Car Talk

July 1997

Dear Tom and Ray:

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My wife has a "nearly new" 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier wagon with a 2.8-liter V6. It's an automatic and has 169,000 miles on it, but it's developed a shifting problem. When the car is cold at the beginning of the day, it takes up to 15 seconds to shift into Drive from Park. After that first shift of the day, the transmission works fine. I've been trying to convince my wife that this "time delay" is not necessarily a bad thing, because she could wash the windows or check the tire pressure while waiting for the car to shift into gear. But she thinks it's time the old Chevy becomes transformed into something made in 1997 with a big price tag attached. Do I need a new car or a new wife? -- Shep

Tom: Well, if she's outside checking the tire pressure when the thing jerks into gear, you may need both, Shep!

Ray: We're on her side, Shep. If she's driving a Chevy Cavalier with 169,000 miles on it, she's done her penance.

Tom: While it's possible that a transmission-fluid and filter change may improve the situation, all signs suggest that this is the beginning of the end for this transmission. In fact, if you look at the average lifespan of these transmissions, you'll find that this one should have died 37,500 miles ago!

Ray: So if you're dead set on keeping this car, and it's otherwise in decent shape (which is difficult to imagine), then you can put a junkyard transmission in it and keep it going for a while longer.

Tom: But of course, if you go that route, the sporting thing to do would be to drive the Cavalier yourself until it dies, Shep, and let her drive your Lexus.

To buy or not to buy -- options, that is. Are options worth what you pay for them, or are you better off just going with the basics? Order Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Should I Buy, Lease, or Steal My Next Car?" to find out. To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

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