The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 20, 2002 - B3 Neon comes in two strengths and three flavors (continued from page B1) Chrysler's lineup. More significant changes include: a new 4IT E 4-speed overdrive automatic that replaces the previous optional 3speed tranny; AM/FM/single CD as starter equipment: optional 15" wheels now available for entry level models, standard rear LATCH anchor system for child seats; and some instrument enhancements to mirrors and cluster gauges. The Neon comes in two strengths and three flavors - LE, LX and R/T. Both the entry level LE and the more fully-loaded LX share the same powertrain, a 2.0 L SOHC 4 cylinder motor that makes a very competitive 132 hp @ 5600 rpm with a peak torque of 130 lb ft @ 4600 rpm. Power translation is via a 5-speed manual or through the aforementioned optional 4-speed auto. I know where my preferences would lie - with the 5-speed manual that allows you to make the most of both mileage and motive muscle. Yes, I know most drivers would prefer not to row through the gears, opting instead for the automat ic to handle the daily grind of stop-andgo commuting, but despite Chrysler bal lyhoo about the 4-speed automatic's superiority over the old 3-speed, the new auto tranny still feels occasionally clunky. Especially on cold mornings, when it will sometimes slap home into first at the stoplight with a noticeable "thunk". The last thing you want an auto matic tranny to be is "noticeable". The R/T model, not tested here, which began life as a sporty 2-door coupe, was dropped for a few years and then was recently resurrected as a 4-door sport sedan trim level, harnesses a more powerful version o f the 4 cylinder engine - the 2.0 L Magnum High-Output motor with 150 hp @ 6600 rpm and 136 lb-ft of torque. The R/T comes only with the 5-speed manual. My LE tester came fairly well appointed with standard air condition ing. handsome chrome-ringed gauge cluster inspired a la 300M, centre con sole, 60/40 split folding rear bench, quad halogen headlamps, tilt steering, variable speed wipers and the very competent 6speaker AM/FM CD audio system. Tom Daewoo Lanos Cyber SX has young car enthusiast appeal Lovers of tricked out' and exciting new vehicles will be blown away when they surf this year's Toronto International Auto Show and check the new 2002 Daewoo Lanos Cyber SX Custom project car and perhaps take it home. The car was specially created for one lucky visitor to the show to win. The Lanos is a natural to appeal to youthful drivers and especially young car enthusiasts with its peppy perform ance, cool looks and a current cash price with incentives well under $12,000 for the base vehicle. From bumper to bumper, this cus tomized Lanos will wake up the show with its incredible colour, powerhouse accessories and screaming hot looks. Attention grabbing for sure, the Cyber Green colour is actually a standard colour for 2002. W hile Daewoo dealers across Canada have the Lanos available in this striking hue for those who want to make a sensational statement, the Cyber SX is a one o f a kind adventure created espe cially for one lucky visitor to the Toronto Show to win. The Cyber SX features custom twotone leather seats with hand stitched Daewoo fan logos, 17-inch CSA five spoke alloy wheels, Kumho Ecsta Supra 712 high-perform ance, street-legal 205/40ZR17 tires, cross drilled front brake rotors and a mind-boggling Sony X-PLOD sound system worth nearly $2,000! Complete rules for winning this oneof-a- kind Daewoo Lanos Cyber SX custom vehicle are available at the 2002 Toronto International Auto Show. As well, prototype models o f the 2003 six-cylinder Leganza and the allnew Rezzo compact MPV are available for a first look. M ore significant changes in the 2002 Neon include: a new 41TE 4-speed over d rive autom atic, AM /FM /single CD as sta rte r equipm ent; stan d ard rear LATCH anch o r system for child seats; and some instrum ent enhancem ents to m irro rs and cluster gauges. had bumped up this basic tester with a few options - Anti-lock brake group (4wheel disc ABS. tachometer and traction control), side air bags, driver conven ience group and the bigger 15" wheels. Those extras added performance peaceof-mind and additional comfort but also bumped the Neon LE's $18,505 MSRP up to an "as tested" price of $21,890. The only thing I really missed on the long drive to Windsor in the econo LE version was cruise control. But even over the long haul, the Neon was adequately comfortable and roomy. Nothing to com plain about in handling and nimble maneuverability either but some riders might feel the resulting sporty suspen sion is a little firmer than they are used to. Power levels for both engines have changed little over the years but Chrysler engineers have made an effort to isolate engine noise. Yeah, the motor's still a little buzzy at high rpms but no more so than other cars in this size and class. 1 later drove a more upscale LX ver sion that bumped up the refinement level and also came in the new color for 2002 - Light Almond Pearl Metallic. The LX adds a longer list of luxuries, coming more heavily loaded with fog lamps, keyless entry, power fold away mirrors, AM/FM/Cassette with 4 CD in-dash changer, spoiler and with leatherwrapped seats, shifter and steering wheel. The Neon LX starts at $21,560. As tested - $24,740. Nice but, frankly, I somehow pre ferred the LE to the LX. The dark fabric and black textured interior of the LE seemed somehow classier than the faux wood and light grey leather of the LX. And cheaper to boot. Pare away the optional luxuries you really don't need and the LE, the choice of most buyers, gives you a good compromise of con venience, comfort and affordability. Which, in this economy class, is what it's still all about, isn't it? At least that seems to be the opinion of the many owners, and 1 sure saw a lot of them during my test, who have made the Chrysler Neon their driving choice. The Chrysler Neon lineup, bolstered by the recently announced addition of the hotrod Neon SRT4 - Chrysler's fastest production car after Viper - will apparently soldier on for another year or two. Rumour has it that an as-yetunnamed "world car" replacement, delayed by the economy and predicted for sometime in 2004 or 2005, will prob ably utilize an Asian platform developed by corporate partners like Mitsubishi or possibly even Hyundai. From bum per to bum per, this custom ized Lanos will wake up the show with its incredible colour, pow erhouse accessories and scream ing hot looks. tMiiwg Tijw Have your tires, breaks, battery, hoses, ignition wires, windshield wipers, radiator and antifreeze checked. Check and equalize your tire pres sure. since air pressure decreases in colder weather. Check windshield wiper fluid level. Buy minus 45 degree Celsius temperature range fluid. Keep and extra jug in your car. Make sure you have winter tools in your vehicle: snow brush, scraper, starter cables, lightweight shovel, gas line antifreeze, flares, two chain or rope, container of sand, or other traction aids. The Z 0 NTA CLUB OF OAKVILLE is proud to present LAST YEAR W AS NISSAN CANADA'S M OST SUCCESSFUL SALES YEAR EVER! Get your key to success. ·v' m m "SONGS FOR TH E SOUL" Featuring Oakville's very own CARO LINE D AVIDSON, K A R E N M A N IO N & K E IT H TH O M P SO N MS? 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M l *2400 down. · iTSWf* 3.5 I t * O O H C n g « * · A* o o r tf M m g · AM/TV wtt*» CO m udo ·rd «ip» » k * < i · IW h » M » d IM -T lt m rre> «·H V*0» * * trM r »m i »V x» 2002 NISSAN SENTRA A Cat«u«le "Best Buy" Lease Sentra XE with Value Option Package * » $ 0 1 Q /**!' tor 40 month*. Or choose Sutton and M M f » No Seair'ty Deposit · 138 H P 1* 4t n O O H C For Tickets or Dinner Theatre Packages at the Paradiso Restaurant please call the box office 905-815-2021 For further information please contact: £W ^ .O Financing. n o% C O w ia o · Mr u v « i « w g · AM/FM «V 40If* 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA "Maxima delivers power and style" - BiU k k X iN Jc h itn . Gtotoc Afoganrfit-vfs THE ZONTA CLUB OF OAKVILLE P.O. Box 69591, 109 Thomas Street, Oakville, O N L6J 7R4 Liz O 'Boyle, Chair 905-469-4525 Catherine Bobesich, President 905-849-1741 www.zonta.org D istrict http://zontadistrict4.bfn.org Lease Maxima GXE with Automatic Or choose $ Q Q Q 0 % / 0 /mttc tot 41 month*, only *3400 down Financing. JSVH*> U t e . OOHC 16' r f e r w hM ti · ABS · 4.8% · M S *· A g M |k · w w * · HID W K OtMWta ccr>t*0* A-C w « i rw coU M ' ·M · O u m · Aha TOCA mo** OAKVILLE NISSAN w w w .o a k v ille n is s a n .c o m QW A 3 Speers Road & t · 1450 SPEERS ROAD, OAKVILLE (905) 827-1177 sponsored by THE OAKVILLE H E R