Letters to the Editors
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Subject: Mileage
From: Anonymous

Can you help? I leased a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire 3 years ago. The lease is up. They allowed me 36 thousand miles. My daughter used the car and put on 35 thou more. I offered to buy the car but they won't finance it — they want it back. I can't pay the money for the mileage. Can you tell me what can happen to me? I'm on a fixed income and I'm disabled.

You can offer to make payments on the mileage. You could also look for financing to buy the car through an outside lender such as capitalone.com — they have good rates and are easy to deal with. Also, call the 800 number on the payment slip and talk directly with the finance company — you might be able to work out a deal with them. — Ed.

Subject: Unwinding the Deal
From: Jeff

I just read your article on unwinding a car deal. I'm having a major problem with a dealership on this matter. I leased a new car while trading a lease in. A month later the dealership says the payoff was wrong and I owe them $5,500. I said I couldn't come up with more money and learned that I could unwind the deal. I signed the paperwork and all was well. Later I find out they sold the car I turned in. I figure they owe me the money I put down plus they should return my trade-in. Since it sold, shouldn't they give me an amount equal to the trade-in that they sold? The dealership is not budging! Currently I am responsible for payment on the trade-in and the new vehicle (even though I unwound it back to them). Can you help me or have any suggestions?

Consumer Advice Editor Phil Reed responds: Without seeing the contract you signed, it's a little hard for me to comment. However, if you don't have the car and they are still requiring you to make payments on it — that's not right. You may get more satisfaction by dealing directly with the finance company. Call the 800 number on the payment slip and try to talk with someone knowledgeable and helpful. Keep calling back because you will get a different person each time. You might also call the manufacturer's 800 number. They don't have any legal authority over the dealership but they may be able to put pressure on them. Finally, you may need to find a lawyer to help you unsort this tangle.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Subject: Volvo Certified Used Car
From: Chan

I bought a Certified Used Volvo. When I purchased the car, the dealer attempted to charge me approximately $800 for the 6-year/100,000-mile warranty. I refused to pay the fee, and they relented. After reading your article on the Internet relating to Certified Used Vehicle Programs, I am starting to wonder if I could ever trust this dealer again. Your article seems to indicate that the 6-year/100,000-mile [warranty] is part of the Certified Volvo program at no extra charge. Am I correct?

There are just too many variables involved here to give a firm answer. Is it possible that the dealer was wrongfully trying to charge you for something Volvo says is free? Yes, it is possible, but there is no way we can know for sure. If you bought a Certified Used Volvo (meaning a car with a warranty backed by Volvo, not some third-party company) then you are entitled to a 6-year/100,000-mile warranty from the date the car was originally sold as new. That means that if you bought a 3-year-old car with 50,000 miles on it, then you are entitled to another three years (for a total of six) or another 50,000 miles (for a total of 100,000) of warranty coverage. Your dealer may have been trying to sell you a warranty in addition to the certified warranty offered by Volvo. In that case it would not be unethical, as many dealerships try to sell extended warranties. It would only be wrong if they tried to charge extra for something you know is included in the price. If you feel uncomfortable doing business with this dealership, you may want to go back and ask them to clarify what they were trying to sell you. — Ed.

Subject: Extended Warranties
From: Johnny

I have recently purchased a 2003 Accord Sedan EX (just about a week ago). They began by offering me an extended warranty for $1,399 (I believe this was full coverage 7 yrs/100,000 miles), and they came down to about $1,199. I did not go with it because I just couldn't make a decision at the moment. My original plan was to not get any extended coverage. After pondering this for a few days, it might not be a bad idea, peace-of-mind type of thing. I was recommended to check out your site for extended warranties, but am having trouble locating this section. Also, any other recommendations as to where to shop for extended warranties would be appreciated. I am told I could find a better deal on the Internet.

Here are some articles about extended service warranties.

"Understanding Extended Warranties: Finding Coverage That's Right for You"

"Extended Warranties: Extending the Joys of Ownership"

It is true you can get cheaper coverage through third-party warranty companies, but the coverage may not be as complete or as dependable as a factory warranty issued through the car company. Remember that factory-backed warranties are supplied by an automaker, meaning you can use them at any dealership across the country that sells the same vehicle brand. It also means that unless the car company itself goes out of business you're covered. Independent companies that sell "warranties" or "service contracts" are not supported by a major automotive manufacturer. This puts restrictions are how and where you can use these warranties, and if the company that funds the warranty goes out of business (as recently happened to a major independent warranty company) then you could find yourself out of luck in terms of coverage. All warranties are negotiable so you might call several finance managers at different dealerships and get their best price. — Ed.

Subject: Minivan Comparo
From: Austin

You haven't had a minivan comparison in two years and many new minivans have come out since then. If you have a 2003/2004 comparison, please try to include all the major players instead of following your normal new-model and winner only policy. In your 2001 test, you didn't include the VW EuroVan. I would be curious to see if it would have beaten the MPV or not. It is European and that is a HUGE advantage over all over minivans. In your next test please include Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Pontiac Montana or Chevrolet Venture, Nissan Quest, Ford Freestar or Mercury Monterey, Volkswagen EuroVan, Kia Sedona, Chrysler Town & Country or Dodge Grand Caravan and Mazda MPV. Edmunds.com is a great Web site and has helped me a lot. Thank you very much for this informative site.

Our next minivan comparison will happen in the coming months. It's not easy to perform a comparison test, and the larger a test gets, the more logistical challenges we face. From your list above we'll try to include every minivan except the GM and Chrysler models, because neither has had a significant upgrade since 2001 and neither won our last test. The EuroVan is also debatable because we've driven it in its current form and feel the vehicle has too many weaknesses to compete with today's best minivans. — Ed.

Subject: Residual Price
From: Robert

The lease on my wife's Acura RL is about over. We might like to buy the car at the right price because it has very low mileage; however, the car has been in two serious accidents. Every panel on the car has been replaced or repainted at least once. The dealer informs us that we cannot purchase the car for less than the residual cost ($26,000) specified on the lease. This seems ridiculous to me because any prospective buyer would have to be informed of the car's accident history, and the resale price should reflect this fact. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this matter.

If you leased the car through Honda Financial, then you probably will have to pay the stated cost in the contract. This is because Honda does not want to undermine the power of its dealers by selling a car at a price under what the contract states. If you leased through Bank of America, for instance, it might be a different story. However, you should check to see what our TMV price is. It still might be a deal. Also, rather than contacting the dealer, call the 800 number listed on your contract and attempt to talk with a representative in the lease termination department. — Ed.

Subject: Used Cars
From: Jean

If you buy a used car in the state of NJ from a private seller, and after the sale, you take the car to a mechanic and there are major problems with the car, is the seller liable for the repairs? If the seller told the buyer that there are no mechanical problems with the car, is this a fraudulent sale and can the buyer get their money back or have the repairs paid by the seller?

You should check your local laws. In most states used cars are assumed to be sold "as is" and it is buyer beware. However, this doesn't stop you from requesting a refund from the seller, especially if you feel it was intentionally misrepresented.

This is a difficult gray area and hard to enforce through the law. This is usually because you can't prove what the seller said (unless you have it in writing or you taped the conversation). — Ed.

Subject: Price Change
From: Eric

I'm looking to buy a new 2003 Honda Accord. With the 2004 model about to come out, how much should that affect the price I pay? The minute I drive it off the lot, it will not only be a used car, but last year's model as well. I usually get the pricing guide from Consumer Reports to see what the dealer has in the car. I also use your TMV as a guide. Any help would be appreciated.

The '03s will drop in price as the '04s roll onto the lot. However, the Accord will receive minimal changes for 2004, so the drop won't be as substantial as you might think.

Our TMV pricing system takes all of this into account (unlike some other pricing systems out there), so you can be confident that our TMV price represents what others are paying for the same car in your region of the country. — Ed.

Subject: Ferrari Testing
From: Anonymous

I have been following your long-term testing and reporting on your fleet Maranello. I was very pleased that you had decided to continue your evaluation on this car beyond your usual testing length, even to the point of submitting a previous letter to the editor in defense of this car's initial selection against naysayers. So I am disappointed that the review has not been updated in some time. I will be pleased to assume the task/burden of continuing the reviews on this particular car since your staff has apparently lost interest in doing so. Kindly contact me to arrange transfer of car and reviewer/editor pay for doing so.

You're certainly a giver, but our testing and reporting of the Ferrari continues. If you check our About Long-Term page link, you'll see the following text: "In our initial program, updates were posted on a monthly basis, but we have now gone to quarterly reports on each vehicle. Although the total number of updates is significantly reduced, the quarterly updates are more in-depth, with commentary drawn from multiple drivers as well as selected quotes from actual site users who drive the same vehicle." — Ed.

Subject: Body-on-Frame Comparison
From: Bret

I just read your article on the Touareg. It was very informative but I did want to point out that in the towing section you stated the Touareg did better than other body-on-frame competitors. You listed the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Grand Cherokee is built with unibody construction and not body on frame. Just trying to keep things accurate. The vehicle is impressive and will probably easily outsell its uglier and overpriced sibling, the Cayenne. Keep up the good work.

The Grand Cherokee is indeed a unibody vehicle. Thanks for the catch. — Ed.

Subject: Twins
From: Charlie

Another consideration that should be made when shopping for vehicles that have different branded "twins" is future resale value. For instance, even though a 1993 Geo Prizm and a 1993 Toyota Corolla are virtually identical cars, Edmund's True Market Value for the Toyota is $1,000 more on Trade-In, Private-Party and Dealer-Retail! The Trade-In value for the Corolla is about 2.5 times higher ($1624 vs. $661). This disparity in values is something that should be weighed heavily when deciding between twins, for instance between a Toyota Matrix or a Pontiac Vibe. Conversely, smart shoppers (like those frequenting your site!) can get great bargains on the lesser-valued-but-equally-qualitied twins. Thanks for the great site!

Road Test Editor Erin Riches responds: Charlie, you bring up a great point, one that I definitely should not have left out of this article. I certainly agree that future resale value could be a deciding factor when one twin is branded as an import and the other a domestic. Thank you for reminding all of us.

Subject: GTP Review
From: Sheth

Your review of the Grand Prix totally contradicts your initial review and almost everything else I've read about the car. What is up with the inconsistency between your initial drive and your full test? Will you guys ever give any American car your blessing? Readers can usually tell the truth about a car by looking at the consistencies of reviews written by various sources. The complaints about backseat comfort seem to surface in every review so they seem reasonable, but the rest of your complaints seem to be coming out of thin air. Edmunds is the only publication who manages to have loose parts on every GM product they test. If these problems were reported universally they would be easier to accept, but time and again only Edmunds has GM test vehicles that are poorly made. Considering the fact that no other reviews have criticized the GP for poor build quality and the fact that the car is assembled in one of the highest rated plants in North America, I can't understand how Edmunds just happened to get a car that was poorly built. In addition, other articles praised the car for being quiet, but your review claimed the engine noise was objectionable. Did you guys happen to get a car without proper sound deadening or are you being unfair? Your article basically said the car is great for America-loving consumers who are too stubborn to buy a superior import, but it's not competitive in its own right. The only way for a U.S. automaker to get a good review from Edmunds is to rebadge a Passat and claim it as their own. Why do you even bother to review vehicles from GM, Chrysler or Ford?

Apparently, you didn't read the whole article in which we praised the GTP's acceleration, handling and its driver-friendly cockpit design. What's more, we did not say that the Grand Prix was a good choice only for those who love American cars. Instead, we said that those who are familiar with the accommodations of cars like the Camry, Accord, Passat and Mazda 6 might be disappointed by its interior materials and small backseat. (Remember that both the Camry and Accord were designed especially for the American market, and that most of the ones that are sold here are built in the U.S. as well.) You say we never give our blessing to American cars? What about the Corvette Z06? What about the Cadillac Escalade, which beat out the Lexus LX 470 in our Large Luxury SUV Comparison Test this year? What about the current-generation Ford Explorer, which won our 2002 Midsize SUV Comparison Test? — Ed.

Subject: Changing Brake Pads
From: Mark

Thanks for the great article. I changed my pads this weekend, I followed your steps, and it was really easy. However, now there is much more play in the brake pedal than there previously was with the old pads. I am not that mechanically knowledgeable, but I remember someone at some point telling me about bleeding your brake lines. Basically, how do I get the play out of the pedal so that the brakes grab sooner? Is this something I can do or do I need to take my truck in for service?

The vehicle is a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited V8, with disc brakes front and rear.

Appreciate any advice you can give. Thanks.

Bleeding a vehicle's brake lines is not very difficult, but you have to locate the bleeder valve at each wheel (where the brake hose connects to the brake caliper). You will have to open this valve and have a second person press down on the brake pedal, then close the valve while the person lets the brake pedal spring back to its top position. And you have to keep filling the brake reservoir under the hood as you do this for each wheel so no more air gets into the system.

The variables about where the valve is located and how to open/close it might be found in a Jeep service manual. You could do a Web search to possibly find this information and a more detailed description of the process. — Ed.

Subject: F-150 Review
From: Chris

How could the competition possibly catch up, you stated that it has the most towing power, and smoothest ride for a full-size truck. When it comes to a truck, nothing else should matter. Do you think truck owners after a long day of work climb into their trucks and turn the A/C on, and say to themselves "this knob feels cheap." I think there are two types of people when it comes to owning a truck. There are truck guys who would not be able to do their jobs without a truck, yet don't mind taking it to dinner with the wife and kids, and if their truck will out-tow the rest well, then that's one hell of a truck. Then there are car guys who drive trucks. These guys sit in an air conditioned office all day and when they leave for work and open the door they have time to notice "how the handle felt." Yet, you feel that the competitors to the F-150 may catch up. Is this because they have more power, something you can brag about to your friends? Or is it because the competitors' trucks have a little bit more of the car qualities that you like? There is a reason why the F-150 is the number-one-selling truck year in and year out. It's because out of all the trucks out on the market, it's the one that's most like a truck. So to say the competition may catch up is a little misleading, because as you have said, it has the most towing power and smoothest ride of any full-size model. So is the competition catching up under "truck standards" or "car standards?"

P.S. I'm not just some Southern country hick, I'm an engineering student in New York, and feel the F-150 should get a little more credit for being a truck not a car, like the competition.

We find it curious that you think quality interior pieces aren't important to truck guys, but the fact that the new F-150 rides so well confirms, in your opinion, that it is the best full-size model. If you're really making an argument about truck guys versus car guys, doesn't it seem logical that the truck guy won't care about subtle interior switchgear or a soft, cushy ride? Regardless, the fact is that while the new F-150 makes decent power, it also weighs a lot, and that translated into sluggish performance during our First Drive experience, despite its horsepower ratings. It also doesn't offer side airbags (standard or optional) and there's nothing truly innovative about it (like rear access doors that open nearly 180 degrees). Finally, don't forget that once upon a time people thought all those "carlike" SUVs were just silly and real truck guys would never buy them. Now Ford offers an independent rear suspension in its Explorer and Expedition because the market showed there was far more interest in the "carlike" SUVs than the traditional, truck-based versions. — Ed.

Subject: Honda Odyssey
From: Brian

Can you send me the follow-up test report for the 1999 Honda Odyssey (if one exists)? I just bought a used Odyssey in excellent condition with 24K miles. I am concerned about the transmission after reading your 2000 model year article and I want to assess the situation for the 1999 model year. I am trying to decide if it's worth buying an extended warranty in consideration of the high transmission replacement cost.

Check out the Odyssey discussion groups in Town Hall and our maintenance guide where you can check for recall and TSB information.

Here are some other articles that you may find helpful:

Long-Term Wrap-Up: 1999 Honda Odyssey EX

Follow-Up Test: 2002 Honda Odyssey EX

Follow-Up Test: 2000 Honda Odyssey

2001 Minivan Comparison Test

— Ed.

Subject: Positive Domestic Reviews
From: Brian

I've been a recent reader of your on-line newsletter and it appears that you focus on foreign vehicles. Why? How about some positive domestic vehicle reviews and feedback? How can the best-selling pickup in the world forever (OK, the last 15 years or so) not be listed as the Editors' Most Wanted? Perhaps too many people have them. Perhaps they are too common. Whatever the case, I can't think of a vehicle I'd rather be off-roading in than an F-150! Maybe you should just do reviews and articles on imports and spare the rest of us your "professional" opinion…sarcasm intended.

We always give domestic vehicles a positive review…when they show the type of build quality, performance, refinement and innovation we've come to expect from any car we test. Keep in mind that our definition of "professional" vehicle reporting means calling out every test vehicle's strengths and weaknesses. It has nothing to do with achieving an equal ratio of positive reviews between foreign and domestic product. Also, the Editors' Most Wanted is based on the vehicles we like in each market segment, not how many are sold. We feel a manufacturer's ability to secure fleet contracts with rental companies and government agencies should have no effect on how we rate cars and trucks. — Ed.

Subject: Why Are Your Drivers So Slow?
From: Kevin

Can someone please explain how you got from 0-60 mph in 5.7 and 5.8 seconds in the Lancer Evo and WRX STi, respectively? That is about a full second slower than the times Road & Track recorded! Not only that, I've seen faster times for the regular WRX, with 73 hp less than the STi.

You are not doing these cars justice.

Actually, we're doing them complete, 100-percent-accurate justice. The numbers we report are the actual numbers generated by the cars. The numbers reported by most enthusiast publications have been creatively massaged with all sorts of impressive theories and formulas. They make for great engineering discussions, but they don't necessarily reflect what the real-world consumer is likely to achieve. Those particular cars were tested at about a 4,000-foot altitude with an ambient temperature around 88 degrees. Being turbocharged vehicles, they probably could have pulled better numbers if driven along the California coast at around midnight. But because not every consumer will have those testing conditions readily at hand, we feel our numbers are far more accurate and useful to the majority of our readers. — Ed.

Subject: Thanks!
From: Josh

I've read Edmunds for about three years now, and I have come to enjoy almost every aspect of your site. Needless to say, when it came time to buy a new car I used your site extensively.

I ended up with a blue Acura RSX Type-S, and I even paid a little less than TMV. The advice from your Sport Coupe Comparison Test was a good part of my selection of vehicle (you were right, this car is wonderful). The advice on how to buy a car was a good part of the bargain.

Anyway, I'm going to keep reading and keep enjoying. I just wanted to say thanks.

Subject: Neuspeed P-Chips
From: Kit

I am an avid user of the Edmunds.com site and respect your views greatly. Because of this I am wondering if you have the time to explain the pros and cons to something called Neuspeed P-chips. Apparently this is a chip you solder to you ECU (actually you ship your ECU to Neuspeed and they solder it for you) and it changes the way your engine performs. On the surface it sounds really neat, more horsepower, better fuel efficiency, removes the engine governor etc.… Have you heard of these, are there other brands, and what kind of impact would it really have on my car?

An ECU upgrade, sometimes referred to as a "chip," can often improve a vehicle's performance. But we've heard just as many stories about cars that end up running poorly, refusing to idle and never passing an emissions test. Usually the factory engineers do as much as possible with a given engine when they program the ECU, so trying to get more of one thing (such as horsepower) can result in less of something else (gas mileage, drivability, clean-burning exhaust emissions, etc.). We know about Neuspeed and it's been around for a long time. It's likely you'll see improved performance with one of its chips, but we can't comment on what, if any, ill effects may accompany this "upgrade." Years ago, one of our editors installed a chip that was offered through a manufacturer's performance catalog and definitely saw a horsepower and performance increase. But he had to replace his oxygen sensor every six months because the chip made the engine run much richer (meaning more fuel was sent into the combustion chamber), and this repeatedly clogged the sensor. — Ed.

Subject: Monthly Magazine?
From: Anthony

I must say that your test-drives and the resulting reviews are a great read. Why don't you guys publish a monthly magazine? When I want the most up-to-date info on new vehicles, I go to Edmunds.com, not Motor Trend or Car and Driver.

Subject: Comparison Tests
From: Anonymous

I have been VERY displeased with recent Edmunds comparison tests. I'm willing to bet 90% of your readers couldn't care less about the Mitsubishi Evolution or the Subaru WRX STi. They aren't popular and are far from practical. You say that you choose which comparisons to make by looking at how many people looked at each car on your Web site, but I'm willing to bet the STi and Evolution weren't on the top of the list. You need to do more small SUVs, minivans, subcompact sedans, full-size sedans, etc.

Small sedans like the Economy Sedan Comparison Test we posted in May? Small SUV tests like the Crossover Comparison Test we posted in June or the Compact Wagon Comparison Test we posted in March?

OK, we'll get right on it. — Ed.

Subject: Hybrids
From: Paul

I would really like to see more in the way of tools to look at and learn about current and new hybrid vehicles available and on the way. For example, I would like to see an option to go to "hybrid vehicles" and then broken down from there. Maybe it is there on your Web site and I haven't found it yet, but I think its time has come.

Please put hybrids in prominent places with convenient and organized links for everyone to stumble across so that we can all learn and benefit from such technology.

It is hard to find one area on your site where I can go to see, learn and explore hybrids.

From our home page click on "New Cars" and then look at the center of the page under "By Market Segment" and you will see a link for "Hybrid". Right now there are only three cars on this page (Honda Civic, Honda Insight and Toyota Prius) but we're hoping more will show up soon, as we've got a space set aside for them. — Ed.