Swivel car seats turn heads

Q: In the ‘70s, a number of Oldsmobiles had swivel bucket seats. Now that I am 80, where are these seats? It would be a lot easier for old folks to get in and out of their car.

A: The simplest solution is a swivel seat cushion. You can find many on Amazon for under $50. Full replacement seats are available, and some seats even have a lowering feature for disabled people. But that’s talking big bucks.

Q: You recently mentioned that hands on the steering wheel should be at the 3 and 9 o’clock position rather than the 2 and 10 positions because of the airbag. I was surprised that you didn’t mention the single hand at the 12 o’clock that seems to be preferred by pickup drivers. That is just as bad.

A: Yes, if not worse. Some people don’t even grasp the steering wheel, they just drape their wrist over the top. Yikes.

Q: I’ve been thinking about my 1970 Olds 442. If I stepped out of my Nissan Altima 3.5-liter right now and back into that 442, would I find the performance underwhelming?

A: The 442 was very good in a straight line. But handling? Not so much. The 442 wins on fuel-guzzling horsepower. The Altima on fuel-sipping economy. It’s like comparing apples to sudachi.

Q: Do I need to add a lead substitute to premium unleaded gas in my 1968 Pontiac? What does this additive do?

A: Tetraethyl lead in gas left a lead buildup on the valve seats that cushioned the closing valves. If you generally putt around town, you should have no issues. If you prefer to mash the gas, an additive will help.

Q: I have a 2018 BMW X-5 Diesel with 95,000 miles on it. A dealership salesperson said I should trade in the car before I have any problems with the timing chain, which he said would cost about $4,500 to replace. Is he being honest with me or is he giving me a sales pitch? I’d like to keep the car for another 50,000 miles.

A: Experts generally agree that the timing chain should be replaced every 80,000 to 120,000 miles or 10 to 15 years if you drive mostly short trips. The replacement cost is usually about $2,000 to $2,500, but dealerships are often more expensive. Replacement could give you more than 50,000 additional miles.

Bob Weber is a writer, mechanic and ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician. His writing has appeared in automotive trade publications, Consumer Guide and Consumers Digest. Send automotive questions along with name and town to motormouth.tribune@gmail.com.