Q. I’m buying a new Volvo. The one I own was bought by a fairly good dealer over an hour’s drive from my home. So it’s thus a hassle to drive to it for repair work and such. There’s a fairly new Volvo dealer in my town, but I don’t know how good it is. Actually, it’s been here for several years in a modern structure but is under new ownership—bought by an established outfit. What should I do? — D.L. (via Internet)

A. Shop at both and see which offers a better deal. The one that sold you your current Volvo won’t want to lose you as a customer, but the “new” one in your home town will be anxious to make you a customer. Chances are both will be pretty close to making the same deal. With a new Volvo, chances are you won’t be making many trips to the dealer who sold you your current, older Volvo. On the other hand, the closeness of your home town dealer may come in handy, especially as the car ages. The fact that the home dealer has a new owner, though, makes it difficult to ask around to see how well it serves new customers, although it’s  a “plus” that it’s been bought by an established outfit.



Q. I heard one of America’s first sports car had a wild-looking fiberglass body with sliding doors and a three-position “landau” top but was only built in 1954 by the fairly large, established Kaiser auto company that mainly sold family cars and went out of business in the 1950s. How can I find this unique auto? — H.J. (via Internet)

A. The car was the rakish 1954 Kaiser-Darrin DKF-161 convertible two-seater. Only 436 were built. It initially had a mild 90-horsepower six-cylinder engine that let it reach nearly 100 m.p.h., but later on got a more powerful Cadillac V-8. It originally cost $3,668—a rather steep price in 1954 dollars. But the median value of this head-turning car now is $132,000, says the Sports Car Market price guide. A few occasionally come up for sale, but most are owned by car enthusiasts who have no desire to sell one. See my article about the intriguing Kaiser-Darrin in this web site’s  Classic Car section.



Q. Why is Ford’s Motor Co.’s stock doing so poorly?  — J.H. (via Internet)

A. Many new Ford Explorer SUVs had quality problems and thus had to be sent to Detroit for repairs before being shipped to dealers. Ford also had to pay $600 million in bonuses to UAW members to sign a new labor deal. Also, Ford’s F-150 light truck franchise, which provides lots of cash flow, must be “refreshed” toward the end of the year, making its dominant market share vulnerable. Beyond that, Ford must contend with stricter European emissions rules. It’s also spending billions to develop electric and self-driving cars, which offer scant near-term profitability and just hoped-for market reception.



Q. I see that Genesis is making quite a name for itself. I hear it’s coming out with its first crossover. What about it? — K.L. (via Internet)

A. Ah, will people ever tire of crossovers? Anyway, the new Genesis crossover will be called the GV80. It will have an optional third row and be offered with two turbocharged gasoline engines. It looks pretty sleek.

Q. I’m a fan of the hot Honda Civic Type R hatch, but am not crazy about the way it looks. Anything new about it for 2020? — (J.M. (via Internet)

A. The 2020 model looks better with updated aerodynamics. It also has a revised suspension and improved brakes.



Q. Why is the 1967-69 Chevrolet Camaro Z-28 worth so much? The 1970 Camaro was a much better-looking car and could be had with a lot more power? — E.H. (via Internet)

A. Although sold in showrooms right alongside regular Camaros, the Z-28 essentially was a successful race car in the famous Trans-Am race series. Its 302-cubic-inch V-8 was conservatively rated at 290 horsepower and it wasn’t well suited for congested-area driving because the engine only came alive above 3,000 r.p.m. It was sold only with a four-speed manual transmission, special suspension and numerous go-fast features. A 1967 Z-28 is valued at $101,000, while a 1968 is valued at $56,500. The 1969 Z-28 has a median value of $64,500. Only 602 1967 Z-28s were made, while 7,199 were built in 1968 because the word got out about the car among car buffs. Production rose to 20,302 in 1969, but that was the last year for the Z-28 with the race engine. Prices listed here are general estimates, and Z-28s in good original condition often are sold for far more money.




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