An Oakville Beaver Automotive Feature · To advertise in this section call 905-845-3824 or Fax 905-337-5568 BEST WHEELS \vt-:n\Ksn.\Y. April 2. 20m For flying close to the ground, its tough to beat the 2004 Chrysler Crossfire The launch of the 2004 Chrysler Crossfire is epoch-making in two ways. Firstly, this is. believe it or not. the first sportscar built by Chrysler. Yes, there has been the Dodge Viper and the Plymouth Prowler, but this is the first purpose-built sports car in the long his tory of Chrysler. Secondly, the Crossfire is not only seen as the flagship of the marque, but it is also being touted as the IT ^ ~ first tangible product of the merger of Chrysler and Daimler-Benz to create D a i m l e r Chrysler. "Fifty per Jim Robinson cent American inspiration, 5 0 per cent German preci sion and 100 per cent passion" is how the car is being presented. Underscoring that is the fact Crossfire went from a concept shown at the 2001 Detroit auto show to full pro duction in just 24 months, which has to be some kind of record in the auto industry. "It's a great example of what we call disciplined pizzazz," said C hrysler Group president and CEO Dieter Zetsche. "Chrysler Crossfire is the icon of the Chrysler brand as it incorporates proven quality and technology in a stunning wrapper." It really is an interesting mix of parts and programs. Under the skin is a much-modified Mercedes-Benz SLK platform with the 320 V6. here called a 3 .2-litre with Mercedes three-valve technology producing 215 hp and 229 lb/ft of torque. The first rear-drive Chrysler car in a long, long time. Crossfire offers a six-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic with AutoStick driver-selective manual control. Suspension is all-M ercedes with upper and lower independent A-arms with coil springs, gas shocks and an anti-sway bar. Rear suspension is also pure Mercedes adapting its excellent five-link independent system. Then we come to the wheels that are 18-inch (P 225/40 ZR tires) at the front and no less than 19-inch at the rear (P 255/35 ZR tires). For we snowy Canadians, Chrysler said mounting a pair o f 18-inch wheels on the rear with appropriate snow tires would be offered. The car not only has four-wheel disc brakes but all-speed traction control and Electronic Stability Program (Daim ler speak for pitch and yaw con trol). And then there is the look of the Crossfire. Does anyone turn concepts into reality better than Chrysler? With a very long hood and truncated rear, the lines scream sports car. Inside, the seating is multi adjustable along with a telescoping steering wheel. You're going to need this as the side windows are more like slits and the rear glass in the manual liftgate limits rear vision. That forces the driver to rely on the power remote mirrors, which, to me is a good thing. Once you get used to your mirrors, you'll never look over your left shoulder again. The heated seats are power adjustable for driver and passenger and everything is done in leather with the liberal use of alu minum accents along the instrument panel. 1 did most of my driving in the man ual version. While my tester was a gar net red, 1 have to say the Crossfire looks stunning in white, especially with the silver side strakes on the flanks. Driving through southern California where it takes a lot to grab the eyes of the locals, a stream o f 2 0 or so Crossfires boiling along Highway 5 developed into a kind of convoy thing with us driving and the Californians taking up positions on either side to take a look and give the thumbs up. When you put your foot down, a spoiler built into the back deck deploys. The idea is to apply dywnforce. But as it goes into action at about 55 mph, it's one way the police are going to know if you've been a bad boy or girl. Which brings me to my encounter with two members of the California Highway Patrol at a coffee stop in Julian. Ca. Seeing as they were admir ing the car, I invited they to try it on for Above: F o r flying close to the ground, it's tough to beat the 2(M)4 C hrysler C rossfire th at com bines M ercedes-Benz running gear with concept-to-reality styling by Chrysler. Right: T he in terior of the C rossfire only has room for two so instrum ents and controls have to take up as little room as possible hut still be accessible at high way speeds. size, with the approval, o f course, of DaimlerBenz. Now these were large fellows, made wider by belts festooned with pistols, pepper spray, ammo, you name it. Both just got in and sat down. I thought all their accoutrements would get in the way. but not so. I then asked them if they'd like to take a little spin. Yes they did and DC officials gave their approval. When they didn't come back right away, I confess, I got a bit nervous. Noting they were driving a police-spec Ford LTD and a GM SUV, I wondered if they hadn't overcooked things. A good 2 0 minutes later they returned all smiles. They then asked us which way we were leaving town. "East," I said "through the Cleveland National Forest Park." "Good," they said, "we're going west and have a nice day." This made our whole entourage a very happy group indeed as we were now in a bearfree zone. Accelerating up into the Cleveland Forest, I was able to look around to see how driver-friendly the controls would be in such a confined cockpit. Not to worry as the knobs and rocker switches are all easy to reach. The dual zone cli mate control blew icy cold, an area where North American engineering still leads the way. The sound system is awesome. Today these are all acoustically mapped to the interiors of cars. But when you put a 240-w att Infinity sound system with two subwoofers into a two-seat coupe, you have big time sound, brother. Modern engines with com puter assist make it so torque is on tap throughout the rev range. With the Crossfire, a little bend in the road and a little nudge of the gas pedal imparted a satisfying surge making the curve something to be savoured. With spring, just coming to the mountains, and nary a person on the road, flashing along amongst the generations-old trees and in gleaming sun shine. made my very short drive with the Crossfire one I will remember warmly. Coming to DaimlerChrysler show rooms in summer, this is a car worth waiting for. f 2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER^ VS 1 7,900 Automatic. 23.586kms. st#2-46752 F in 1999 MAZDA MILLENIA S f 1999SUZUKI GRANDVTTARALTDJUf \*1 5 ,9 0 0 k m s . S tk # 9 -0 9 3 5 1 F in f 1999 TO YO TA TERCEL CE 1999 TO YO TA CAMRYLE *195 P m t. 0 2 2 ,9 0 0 Leather, autom atic, 27.3 44 k m s. s t# 9 -0 7 3 0 1 F in Manual, 54.567kms. St#9-61260 *249 P m t. *174 P m t. V J 9 j9 0 0 F in . *119 P m t. \.S1 6,900 Air. 88.304kms. St#9-78597 F in *185 P m t. / 1 999 VOLKSW AGEN JETTA GLS / 1 999 LAND R O V E RD ISC O VER Y if 2000 JAGUARS TYPE 3.0 S '2000 PONTIAC GR. PRIX G f \*1 3,9 0 0 S W O -4 1 1 9 3 F i n . ` 152 P m t f 2000 GMC SIERRA 1500 Air. 71.970kms St#9-63854 \^^7^900Fin^19^Pmt^^^ V$2 9,9 00 Stk#9-22565, black, auto. 48.715 kms F in . *324 P m t. Vs2 9 ,9 0 0 Rn.*324 . .. Leather Inte rio r auto.. 81.188 kms. SM'0-13075 P m t. VS1 6,900 2000 00DGE RAM B2S00 2000 MAZDA B4000 SE , Ak. 34,907kms. St#0-31390 F in *185i P m t. I COM PACT CARS 2000 CHEVROLET CAVALIER .. . 20 02CHEVROLETIMPALA nnn - . . ._ . 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS . $ Stk#2-48273 Stk#1-49937 Green, 30.254km . 1 9 , 9 0 0 fin. 2 1 7 Pmt. 56,297 km ............ 2 6 , 9 0 0 Rn. 2 9 1 Pmt. ... . . . . nn Stk#7-22152 Green .................. 1 5 ,9 U U fin. 1 / 4 Pmt. 1996 JAGUAR XJ6 StWO-13558 Silver,71,151 km . . 1 7 , 9 0 0 Rn. 1 9 5 Pmt. Stkffl-07115 70,904 km ............1 6 , 9 0 0 Rn. 1 8 5 Pmt. 1997 DODGE RAM Stk#0-13468 Red, 53,685 km ,. . 2000 PONTIAC SUNFIRE SE 2000 PONTIAC GRAND AM 11,90U fin. 129 Pmt. 9,900 Fin. 2001 CHRYSLER 300M 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA GXE Stk#6-78201A Green ..................... 1 9 , 9 0 0 1996 NISSAN MAXIMA GLE Rn. 2 1 / Pmt. . Stk#0-I6007 White, 72.500 k m ... . Stk#0-16382 Black, 51,250km . 2000 PONTIAC SUNPIRE 119 Pmt. 119 Pmt. 119Pmt. 119 Pmt. 107Pmt. 174Pmt. Stk#1 -02937 85,516 km 1999 BUICK LESABRE 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU . 2 1 , 9 U U Rn. Y O O Pmt. Stk#6-21264 Stk# 1-88993 Stk#1-93563 Stk#0-82408 Black ....................1 3 , 9 0 0 Black. 72.976 km Red, 38,257 km fin 1 5 2 Pmt. Stk#7-30106 White. 93,087 km . 1 1 , 9 0 0 fin. 1 2 9 Pmt. C A R G OV A N S 15,900 fin. 174Pmt. fin. fin. .,, Stk#0-72965 Gold, 53,998 km 2000 PONTIAC SUNPIRE SE ... 10,900 Stk#9-76634 Silver, 91.435km . . 1 4 , 9 0 0 Rn. 1 5 3 Pmt. Stk#9-00537A Green, 30577 km .. 1 3 , 9 U U fin. 1 5 2 Pmt. 1999 BUICK LESABRE 2001 FORD ESCAPE XLS 2 1 ,9 U U fin 2 0 0 Pmt 1 5 , 9 0 0 fin. 1 7 4 Pmt. fin 1 9 5 Pmt 2001 FORO ECONOLINE E350 Stk#0-77539 Green, 59,674 km.10,900 2001 KIA SP0RTAGE 2000 GMC JIMMY Stk#1-72542.46,000 km .......... * 2 9 , 9 0 0 Rn * 3 2 4 Pmt. 2001 CHEVROLET G2500 CARGO 2000 SATURN SL1 Stk# 9-66493 63.293km...............1 5 , 9 0 0 Pin. 1 8 5 Pmt. 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA Stk/1-06293 White, 56.459 km 2000 FORO E350 * 2 2 , 9 0 0 Rn * 2 4 9 Pmt Stk#0-18475 Purple,91,83 3km . .10,900 fin. 2000 fORO P0CUS SE Stk#7-51966 Blue...........................9 , 9 U U fin. 1 1 9 Pmt. Black,63,359km . 1 7 , 9 0 0 .. _ Stk#0-16608 60,810 km ................ 2000 HYUNDAI ACCENT GS 9,900 Rn. 119 Pmt. 2000 JEEP CHEROKEE t Stk#0-62187 White, 56,019 km . * 2 5 , 9 0 0 Rn * 2 7 9 Pm 2000 FORD SUPER VAN E350 I I I H II I I 2001 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Stk#0-45674 Black,70,819km 2000 UNO ROVER DISCOVERY II 1 5 ,9 U U Rn. 1 / 4 Pml 3 2 , 9 U U Rn 3 5 5 Pml fin, 2 3 8 Pmt. Diesel, 95,000 km ..................... 2000 FORO ECONOLINE E350 * 2 3 , 9 0 0 Rn * 2 5 9 Pm t Stk#0-23433 Stk#0-30548 Stk#9-05050 87,571 km ...............8,900 fin. 50,054km .......... .15,900 fin. Stk#1-34741 Silver ............... 2001 CHRYSLER SEBRING 2000 fORD fOCUS ZTS * 6 3 , 9 0 0 fin. INQUIRE Pmt. Stk*0-57511 Stk#0-33049 Stk#0-65569 Stk#0-87265 Stk#0-01578 Stk#9-03116 Blue, 31,556km 2000 SATURN SL2 2000 fORD EXPLORER Stkrt-53431 92,439 km........ . `2 3 , 9 0 0 nn. *2 5 9 pmt P A SSE N f>E V i V A N S 1999 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Z24 Stk#1-39357 Blue, 63,695 km . * 1 4 , 9 0 0 Rn.*1 6 3 Pmt StkO-29762 White, 40,370 km Green ................ . 2 1 , 9 0 0 Black. 57,366 km.11,900 fin . '129 Pmt. IM P O R T S & E U RO PEA N 2000 fORD EXPLORER SPORT 2000 DODGE CARAVAN SE * 1 2 , 9 0 0 Rn.* 1 3 9 Pmt. ,, 26.708 km .............* 1 9 , 9 0 0 Rn. 2 1 7 Pmt. 72,603 km ......... 2 7 , 9 0 0 son n n n Stk#0-33579 White,87,889km . 1 4 , 9 0 0 Rn. *1 6 3 Pmt. 2000 FORD WINDSTAR 1999 SAAB 9-3 C0NV 2000 fORO EXPEDITION 2003 MITSUBISHI LANCER Stk#3-602844 19,000 km . 2000 VOLVO S70 2000 BMW 52*1 * 1 9 , 4 1 2 Rn.*2 1 7 Pmt. Stk#9-60007 Blue, 96,889 km . * 2 1 , 9 0 0 Rn.* 2 3 8 Pmt 1999 fORO MUSTANG fin 2 9 9 Pmt. som Stk#0-00194 silver, 69.750 km 2000 FORD WINDSTAR LX . 1 3 , 9 0 0 Fin *1 5 2 Pmt StMO-36327 Black, 93,543km . 2 0 , 9 0 0 Rn. 2 2 7 Pmt. Stk#0-18617 66,527km.............. 3 7 , 9 0 0 Rn. iWUMPmt. 2000 ACURA 3.2 TL - -- Stk#9-24395 117,334 km ........... 1 7 , 9 0 0 -- hi i'i. ii < r m -- Rn. 1 9 5 p m t. 2000 fORO EXREDITIONXLT 1999 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II -- 63.155km ......... 2 8 , 9 0 0 fin. 3 1 2 Pmt. Stk#0-70636 Blue, 60,232 km 2000 FORO WIN0STAR LX 1 4 , 9 0 0 Fin. *16 3 Pmt 1 3 , 9 0 0 Rn *1 5 2 Pmt. 2 0 , 9 0 0 Fin *2 2 7 Pmt. * 1 6 , 9 0 0 Fin * 18 5 Pmt. Fin S 1 9 5 Pmt, Rn Rn. 2002 CHRYSUR C0NC0R0EL $- 0 . . . Stk#2-89743 21,801 km 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS 2001 CADILLAC DEVILLE 2 2 .9 U U Rn. 2 4 9 Pmt, - - son n n n STM Beige, 54,356 km . 2 / , 9 U U fin. 2 9 9 Pmt Stk#0-12338 Blue, 72,243km . 2000 0LDSM0BILE SILHOUETTE nnn - . ,, 1999 CHEVROLET BLAZER Stk#0-30121 83.346 km 1999 MAZDA 626 LX 2 4 ,9 U 0 Rn. 2 6 9 Pmt Stk#2-67981 Brown, 36.339 km .. 4 5 , 9 U U fin, in q u ire Pmt Stk#1-94702 Black, 75,282 km . * 2 9 , 9 0 0 Rn. 3 2 4 Pmt. 2000 CADILLAC DEVILLE s_ Stk#9-09508 While, 74,100km . 1 8 , 9 0 0 fin, 2 0 6 Pmt. 1999 GMC JIMMY SIT Stk#2-24724 54,559km 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA Stk*0-58518.58,237km ............ 1 3 ,9 U 0 fin, 1 5 2 Pmt. Stk#8-57094 Black. 75,004 km 1997 SAAB 900 SE TURBO 1994 TOYOTA COROLLA Stk#9-15585 Stk#7-75765 Red,36,127km. 19,900 j. _ . . . Rn 2 1 7 Pmt. HOC 1997 WSSM PATHFIN0ER Stk#0-78778 40,552 km 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA * 3 5 , 9 0 0 Fin.$3 8 8 Pmt. ,, Stk#0-62324 139.272 km ......... 2 0 , 9 0 0 2000 LINCOLN LS 1999 CADILLAC CATERA j._ . . . fin 2 2 / Pmt SOQQ Black................... 1 / , 9 0 0 P ICK U P S Fin 1 9 5 Pmt. Stk#7-00475 Blue,64,146km . . . 2 1 , 9 0 0 Rn. 2 3 8 Pmt. Stk#4-62934.111,251 km ............... * 7 , 9 0 0 Rn. 9 6 Pmt. M ID -S IZ E C A R S 2002 fORO TAURUS 2002CHRYSURINTREPID ... _ nnn . . Stkrt-77287 39,405 km .......... 2 / , 9 U U fin. 2 9 9 Pmt. Stk#9-02343 Green,50,204km . . 1 9 , 9 U U Fin 2 1 1 Pmt. 1999 JA6UAR VANDEN PLA S1QOnn S017 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO , , . Stk#0-03805 Stk/0-78364 Stk#0-60271 Burgundy. 50,309 km 2 4 , 9 0 0 Fin 2 6 9 Pmt. Grey, 38.922 km Red.79.241 km Stk#9-68081 Grey, 37,801 km ,. 3 7 , 9 0 0 Rn. inquire Pmt. 1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2000 CHEVROLET S10 2 1 ,9 0 0 1 8 ,9 0 0 Rn. 2 3 8 Pml. Fin. 2 0 6 Pmt. Stk#2-73472 White, 34.451 km . 1 6 , 9 0 0 Rn.T 8 5 Pmt. Stk#2-32964 60.399km . 1 4 , 9 0 0 Rn. 1 6 3 Pmt Stk*9-35301 White,80,705 kms 1998 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL 2 5 ,S U U Rn. 2 / 9 Pmt. Stk/8-32322 White,82,255km , . 1 / , 9 U U Rn. 1 9 5 Pmt. StkW-16950 55.T24km 1 7 ,9 0 0 1999 FORD WINDSTAR Stk#9-00534 Blue ....................... 1 2 , 9 0 0 1999 FORD WINDSTAR Stk#9-46190 Red, 68,051 km . . . 1 4 , 9 0 0 1999 FORD WINDSTAR LX Stk#9-78901 White ..................* 1 3 , 9 0 0 1999 PLYMOUTH GRAND VOYAGER SIM9-61050 Blue, 80,367 km .. . 1 5 , 9 0 0 *1 3 9 Pmt. *1 6 3 Pml. fin *1 5 2 Pml. Rn. *1 7 4 Pmt. ` No payments till 2004 on approved credit, max $20,000. All payments are quoted bi-weekly, payments including taxes & interest and $0 Down. Licence extra. Call dealer for details. SUPERSTORE w w w .a u to p a r k s u p e r s to r e E m a il: i n f o @ a u t o p a r k s u p e r s t o r e 431 S North Service Road Burlington 9 0 5 -33 1 -8 5 0 0 Between Appleby and Walkers Line Off the QEW in Burlington T H E D R IV IN G F O R C E W H E R E S E L E C T IO N I S E V E R Y T H IN G