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DOES YOUR CAR WAX GIVE YOU BETTER PROTECTION THAN YOUR CUT-RATE CAR INSURANCE? D on't trust just anyone to insure your car, see me: r£T W ayne M cG ill 2345W yecroftRd. #21, Oakville 905-847-5671 An Oakville Beaver Automotive Feature · To advertise in this section call 905-845-3824 or Fax 905-337-5568 \ \ I I >M S I >.\Y \ l C U 'S T -28. -HX>2 · 1)1 BEST WHEELS OAKVILLE NISSAN Bob M cIn to sh 616 York St. Oakville Direct: 90S827-7191 U e lease aH makes and rtrodets. Sheer power and control with Porsche 9 1 1 By Rob Beintema SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER "So, what are you gonna say?" my co-driver asked. "Huh?" I grunted. This is the extent of my brilliant conversational repartee when I'm piloting a Porsche through the twists, turns and dippity-doo-dahs of a gnarly Niagara County road, sweating through the unsettling hiss of a slight touch of shoulder gravel, steady, hold it, hold it, carving smoothly through the comer now, straight ening and bursting into another long, empty stretch at a, um m ,. . . somewhat illegal rate of speed. Speeding? Moi? Well, let's put it this way. If we had happened upon a cop on that deserted ribbon of asphalt, he probably would have just shot me out of hand rather than stick me with a ticket big enough for him to retire his quota for the rest of the year. "So, what are you gonna write about it?" my driv ing partner persisted as I backed off the accelerator and almost physically shook off the effects of that sweet blend of sheer power and control. I quickly searched my memory for any stored hints of noticed imperfections, any 911 nit-picks or gripes forgotten or filed away, any deep insights into the character, heart and soul of this car that maybe no one else on the test drive had noticed. And gave up. "What do you think I'm gonna say?" I shrugged. "It's a Porsche. It's a great car." Well, two great cars, actually. Porsche's travelling road show, practically the entire North American test fleet, was giving Canadian journalists a taste of two of the latest evolutions of 911, two new cars that went on sale a few months ago - the 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S and the 2002 Porsche 911 Targa. Porsche's 911 lineup offers two basic configura tions - coupe or convertible (cabriolet) in either rear wheel drive or all-wheel drive. That's not counting the two high end screamers - the 911 Turbo and the recently unveiled 911 GT2, a stripped-down, spoilered, hopped-up supercar version of the Turbo that, at a quarter million price tag, most of us will only see at auto shows. From a safely roped-off distance. The morning portion of my test drive was in a decidedly more approachable, revamped all-wheel drive version of 911 - the 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. Put very simply, the Carrera 4S is the Porsche 911 Turbo without the turbo. Same body. Same brakes. Same all-wheel drive chassis. Same feature content. And a price tag about $50K lower than the 911 Turbo. Sure, there are some slight detail differences in the front spoiler, eliminated unnecessary turbo intercool er ducts and the Carrera auto-deploying wing instead of the Turbo's fixed two-piece wing. as a "T-roof" in other cars because Porsche copy righted the "Targa" name) has gone through several incarnations. This latest version offers a new, larger slidingglass roof with adjustable cloth sunscreen and, for the first time in a Porsche 911, a rear hatchback. "But the biggest difference," as Bob Carlson, media relations manager told m e ," is that the Targa is now built on the coupe platform, not the cabriolet's." That means, in theory, a more rigid platform, surer handling and performance and better overall ride quality. Even so, my driving partner and I noticed occa sional roof creaks a little too reminiscent o f my old Datsun 280ZX's T-roof peeps and groans. Cute idea. But that did it for me. Why diddle in the middle? Get the coupe or go whole hog with the cabriolet for the open-air experience, as far as I'm concerned. Despite any differences between the two models, both share a definite uptick in refinement, interior comfort and just everyday livability. Porsches used to be what I called "So what cars". Make a critique - suspension a little stiff for all day comfort, the Spartan dashboard, useless rear seats, a sound system that seemed almost an afterthought and the smiling driver would shrug and say, "So what?" Porsches were about performance. Every other concern was pushed into that crappy back seat. But like all other modem 911 models the Carrera 4S and Targa now share interior refinements to the cabin, a new 3-spoke sport steering wheel, improved HVAC venting, matte-surface switches, even, good gosh, a cupholder. More importantly, supportive seats that cradle you firmly but comfortably - even in the stiffer Turbo platform-based Carrera 4S - and add a sense of long haul GT touring ability and comfort to these serious sports machines. The latest evolutions of 911 - the 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S (above) and the 2002 Porsche 911 Targa. And, like I said, no turbo. The Carrera 4S - like all other naturally aspirated 91 Is - harnesses a new ver sion of the traditional flat-six boxer engine. A longer piston stroke has increased engine displacement from 3.4 L to 3.6 L and power is now rated at a heady 320 hp @ 6800 rpm and peak torque of 272 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm. Acceleration is steady and strong, granted, without the hair-trigger, maniac muscle immediacy of the Turbo. But hey, 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, is that anything to complain about? The Carrera 4S all-wheel drive system, coupled to a viscous multi-plate clutch mounted behind the front differential, can send anywhere from 5 to 40 percent of the power to the front wheels, taking Porsche's normally balanced surefootedness on big 18-inch wheels to an even higher plane of performance. A six-speed manual transmission is standard. I had snagged the only optional Tiptronic car in the fleet, just to try it out, but, admirable as this option might be for the stop-and-go commuter crowd, neither of us, stick-and-clutch traditionalists ever really got com fortable with the steering wheel-mounted rocker switch system style of shifting. There was an audible sigh of relief as we settled into our second test ride of the day - a 2002 911 Targa with the welcome standard shifter. The Targa offers a new but familiar alternative to the coupe or convertible models. Since its introduc tion in 1967, the Targa (often imitated and referred to "And we think we've completed the package by finally tackling the sound system problem," Carlson added, referring to the new BOSE audio system which, along with Bi-Xenon headlights, has turned out to be one of the more popular options. Personally, I'm just as happy listening to those wonderful engine tones but with the new audio sys tem, added interior refinement, boosted engine per formance and new model options, what's left to com plain about. Well, the price? But then, my co-driver, who lives in a far higher income bracket than I do but admits to owning a Porsche he really can't afford, takes his turn at the wheel, gooses the gas and gets the grin and glazed look that any satisfied sports car enthusiast would instantly recognize. "Expensive?" I can almost hear him saying. "So what?" f 1999 CADILLAC STS /S002 FORD T-BIRD CONV A 2001 FORD MUSTANG CONV. A 2001 LINCOLN LS /5()00 CHEV CAVALIER CO Loaded, 73 kms. Stk#9-30426 Loaded, 18 kms. Stk#1 -85062 Loaded, 55 kms. Stk#1-01747 Loaded, 69 kms. Stk#0-03537 V $3 1 , 9 0 0 FIN. * 3 6 9 PMT. V 5 8 . 9 0 0 v 2 3 , 9 0 0 FIN. * 2 7 4 PMT. v 3 5 , 9 0 0 INQUIRE 7 , 9 0 0 FIN. * 2 0 6 PMT. A 999 CADILLAC DEVILLE" A 1999 CADILLAC STS Am FORD MUSTANG 0 Loaded, 35 kms. Stk#9-11421 Am FORD MUSTANG CO Loaded. Stk#9-48808 /T997 CADILLAC CATERA' Loaded. Stk#9-80215 Loaded. 64 kms. Stk#7-18059 V 2 3 . 9 0 0 F I N . * 2 7 4 PMT. V 2 4 . 9 0 0 FIN. * 2 8 5 PMT. V * 1 9 , 9 0 0 FIN. * 2 2 8 PMT. v y 9 , 9 0 0 FIN. * 2 2 8 PMT. V 1 7 , 9 0 0 FIN. * 2 0 6 pm t. PMB-- COM PACT CARS 1999 HYUNDAI TIBERON SE Stk#9-46446 ............................... $ 1 0 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 1 2 7 Pmt. 1998 MAZDA PROTEGE Stk#8-18360 ............................. $ 9 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 1 1 7 Pmt. 1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE GS Stk#6-11005 ............................. ..$ 7 ,9 0 0 Fin. $98pmt. 2000 SATURN SC2 $ 1 3 ,9 0 0 Fin $16 1 Pmt. Stk#0-75835 51,000 k m ............ 1998 HYUNDAI ACCENT SPORT Stk#8-75094A 44,000 km . . . . . $ 7 ,9 0 0 Fin. $98Pmt. 1999 CHEV CAVALIER CONV Stk#9-02028 75,000 k m ............ $ 1 5 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 8 4 Pmt. 1999 BUICK CENTURY LT0 Stk#9-85970 ............................... $ 1 5 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 8 4 Pmt. 2000 FORD FOCUS SE Stk#0-09799 ............................... $ 1 2 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 4 9 Pmt. 1999 FORD CONTOUR SE Stk#9-75483 60,000 k m ............ $ 1 1 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 1 3 9 Pmt. 1998 HYUNDAI TIBUR0N SE Stk#8-01625 82,000 k m ............ $ 1 2 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 1 4 9 Pmt. 1999 CHEV CAVALIER Z24 CONV. Stk#9-05050 57,000 k m ............ $ 1 5 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 1 8 4 Pmt. 1999 SATURN SL2 Stk#9-76205 65,455 K m ...., $ 1 1 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 1 3 9 Pmt. 1 9 9 9 CHEVMALIBU . . . . . . . Stk#9-39228 34,000 k m ..................... $ 1 3 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 6 1 Pmt. 1998 MAZDA PROTEGE SE . . . Stk#8-74960 82,000 k m ..................... $ 1 1 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 3 9 Pmt. IM P O R T S & E U R O P E A N 1997 NISSAN MAXIMA Stk#7-16655 88,000 km . . . $ 1 5 ,9 0 0 Fin. $184pmt. 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA Stk#0-02549 ........................ . $ 2 5 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 9 7 Pmt. 2000 JAGUAR S-TYPE 4.0L Stk#0-12430 62,000 k m ..................... $ 3 9 ,9 0 0 Fin.Inquire Pmt. 1 9 9 7 INFINITY 130 . . . Stk#7-14761 ........................................$ 1 6 ,9 0 0 Fin. $195Pmt. 2001 VOLVO S60 2.4L Stk#1-62719 32,000 k m .................... $ 3 4 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 3 9 9 Pmt. 1999 SAAB 9-3 Stk#9-69967 64,000 k m ..................... $ 1 9 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 2 8 Pmt. 1999 ACURATL 3.2 Stk#9-06775 50,000 k m ..................... $ 2 6 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 3 0 9 Pmt. 1994 VW JETTA RL9 Stk#9-90203 60,000 k m ..................... $ 2 1 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 5 2 Pmt. 1999 MAZDA MILLENIA S S tk#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 99,000 km 1999 VW JETTA TDI Stk#9-63673 55,000 km 1997 INFINITIQ45 Stk#7-06720 ................. 2000 VW JETTA GLS TDI Stk#0-66314 42.000 km RECEIVE BACK T H E SELLING PRICE OF YOUR VEHICLE!* II YO U P U R C H A S E A VEH ICLE AT A U T O P A R K S U P E R S T O R E , RETW EEN N U W A N U S E P T E M B E R 2 R T H , 2 0 0 2 , Y O O R N A M E W ILL RE ENTERED IN A R A N D O M D R A W . IF Y O O R N A M E IS C H O S E N YOD W ILL RECEIVE R A C K THE SELLIN G P R IC E OF Y O O R V E H IC LE. $ 2 2 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 2 6 3 Pmt. $ 1 1 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 3 9 Pmt. $ 1 9 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 2 2 8 Pmt. $ 1 6 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 1 9 5 Pmt. $ 1 9 ,0 0 0 Fin $ 2 2 8 Pmt. $ 1 6 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 9 5 Pmt. . .$ 2 1 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 5 2 Pmt. Fin. $ 1 9 5 Pmt. Fin. $ 1 7 2 Pmt. Fin. $ 1 8 4 Pmt. Fin. $ 1 7 2 Pmt. Fin $ 1 6 1 Pmt. Fin. $ 1 2 7 Pmt. 2001 LINCOLN LS nnn Stk#1-01747 55,000 k m ......................$ 3 5 ,9 0 0 Fin. 1999 BUICK PARK AVE. M l .. . Stk#9-32452 59,000 k m ................... $ 2 4 ,9 0 0 Fin. 1999 JAGUAR XJ8 Stk#9-62972 61,000 km .................... $ 3 9 ,9 0 0 Fin. 1999 CADILLAC STS s m 37989 $ 2 6 ,9 0 0 Fin. 1999 OLDS AURORA nnn Stk#9-11464 9 2 ,0 0 0 km...................$ 1 9 ,9 0 0 Fin. 1999 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SE _ ,, Stk#9-23818 ............... , . . . $ 1 7 , 9 0 0 Fin. 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE stk#<w 757a ss nnn km S 2 7 . 9 0 0 Fin S P O R T U T IL IT Y * X 4 T S . . Inquire Pmt. 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER $ 2 1 ,9 0 0 F in $ 2 5 2 Pmt. Stk#9-03604 50,000 k m . P IC K U P S 1999 GMC SIERRA K1500 EXT CAB . _________ Stk#9-14194 ....................................... $ 2 2 ,9 0 0 Fin. $263pmt. 1999 FORD F250 XLT EXT CAB Stk#9-56632 ........................... $ 2 8 5 Pmt. Inquire Pmt. $ 3 0 9 Pmt , noo $ 2 7 ,9 0 0 Fin $319pm t $228p m t. $ 2 0 6 Pmt. S319 1 1999 FORD RANGER XLT .,,_ w n i Stk#9-69245 ...................................... $ 1 5 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 8 4 p mt. 1999 FORD F150 XL Stk#9-36647 5 9 , 0 0 0 k m . ... $ 1 6 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 9 5 Pmt. W ORK CARGO VAN S 2000 FORD E350 CUBE TRUCK Stk#0-61272 ........................... 1998 FORD CUBE 16FT Stk#8-66117 100,000 k m . . . n n n 2000 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE Stk#0-30082 ........................... $ 1 6 ,9 0 0 2000 INTREPID ES Stk#0-44151 ; .... $ 1 4 ,9 0 0 1999 CHEV LUMINA Stk#9-28962 11,000 k m . . . . $ 1 5 ,9 0 0 1999 MERCURY SABLE LS $ 1 4 ,9 0 0 Stk#9-27302 72,000 km . . . 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA GXE Stk#9-11390 5 6 , 0 0 0 k m . . . . $ 1 3 ,9 0 0 1998 MERCURY SABLE GS Stk#8-28736 86,000 k m ..................$ 1 0 ,9 0 0 1999 CHEVROLET CORVETTE COUPE , Stk#9-17441 28,000 k m ................... $ 4 4 ,9 0 0 Fin. Inquire Pmt. 1999 MAZDA MIATAMX-S to o nnn to c o Stk#9-18434 44,000 k m ................... $ 2 2 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 6 3 Pmt. 2001 FORD MUSTANG CONV M l . . . .nnr Stk#1-85062 18,000 k m ................... $ 2 4 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 8 5 Pmt. 2001 FORD MUSTANG CONV .,, , nnr Stk#1-94658 20,000 k m ................... $ 2 4 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 8 5 Pmt. 1999 CHEV CAVALIER CONV Stk#9-05050 57,000 k m ...................$ 1 5 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 8 4 Pmt. 1999 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GT Stk#9-94930 88,000 k m $ 1 8 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 1 7 Pmt. 1998 MERCEDES SL500 Stk#8-60285 43,000 km . . . .............. $ 6 3 ,9 0 0 Fin. Inquire pmt. I -- I 1 n n n ------------------ n n n 2001 FORD EXPLORER SPORT .$ 2 1 ,9 0 0 Stk#1-73971 ........................... 1999 FORD EXPLORER SPORT .$ 1 9 ,9 0 0 Stk#9-84949 .......................... 1999 GMC JIMMY SLE .$ 1 9 ,9 0 0 Stk#9-61297 7 5 ,0 0 0 k m ... 1 9 9 9 ISUZU RODEO .$ 1 8 ,9 0 0 Stk#9-00987 72,000 km. .. 1 9 9 9 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR .. . · Stk#9-32145 70,000 km ..................... $ 3 9 ,9 0 0 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER .. . Stk#9-81118 78,000 km...................$ 2 2 ,9 0 0 1999 FORD EXPLORER XLT Stk#8-50394 ........................................ $ 1 8 ,9 0 0 1998 SUZUKI SIDEKICK JX Stk#8-05224 99,000 km ...................... $ 9 ,9 0 0 2002 FORD ESCAPE XLT Stk#2-24734 14,000 k m .................. $ 3 1 ,9 0 0 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE LTD Stk#9-56371 72,000 k m ..................... $ 1 9 , 9 0 0 2000 CHEV BLAZER LS . . . . . . Stk#0-86857 60,000 k m .................... $ 1 9 ,9 0 0 1999 GMC YUKON .,, Stk#9-73364 62,000 k m ..................... $ 2 8 ,9 0 0 $ 2 6 ,9 0 0 Fin. $309pmt. .$ 2 1 ,9 0 0 Fin. $252pmt. Fin. $252pmt. Fin. $228pmt. Fm. $ 2 2 8 Pmt. Fin. $217pmt. 1998 FORD CUBE 16FT Stk#8-54957 ....................................... $ 1 9 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 2 8 Pmt. PASSENGER VANS 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX Stk#9-52120 ...................... 1999 FORD WINDSTAR Stk#9-32978 8 9 ,0 0 0 k m .. 1999 CHEV ASTRO LS Stk#9-86025 6 1 ,0 0 0 k m .. 1999 PONTIAC TRANSPORT Stk#9-14840 73,000 km . . 2000 CHEV ASTRO Stk#0-46099 ...................... 1999 CHEV VENTURE Stk#9-14115 ...................... 1999 CHEV VENTURE Stk#9-15972 7 5 ,0 0 0 k m .. 1999 CHEV VENTURE Stk#9-28590 8 5 ,0 0 0 k m .. 1999 CHEV VENTURE Stk#9-13371 72,000 k m . . 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX Stk#9-52144 6 3 ,0 0 0 k m .. 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX Stk#9-73939 6 1 ,0 0 0 k m .. $ 1 4 ,9 0 0 Fin. $172pmt. $ 1 4 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 7 2 Pmt. $ 1 8 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 1 7 Pmt. $ 1 6 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 9 5 Pmt. $ 1 6 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 1 9 5 Pmt. $ 1 5 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 8 4 Pmt. $ 1 4 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 7 2 Pmt. $ 1 6 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 9 5 Pmt. $ 1 3 ,9 0 0 Fin $ 1 6 1 Pmt. $ 1 7 ,9 0 0 Fin. $206pm t. $ 1 8 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 1 7 Pmt. Fin. Inquire Pmt. Fin. $263pmt. Fin. $ 2 1 7 p mt. Fin. $ 1 1 7 Pmt. Fin. $ 3 6 5 Pmt. Fin. $ 2 2 8 Pmt. n n n n n n Fin. $ 2 2 8 p mt. Pmt. Fin. $331 1996 GRAND CHEROKEE ,, .. . . . .. . Stk#6-81979 114,000 k m ...................$ 1 3 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 1 6 1 Pmt. 1999 chev b la z e r l t ' Stk#9-07129 56,000 km .... $ 1 9 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 2 8 Pmt. 1999 NISSAN PATHFINDER CHILK Stk#9-08701 79,000 km...................$ 2 0 ,9 0 0 Fin. $ 2 4 3 Pmt. 1999 CADILLAC CATERA Stk#7-18059 64,000 km................... $ 1 7 ,9 0 0 Fin. $206pmt. *AII payments are quoted, bi-weekly payments including taxes & interest and $0 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^ Burtinjton, Ontario, on^aturda^ September 28th at MO pm The winning individual will be required to answer a skill testing question. Odds in winnin^are approx. 1 in 400. Call dealer for details. A U T O P A R K S U P E R S TO R E wwwautoparksuperstore Email: info@ autoparksuperstore 4 3 1 5 North Service Road Bur ~ Iington -8500 LIN T ; i £11 1 1 BETW EEN A P P L E B Y AND W A L K E R S _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ O FF THE q e w IN B u r l i n g t o n i < - a j . i r m ~ ; i = » -h =i u -n i i : A N K I t t d i I I ' I H