Buyers seeking everything from economy to luxury should find good choices amid year-2000 models.
Car buyers looking to purchase a model-year-2000 auto will find new choices at both ends of the cost (and creature comfort) spectrum.
Two such options at Lawrence dealerships this fall are, on the premium side, the new Lincoln LS sport sedan and, in the compact category, a thoroughly redesigned Dodge Neon.
"The Neon is new for 2000. The (grouping of available) equipment has been repackaged, they've added sound-deadening materials , and they've changed the aerodynamics of the car," Bill Wheeler, new car manager for Jim Clark Motors, 29th and Iowa, said.
Engineers have worked to eliminate wind noise by redesigning the car's body and changing the way the windows fit.
The single-overhead-cam, fuel-injected, four-cylinder engine, producing 132 horsepower, is carried over from the 1999 model. It's the most powerful engine in the compact class, Wheeler said.
The Neon is offered in two models: base and ES. A base Neon with automatic transmission will cost as low as $13,060. A fully equipped ES model should run about $14,820.
The car's target customer falls into the 18-32 age group. For many customers, the Neon will be their first car purchase.
Aside from an attractive price, the new Neon offers enhanced quality and a warranty that's superior to other cars in its class, Wheeler said.
"This car should sell extremely well. Any negatives associated with the Neon (such as wind noise) are well in the past."
Then there's the higher-performance end of the spectrum, represented by the new, premium Lincoln LS sport sedan.
The Lincoln LS is a handsome attempt by the automaker to woo buyers who would normally shop European- and Japanese-made cars when looking for a sport sedan.
The Lincoln LS has an aggressive stance meant to convey its performance qualities, Mark Hauser, general sales manager at Laird Noller Automotive, 935 W. 23rd St., said.
It's been designed to provide a driving experience like other star performers in its market segment.
The LS6 has a 3.0-liter, 24-valve V6 engine. Base price for this model is $31,450.
The LS8 features a 3.9-liter, dual-overhead-cam V8. This model carries a $35,225 price tag, which includes the freight charge.
Lincoln intends its LS to compete against the Lexus ES300, the BMW 528i, the Audi A6 and the Mercedes-Benz C280 -- stellar company, indeed.
"Lincoln wants to speak to that audience. They didn't offer a car that was really on the shopping list for people looking at sport sedans," Hauser said.
"I've driven the LS6, and it's a fabulous car. It has a 50/50 weight distribution, speed-sensitive variable-assist steering and upscale styling," Hauser said.
Laird Noller Automotive currently has a couple of each of the new sport sedans in its inventory.
-- Jim Baker's phone message number is 832-7173; his e-mail address is jbaker@ljworld.com.
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