Wednesday, August 15, 2001 IS YOUR GARAGE PROTECTING YOUR CAR BETTER THAN YOUR BARGAIN-RATE INSURANCE? Don' t trust just anyone to insure your car, see me: THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D1 Wayne McGill 2345 V ^croft Rd. #21, Oakville 847-5671 W e le a s e a ll m a k e s a n d m o d e ls . An Oakville Beaver Advertising Feature To advertise in this section call 845-3824 Fax:337-5567 Dreaming a little with Jeep Liberty Turning dream vehicles into reality is something DaimlerChrysler does better than just about everyone. Case in point is the 2002 Jeep Liberty as tested. It is a blend of two concept vehicles. The first was the Dakar shown in Detroit in 1997. More of an updated TJ with four doors, it did show Chrysler (as it was then) intended to bring in something under Grand Cherokee as a possible replacement for the Cherokee. The other 1997 concept was the Jeepster. Sort of a dune buggy with unmistakable Jeep influences, this was also V8 powered. I actually drove the Jeepster and came away con vinced it would be built and be Road Worthy the fourth Jeep in the lineup. Well, I was part right and part wrong. The Liberty is largely based on the Jeepster, but it is not designed to supplant Cherokee, but be the fourth model in the line up. One thing for sure, the interior of the Liberty is all Jeepster. Large gauges with black on beige graphics, round knobs for sec ondary controls and deep sculpted doors are all Jeepster. In hindsight, the pugnacious two-door Jeepster designed really for two to travel comfortably made little sense with the rise of pla toons of mid-size SUVs like Escape, Tribute, Santa Fe and the list Unmistakably a Jeep, the 2002 Liberty Limited pulls together 60 years of 4WD experience along with the latest creature com goes on seemingly endlessly. forts and its slick tailgate that lets the bottom panel swing out while the glass window pops up for easy access. Liberty is equipped with a 3.7-litre V6 called the PowerTech. My test Limited had a price as tested of $36,165. Much of the six Basically a six-cylinder version of the 4.7-litre V8 used in the seems like the better buy. If I wanted a 4WD Jeep but at a more Grand Cherokee, this V6 belts out a healthy 210 hp and 225 ft/lbs of affordable price, Cherokee is a valid option and so is the TJ espe grand extra came in the form of the $4,120 27G Package. While the kitchen sink wasn't part of the deal, just about everything else was torque. That kind of grunt allows up to 5,000 lb. (2,268 kg.) to be cially if you like bushwacking. Mind you, Liberty is still all-Jeep and that means it absolutely has like mini overhead control, deep tint sunscreen glass, power/heat towed by the Limited Edition no problem. Currently the only model offered is the Liberty Limited Edition to be able to crawl up and down rocks even if less than one per cent ed/folding remote mirrors, premium leather, security system, Selectwith V6 starting at $28,400. Later this year a 2.4-litre inline four- of Libertys ever sold will ever venture off a gravel road. Liberty can Trac, concert sound system with six speakers and a six-disc remote cylinder will be added called the Liberty Sport. Priced at $22,600, ford streams up to 20 inches deep at 10 mph. The snub nose offers a CD. Added to that was $885 for the Off Road Group, $850 for the 38.2 degree angle of approach while the rear is even better at a 32.4 power sunroof, $640 for the four-wheel disc brakes with ABS sys the Sport has 150 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque. tem, $480 for the trailer towing package, $450 for side airbags, and There is no mistaking this as anything else but a Jeep, especially degrees angle of departure. Now I mentioned at the top that the base price of the Liberty $340 for heated front seats. It's like being inside a Chrysler Town & from the front. The traditional seven-slat grille, off-set by round Limited Edition is $28,400 and that results in a very desirable pack Country or LHS. The lavish interior is enough to make you forget headlights, says it all at a glance. you're in one of the best off-road luxury SUVs on the market. Like all Jeeps, Liberty is fully off-road capable. After all. Jeep set age indeed. But this is 2001 and few SUV buyers want to scrimp. One of those comforts that stands out is the innovative rear swing It may not have the size and girth of a big Dodge Durango or the the bar and they feel they have a 60-year history of being the leader gate/flipper glass door. Liberty patented this single-action gate that new class of leviathan SUVs coming from GM and Ford, but I wonder in this part of the SUV segment. In Canada both Limited and Sport are sold as 4X4, the 4X2 opens from the curb side of the vehicle for easy loading. A pull type if they, even at double and triple the sticker price, could complete the model in the US not offered here. Standard transmission is a five- latch opens the glass which flips up while the gate also swings open Rubicon Trail run every Jeep must pass before it goes on the market. The Jeep Liberty will still be seen and instantly recognized for its speed manual, with four-speed automatic an option on Limited only. and all-in-one motion. The simple way is to press the cargo door but Liberty comes standard with the Command Trac transfer case. It ton on the keyless entry fob. You have to try it to see how simple, abilities and its pedigree because the Jeep name is instantly recog nized around the world. is a part-time system that lets the driver choose 2WD, full-time 4WD yet convenient it is. high, and 4WD low. Optional is the electronic, full-time Select-Trac transfer case. In addition to 2WD and 4WD, it has a high range and low range lock capability that allows for full-time or part-time 4WD depending on conditions. Axles have open differentials at both front and rear to ensure proper grip. For those who want a limited slip rear, Jeep's Trac-Lok is an option but on the rear axle only. That all sounds pretty confusing so the simple explana tion is to drive in 2WD on dry roads, part-time 4WD high Serving Oakville for over 25 years in wet or slushy conditions. If you have to use 4WD low it will only be for the most rugged ground as 4WD high · AC · Brakes · Suspension · Tires should get you through almost anything. Transmission · Computerized Diagnostics Colleague Rob Beintema has already reviewed the p Liberty fully on these pages as well as taking a look at Jeep I i College here in the GTA, where owners can go find out i i what their machine can really do under rugged, but super I i vised, conditions. I i Thus I will stick to the urban scene/suburban scene i i where Libertys will be spending most of their lives. The 3.7-litre V6 as mentioned has 235 lb/ft of torque I i which it needs as the Liberty weighs in a 4,115 lb (1,867 I i kg) in 4WD automatic form as tested. According to the i i im m coum specifications, the 2.4-litre 4WD base model with manual j l i transmission will still weigh in at 3,826 lb (1,735 kg). I hope the 2.4 is up to the job when it comes to real off-roading. This is, after all, the same engine as in the PT Cruiser, where it feels adequate but is hardly a road rocket. I guess it's a matter of dollars and cents, but the Liberty Limited JIM ROBINSON Need a change Argus Automotive Lube, Oil fit Filter Tire Rotation Brake Inspection only $25.95 r+ The 5V/oped Expert f t 4.71 V8, le a fflW fiTM seaTlfffear air, upgraded 4x4 system, 4 wtieel ABS. trailer tow $ 0 Downpayment $ 2 5 0 0 Downpayment $ 3 5 0 0 Downpayment $ 5 5 0 . 2 lm tti $ 4 9 4 .6 9 /m th $ 4 7 2 . 4 - ° Tit Pow er sunroof, leaWUC H iroM M M M m ut 6M A nniversary badging Star m ats. $ 0 Downpayment $ 2 5 0 0 Downpayment $ 3 5 0 0 Downpayment $ 5 7 6 .4 4 /m th $ 5 2 1 . 9 8 / r r li' $ 5 0 0 .2 0 fm m mooeds are bach! The transportation phenomenon that rocked the 70s and 80 s is Ryan Driscoll sweeping the roads of Oakville. Say good bye to astronomical gas prices. owner The trendier, more powerful mopeds are back. At 210 km to the gallon and $3 or $4 to fill up the tank, this is a very affordable mode of transportation for people of all ages. You don' t need a special license to drive a moped. Any valid drivers license is all you require. Tomos mopeds travel up to 60 km/hour. They start at $2399 or $59.99 a month and come in a variety of colours. For more information or to find out about a no money down, interest or payment for 90 days deal, alloyi $ 0 Downpayment $ 2 5 0 0 Downpayment $ 3 5 0 0 Downpayment am ore. $ 4 2 7 .4 0 /m th $ 3 7 0 .8 2 m th A $ 3 4 8 .1 & m th f t $ 0 Downpayment $ 2 5 0 0 Downpayment $ 3 5 0 0 Downpayment $ 4 9 & 8 1 fm r $ 4 4 2 - 3 4 'm t h $ 4 2 0 .5 ftm th TOMOS STANDARD FEATURES · A35 Reed Valve Engine 1Auto Mix Oil Injection · 2-Speed Auto Transmission >Custom Mag Wheels · Custom Graphics ' Up to 60 km/h · Coil Spring Shocks · 1 Year Limited Warranty · CDI Electronic Ignition Dual Mirrors >High/Low Beam Headlight · Luggage Rack >Sport Tires >Induction Cowling for Engine · Turn Signals 2001 Chrysler Neon Die pnoiuni Chrysler sm all car with the features people p it in ) m jfM U e sedan; roam , power w tm m r $ 0 Downpayment $ 2 5 0 0 Downpayment $ 3 5 0 0 Downpayment ·77/mth $ 3 0 1 . 2 5 /m th $ 2 7 9 .0 5 /m th T h e Bullet T h e Targa LX 0% Purchase Financing $ 2,399 $ 2,699 lor 60 months on 2001 Neons. OJLC. Monthly payments based on 48 month lease term, 20,4000km/yr. Leases based on amount down, plus freight, protector plus, air tax, applicable taxes & license. OAC. Some vehicles may not be exactly as illustrated. C e r t if ie d H ie place to lease or buy since 1961 No Admin. Fees - No Freight - No Assembly Charge · Peace of Mind with Doimlerflirysler (tnado Inc backed warranty · Roadside Assistance · Quality Recoadtmiq · Nationwide Service r\. .u A uthorized Tomos D e a le r M r. Moped m 849-moo : ____ i t _______ I r \ ___ i ___ G l e n l e v e n ~ C h ry sler C H R Y S L E R F IV E S T A R D O D G E · J E E P 6 6 7 Fourth Line ## ^ .. (Corner of S peers) o © © o © 2388 ROYAL WINDSOR DR., OAKVILLE 905-845-7575 www.glenleven.tom