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D6 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: THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, October 3, 2001 II Wayne M c G ill 2345 W y c a o f T Rd. #21, Oakville 847-5671 Bob McIntosh Direct: 90 5-827-7191 W e lease all m akes and models. An Oakville Beaver Advertising Feature To advertise in this section call 845-3824 Fax:337-5567 Dodge Caravan SE delivers the goods M inivans seem to be going the way of the rest of the market with more and more "must have" features that are driving prices to $40,000 and beyond. Just this year on these pages we've looked at the Chrysler Town and Country at $50,045 as tested and the Dodge Grand Caravan Limited at a lawyer of note in that region. With the kids on board, my wife and I mar velled at how little "stuff' we lug around these days. It used to be strollers and collapsi ble play pens had to be considered. And no trip would have been possible without children's tapes by Fred Penner and wonderful old Jack Grunsky to soothe those cranky tod dlers. Well, today it's a portable CD play er for Her Majesty while Mr. Big is only concerned about having enough AA batteries around to keep his Gameboy running. Ergo, all our luggage, cooler, even a badminton net was easily stowed behind the third row seat. But with 15.1 cu ft (428 litres) it is limited. If the kids were still young, the Grand Caravan with its; 20 cu ft (508 litres) would be a better bet. Regardless, with the back seat of the SE removed, space mushrooms to 44.2 cu ft (1,252 litres) and with the second row seat out as well it balloons to 142.3 cu ft (4,030 litres) which is big in anybody's books. The beauty of this minivan is that it provides so many utilitarian options for a family. While regular readers know of my penchant for station wagons, I have to admit that the Caravan SE meets just about every demand a family can make and at a price that many can aspire to at the same time. And I guess that's why DaimlerChrysler continues to be the leader, not just in terms of overall sales, but understanding and giving consumers what they want. JIM ROBINSON Road Worthy $42,570, both before 15 per cent taxes. That's big money no matter how you look at it and a daunting amount to a young family. While the segment includes only a few competitors like Mazda MPV, the so called "standard" wheelbase mini vans remain steady sellers. Today, most minivan offerings are in the "extended" category because they have a floor long enough to con tain that litmus test of minivan envy, the 4X8 sheet of sheetrock or plywood. I have yet to personally know anyone who put slabs of sheetrock in their van. Besides the mess, the springs and shocks can only take so much. But that's another story and hardly germane to the 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan SE tested here. In DaimlerChrysler speak "Grand" means it's an extended model. And while there are several variations on the Grand Caravan theme, the Caravan comes in the base SE and Sport that gets extras like dual zone air whereas the SE gets manual air. There are other things, like no overhead console and The 2001 Dodge Caravan SE is the "entry" level DaimlerChrysler minivan, but it comes packed with many features.. illuminated vanity mirrors; but on the get the patented Easy Out Roller Seats. Caravan. whole, the SE comes fairly well With one movement, the second and The 3.3-litre transmits power to the equipped starting at $26,395 for open third row seats fold; and with another, front wheels though a four-speed elec ers and $28,160 as tested. FYI options they pop up out of their retainer locks tronic automatic transmission. This included in the final price included and can be rolled out on wheels. It is combination does allow for some tow $650 for side airbags, $570 for four- simple and clean. The back row*of ing. With two people on board includ wheel antilock braking, $310 for load seats have a series of grocery bag ing luggage, the SE will tow 1,800 lbs levelling and height control, and $255 hooks that really work. (816 kg). Another nice touch that no other for the AM/FM radio with CD chang With six or seven on board includ er. . maker has yet copied is the three wide ing luggage, the SE will still haul Included as no charge options on heater strips imbedded along the lower 1,000 lbs (454 kg)'. The latter may be the SE are power locks, heated outside portion of the front windshield. In win true, but check with your dealer first. mirrors (pretty good at this price), ter, this makes sure that ice and snow O f course, hauling people is what a cruise control, and power windows. build-up on your wipers when they are minivan is all about and the SE proved Much of the reason why Chrysler at rest can be removed with one swipe. perfect for a day trip down to Port continues to represent 50 per cent of all And speaking of winter, an engine Dover to visit with an old grade minivans sold, is not only did they get block heater is also standard on all school/high school buddy who is now out of the gate first, they have kept that Dodge minivans including the SE. lead by making sure its target buyers The standard engine is a 3.3-litre get the amenities they not only need, V6 producing 180 hp and 210 lb/ft of but desire. torque. There is a 3.8-litre V6 as well, For instance, all Dodge minivans but it is only offered in the Grand Receive 10% off Parts & Labour on Brake Repairs with this coupon. PECIAL i I | A U T O I 1 P I How to choose larger wheels and tires il system readings c i power height c combination is taller or shorter than what came from the factory. There is a general rule of thumb that helps. Called Plus Sizing, you simply add one tire size and reduce the aspect ratio by one unit for each inch in wheel diameter increase. The example below shows how it works. For your exact application, consult a shop that specializes in wheel and tire upgrades. You'll note that with each successive size increase, the overall height (diameter) of the new combination is the nearly identical to the factory wheels and tires. Eastside Auto Service Coupon must be presented when vehicle dropped off for service Limited Expires November 2/01 Factory wheels and tires 2 4 .7 " Aftermarket wheels and tires K H H l Aftermarket wheels and tires 2 4 .8 " IM I' t f Aftermarket wheels and tires 2 4 .4 " '95 Mercury Mystique LS 2.5L 6-cyl., auto, p.m., air, p.w/1., AM/FM cass., cruise, ABS, certified & emissions passed, 140,478k, 3-mth, 3,000k powertrain M M B warranty included S V U U Ik (additional warranty available)., * 1 )9 3 9 Wheel: 14"x6" Tire: 195/70-14 Wheel: 15 " x7" Tire: 205/60-15 With each `Plus,' wheel width increases to match the increase in section width Wheel: 16"x6.5" Tire: 225 50-16 Wheel: 17"x7" Tire: 235/40-17 With each `Plus', the section width of the tire (in millimeters) increases by one step (usually 10 mm). '96 Dodge Stratus ES 2.5L 6-cyl., auto, p.mirrors., tilt, air, p.w./l., AM/FM cass., certified and emissions passed, only 49.000k, 3-mth, 3,000k powertrainAl A A A H warranty incl. (additional p | y J warranty available) With each step, the aspect ratio (the ratio of sidewall to section width expressed as a per cent) decreases to compensate for the increase in wheel diameter. COPYRIGHT WHEELBASE COMMUNICATIONS N Drive Clean R epair C entre I -<crv=>' Q .E.W . N W -|" E | | S. S E R V IC E RD. uj l AUTO SERVICE 573 Chartwell Rd. OAKVILLE With each `Plus,' the wheel diameter increases one inch. J s < CORNWALL RD. ° u31 SPEERS RD. " (905) 844-9641 M up to 4 8 m onths. O.A.C. purchase fin a n cin g on m a jo rity o f vehicles 2 0 0 2 N O W >N STOCK FOR IM M EDIATE DELIVERY as lo w a s . 08%purchase ps- fin a n cin g oac 2388 Royal W insdor Dr., Oakville 905.845.7575 (a t ^ r d Drive) w w w .g lenleven .co m s t a r f iv e LOCKWOOD CHRYSLER 175. W y e c r o f t R o a d , O a k v ille 905.845.6653 (b e tw e e n Kerr & D orval) w w w .lo c k w o o d c h ry s le r.c o m f iv e s t a r GLENLEVEN CHRYSLER Visit these D e a le r s h ip s ^ & © & © C e r tifie d © d d © 6 C e r tifie d