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DOES YOUR CAR WAX GIVE YOU BETTER PROTECTION THAN YOUR CUT-RATE CAR INSURANCE? Don't trust just anyone to insure your car. see me: W a y n e M c G ill 2345 Wyecroft Rd. #21, Oakville 905-847-5671 BEST WHEELS An Oakville Beaver Automotive Feature · To advertise in this section call 905-845-3824 or Fax 905-337-5568 W ED N ESD AY. A U G U ST 7. 2 0 0 2 · P a^ cD I OAKVILLE NISSAN Flee 3L 6 1 6 York S t. Oakville Bob McIntosh Direct: 9 0 5 -8 2 7 -7 1 9 1 W e le a s e a lt m a k e s and m o d e ls . "Crossover' Pontiac Vibe GT is also cross-generational I had to call into GM in Oshawa to and GT. report I'd be a little late bringing back this Suspension on the Vibe and the GT is week's test car. the 2003 Pontiac Vibe GT. MacPherson struts front and a twist beam The reason was so many people at at the rear. The AWD. because of articu work and on my street were asking to take lating rear half shafts, is MacPherson a look at it. not to mention a senior man struts at the front and double wishbones at ager who wanted his son to take a peek. the rear. Aimed uncompromisingly at 20- and Bottom line here folks is that each of 30-somethings, this is one 'younger per these three models performs differently. I son's' car that should prove very attractive previously drove the AWD on a press to baby boomers starting to downsize event called Drive. their living space needs The Vibe event in and vehicle needs. which three teams drove Not an economy car. cars across the country. On not a station wagon, not a wet and winter grimey compact SUV. the Vibe roads outside of Ottawa, really is a 'crossover' the all-wheel-drive cer vehicle in every sense. It tainly increased traction is a segment that is start and tractability. The ing to heat up as SUVs downside was with the are starting to cool down. roof rack and ski clamp GM could see it com bars acted like a fully ing and so did Toyota. deployed spoiler, ergo, The Matrix is built in 120-130 kph into the wind Cambridge. Ont., while on the 401 was top end the Vibe if built in speed. California. Visually, the Obviously these things Vibe echoes big brother can be removed in order to Jim Robinson Aztek. In comparison travel at the speed limit in with the Matrix, the comfort and still have Toyota is a bit more extreme and definite enough power in hand for passing. ly younger crowd skewed. The GT as tested here was a whole dif There are three Vibe models, each with ferent kettle of fish. This is a true multi its own version of Toyota's 1.8-litre in valve (four valves per cylinder) in that it line four cylinder. Bear with me as this likes to get the pistons moving, rapidly gets a bit tricky. before the power starts to come in (thus The base Vibe has the 130 hp (125 the high final drive ratio). Once you get lb/ft) engine and comes with a five-speed the engine breathing deep and clean as it manual transmission standard or four- loves to do. the GT starts to hurtle down speed automatic optional. The Vibe AWD the road at a clip you wouldn't expect (for all-wheel-drive) produces 123 hp from something in the so called 'sport(118 lb/ft) and only comes with a four- cute' segment. The engine will rev all the speed automatic transmission (with the way to 8(XX) rpm so there are no worries choice of two final drive ratios: 3.94:1 or about reserves of power. You can eat com 4.16:1). Both the Vibe and Vibe AWD petitors in the category alive with this engines are Corolla based. The Vibe GT thing, not to mention a few V6-powered has the 180 hp (130 lb/ft) out of the high soft roaders I can think of. Interestingly, er performance Celica GT and is available the GT with the big engine gives 30 mpg only with a six-speed transmission. The (9.3L/100 km) city and a full 40 mpg final drive on the (7.1L/100 km) highway. So the fuel econ GT is a tire-burning 4.53:1 which omy is there. makes for mighty quick acceleration off But the real reason why so many peo the line. ple are interested in the Vibe is utility. A Note further the Vibe and Vibe AWD knock-out is the 110-volt (yes I said volt) come with disc brakes at the front and socket on the front dash where you can drums at the rear while the GT gets four plug in your laptop, drill, even your wheel discs at all comers. ABS is option microwave on the go or at the cottage. al on the Vibe and standard on the AWD This is a really great idea and you wonder RO A DW ORTHY Above: The 2003 Pontiac Vibe, shown in GT trim, is attracting a lot of inter est from across the generations, not just younger buyers. Right: The liftgate also has a separate lift glass that opens to the cargo system with chrome anchors and eight adjustable tie-downs. why no one thought of it before. But the piece de resistance is the cargo system, and I mean system. Inside there are chrome hooks along the inside plus eight sliding tie-down anchors fitted to the flat tray cargo deck and the backs of the 60/40 rear seats that extend the flat tray loading. With the rear seats up there is 547 litres (19.8 cu. ft), of cargo capacity. With the rear seats folded down this goes to 1.533 litres (54.1 cu. ft). If you fold the front seat forward, you can load an eight-foot ladder. Access to the rear cargo is by liftglass which opens separately or the whole liftgate folds up . Suggested retail on the VIBE GT as tested was $26,550 which included just about everything GM could throw at it including the ABS and side air bags, (way cool) cellphone docking and stor age. power just about everything and remote entry, air and cruise, theatre dim ming lights (I love 'em), and the adjustable roof rack. Fitted as options were $540 for the 17inch alloy wheels and special perform ance tires. This is money well-spent as the Vibe look great with big wheels. The other was $2,160 for a DVD-driven navi gation system with six-changer CD in a tray hidden under the front passenger seat. Once you've showed your friends you can dial in their home and the voice prompts plus moving arrow on the map will lead you to their door, you've pretty well done it all. I'm sure this will appeal to many buyers, but these things still leave me cold. I don't think Pontiac is going to have any trouble selling this vehicle. Getting the message across about just how much buyers can do with the Vibe, and the fact that it's actually a cross-generational vehi cle hot just a crossover one. will be impor tant to its success. I can tell you other makers are falling over themselves to come up with com petitors. The Vibe hits the spot with price b e 'm e . well under thirty grand, economy of oper ation, utility of operation and Toyotaengineered reliability all going for it. TODAY'S BEST BUYS / 1 999 FORD WINDSTAR CARGO /T999 PONTIAC TRANSPORT^ f 2000 CHEVROLET ASTRO /1 9 9 9 PONTIAC TRANSPORT -4 . 2 TO CHOOSE FROM S tk # 9 -4 4 7 6 0 STK #9-03579 STK#9-98548 · 57.000 K M S T K # 9-6 82 2 4 · 4 8 .0 0 0 KM V S 1 0 , 9 0 0 FIN . s 1 2 7 PM T. 5 ,9 0 0 FIN. S1 8 4 PM T. \ ^ 2 ^ 9 0 ^ ^ » ^ 2 5 2 pmt / ^ O O O G M T s iE R R A lio ^ V^ 1 6 , 9 0 0 FIN . * 1 9 5 PM T. ^1 9 9 9 FORD F150 XL P / lf 8 TO CHOOSE FROM S T K #9 -7 2 1 49« 77,000 KM /T 9 9 9 GMC SIERRA 1500' 3 TO CHOOSE FROM 2000 FORD F150 XLT > V s1 7 ,9 0 0 f i n . s2 0 6 PMT V 1 5 ,9 0 0 FIN . * 1 8 4 P M T . 1 V 1 8 ,9 0 0 S T K #0-28145 · 6 2 .0 0 0 KM FIN. * 1 9 5 PM T. \2 2 ,9 0 0 S T K # 0 -1 70 0 0 · 6 0 ,0 0 0 KM f in . s2 6 5 p m t . J v 1 2 ,9 0 0 f in . si 4 a> M T . fill ¥ IIM C O M P A C T CA R S 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE GT Stk#0-56360 71.000 k m . . . . $13,900 1999 CHEV MALIBU Stk#9-61180 65,000km . . . $13,900 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE Stk#8-21717 88,000 km . . . $9,900 1999 BUICK CENTURY LTD $15,900 Stk#9-85970 ......................... 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO GX Stk#9-46584 ......................... $12,900 2000 FORD FOCUS SE $12,900 Stk#0-09799 ......................... 1999 FORD CONTOUR SE $11,900 Stk#9-75483 60,000 km . . . . 1999 PONTIAC SUNFIRE SE Stk#9-21772 63,000 km . .. $11,900 1999 SATURN SC2 Stk#9-82193 68,000 k m . . . $12,900 1999 SATURN SL2 Stk#9-76205 65,455 k m ..................$11,900 1999 FORO CONTOUR SE ^ ,,,,,, Stk#9-75483 .................................... $11,900 1999 FORD ESCORT SE Stk#9-37002 68,000 km . $9,900 1998 FORD ESCORT ZX2 Stk#8-58410 70,000 k m . $9,900 1998 CHEV CAVAUER Stk#8-90227 60,000 km . .. $9,900 Fin. Fin. Fm Fin. Fin Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin. m $161 Pmt. $161 Pmt. $117 Pmt. $184 Pmt. $149 Pmt. $149 Pmt, $139 Pmt. $139 Pmt. $149 Pmt. $139 Pmt. $139 Pmt. $117 Pmt. $117 Pmt. $117 Pmt. 1999 SAAB 9-5 Stk#9-72806 23,000 km . . . 1999 MAZDA MILLENIA S Stk#9-10659 48,000 km . . . 1998 VW GOLF Stk#8-23800 99,000 km . . . 1999 SAAB 9-3 SE Stk#9-04676 75,000 km .. 1997 VOLVO 850 SE Stk#7-99817 9 9 ,0 0 0 k m ... 1999 VW JETTA TDI Stk#9-63673 55,000 k m .. 1997 INFINITI Q45 Stk#7-06720 ......... 1995 SAAB 900CSE Stk#5-09704 99,000 km .. RECEIVE BACK T H E SELLING PRICE OF YOUR VEHICLE!! I f Y O U P U R C H A S E A V E H IC LE A T A U T D P A H K S U P E R S T O R E , R E TW E E N N O W A N O S E P T f M K I R 2 H T H , 2 0 0 2 , Y O U R N A M E W IL L RE E N TER EU IN A R A N D U M D R A W . IF Y O U R N A M f IS C H O S E N Y O O W IL L R E C E IV E R A C K T H E S E L L IN G P R IC E OE Y O U R V E H IC L E . $29,900 $22,900 $11,900 $19,900 $16,900 $19,000 $16,900 Fin Fin. Fin. Fin Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin $342 Pmt. $263 Pmt. $139 Pmt, $228 Pmt. $195 Pmt. $228 Pmt. $195 Pmt. INQUIRE LUX U R Y C A R S 2001 LINCOLN LS $35,900 Stk#1 -01747 55,000 k m. . 1999 BUICK PARK AVE. $24,900 Stk#9-32452 59,000 k m. . 1999 CADILLAC CATERA $21,900 Stk#9-06831 48,000 k m. , 2002 Ford T-Bird $59,900 Stk#2-03417 .................... 1999 CADILLAC STS Stk#9-37989 ..................................... $26,900 1999 OLDS AURORA Stk#9-11464 92 ,0 00km ................ $19,900 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE _ ,,,,,, Stk#9-23818 .................................... $17,900 1999 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR stk#9-2oo49 68.000 km........... $39,900 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER LTD Stk#7-23821 ..................................... $20,900 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT _ ,,,,,, Stk#9-54392 .................................... $15,900 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT Stk#2-24734 14,000 k m ............. $31,900 2000 GMC JIMMY SLS Stk#0-17839 83,000 k m ............. $16,900 2000 CHEV BLAZER LS $19,900 Stk#0-86857 60,000 k m ........... 1999 ISUZU TROOPER $21,900 Stk#9-00140 85,000 k m ........... 1999 GMC YUKON $28,900 Stk#9-73364 62,000 k m ........... 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER $20,900 Stk#7-23821 99,000 k m ........... 1999 IZUSU RODEO $18,900 Stk#9-00987 72,000 k m ......... 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER CHILK $20,900 Stk#9-08701 79,000 k m ............ 1999 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA Stk#9-05997 73,000 k m ...................$ 1 5 , 9 0 0 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER nnn Stk#9-03604 50,000 k m ................... $ 2 1 , 9 0 0 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE _ ,,,,,, $ 1 5 ,9 0 0 Stk#8-06893 86 ,0 00km .. Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin. 1998 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER Stk#8-85856 41,000 k m .............. $34,900 Fin. $399 Pmt. $263pmt. $285 Pmt. Inquire pmt. P IC K U P S 2000 FORD F150 XLT EXT $22,900 Stk#0-17000 ...................... 2000 GMC SIERRA SL $24,900 Stk#0-44523 51,000 k m. . 19 99FORDF15 0 XL Stk#9-03513 84,000 k m .................... $ 1 7 , 9 0 0 1999 FORD F150 XL ... Stk#9-36647 59,000 k m ....................$ 1 6 , 9 0 0 Fin. Fin. $285 Pmt. $252 Pmt. Inquire Pmt. ,, . . Rn. $ 2 0 6 Pmt Rn. $ 1 9 5 Pmt. $309 Pmt. $228Pmt. $206 Pmt. ,,,,,,,, W ORK CARGO VANS 2000 FORD E350 CUBE TRUCK Stk#0-61272 ..................................... $26,900 1999 FORD WINDSTAR CARGO ,, ,, Stk#9-44760 ..................................... $10,900 1999 FORD ECONOLINE E250 $16,900 Stk#9-8669 110,000 k m , . . . 1998 FORO E350 CUBE TRUCK . . . nnn Stk#8-54957 129,000 k m ................ $ 2 1 , 0 0 0 Fin. Rn. Fin. $309Pmt. $128Pmt. $195 Pmt. $10,900 ^K aE B E Z H Z Z E IM POR TS & EUROPEAN 1999 JAGUAR VANDEN PUS Stk#9-56933 ..........................$47,900 Fin. InqUir&Pmt 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA ,, r ,,,,,, Stk#0-02549 ..................................... $25,900 Fin. $297 Pmt. 1999 VOLVO S70 nnn $24,900 Fin. $285 Pmt. Stk#9-08139 ............... 2000 ACURATL 3.2 Stk#0-20102 87,000 k m ..............$26,900 Fin. $309 Pmt. 1997 INFINITY 130 Stk#7-14761 ..................................... $16,900 Fin. $195 Pm: 2001 VOLVO S60 2.4L Stk#1-62719 32.000 k m ....................$34,900 Fin. $399 Pmt. 1999 SAAB 9*3 Stk#9-69967 6 4 ,0 0 0 k m ... $19,900 Fin. $228 Pmt. 1999 SAAB 9-5 ,,,,,, Stk#9-00552 ............................. .. .$19,900 Fin. $228 Pmt. 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE Stk#0-30082 .....................................$ 1 6 , 9 0 0 1999 CHRYSLER CONCORDE LXI $15,900 Stk#9-94181 ........................... 2000 CHRYSLER INTREPID ES $14,900 Stk#0-44151 ........................... 1999 MERCURY SABLE LS $14,900 Stk#9-27302 72,000 km . . . . 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE Stk#9-11390 56,000 k m ......... $13,900 1998 MERCURY SABLE GS Stk#8-28736 86,000 k m ....................$ 1 0 , 9 0 0 S P O R T U T IL IT Y 4 X 4 'S Fin. $ 1 9 5 P m t. Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin. In q u irepm t. $184 Pmt $172 Pmt. $172 Pmt. $161 Pmt. Fin. $239 Pmt. Fin. $184 Pmt. Fin. Fin Fin. Fin Fin. Fin. Fin. Fin Fin. $ 2 5 2 Pmt. -- r a w 1:: : i w :a -- $365 Pmt. $195 Pmt. $228 Pmt. $252 Pmt. $331 Pmt. $243 Pmt, $217 Pmt. $243 Pmt. Fin. $ 1 2 7 Pmt. i-- i-- III1 1 I 11 I Fin. $ 2 8 5 Pmt Fin. $ 2 8 5 Pmt. Fin. $ 1 8 4 Pmt. Fin. $ 2 2 8 Pmt. Fin. $ 2 1 7 Pmt. , Fin. Inquire Pmt. Fin. Inquire pmt. 2001 FORD MUSTANG C0NV Stk#1-85062 18,000 k m ....................$ 2 4 , 9 0 0 2001 FORD MUSTANG C0NV Stk#1 -94658 20,000 k m ................... $ 2 4 , 9 0 0 1999 CHEV CAVALIER C0NV . Stk#9-05050 57,000 k m ....................$ 1 5 , 9 0 0 1999 DODGE AVENGER ES Stk#9-26341 55,000 k m ................... $ 1 9 , 9 0 0 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT nnn Stk#9-94930 88,000 k m ................... $ 1 8 , 9 0 0 1998 MERCEDES SL500 stk#8-60285 43,000 k m ................... $ 6 3 , 9 0 0 1998 CHEVROLET CORVETTE stk#8-29i 15 19,000 k m ................... $ 4 5 , 9 0 0 ... Fin. $ 1 8 4 Pmt. F in. $ 2 5 2 Pmt. _____ Fin $ 1 8 4 Pmt. 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX Stk#9-52120 .....................................$ 1 4 , 9 0 0 Rn. $172P m t. 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX . ,, r Stk#9-58150 76,000 k m .................. $ 1 5 , 9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 8 4 P m t. 1999OLDSSILHOUEnE Stk#9-24975 65,000 km .................. $ 1 9 , 9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 2 8 P m t. 2001 PONTIAC MONTANA Stk#1 -64355 ................ ................$ 1 7 , 9 0 0 Rn. $ 2 0 6 Pmt. 2000 CHEV ASTRO ..... Stk#0-46099 .................................... $ 1 6 , 9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 9 5 Pmt. 1999 CHEV VENTURE ,,. 4 Stk#9-14116 98,000 k m ................. $ 1 4 , 9 0 0 Rn. $ 1 7 2 P m t. 1999 CHEV VENTURE ,,. ,, Stk#9-15972 75,000 km ................. $ 1 4 , 9 0 0 Fin. § 1 7 ^ Pmt. 1999 CHEV VENTURE EXT ... ... ..._ Stk#9-06012 59,000 k m ................. $ 1 8 , 9 0 0 Rn. $ 2 1 7 Pmt. 1999 FORD WINDSTAR nnn Stk#9-92765 44,000 km ................. $ 1 8 , 9 0 0 Rn. $ 2 1 7 Pmt. 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX Stk#9-52144 63,000 km ................. $ 1 7 , 9 0 0 Rn. $ 2 0 6 P m t. 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX Stk#9-73939 61,000 km ..................$ 1 8 , 9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 1 7 Pmt. 1999 OLDS SILHOUETTE Stk#9-24975 65,000 km ..................$ 1 9 , 9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 2 8 Pmt. 'All payments are quoted, bi-weekly payments including taxes & interest and SO Down. Licence extra. Call dealer for details. "Anyone who purchases a retail vehicle from Autopark Superstore between now and September 28th, 2002 draw time, will be eligible to participate in a draw. The draw will be held at the premises of Autopark Superstore, 4315 North Service Rd.. Burlington, Ontario, on Saturday, September 28th at 3:00 p.m. The winning individual will be required to answer a skill testing question. Odds in winning are approx. 1 in 400. Call dealer for details. 'is m automotive s u p e r s t o r e AUTOPARK S U P E R S T O R E www.autoparksuperstore Email: info@autoparksuperstore 4 3 1 S B e u r v 5 i c r l i n N e g o t o r t h R n o a d 905-331 -8500 B E T W E E N A P P L E B Y A N D W A L K E R S L IN E O F F T H E Q E W IN B U R L IN G T O N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ TH E D R IV IN G FORCE W HERE S E L E C TIO N IS E V E R Y T H IN G