The TACH Report: Highlights of New 1998 Models
2 June 1998
DODGE VIPER RT/10 ROADSTER For 1998, the big change in the Viper is not the price--which stays at 70 grand ($63,000 base)--but the addition of electric glass windows plus a hard Targa type top panel. The cloth top is STILL part of the package, and is, of course, the summer model. For winter attach (two man job) the hard top panel. This eight liter 450 hp hot rod still bottoms out at the front dive plane when going into ANY driveway or puilling up to concrete parking bars in a supermart. Performance-wise, the Viper is still a blast: it rips off sub 5 second 0-60 runs and does the quarter mile in 12.6 secs. The speedo goes to 200. Second gear almost feels non synchro, because you can’t even think about speed shifting into that cog. YOU ease it into the gear and then you can row your way up to sixth. It's a brute, it's loud and it has a radio that must have come out of a Yugo. SMALL buttons/switches. If you have an extra 70 Gs and like hot rods this is it. Also, you had better realize you will become an exhibitionist. The outside mirrors are adjusted by hand. City EPA is 11 mpg. SAAB 9.5 This is really an updated and stretched 9000 four door, but well updated. The 9.5 has something to do with the 5th iteration of the 9000. This car has a ton of room and great performance for the money. Saab is till in the safety business, and this design is based on what they call "Real Life Safety Engineering." They say it has outstanding rear and side impact protection, plus front end crumple zones, plus it sports five automatic belts. The base price is $29,995, but to really get the full Saab treatment you are looking at $37,000. The higher price will get you all the goodies: climate control, heated seats, 3 liter V-6, leather, and the sunroof. The 9.5 is intended to compete with Volvo S70, Mercedes C280, and BMW 528i--all of which are considered mid-sized cars. With 15.9 cu ft, the Saab has the biggest trunk in this class/category. The 9.5's 99.5 cu ft of cabin space also ranks it as the biggest in class. The car has traction control, and the whole package weighs in at 3600 lb. 1998 VOLVO C70 COUPE This two door is an eye catching, head turning vehicle, and while it's no hot rod, it gets up to speed smoothly once its 236 hp, five cylinder mill gets on track. The price though says to us that this car is for the Volvo-ista . . . the enthusiast who likes everything Volvo. The MSRP is $39,970. Add leather, premium sound, traction control, heated seats and destination charge, and you'll find yourself approaching Corvette country at $44,000. You'll also get a power sunroof, and an automatic dimming rear-view mirror. As might be expected of a car with fastback styling, the rear seat is fairly cramped. While on that subject, do you think a coupe should have 12 audio speakers? Tom Walkinshaw Racing had a hand in designing and assembling the new Volvo coupe. To make sure the Volvo Coupe owner gets lots of stares, they have some trick new paint colors including Saffron Metallic and Cassis Metallic. 1998 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER The Mountaineer is a Merc version of the Ford Expedition, but while the Ford variant is selling at a brisk pace, the Mountaineer hasn't caught on yet. Like every Lincoln-Mercury division version of Ford vehicles, this sport ute is the upstyle model, of the six seater. It has a 5 liter V8 (V6 is standard) and a four-speed automatic tranny. This truck has a new easy to operate rear liftgate and four-wheel ABS. Prices start at $28,680 but if you want the V8, top of the line radio, it comes in at $32,500. HUMMER Next week we'll cover this vehicle. It's in a class of its own and we are still attempting to determine what to do with it. Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel