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Wednesday, March 22, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C1 Ati Oakville Beaver Advertising Feature To advertise in this section call 845-3824 Fax:337-5567 Jeep Grand Cherokee combines all-terrain ruggedness with luxury and class I n a world that has been shrunk (or so I wrote at the time). Today by the Internet to not much the Grand Cherokee looks roughly more than a 15-second dial-up, the same (like I always wanted my separating the reality from the mar Tonka truck to look) but it has been keting is getting harder to do every given the best of four-wheel-drive engineering. day. The Grand Cherokee is offered North Americans want to be in two versions for more Euro in style and 2000, the Laredo and we want to be more the Limited. The like the Japanese when Laredo comes with it comes to efficiencies. Jeep's long-serving, But what North 4.0-litre in-line, sixAmericans tend to for cylinder engine that get, is we have icons produces 195 hp and that other cultures not 230 lb/ft of torque. only respect but revere Standard engine in the like the HarleyLimited is a 4.7-litre Davidsons, Navajo V8 producing 235 hp jewelry and the and 295 lb/ft or torque. Canadian Rockies. The This V8 is new, not a outstanding example is the Jeep. I doubt there Road Worthy rehash of the old 318 cu. inch OHV unit that is a culture on earth ________ that doesn't recognize the Jeep soldiered on in Chrysler service from the days of the Plymouth name or the look. To bring a long harangue to a Fury and Dodge Polara. Outwardly short conclusion, there is no doubt about the only way to tell the dif today about the viability of the ference between the two is the sig SUV. And while Mercedes-Benz nature seven-slat grille is chrome (excuse me DaimlerChrysler) may on the Laredo, body color on the be pumping out Mercedes-badged Limited. Both versions, by the way, only SUVs and Dodge-branded SUVs, the Jeep is still the name that sings are offered with a four-speed auto out as one of the true triumphs of matic transmission. If you want a five-speed manual, better look at North American culture. The Grand Cherokee goes back the Cherokee. When it comes to how you almost a decade to 1992. Amidst the sea of SUV contenders, it's want your four-wheel-drive, things hard to remember now what a get a bit complicated as one might breakthrough the Grand Cherokee expect from a leader and pioneer in the segment. The Grand Cherokee was at the time. Here we had a SUV with offers as standard its Selec-Trac decent room for up to five adults part time/full-time four-wheeland their belongings along with the drive system that requires a shift luxury of a Chrysler New Yorker lever to select modes. It is reliable JIM ROBINSON 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and is the system used by most SUVs. Next up is Jeep QuadraTrac II. This set the standard for automatic all-wheel-drive systems when introduced and allows power to be transferred from wheel to wheel as needed using a central differential. An industry first, it is now widely mimicked by other makers. New, and another industry first is the Quadra-Trac II with optional Vari-Lok axles that have speedsensing torque transfer couplings on the front and rear differentials. The Quadra drive with Vari-Lok adds $770 to the $45,215 list of the Grand Cherokee Limited as tested. To truly go into the rough, VariLok has a suspension to go with it. Gone are the old torsion bars and these have been replaced by coil springs on both Grand Laredo and Cherokee Limited which also both come with four-wheel disc brakes. Fitted to the tester was the optional ($740) Up Country Suspension kit that includes skid plate, heavy duty suspension with more serious gas shocks, P245/16-inch tires, fullsize spare, and tow hooks. The beauty of the Quadra drive system is its simplicity. Put the transfer case shift lever in 4hi or 41o and for-getta-aboudit. The sys tem (as normally used in 4 hi, or about 99 per cent of the time) is absolutely non-intmsive to the dri ver or passengers despite the con ditions on the road. An option on my test Limited was the $300 trailer towing group. With the V8's 295 lb/ft of torque and the Quadra drive system, tow ing a boat into a hard-to-get-tolake is make easy. The Class IV towing package means you can pull 6,500 lbs (2,948 kg). If you use the 4.0-litre in-line six-cylinder, the towing limit is 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg). An interesting option is the cli mate control system that relies on infrared to gauge temperature in the passenger cabin. The Limited is not limited when it comes to standard features and I dare say it is up to MercedesBenz standards when it comes to creature comforts and amenities. One of these is the HomeLink garage door/security/gate opener system while the CD with in-dash changer and concert hall sound is the equal of any system offered by anyone. The 10-disc remote CD changer, as fitted to my tester was $300. And ft is important to note Jeep has not let the significance of its icon status fritter away while try ing to keep up with the other ultra lux SUVs. Jeep markets itself as the granddaddy and leading-edge SUV and they put their claims up for anyone to test as part of what they call Jeep Culture. Whether it is learning how to 4X4 at Jeep's own training course in Maple, Ont., or one of the annu al Jeep Jamborees, owners are encouraged to bring their Jeeps along and see for themselves (with proper supervision) what real fourwheeling is all about. As far as I know Jeep is unique in this regard and it is a credit to their belief in their product. Whether up to the hubs in mud or slush, the beauty of the Grand Cherokee Limited is the passenger cocoon is so refined, that outward disturbances are there to be passed by not overcome. This is-the cru cial difference those opting for sport-cutes or soft-roaders have found out. They are nice on wet or slick roads, but they don't cut the mustard in harsh conditions. While the Jeep Cherokee Limited may be shoulder-to-shoulder with similar high-buck luxury SUVs in terms of civility, it is still a standout for its ability to provide refined accommodations when the going gets rough. After all, Jeep was bom to tack le the roughest terrain Mother Earth has to dish out. So if that's the way you want to go, why not do it with a touch of class in a Grand Cherokee Limited? CHRYSLER INTREPID 22C 3 .0L V 6 ,4 -sp e e d auto, trans.. dual, power w indo w s & locks, tilt, cruise, AM /FM /cassette, air conditioning. GRAND CHEROKEE LAREDO Fully loaded, AM/FM cassette, security alarm, fog lamps, keyless entry & much more. DODGE DURANGO Fully loaded SLT Plus with 7 passenger seating, rear air conditioning, 4.7L, V8, leather seats, CD player, ABS brakes, & much more. LEASE $0 DOWN $2500 DOWN $3500 DOW N F O R $ 412?L $ 337?£ *307^ YOUR choice S ODOW N $2500 DOWN $3500 DOWN $ 5486 5 *4715 9 $ 4407 6 ynilR choice S ODOW N $2500 DOWN $3500 DOWN *6110 3 *533" *5031 4 ...... . M 111111 I $2500 DOWN $3500 DOWN 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT Autom atic, a ir, cruise control, fog lights, alloy wheels, deep tint, and m ore Z.OL 16 valve, 132hp engine, auto, air, A M /FM /cass,, 4-wheel fully independent suspension, tilt, full console w w/centre /centre a arm rm rest, re s t 60/4 0 s p lit dual e x t p. m irrors, tinted glass, child protection rear d door oor locks, dual airbags 3.0 L V 6 ,4 -sp e e d auto, trans., tilt, dual sliding doors, 7 passenger, power w indo w s & locks, cruise, AM /FM / cassette, air cond itioning. Easy Out roller seats, suncreeen glass. m ifB B a i LEASE $0 DOWN for... ` 3 4 3 ? *270?? *241 !t YOUR * $0 DOWN CHOICE *458" $2500 DOWN *382" s3523 5 $3500 DOWN , cfloc $0 DOW N $2500 DOWN $3500 DOWN fo r `265*! '210*1 s188*i M o to r Trend Car of the Year 1999! Fully loaded, leather,AM.FM/cassette, CD, power sunroof, 17" chrome w heels, air, keyless rem ote, m em ory system m ore. A w orld class sedan! ESM 11 The ultim ate Jeep that com bines com fort in a stylish package. Fully loaded, 26K pkg., leather interior AM/FM/cassette/CD, power sunroof, m em ory setting & more. * I 'I f Fully loaded, leather interior, heated memory seats, CD player, and much much more yn ilR $0 DOWN $2500 DOWN $3500 DOWN choice *572" *497" *467" YOUR choice * S ODOW N $ 6391 2 $2500 DOWN *5622 1 $ 531M $3500 DOWN YOUR choice $0 DOW N $2500 DOW N $3500 DOW N 5600 4 09 3* *456 16 4566 Leases based on 36 mths.,20,400km/yr, excess at 12{/km. Plus freight, administration, taxes and license. Neon leases based on 48 mttis., 25,200 km/yr. excess 8(/km. Plus freight, administration, taxes and license. The place to lease or buy since 1961 m u 905-845-7575 Q cc C T 3 P> o Li_ o CD u C_3 cc s o 5 o GO 2 3 8 8 ROYAL W IND SOR DRIVE, OAKVILLE Royal Windsor Dr. -- S