When a cars are almost emissions-free, look for the regulations to get really stiff. But rules are for the other guy. In the late 1970s, when states were struggling to comply with the 1977 Clean Air Act Amendments and the Lung Association was pressing for auto emissions testing, I used to leave my Lansing office job and walk to the bus stop. While waiting, I’d regularly be gassed by the heater Ford van used by the Lung Association of Michigan to deliver its press releases and fund- raising appeals to the post office, leaving behind a thick cloud of soot and monoxide. Read more…

This Zephyr, too, had a center-mounted instrument cluster amid the two glove compartments at either end—a real styling exercise. As I recall, those instruments appeared more legible than the Saturn’s seem to be. Anyway, I survived (I think). John Dohner, Columbia, Maryland Csaba Csere’s column “Will Dr. Diesel’s turn ever come?” (January 2003) was spot on! Despite the fact that diesels are selling well in the big-pickup market, they haven’t made their way down to the SUVs yet. I don’t get it. We hear so much yapping about the lousy mileage they get but no acceptance of the most simple and available solution. Read more…

If the Maybach is such a high-class, no- expense-spared car, how come its grille is from a Lincoln Town Car?  In my view there is nothing new or terribly spectacular about the Maybach. I see it only as a hopped-up S-class. I mean, even the dashboard is nearly identical. It’s just a big image-and-marketing thing. Florian Ackermann, Berlin, Germany Your “review” of the Saturn Ion 3 (January 2003) was more of a “Let’s Trash Saturn” party. I’m not surprised, since the congenital sickos at your magazine never have given Saturn a chance from day one. I’ve driven the Ion. Granted, it does have some buzzy engine noise, but I have also driven Civics and Focuses. Read more…