Dear Tom and Ray:

With 325,000 miles on my '93 Ford Explorer, I've reluctantly decided it's time to take the plunge and start shopping for a new car. As a traveling insurance salesman in LA (not the city -- Lower Alabama), I spend thousands of hours in the driver's seat. My posterior resembles the dinosaur "Butt-A-Sore-Us." Here are my requirements:

-- Comfort! The actual seat is of utmost importance!

-- "Cool Factor." I'm a boring insurance salesman, and I need a vehicle that helps my image.

-- Oh yeah, my wife has a thing about the environment, so if it gets good mileage, I guess that would be a bonus.

Any suggestions? Thanks. -- Mike

RAY: Well, the first car that comes to mind for you, Mike, is the Lincoln LS. We drove one recently, and I think it meets all of your criteria.

TOM: It's a very comfortable car, with a very nice, electrically adjustable seat. It's got a somewhat taut but smooth ride, and good power. It's a good highway car, and it's a nice car to spend a lot of time in.

RAY: You can consider the V-6 engine, which gets 20 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway, so your wife will be happy. And it'll cost you in the neighborhood of $35,000. But you're worth it, right, Mike?

TOM: Wait! We forgot the "cool" factor.

RAY: Not to worry. The LS has just the coolness Mike needs. It's got -- get this -- seat coolers! That's right, you flip a switch and you get cool air blowing right onto your butt. You'll be amazed at how many more sales you'll make, Mike, if you arrive without the seat of your pants displaying 200 miles of butt sweat!