n 616 York St. O akville B o b M c ln t M li Olroct: 9 0 S 8 2 7 -7 1 9 1 1 V\ c t r r w r an m a k e s .-mil m o d e 's . An Oakville Beaver Automotive Feature · To advertise in this section call 905-845-3824 or Fax 905-337-5568 a i 1>\| Si vv> MAV 1 2<X)2 BEST WHEELS DOES YOUR CAR WAX GIVE YOU BETTER PROTECTION THAN YOUR CUT-RATE CAR INSURANCE? Don't tnai |utt anyone I A I I J Wayne M cG ill 234 5W vm rf Rd. *11, Ojkviflc isssrttsns- 90 ^847-5671 Power and prestige in Passat W8 V olkswagen has a very loyal base of ed) is surprisingly good at 13.817100 kmh buyers who have been buying VWs (18 mpg) city, 9.2L/100 kmh (25 mpg) ever since the Beetle or have grown highway. There is one transmission, a five-speed up in a family who have traditionally Tiptronic automatic that allows automatic bought Volkswagens. It's the kind of brand loyalty you see or sequential shifting. V W also includes with a few other makers where the top brass 4Motion as standard. Using a centrehasn't forgotten that providing the kind of mounted TORSEN (TORque SENsing) vehicle people want, as opposed to what the differential, power is distributed 50/50 under normal conditions but that can go to pundits want, is how they got to be big. But many long-time V W buyers are 67/33 bias to the front or rear depending on now moving up market and they want conditions. Of course there is ABS on the something with four-disc brakes (vented front/solid rear) more power and but there is also VW 's Electronic prestige. Until now. Stabilization Program (E S P ). Available as a sedan at $53,400 and a that meant looking Wagon at $54,575. VW proudly points out at BM W o' t Mercedes or kiss- this is the lowest-priced. German-built eight-cylinder sedan on the market. There ing-cousin Audi. Oddly enough. will be a Sport Package later in the year, but VW research found prices have not been set. Now the concept of a Volkswagen cost that just four per cent of Volkswagen ing fifty grand before taxes may cause some Jim Robinson owners planning to to shake their heads, yet V W is convinced move up would look at an Audi. Now' you they will have no trouble selling these cars. You can have all the high revs and tur would think Audi would be a natural, but bos/superchargers you want, but the motor the numbers don't lie. As the need began to appear. V W engi ing truism of "there ain't no substitute for neers had also been working on extrapola cubic inches" was never truer than in the Passat W8. During a press 'ride and drive' tions of its VR-engine format of multi valve normally-aspirated engines with pis south of San Francisco, the W8 just plain tons offset at just 15 degrees forming a very bolted ahead without any prodding. narrow r V' that was very compact. They Merging onto a freeway was effortless. then considered what would happen if they Everything in the cabin is pure-Volkswagen took two of these blocks and set them on a so loyalists will definitely feel at home. The impression I had was of tremen common crankshaft at 72 degrees. With the two "Vs' on one crank, the engine could be dous solidity of construction and an even a four-. 1 2 - or even 16-cylinder. The eight- ness of suspension travel combined with cylinder or 'W8' is what the engineers came the 4Motion that belied how hard the car up with for the new flagship 2002 Passat was working. I hustled the W8 through sev W8 as tested here. The 12 will power the eral mountain switchbacks in the Santa Phaeton and the 16 will be used in the Cruz area where traction came with no sur prises. even though I was pushing hard. Bugatti supercar. 'Bump steer,' the condition when you What made it even better is the compact W8 fits in the engine bay of the current bottom the suspension going into a very Passat with room to spare, so that zero re tight comer, was not a factor. In an AWD engineering was needed. Producing 270 hp car, hitting the brakes hard into a comer and 273 lb/ft of torque, you would think this with the traction moving around all four four-cam multi-valve would need tons of wheels can sometimes catch you out at the revs to come up to power but maximum front tire closest to the ape x take the full torque is available at just 2.750 rpm. The force of the level of the vehicle. The result result is a Passat that can nudge you back is a 'bump' that comes back to the steering into the seat under hard acceleration. In wheel with sometimes a jarring effect on fact, the W8 hits the 100 kmh mark from the driver. The W8 complied with whatever it was asked to do. At one point going way rest at just 6.5 seconds. Fuel economy (premium recommend too fast into a 35 mph comer, the outside mis mm Above: Volkswagen has created the next step up in its evolution with the eight-cylinder powered flagship model, the Passat \V8. Right: The compact architecture of the VV8 engine leaves room to spare in the engine bay, even though this is an eight-cvlinder sedan. rear tire started to lose grip, but the ESP cut in and made short work of any dramatics. Getting there to the W8 event was not half the fun because of weather delays and missed connections in Chicago. Ergo with only about three hours sleep, my co-driver took over as I reclined the power passenger seat to almost 180 degrees. There I slum bered and snored oblivious to what the car was doing, so settled were the conditions in the cabin. 1was honestly rested when we got to a lunch stop. Lastly, all-wheel-drive cars can. because of the wide turning circle needed, be a handful in tight conditions. Carmel. Ca. is a favorite haunt but it is also the tourist trap of the rich and famous. Anyone who has been a block or two north or south of Ocean Street will know what I mean. Cars double parked and trucks unloading can tax a fullsize sedan let alone AWD cars. The W8 look the challenge with aplomb. Threading our way to my favorite aviation memorabil ia shop in the world was easy. But then the ultimate challenge, one parking spot and an AWD car. Normally you have to saw away at the wheel and make four to five in-ouLs. With the W8. it took more planning than work. While this is really just another step up for the Passat, it really is a giant step for VW and where it intends to position iLself for the future. From super economy cars like the Polo in Europe to the V 12 super luxury Phaeton, V W is working at chang ing minds as well as aspirations. As for the Passat W8. it is going to sur prise a lot of people who normally wouldn't consider a Volkswagen, and please a lot of people for whom no other marque will do. ^2001 CHRYSLER 300P /2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING JX COfT f 2000 HONDA ACCORD EX StW0-01245 Buck 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA f >000 P' StWO-05359 While StK#1 -31555 Black S t k # 0 - 6 0 9 9 6 W hite 6 1 .1 7 1 km Stk*0-08268 G rey. 58.810 km V s26,900 ^1999 CHI F in 309 v 2 2 ,9 0 0 Fin *265Pmt. y s2 1,900 ^19981 Fin *2 5 2 Pmt. V26.900 a . *309 P m t V s2 1,900 Rn. *252P m t f 1999 VOLKSWAGENBEETLE GUf Stk/9Silver. 45.618 km f 1997 HONDA PRELUDE Sl#7jp0181 Block. 84.361 km \ M 8,900 A / O 1996 SATURN 9 .1 Fin. *215Pmt /T S . . . . . . .. - n f | V*19,900 ` T I M S 342 pmt. *139 Pmt `161 pmt. -- O C T *12,900 *16,900 *15,900 O F in . *228P m t B £ # V 1 7,900 T 2 Rn. *206 P m t. P iA V `7,900 *19,900 *12,900 *9,900 *9,900 *16,900 *10,900 *9,900 *10,900 *11,900 *11,900 *9,900 *9,900 *12,900 *13,900 *17,900 *27,900 *9,900 M E A 0 . . . 0 2 COMPACT CARS Stkrt-05240 Red. 72,528 km . 1997 HONDA PRELUDE Rn. Fin. Rn. Rn. 1998 VOLVO V 70 R AWD 1998 HYUNDAI TIBUR0N SE Stk/8-22348 Silver, 97.171 km . . . £ 3 ,S U U Fin llB|Uire Pmt. * 2 2 8 pmt. ` 1 4 9 Pmt. * 1 1 7 pmt. 1998 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 1998 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF K2 Stk#8-01625 Silver ............... 1999 MERCURY COUGAR Fin.*149 pm,. Rn. *195 Pmt. Fin 1999 FORD EXPLORER EB Slkrt-02528 Stk#9-08524 StW9-03108 StkW-50394 Blue ......................Z l, 9 U U Rn. *252 Pmt. White .................... I f , 9 U U Rn. `206 Pmt. . . . . . . ..... . . . 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT SIW8-23800 Red....................... I1 , 9 U U Rn Stk#8-39678 Blue, 72,559 km 1998 VOLVO S90SE S,k#9-48091 Silver, 64,186 km 1999 MERCURY COUGAR Stk#7-00181 Black, 84,361 km . 1998 CHRYSLER CIRRUS L » *13,900 *21,900 *29,900 *18,900 *16,900 $. . . . . Fin Stk/9-53928 Red................... 1995 MERCEDES BENZ E420 *184 Pmt 1999 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY S ll Black.92.138km Maroon £9,9UU Rn. `342 Pmt. . . . . . . Stk/8-87321 Tan. 58.732 km 1998 FORD ESCORT SE SPORT Stk/8-25457 Silver. 64.766 km 1998 AUDI A6 2 .8 QUATTR0 Rn. `252 Pmt Fin. `342 Pmt. Fin. *217 pmt. Fin LU XU RY C A R S 1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT 19,900 . . . Rn. *228 Pmt R n `195 pm, S,k#8-38519 Blue. 43.858 km .. 1998 PLYMOUTH NEON Stk#8-59958 Black. 82.712 km Fin * 1 1 7 Pmt. Rn Rn. Stk#5-49047 Blue ................... * 2 3 , 9 0 0 1996 INRNIT1 I30T R n. InquireP m t. R n. Inquire P m t. 1999 6MC JIM M Y SLE Slk/9-02148 Tan............ 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE *16,900 . . . Stk#8-41286 Black.................. 1999 MERCURY COUGAR 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE GLS Stk#9-38944 Silver. 45,618 km * 1 9 5 Pmt. * 1 2 8 Pmt. * 1 1 7 pmt * 1 2 8 Pmt * 1 3 9 Pmt. * 1 3 9 Pmt. 1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE 1999 MAZDA 626 ES Stk#6-05765 Silver ........... * 1 6 , 9 0 0 Slkrt-86806 Blue ...................... 2000 FocdF150 XLT 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Stk#9-4809l Silver. 64.186 km 1999 CHEVROLET CAVAUER 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA 14,91111 Rn. *172 Pmt . . . SIM9-40642 Green. 77.560 km 1999 VOLVO S70 `195 Pmt. Stk#7-27128A Black ................. * 1 7 , 9 0 0 Fin * 2 0 6 Pmt P IC K U P S , . . c StkW-04547 Green. 53.937 km 1999 CHEVROLET CAVAUER Stk#9-99995 Blue. 58.946 km Rn Fin Fin. Fin £ 0 ,S U U Fin. `274 pmt 19 9 7m n 130 Stk#7-00408 Black, 104,379 km * 1 6 , 9 0 0 Fn*195pm L 1 9 9 8 IN FIN ITI045 Stk#0-13803 Colour?58.764km . c l , 9UU Rn. *252 . . . Pmt. Stk#9-30903 Green. 65.517 km . 1999 FORD CONTOUR Stk#8-05081 Black. 69.470 km Stk#6-32738A Green, 57,389 km 1998 FORD CONTOUR SPORT * 2 9 , 9 0 0 Rn ` 3 4 2 Pmt Stk#7-23160A Green ......................1D,9UU Fin.`184 pmt. 2000 FORD F I50 XL .... . . . . . . Stk#9-07353 Silver ................. 1999 F0R0 CONTOUR SE *8,900 *9,900 . . . . . . ,. . . nnn Rn. i n q u i r epmt. `128 pmt. 1998 VOLVO S70SE Stk«-87439 Black................... * 1 9 , 9 0 0 Rn.* 2 2 8 pmt 1999 MERCURY 6R MARQUIS IS Stk/0-06243 Colour? 64.562 km 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 8.0L 1 7 , 9 0 0 Rn. `206 Pmt . . . StkW-75483 Tan. 60.042 km 1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM SE Stk#8-84402 Red ................. 1998 FORD TAURUS SE WAGON 1999 BUICX CENTURY CUSTOM 1999 BUICX REGALLS Fin ` 1 1 7 Pmt. Stkrt-13263 Green. 37,390 km 1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS * 2 1 , 9 0 0 F,n * 2 5 2 Pmt * 2 9 , 9 0 0 Rn * 3 4 2 Pmt Stk*9-01847 Gold, 54,982 km . 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE SE Stk#8-58334 Silver ................... IU ,9 U U Fin Stk#9-21847 White ................... ll , H U U Stkrt-16002 Grey. 40.288 km 1999 CHEVROLET MAUBU StkW-05962 Grey. 88.563 km 1999 SAAB 95 Stk#9-77743 Silver, 66,979 km . 1999 SATURN SC1 Fin * 1 1 7 Pmt. Rn Rn Rn. F in `139 Pmt `139 Pmt. Stk#9-02869 Black, 101,015 km . * 1 9 , 9 0 0 Rn * 2 2 8 Pmt 2000 JAGUAR X18 Stk#9-62899 Red......................... £4,9UU Rn *285 Pmt 1999FORD F1S0X L4 .2 L . . . . . . S1W9-36647 Gold. 59,789 km . . 10 , 9UU Rn `195 Pmt 1999 GMC SIERRA IS 4.81 . . . . . . Stk/9-09402 Black, 104,641 km .. 1 9,9UU R n `228 Pmt. W ORK CARGO V A N S 1999 GMC 3500 CUBE 7.41 Stk#9-20509 Purple ................ 2000 FORD FOCUS SE * 1 1 7 Pmt. * 1 4 9 Pmt *1 6 1 Pmt 1 7 , 9 0 0 Fin. `206 Pmt. . nnn Stk#0-09404 Black. 19,465 km . * 4 9 , 9 0 0 Rn S P O R T U T IL IT Y 1996 FORD EXPLORER SPORT Inquire Pmt Stk#0-83551 Red................... 2000 FORD FOCUS ZX3 s. S1W9-15432 While. 66,000 km . . 2000 FORD E350 CUBE DIESEL 19,900 . . . . . . Rn. *228 Pmt. Stkrt-35339 Black. 59.684 km 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE S t 1 1 , 9 U U Fin ,. « nnn Stk#0-42168 Red, 24,130 km 1996 VOLVO 850 TURBO WAGON IM P O R T S K E U R O P E A N Stk/9-23818 Silver. 62.580 km 2001 CHRYSLER 300M IO ,9 U U Rn. *217 pmt Stk#6-44773 Black 1998 JEEP GRANO CHEROKEE . .'10,900 *17,900 *16,900 *16,900 *17,900 Fm . Inquire P m , Rn Slk#0-79880 White.59.809km .. t o . 9 U U Rn. *309 Pmt 2000 FORD E350 XLT CW 15 PASS . . . . . . Stk#6-02851 Black 1997 BMW 5281$ Rn. Fin. Pmt. Stlrft-31555 Black ......................... Z 0 ,3 U U Rn. `309 Pmt 2001 CHEVROLETIMPALA SOC n n n Stk#8-06893 White, 86,426 km 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER *206 Pmt. *195 Pmt *195 Pmt Stk/0-67785 Grey,74.073km 1997 FORD AEROSTAR XLT t- 3 ,9 U U Fin `274 pm t PASSENGER VANS Stk#7-51096 Black. 69,500 km 1997 MAZDA 626 OX `319 Pmt *117Pmt Stk/1-09443 Burgandy, 49,082 km . iy , 9 U U Fin. `228 Pmt. 1997 CHRYSLER SEBRING C0NVT 1 S I7 HONDA PRELUDE . . . . . . . . . . . . StkW-03604 Black, 50,564 km 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER *22,900 R n *265Pmt Rn Rn StW7-27008 Green, 73,829 km 1997 F0R0 AEROSTAR XLTS .-..`9,900 . . `8,900 *13,900 . . . . . . Rn. ` 1 1 7 pmt Rn Stk#9-03687 Red, 76,104 km .. Stk#7-85833 Black. 35.203 ml . . . I9 , 9 U U Fin $. Q . . . Stk#7-34453 Blue ................... 1997 MERCEDES BENZ E420 R,, `228 Pmt. 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER SIW7-27011 Blue, 90,886 km . 1999 D00GE CARAVAN `109 pmt Stk/7-02171 Tan,65.000km ... 1997 MERCEDES BENZ S320 *39,900 R n. Inquire Pmt S1W9-01851 Black. 88,872 km 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER LS Stk#7-00181 Black. 84.36, km .. 19 , 9 U U Rn. `228 Pmt. n. Inquire P m t. Stk#7-33872 Black. 65.517 km *38,900 R S1W9-44760 W hite....................... IO,9UU Fin. *161 Pmt ·N o paym ent till O cto ber 2 0 0 2 on approved credit. All paym ents a re quoted, bi-w eekly paym ents including taxes & interest and $ 0 D ow n. Licence extra. C all d e a le r tor details. Stk#9-49246 Black. 75,091 km Fin. *206 Pmt Stk/9-58947 Purple................ 1999 FORD WINDSTAR CARGO Rn. *161 Pmt 4 3 1 5 N o r th S e rv ic e R o a d B u r lin g t o n tom otive perstore w w w .a u t o p a r k s u p e r s t o r e 9 0 5 -3 3 1 -8 5 0 0 B e t w e e n A p p le b y a n d W a lk e r s L in e 3tto n O f f t h e Q E W in B u r l i n a on n y \'W E m a il: in f o (S a u to p a rk s u p e rs to r e I': Lr j j , ITIH A V i ! N ; iU ^ j f, ]: L------------------- -------------------------------------- 4 ;^^ITTITrrl