Wednesday, March 28, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D1 See me before you purchase or lease \oiir next vehicle E w an M cG regor 8 4 5 -7 5 7 5 G CHRYSLER lenleven · DODGE C h r y sler · JEEP 2388 Royal Windsor Dr., 845-7575 An Oakville Beaver Advertising Feature To advertise in this section call 8 4 5 -3 8 2 4 Chrysler300M: Canadian-builtEuropean luxury hrysler has, for more than a decade, set the automo tive world on its ear with distinctive styling that has the power to capture North American sensibilities. From the Prowler to the Ram truck to the Viper and the PT Cruiser, Chrysler consistently stole the annual Detroit Auto Show away from the other mak ers, garnering world-wide respect for their designs, not to mention dom inating the a u to m o tiv e ____________ news coming C JIM ROBINSON - B H K 9H H 0 f out o f w hat is the m ost i m p o r t a n t riT i auto show of 1 the year. Chrysler is also adept at ____________ platform and transforming it into many differ ent things. W here some car companies talk about making each of their products different from its siblings, Chrysler really does. For instance the Bramalea plant takes one platform and produces four cars from it, the Intrepid, LHS, Concorde, and the as tested here 300M. It picks up on the "letter series" of Chiysler sedans that The Chrysler 300M's unmistakable styling is made even began in 1955 when a 300 hp on regular gas (mid-range sug up. This is very helpful, as one version of the "Hemi" V8 was gested). Transport Canada lists of the drawbacks of the 300M put in a Windsor sedan and the fuel ratings at 13.1L/100 km has been the very high deck lid called the 300 after the output. (22 mpg) city and 8.4L/100 km made necessary by keeping the From 1955 until the 300L in (34 mpg) highway. car to under five metres in 1965, the big Chryslers were For 2001, much remains the length to meet European taxa cars to be reckoned with at any same. The main gauges (fuel, tion rules. stoplight. On the track, temp, tach, speedo) are black on Chrysler has done away with NASCAR banned the 300 a white face and they look very the 16-inch wheels of before and because it was too fast com French retro, as if they'd just now fits 17-inch aluminum pared to the competition. come out of a Delage or Talbot- wheels as standard with chrome The car is also of special Lago. At night the white turns plating an option. interest to me because the luminescent blue like a Timex Also part of the 300M pack 300M, along with its Intrepid, watch. The centre console, how age is Chrysler's AutoStick auto Concord and LHS sisters are ever, has a very Chrysler mini matic transmission. With the built only in Bramalea, Ont. It's van look and feel to it, and lever in "D" it acts like a normal important to note that C hrysler's seems out of place. four-speed lock up. most prestigious sedans are But you forget all that when Pull the level back one notch being entrusted to Canadian you walk up to this car. It is sim and you come to a transverse hands. ply one of the prettiest shapes gate with a on the left, a "+" Touted as a high-lux going - period. on the right. European-style touring sedan, at The Deep Blue Sapphire This allows sequential shift a list price of $40,900 ($43,060 Pearl Coat (new hue for 2001) ing up and down under control as tested) it's up against some paint scheme really showed off of the driver. serious competitors like Audi the huge, sculpted headlights These sequential boxes have A6, Acura 3.2 TL, Mazda and Chrysler's signature jutting their uses on steep grades or in Millenia and Volvo S80. lower jaw bumper line. For snow/slush, but I just like "D" so But while the price is in the 2001, bright trim has been added I can concentrate on the road, middle of the Euro-sedan brack around the window lines that without having to guess what et, interior size puts it way up increases the impact of the gear I'm in. with the BMW 7-Series and the swoopy rear deck and re At the suggested list of Mercedes-Benz E-Class. The enforces the dramatic lines of $40,900 there are few options. trunk offers 476-litres (16.8 cu. the "cab-forward" architecture. However my tester came with ft) of volume, enough for a com FYI, the outside remote the $315 Performance Handling plete set of designer luggage. power mirrors now dip down Group as well as $390 for side The passenger volume for this when the car is in reverse to air bags. Shelling out $470 for five-seater is 2,973 litres (105 assist in parking when backing chrome 17-inch wheels seems cu. ft.), close to some ________ steep, but they make minivans I've driven. this car look good espe 2001 C H R Y S L E R 300M In terms of power, cially in a darker color. AT A G LAN CE the 300M uses an all Also included was a aluminum version of full-size spare and BODY STYLE: four-door sedan, front the former cast iron wheel for $200 that 3.5-litre V6, produc engine/front drive seems good value. ing 253 hp and 255 ENGINE: 3.5-litre SOHO V6 (253 hp, 255 ft/lb) Then there was $35 for FUEL ECONOMY: 13.1L7100 km (22 mpg) city, the humorously named ft/lb of torque. The 8.4/100 km (34 mpg) highway. beauty here is you get Smoker's Group which PRICE: $40,900, $43,060 as tested. Euro-like power, but is politically correct for RoadWorthytaking one more dramatic in dark colors that offset the sculpted headlights and chiseled lower jaw. lighter and ashtray. the driver's seat. system. Lastly comes the $750 The memory seat was pro The rear set arm rest has not Luxury Group that includes the grammed to go full back and one, but two coffee cup holders folding mirrors, self-dimming down. As large as I am, the and the U-shaped cargo net in rear view mirror, vehicle infor steering wheel was just barely in the trunk is doubled so you can mation centre, heated seats, and reach and I could not touch the put the groceries in between and last but definitely not least, the pedals. not have them spill over the simulated wood trim has been Punch a button, and the seat rather vast trunk floor. replaced by genuine California glides you into the driving posi Costing far less than the walnut. tion selected. Euroluxury sports touring cars Even with the prow bobbed From this point there is much North Americans seem to be to decrease front-end overhang to see inside like the trendy in hungering after, the 300M sure and the chopped-off rear, this is dash analog clock, the overhead as heck can stand the compari still a big car to wheel around. information centre with three- son to anything Europe is cur You realize this when getting in position garage door-security rently putting out. ic B o ssisa w s® T h e sales s ta ff w a n t , to m ake y o u r d a y ! DEALS LIKE NEVER BEfORE... AND PROBABLY NEVER AGAIN. f DODGE CARAVAN SE 2001JEEP GRAND CHERO M O N TH $3500 DOWN All n ew for 2001. Power window s, power locks, tilt, cruise, cassette, air, 4 doors, . sunscreen Class & more! ^ Fully loaded, 4.016 cylinder, power sunroof, heated seats, 10 disc CD player, full security A more. The benchm ark in sports u tility vehicles. $3500 DOWN Plus taxes & license. Leases based on 20,400kms/yr., 48 months. Plus taxes & license. Leases based on 20,400kms/yr., 36 m onths. 2 0 0 I ^ | /BMW R1150R Has Arrived! 487® Of I n 3.51 V6 253hp engine, leather seats, power door locks, e r windows, auto. or U f i foio vvvve auto, air,am a lr.am /fm cassette/CD cassette/O ) player and m ore SEBRINu SEDAN LX PER M O N TH $3500 d o w n 20,400kms/yr., 36 months. p,us laxes & l*cense- Leases based on tf/t purchase financing 36 mths, A.P.R. All n e w for 2001. Loaded w ith power windows, power locks, keyless entry, CD player, and so m uch m ore. Drive th is car and compare. You w o n 't believe It. 297 TM PER M ON TH $3500 DOWN Plus taxes & license. Leases based on 20,400kms/yr., 36 months. HRYSLER PT CRUISER 2001 CHRYSLER NEO $ 9 0 ROM C C C l l a S S S » . k 4 K iK u n i i · ! · · / . purchase financing ( I for 6 0 m onths on 2001 Neons ............. .. « ,, . ^ , __ __ __________ Plus taxes & license. Leases based o n 20,400kms/yr., 60 H l l l U U Plus taxes & license. A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK! Take a d v a n ta g e o f a n y o th e r eligible o ffe r a n d g e t a n a d d itio n a l $ Finance Rate [ A A m u o f f p $ C 2 A A o ff s 2 ® j u u c " eG oMK ey *i r m Budds' BMW l ^ 2400 South Service Road (905) 845-3577 www.buddsbmw.com Motorcycles ft ft ft ft ft 2388 ROYAL W IN D SOR DRIVE, OAKVILLE 9 0 5 -8 4 5 -7 5 7 5 www.glenleven.com