Letters to the Editors
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Subject: BTSI Worries
From: LeeAn
Could you check into why a few vehicle models/brands can shift into gear in the accessory key position (without the engine being on)? This is a public safety issue. My vehicle is able to be shifted easily from park without applying the brake while in accessory mode. This could lead to accidental motion of the car. I have filed complaint with both GM and NHTSA. I feel this is a safety issue the public should be aware of and consider when purchasing a vehicle.

Thanks for your question. This issue has been of concern to some consumer rights advocates for decades now. It's a problem with automatic vehicles; if you've got a child and he or she turns the key to listen to the radio, it's possible for the car to be accidentally shifted into gear. As the car is set into motion, the child can become frightened and jump or fall from the vehicle. Statistics reveal that at least 100 children have been killed or injured in this way.

The part that prevents this from happening is a safety feature known as a brake transmission shift interlock device, or BTSI. Ironically, this part is quite inexpensive, and retails for less than $15. Only a handful of 2008 models are without this safety feature.

The situation will only get better. A bill was recently passed by Congress that requires that all cars manufactured for sale in the United States (as of September 1, 2010) be equipped with BTSI that works in every key position. For more information on what's covered under the law, see our article, New Law To Prevent Kids' Backover Deaths.

This government Web site lists 2008 vehicles currently offering standard BTSI.

On that same site, this page lists 2008 models that don't offer this safety feature. — Ed.

Subject: Bias on the Edge?
From: Craig
I find your Web site to be an infinitely invaluable tool when it comes to car-purchasing decisions. I would never buy a car without it. That said, I have to alert you to a bias and/or misinformation in an editor review.

I am going to purchase a Ford Edge. I researched all of its competitors on your site. One of the things you wrote that was of concern was its braking performance. You note that if that is an issue, one should consider better-performing competitors like the Nissan Murano. That brings me to my issue: According to Car & Driver magazine, the Edge has shorter stopping distances than the Murano, as well as other competitors. So my question is: If you were so unsatisfied with the Edge's brakes, why are you recommending an even worse performer in the Murano? Further, why is the Murano not taken to task for its braking performance also, given its inferiority to the Edge? The media claims no bias against domestic makes, so how do you account for this disparate treatment? According to the June '08 issue of Car & Driver, here's a breakdown of stopping performance in feet from 70 mph (all tested vehicles were AWD):

Dodge Journey: 189
Ford Edge: 187
Hyundai Santa Fe: 188
Mazda CX-7: 173
Nissan Murano: 191

Thanks for your feedback. We conduct our own in-house testing, and our comments on the Edge were based on its performance in these tests. In our evaluation, the Edge achieved a 60-0 stopping distance of 152 feet, which qualifies it for a "Poor" rating when it comes to stopping distance. Visit this spreadsheet for more performance data on the Edge, gleaned from our tests.

The Murano fared much better in our track tests. It achieved a 60-0 stopping distance of just 122 feet, as is reflected in that vehicle's performance spreadsheet.

We can't really offer any insight into what goes into Car & Driver's testing process. Note, however, than we plan to run an article that explains our testing process in exhaustive detail. Look for this piece to hit our site over the next few weeks. — Ed.

Subject: Give Lotus a Chance!
From: Michael
Why are the Lotus Elise and Lotus Exige omitted from your list of Inside Line Reader's Most Wanted nominees?

Those cars deserve more of a chance than a Noble M400 which is a kit car. If you're going to include a kit car, you might as well include all kit cars, such as Caterhams and Ariels.

And as a Lotus Elise owner, the Elise or Exige can compete with any of the cars on that list.

Thanks for your question. To make it to the ballot, each vehicle had to get certain number of nominations from our editorial staff. Though they are both impressive vehicles, neither Lotus made the cut; simply put, there were other vehicles in that category that we felt were stronger, for various reasons. — Ed.

Subject: Keep it Quiet
From: Paul
My hearing has gradually become more sensitive to noise. I find I sometimes need to wear ear plugs when driving. Where could I find information about the quietest car interiors?

We offer information about decibel levels in the performance spreadsheets that accompany our Full Tests. You can access the performance spreadsheet by clicking on the link located in the navigation bar, found to the left of the Full Test's main page.

As an example, check out this performance spreadsheet related to our Full Test of the 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged. You'll notice that we offer decibel readings at idle, full throttle and 70 mph. To get a sense of where a car stacks up in this regard, we'd recommend looking not only at its decibel readings, but at the readings of other cars in its segment. Keep in mind that the lower the reading, the quieter the car. — Ed.

Subject: Audi Bias
From: Turi
I really love your site, but I've noticed you're a little too biased toward Audi. I'm not going to give specific examples (I can if you'd like me to), but all of your comparison tests and reviews of Audi cars are just a little too overstated. So pretty much all I want to do is point this out to you if you did not notice, and if you did, then shame on you; give other car interiors a chance!

P.S. I am the owner of a 2006 BMW 325i and am thinking about purchasing a 2000 Audi S4 as a car for my son. See what you did?

We like the Audi brand because it delivers impressive luxury and decent performance at prices that are thousands of dollars more affordable than those of the brand's competitors. But if you read our site, you also know that we're huge fans of the driving dynamics offered by BMWs such as your 325i. So overall, we applaud your fine taste. — Ed.

Subject: Reliable Echo
From: Peter
In your 2008 model review of the Yaris, you had this to say: "...the Yaris replaced the mediocre and oddly proportioned Echo as the least expensive offering in Toyota's showroom."

The Echo has by far the best reliability and build quality among small, frugal cars.

I can understand that you do not like the design of the Echo. But to call it mediocre is simply not accurate at all.

I expect opinions to be biased, one way or the other, regarding appearance and design. Reliability on the other hand is something that is not subjective. See Consumer Reports and similar publications. See the Echo forums on CarSpace and the consensus is reliability beyond reproach.

Keep in mind that we don't usually factor reliability into the equation when evaluating vehicles in our road tests. The reason for this is that we feel it's only fair to comment on subjects that we've had the chance to experience firsthand, and we typically don't have our road test vehicles for a long enough period of time to draw any conclusions about reliability; for our Full Tests and Follow-Up Tests, we usually have the cars for no more than two weeks.

The exception to this rule is, of course, our Long-Term road tests, in which we have the vehicles in our fleet for a year or more.

The Echo lost points with us for shortcomings such as its acceleration-sapping automatic transmission and uncomfortable seating position. — Ed.

Subject: World's Fastest Car?
From: Julius
Is the Bugatti Veyron the world's fastest car? If not, which car holds that honor?

That honor belongs to the Shelby SuperCars' Ultimate Aero. In tests held late last year, the Shelby logged an average speed of 256.18 mph, besting the performances logged by previous record-holders like the Bugatti Veyron and the Koenigsegg CCR. — Ed.