Q. Is there a "safe zone" in terms of months for affordability when financing a new vehicle? I know that the longer you pay for one, the more interest you pay on a loan, that is, unless you can get a "no-interest" vehicle buying-incentive loan deal. --D.W., Naperville

A. A common affordability benchmark is a four-year loan. If you feel you'll have a hard time meeting payments for 48 months -- with or without interest -- you likely can't afford the car or truck you would like to own.

Q. Why are cars being made with fancy front bumpers and then need to have holes drilled into those bumpers to hold a front license plate, which is required in Illinois? --P.L., South Barrington

A. Because, unlike Illinois, many states don't require front license plates. Automakers thus feel it's unnecessary to drill holes in front bumpers. Some dealers are happy to drill holes and supply front (and rear) license plate holders with the name of their dealership because it provides free advertising. If you prefer otherwise and have your own plate holders (if you use them), they'll drill the holes for you.

Q. My 2000 Dodge Ram with an automatic transmission shifts very hard between second and third gear at low speeds. One transmission shop said the condition was normal, another did unsuccessful work. --J.M., Chicago

A. The only time the transmission might shift very hard is if you accelerate hard, says Elmwood Park's Caira Automotive. It suggests that you get another opinion from a transmission shop. You also might drive another 2000 Ram to see if it acts the same way, although I doubt it would. I recall no such hard shift with a variety of new Rams I've tested.

Q. I've heard the $1 million-plus Bugatti Veyron can hit 253 mph with its 16-cylinder, 1,001-horsepower quad-turbocharged 16-cylinder engine and do 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds. But how long can it travel at full speed? --F.K., Berwyn

A. About 12 minutes with its 26.4-gallon fuel tank. Its estimated road time and range at normal speeds is much better -- at 185 miles. I guess it depends on how much of a hurry you're in. If you can afford the car, the price of gas should make no difference. But there's no room for luggage, and good luck finding a mechanic for it.

Q. I've always felt that Porsche, which built only sports cars, made a big image mistake producing its Cayenne SUV, introduced for 2003. After all, it made its name and reputation making sports and racing cars since 1948. Your thoughts? --C.W., Western Springs

A. The expensive all-wheel-drive Cayenne is Porsche's top-seller and has provided lots of revenue for it to build wilder sports cars. Porsche tired of seeing SUVs from rivals parked next to its sports cars in garages, so it decided to build an SUV. Sales of Porsche sports cars fell a lot in August -- partly, it says, as a result of "the somber consumer sentiment about the economy." But the Cayenne was by far Porsche's top seller last month, although sales dipped to 773 units from 830 in the same year-ago month. The latest Cayenne is the sportier GTS model, which I've tested. This 405-horsepower model has a six-speed manual transmission (or optional automatic), super-wide tires on massive 21-inch alloy wheels and an air suspension that lets a driver adjust it for sport or comfort modes. It's no sports car but has a genuine Porsche feel.