Wednesday, May 5, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D8 REAL SERVICE FROM REAL PEOPLE. THAT'S STATE FARM. Don't trust just anyone to insure your car. see me: SMh Fm IMuri I <■■**! I m n . n m Wayne McGill 2345 VCyecroft Rd . #21. Oakville I 847-5671 1999.5 Nisssan Pathfinder LE Nissan Pathfinder stays ahead of the pack When you're at the pinnacle of the import sport utility vehicle mountain, you've got to keep climbing to stay on top. That's the position Nissan finds itself in with the Pathfinder. Even though it has been the top-selling V6 import SUV since it was introduced, the competition like 4Runner and Trooper keeps getting stronger. Ergo the 1999.5 Pathfinder that has been refined and face-lifted. There remain four models beginning with the entry-level XE and the sporty SE both of which have been significantly upgraded. The top-of-the-line LE is the lap of luxury. Outwardly, the Pathfinder can be identified by a simpler but more rugged-looking front end. The tail gets a redesigned life-gate and tail lights. Major improvements on this model include: □ Standard rear limited-slip differ ential on all Pathfinders. □ The standard 3.3-litre V6 now produces 170 hp and 200 ft/lb of torque. Ninety per cent of the torque comes in at 1,500 rpm. □ Coupled with the limited slip dif ferential is a revised driveshaft that helps create quieter, smoother driving. □ The rear shocks have been relo cated for improved ride and handling. □ The 15-inch tires on the previous JIM ROBINSON RoadWorthy Pathfinder are replaced by P245/70 16- inch boots on the XE and P225/65 R- 16-inch tires on the SE and LE. □ All Pathfinders now come with de-powered airbags. Side airbags are now standard on all Pathfinders with leather-faced seats. Security has been upgraded with the inclusion of an ignition immobilizer to compliment the keyless remote entry system. The power doors use Nissan Smart Doors logic that prevents the doors being locked with the key in the ignition. Power is retained by the system for 30 second to allow for closing of win dows and sunroof after the car is turned off. Headlights and interior lights switch off automatically. Canadians will be glad to know heated power door mirrors are now standard on all Pathfinders as well as having solar filter glass on the side win dows. I had the opportunity to test the 1999.5 Pathfinder at a 5,000-acre 4X4 dedicated park in Hollister, Calif. The park offers a combination of steep rocky climbs, deep sandy stretches and sharp drops where engine-braking makes you feel you're defying the laws of gravity. With torque coming in at 1,500, switching to 4Lo is reserved only for the toughest bits. One of the reasons people buy SUVs is for the outward view. In a place like Hollister, that really is important because you can come around a corner and be faced with a sheer drop-off. The run through Hollister was in a Pathfinder LE with the all-season tires. Thanks to all that torque, getting stuck was never a problem. Nissan has worked on keeping the . pricing in line with the XE starting at $33,298 and the high-lux LE at $41,499. There's no question that sport utility trucks are now attracting not just the well-heeled, but the average consumer who is being won over to an ever- expanding SUV world. For those who find "sport-cutes" to small and big boys like Tahoe and Expedition too large, the mid-size Pathfinder continues the formula that keeps it as the king-of-the-hill of import V6 SUVs. A U T b o h A P H Ignition problems If your car or truck likes to stall when it rains, has poor fuel economy, misfires, or runs rough, it could be the fault of one or all of the following components, if they're not maintained.The components should be replaced if any of these conditions exists. Rotor The rotor spins inside the distributor cap and is susceptible to wear, carbon buildup and burning. Wear D is tribu to r cap Cracks in a distributor cap can lead to condensation buildup inside the cap. The result ̂ • is hard starting, stalling I L \ and rough idle. Also \ look for black burn ' trails and white powder buildup. Replace the cap, don't try to clean it. Burning P lu g w ire s Plug wires that appear damaged, either on the outside insulation, or inside the connection boot (burning) require replacement. The small hole from a testing probe also means the wire needs to be replaced. Wires should be replaced in sets. C O P Y R I G H T W H E E L B A S E C O M M U N I C A T I O N S The Nissan Enjoy the Savings Event NEW M O N TH LY LEASE ^ O r t f t / m o n t h * lease for 36 months w w Down payment only $4,075 Or $32,900 purchase price The New Nissan Pathfinder XE The #l-selling import V6 compact sport utility vehiclef • 170-HP, 3.3L, SOHC V6 engine • 5-speed manual overdrive trans. • 4-wheel All-Terrain ABS • Limited-slip differential • Air conditioning • Cruise control • Dual airbags • Remote keyless entry • Anti-theft system • Roof rack • Dark titanium-coloured bumpers • Power windows, door locks and heated mirrors • 100-watt AM/FM/CD with cassette stereo with 6 speakers Feel Good 7 . 9 5 % Leasing O.A.C. And $500 Back $ 1 , 2 0 0 ° « O r 6 .8 % Leasing O .A.C. 4 8 % F'nanc'nS O.A.C. or 0 g% Leasing O.A.C. $ 1 , 5 0 0 off O r 4 .8 % Financing O .A .C . Nissan Q uest G XE • 3 .3 L SOHC V 6 , 1 7 0 hp engine • 4-w heel anti-lock braking system • Dual sliding rear doors • 7 -passenger seatin g with sliding 3rd row se a t • Quest-Trac® flexible seatin g system • Front a ir conditioning • Power front w indow s • A M /F M s tereo casse tte • Second G eneration dual front airbags Nissan Altima GXE A four-time Consumer's Digest Best Buy • 150-H P , 2 .4 L , D 0H C 16-valve engine • 4 -speed auto m atic (overdrive) transm ission • Air conditioning • Cruise control • Power w indows, an ten na, m irrors, and S m a rt Doors"* locks • A M /F M /c a s s e tte with four speakers Maxima ES Limited Edition One of the world's ten best engines - Ward's Magazine • 190-HP, 3.0L, D0HC V6 engine • 4-speed automatic transmission • Automatic climatecontrol air conditioning • Sport-tuned suspension • Cruise control • Traction Control System • Heated sport seats • Power antenna, mirrors, windows & door locks • Anti-lock Braking System • Premium A M /FM /C D with cassette and more Nissan S e n tra X E A Consumer's Digest Best Buy for 1998 • 115-H P , 1 .6 L , 16-valve engine • 5 -sp eed m anual transm ission • XE Value Option Package: Air conditioning, 4 -s p e a k e r A M /F M , ca s s e tte , D igital clock t exactly a s shown Life is a journey. Enjoy the ride. Ask about Nissan's No-Nonsense Leasing. • P.S. A ll New Nissans Come With A 24HR Roadside Assistance Warranty * fine print. And they always wear their seatbelts. Limited-time offer. See Oakville Nissanfor details. * 48m onth lease on 1999 Sentra XE. down payment or equivalent trade of $800; 1999 Altima GXE, down payment or equivalent trade of $800; 1 9 9 9 fiSmart people always read the fine print, nno they always wear meir seatoeits. umiteo-time otter, see uakvme Nissan tor details. * 4&month lease on 1999 Sentra XE. down payment or equivalent trade of $800; 1999 Altima GXE, down payment or equivalent trade of $800; 1999 Maxima ES. down payment or equivalent trade of $3,400. 3 6 month lease on 1999.5 Pathfinder XE. down payment or equivalent trade of $ 4 .07 5 .1 st payment & security deposit due at lease signing. Sentra. Altima. Maxima and Quest leases aie beased on maximum of 96,000 km. Pathfinder lease based on maximum of 72.000 km. 48 month lease on 1999 Quest GXE. down payment or equivalent trade of $ 3 .0 0 0 ,1 s t payment & security deposit due at lease signing. All offers are O.A.C.. includes acquisition fees and excludes destination and delivery, license, insuratce and tases. f Basted on Compusearch data. January - November 1998. O A K V ILLE NISSAN Celebrating 25 Years o f Excellent Service. • SALES -ACCESSORIES - LEASING FACTORY PARTS - SERVICE -TIRES 1450 SPEERS ROAD, OAKVILLE 827-1177 MON.-THURS. 9-9. FR1 & SAT. 9-6