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Page 18, Whitby Free Press, Wodnesdiay, April 20, 1994 New Saab packed with value By Gleu Konorow ski Ever since Saab cars came to Canada in the seventies, 1 have been a fan. But I could neyer really put a finger on what 1 liked about them. They seemed to have ail the neat littie features such as good instrumentation, rack-and-pinion steering, comfortable seating and great engine noise. These fea- tures were unique to European cars in those days and common- place on almost ail cars today In those days, front-wl*,e- drive cars were flot that common, making the Saab a real dream to drive in bad weather. The roomy interiors and comfortable seats made Saab the kind of car in which you would just love to drive anywhere. Unfortunately, niy dreams of ownin g a Saab ended when I bouicta house. For 1994, Saab h as introduced an ali-new 900 series and, in my eyes, the best-looking Sa et. Te new 900 is a much oer looking car and thus more aero- dynamic than past 900 series cars. Saab designers have main- tained the look of the old 900 in today's models. The 900 only cornes in a four- door hatchback (really popular in Europe) and a soon-to-be- released two-door convertible. The 900 will corne in two model configurations, the S and SE, the SE sightly betterequfiped. The convertible, jatI, will be available in SE rmlevel only. No matter wat Saab model you get into, they ail seem to be fully equipped. In fact, about the cylinder (in the S model only); a turbo two-litre version of that same engine; a 2.5-litre V6, also with a double-overhead cam. The most powerful engine is the turbo at 185 horsepower, fol- lowed by the V6 with 170 horse- power and the four, 150 horse- power. I test drove the V6 and found it to have a great power range for day -to-day driving, as well as enough power toenjoy spirited manoeuvres. Ibis is Saab s riret V6 and was adapted from GMWs European affiliate, Opel of Ger- many. Power gets through to the front wheels via a five-speed manual tranon-.ission. An optiomal faur-que'id automatic is available mith threeprograzs for different drivîng styies. Jror me, the five-speed is the only choice as it reafly shows the car's fui1 f topp ing power is provided by fu-wheeI. anti-lock disc brakes. As with ail Saabs I have drivei,ý braking ability was superb. If you're lookmng for something European,packed with value, give the Saab a look. Auto magnates were frîends 1994 SAAB 900 THREE-DOOR COUPE only options that the S doesn't have are personal taste items such as leather seats, sunroof, power driver's seat and in-car computer. Other than the sun- roof, which I like, I would order the S. In the driver's seat, one finds a back of knobs and buttons that seem a little intimidating at first. But once you have time te look it over, everything makes sense. Ail controls are well- marked and easy to use and reach. On the safety side of things, ail cars are equipped with dual front air bage. One unique feature of past Saabs has been the placement of thetignition. It's on the floor next te, te shifter. The ignition key locks the shifter, rather than the steering wheel on other cars. Overaîl, the cabin spaoe is geemus for four aduits, and a fîfth in a pinch. Rear trunk space is cavernous, and with foiding rear seats, the car carnies more than some wagons. The 900 cornes with three engine choices: a 2.3-litre, double-overhead cam four- FROM PAGE 14 leave. While all of these rivaIs styed within the car industry, some branched off boldly to where no auto had gone before. Brothers Fred and August Duesenberg eventually became famnous for their namesake, a car even today recogmized as the gr eatest ever built in the United States. But they got their start producing an Iowa-based car called the Mason. Financial assistance was provided by one Senator F. aytag , and the cars were renamed after himn. The Maytag was only built for one year, in 1910. Maytag decided t='tthe automobile business wasn't for him, and he turned te his other interest, the washing machine. The unbelievably expensive Duesenberg aside, three car-makers stood out in the years before the Depression. Discrimidnating car-buyers with heavy wallets went for one of the 'three Ps' -- Packard, Pierce- Arrow and Peerless, the flnest of their generation. Peerless, unfortunately, didn't survive the Depression, and the company closed its doors on June 30, 1931. The plant remained idie for two years, until Prohibition ended.On June 30, 1934 it reopened as the Peeres Company. Its product was Carling aie. i21ST ANNIVERSARY 1 o e . o u c s - oe B- . - £ -N w - a ri e s ! [-Y RDSA E C igSa e ae1 &1 HALF PRICE * Provides the finest prearton and materials. 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