PAGE 8, WHITBY FREZE PRESS, DURHAM MOVES, JULY 15, 1987 By DONNA DONALDSON During my visit to Pickering Hyundai, I had the opportunity to test drive a 1986 Hyundai Excel, with Houston, my co-driver, in the passenger seat. I drove their top line Excel GLS, 5-door hatchback. This particular car has been to more countries than the average person - from Korea to Canada, to England and back to Canada again. 1 figured if the car made 'it through ail that, it couid handle me at the wheel for 10 minutes. I drove an automatie (option) which gets about 34 to 35 miles per gallon. It is a four-cylinder car with a 1.5-litre engine. The horsepower is 71at 5,000 RPM's. In the United States, the Excel three-door and five-door hatchback have taken off much like the Pony has in Canada. Houston said Hyundai can barely meet the high demand for Excels in the United States. The Excel has pienty of leg room, and it was comfortable to sit in the tilt and reclining driver's seat. The Excel rode smoothly as we set out on our short course in Ajax, down Bayiy, up Harwood to Pickering Beach Road, and back to the dealership. The brakes worked great, and Houston told me not to be afraid to accelerate quickly on the gas pedal, because the car automaticaliy changes into gear. The Exelstrt a $,95,an Hyundaii test drive was-Exeen Hyundaiisaid the success of thecca goes to $9,395 for the* top sedan model, plus PDI and freight. is due to its good quality knd Car'sales take off in U.Se Houston joked, and asked if 1 paid my own speeding tickets. Turning corners was my only problem. Being a power-steeriflg person myseif, I found it difficuit to manoeuvre the car which bas rack and pinion steering. Instead of turning into the lane into which I was supposed to turn, 1 found I was going in to the next lane. I spoke to a couple of friends of mine about my problem with rack and pinion steering. Wrong people to ask. They have rack and pinion steering and they love it. They said 1 was the one with the probiem. The car also comes with five Michelin ail-season steel beited radiais. NELSON HOUSTON of Pickering son before she took a test drive last Hyundai points out features of the Ex- week. ce! model. to reporter Donna Donald- All in all, the car was a pleasure, to drive and so was the company.