the heat and air conditioning ventilation system clean, and it should be replaced at least once a year. But in areas of the country where there is a lot of pollen or dust - from dirt roads, construction projects or even arid conditions - it's a good idea to replace this filter more frequently. Check your owner's manual to see if there is information on replacing the cabin air filter.

- Headlamps and tail lights: When a headlamp or tail light burns out, you may be surprised to discover how easy it is to replace these bulbs. For most vehicles, installation of headlamps is from the engine compartment. Just unplug the electrical connector on the back of the bulb, unscrew the large plastic ring that holds the bulb in place and pull the bulb out. Because headlamps are usually halogen lights, be sure to wear gloves or use a cloth to avoid getting fingerprints on the bulb. Oils from your hands can shorten the life of the bulb. Tail lights are similar - usually you can gain access through the trunk of the vehicle underneath the trim material.

- Wiper blades: Trying to see the road through a streaky window is almost as bad as trying to see the road in a heavy rain shower. The quality of the blade purchased will determine how long the blade will last and how well it will perform in clearing the windshield of rain. Higher-quality blades tend to cost more, but drivers will appreciate the durability and clarity they provide.

- Engine air filter: These air filters keep the oxygen supplied to the engine's combustion chambers free of dirt and other contaminants. Clean air is needed to optimize the engine's performance and extend its life. Manufacturers recommend replacing an engine air filter every 12,000 miles driven.

- Brandpoint

Somewhere on the continuum between Toyota’s Prius C and the new million-dollar gas-electric hypercars from Porsche, McLaren and Ferrari (really), there’s a zone that separates hybrids as economy transportation from hybrids as ultimate speed sleds. We know that electric motors can help small internal-combustion engines stretch a gallon of gasoline from, say, 30 miles to 50 or more, at least at low speeds. But for big gas engines, add-on electric motors are now providing extra wallop—carving a second or two off the 0-to-100 MPH sprint, for example. The GS450h sits in the zone that divides these types of hybrid cars; it enjoys some of both benefits.

There are in fact two extra electric motors buried within this Lexus. One under the hood largely services the batteries; it’s the second one, built into the differential, that feeds more oomph to the back wheels. The gas V-6 up front makes 286 horsepower; the electric motor at the rear can jack that up to a combined total of 338 HP. Lexus doesn’t publish torque figures, but the electrics provide an impressive shove of acceleration.

There’s another surprise here too: a CVT, or continuously variable transmission—something usually found only on economy cars and riding lawn mowers. Lexus, however, calls it a controlled variable  transmission, and its stellar behavior justifies the new name. Not till I tried to get frisky with it in manual mode did I realize it wasn’t a normal transmission with distinct gears. The point of a CVT is to keep the engine in its best operating range, and this one does a good job here as well. We averaged 27 miles per gallon overall and the GS450h’s 34 highway MPG rating for 2013 seems realistic. These are very good numbers for a large and sumptuous sedan that can dust off slower traffic—and also creep through a mall parking lot under electric power only.

Despite its quickness and the capable handling of its adaptive suspension, this isn’t a sports sedan. (For that, you’ll want the lighter, less-expensive and more nimble GS350 F Sport.) It’s an updated luxury cruiser for today’s congested and connectivity-obsessed highway culture. The GS450h is as comfortable tied up in city traffic—where the engine shuts itself off, to save gas and cut exhaust emissions—as it is flying serenely across the great plains on I-80.

Lexus also has done a fine job of submerging the unpleasant parts of a driving a hybrid. The engine stop-start feature is now barely discernable and response is immediate; the throttle doesn’t feel like it’s on a rubber band; the brakes bite down in linear fashion; and the car’s balance is not upset by the addition of several hundred pounds of electric motors and batteries.

The GS450h is a complex and highly sophisticated piece of mechanical, electrical and ergonomic engineering, but Lexus has boiled everything down to apparent simplicity. (For instance, in normal mode, the big dial next to the speedometer simply indicates “charge,” “eco” or “power.” But selecting Sport mode not only amps up the electric drive motor, it also magically converts that dial into a tachometer.) The unique mouse-type computer controller is easier to operate than many other luxury cars’ “user interfaces,” and the split-screen computer monitor is among the largest and most readable out there.

Overall, the instrument and control panels are so elegant that they’re both non-intimidating and downright attractive, and the redesigned cabin is as tasteful and comfortable as we’d expect from Lexus. The optional blond bamboo trim contrasts beautifully with rich, dark-toned leather and synthetics. I don’t recall gripping a bamboo steering wheel before, but it’s highly agreeable.

At $59,000 to start and here optioned up to a full $70,000, the 2013 GS450h isn’t just good “for a hybrid,” it’s a good car, full stop. In fact, it’s a good deal more than just good. If I were shopping for a luxury sedan with less than Powerball money, the GS450h would make my personal short list—even though it’s a hybrid.

Rectification. Last week’s column about the good news, bad news Enclave drew a quick response from Buick: “All Enclaves are assembled in Lansing. It is exported to China. We do not build or assemble Enclaves in China.” There you have it; shame on me — and my source.

Silvio Calabi reviews the latest from Detroit, Munich, Yokohama, Gothenburg, Crewe, Seoul and wherever else interesting cars are born. Silvio is a member of the International Motor Press Association whose automotive reviews date back to the Reagan administration. He is the former publisher of Speedway Illustrated magazine and an author. Contact him at calabi.silvio@gmail.com.

Q: I fill the gas tank every week during my lunch break. I took my co-worker with me last week and he said not to overfill the gas tank. I told him I can usually get another gallon in. He said this is not a good idea, but could not tell me why. Is this true and why?

A: This is very true. When you overfill the gas tank you take a chance of damaging the evap system in the vehicle, both cars and trucks. All late-model vehicles have a charcoal canister that can be damaged when the gas tank is overfilled. Remember, the gas will expand with heat.  

- Junior Damato, Talking Cars columnist

Summer is the time for road trips, whether they cover thousands of miles across the country, or are staycation day trips. Whether you're driving for hours or sitting in traffic, you will want to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road.

The most important component that makes your vehicle run is the engine. Your vehicle will last longer if you take care of the engine by following regularly scheduled maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer. This includes oil changes, replacing the air filter and keeping a detailed history log of the work that has been done.

Just as important to the engine itself are the components around it that help it run. Check the hoses that are connected to the radiator. They help pump coolant to and from the engine. Look for cracks, leaks and loose connections, paying special attention to where hoses are clamped. Make sure the engine is cool when you touch the hoses. They should be firm and not soft.

Belts that help cool the system should also be checked for cracks and damage. A visual inspection is good enough, but for the more mechanically inclined, you could also remove the belt to make sure the material inside isn't separating into layers. Cracked hoses or a belt snapping will result in your engine overheating, leaving you stuck on the side of the road.

- Brandpoint

Q: Greg, I'd like to know about what happened to the Lincolns from back in the 1950s. Up until 1958, I thought the styling was quite nice for a luxury car. Then in 1958, Lincoln came out with a massive piece of monstrosity that to this day I think was the biggest Lincoln to date.  What happened in 1958?  Chuck L., Evanston, Ill.

A: Chuck, the year 1958 was one of those years that the stylists went crazy with "big." Regardless of model, from Buick to Chrysler to Ford, manufacturers flooded the market with what I call "bathtub" style cars; i.e., huge vehicles carrying lots of chrome and weight. The year also turned out to be one of the worst on record for new car sales, both from the economy standpoint and, I felt, the design of the cars.

However, with all this said, today the 1958 models are sought-after collectibles, and that huge '58 Lincoln is one of them. Riding on a 131-inch wheelbase and a full 6 inches longer than the 1957 Lincoln (which was a great-looking car), the new Lincoln had a look all to its own, and to this day, probably stands out more than any other make that year.

Powered by a 430-inch V-8 producing 375 horses, the wide grille and "quad lite" recessed and outlined vertical headlamps, (slightly slanted actually) along with sculptured side with fender skirts produced the look we all now remember.  

The behemoth weighed 4,890 pounds and came with a 22 gallon fuel tank, while the transfer of power came via a three speed automatic transmission called Turbo-Drive. Lincolns for '58 came in Capri, Premier and Continental badges, while an Executive Limo (same wheelbase) joined the fray in 1959 and 1960.

Although not a success at the showroom, these cars today generate lots of interest at the car shows, as do the 1959 and 1960 models.

Available in two door, convertible and four door motif, a total of 12,556 Lincolns were built in 1958, and the base entry price was an expensive $6,012. By 1960, the last year for the design, the curb weight went up to over 5,000 pounds and 11,086 were manufactured.  

In ending, although I thought the car was way too big and ugly back then, today I'd love to own one. Thanks for your interest and letter.

Greg Zyla writes weekly for GateHouse Media and welcomes reader questions on collector cars and auto nostalgia at 303 Roosevelt St., Sayre, PA 18840 or at greg@gregzyla.com.