;JE A4, WHIIBY FREEkUiESS, JDURHAMVI LVUV, IUUzU:5 .bJ, immo MOVE THEM OUT! WITH -AmOE r CALL THE DISPLAY ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT AT THE WHITBY FREE PRESS 668-6111 ARE YOUR INSURANCE COSTS BITING INTO YOU ? Drive defensively to eut costs Defensive driving offers the most direct route to cutting car insurance costs, experts say. Whether you own a sedate sedan or a sports car, travel on country lanes or busy highways, your driving record is a major factor affecting insurance costs, says Ted Wells, deputy superintendent of insurance for the Ontario Ministry of Financial Institutions. By avoiding accidents, claims and speeding tickets, drivers can slash hundreds of dollars from their insurance bills. The fines levied for speeding can be paltry compared to the . effect tickets have on premiums. Insurers may even refuse to renew policies for drivers with numerous traffic violations. "The best way to keep costs down is to drive safely and watch your speed," Wells says. "Al the other premium cutting measures you can take are minor by comparison." Among those additional factors that can affect insurance costs, the type of vehicle is important. Cars sold in Canada are rated on the amount of potential insurance risk they present. The go-faster image of sports cars helps put them in a higher risk bracket than family sedans. The greater the risk, the more expensive the insurance. Ratings allotted to particular cars can vary widely from one insurer to the next. When buying a new or used car, it's wise to check the vehicle's standing with insurers. "You may not think it's a sports car when you buy it and end up with a ' shock if the insurance costs are higher than expected," says Bill Laur, another ministry insurance expert. Unusual and expensive vehicles are also subject to high premium costs. Few, if any, aftermarket accessories or alterations to a car will directly decrease insurance costs, Laur says. For example, the addition of special brake or fog lights, security systems and other safety devices normally doesn't produce direct savings. "On the other hand, if any of these things helps you avoid an accident or theft and resulting claim, it could save you money indirectly by maintaining your good record," Wells says. Some changes, such as the installation of expensive communications or stereo equipment may actually increase premiums by raising the car's value and making it more likely to attract thieves. Retrofits to provide more power may likewise boost premiums, as the risk of accidents and resultant repair ,zosts increase. Completion of a driver training course can provide some rate reductions, but this should be confirmed with your agent or broker before you sign up for classes. Not all schools are recognized by all insurance companies and savings offered differ between firms. Again, Wells notes that even when premium savings offered for formal training don't amount to much, if the lessons produce better drivers, students will benefit greatly in the long run. One type of bargain offered by almost all Ontario insurers is the multiple car discount. "If you've got more than one car, consider insuring them all with one firm," Wells says. "You can save money with a package policy." The ministry runs an inquiry and complaints line on auto insurance issues at (416) 963-0471. Collect calls are accepted. A ride in a Shiro FROMPAGEA3 suitcases, three shovels, a pair of workboots, a skillsaw, and other amenities. With room left over. By the way, Shiro is pronounced like Shero, as in Fred Shero. Which bËngs us to the writer's trick you've probably been waiting for, the clever play-on-words simile: the Shiro is like Shero's Philadelphia Flyers of the mid-70s --tough, fast and great in the corners. And on that note, I close. COMPARE BEFORE YOU RENEW i AUTO HOME * $1,000,000 PL+PD+AB • $100,000 BUILDING * $250 DED. COLLISION • $75,000 CONTENTS * $50 DED. COMP.* • $1,000,000 LIABILITY' •1986 PONTIAC 6000 * UNDER 16 YR.OLD HOME $258.00 $189.00 6MONTHS 12 MONTHS TOWNE & COUNTRY INSUIRANCE LTD. I.G.A. Plaza, 376 Brock St. S. Downtown Whitby 430-TOWN (8696) 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mon. to Sat. HowDoYouImprove On NorthAmeica's Best-SellingImported Namneda'nEISTIJUY" by Motor Tnd',is '88 New Car uy'rm Guide Here's How: Limited Time Offer! $ne 1338Ir11.885 SUBARU QUALITY FROM JAPAN C and C MOTOR SALES LTD. 155 King St. W. Oshawa Call 579-6224 or 579-6243. * Decemrber, 1987RL Polk & co. data ••Rebated price does not Include freght, taxes, icense or dealer preparallon. Landau. W.at more do you want? FROM PAGE Ai automatic load-levelling system, power-steering, dual heated power side mirrors, rear window defogger, side window de-misters, intermittent wipers, and a suspension that's hung to keep you mindless of the bad roads. Inside are all these things: 'loose pillow" power seats; automatic power door locks; a tilt steering column with leather- wrapped wheel; electric speed control; automatic air and heating; remote control trunk, hood and fuel filler door releases; front and rear folding centre armrests; front and rear reading lamps; dual visor vanity mirrors; and map pockets and cupholders that fold out of the dash. And the part of the trunk that the key goes in (the decklid) is so long that it reaches right down to the bumper, so it'd be easy to load things in. For $25,300. For an extra $2,394 you can get a pearîcoat finish, a luxury equipment package that includes better seats and an "electronic vehicle information centre," an 8-speaker cassette sound system, and snazzier wheels. That's only $27,994, so even with a few more options it's still likely to cost less than $30,000. And all these features are on a car that's sort of nice looking, though it seems like it should be bigger than it is. That padded vinyl roof is nice, too. As for its carrying six people, well, it might have carried six-of us 30 years ago, but now....? The grandkids would fit okay --or maybe just two of them since there's only that many earphone jacks back there. Trunk's a fair size, but you maybe should think about leaving some of the extra clothes at home. They have stores in Florida, after all. Yeah, the ChrysIer New Yorker Landau seems like a pretty good package when you look at it that way. As for its nde and handling, a soft ride's not so bad and it doesn't take much handling to keep a car on the 401 and Interstate 75. Just take it easy. ~edh, it seems like a real good package. Only thing is, it'll soon be.time for the new cars, so maybe there'll be some changes. But the car was brand new last fall, so don't expect much to be different for '89. There's bound to be some improvements, though, and maybe more features. Best to wait a week or two until the new models are in, then drive both of them. Unless the new one's lots better, which isn't likely, the old one will do just fine. And maybe the dealer will be looking to talk. Got to move that sheet metal, you know. Packaging the product FROM PAGE A1 offer combinations of options that were never used." There are still tens of thousands of options available, he says. But he also notes that, except for paint and .trim choices, there are only six options on Probe, Ford's newest car. Which takes us not too far from the day when Ford could say of the Probe GT Turbo: "You can have it any .way you like, as long as it's one of six colors, inchiding black." The original Henry Ford would understand the thinking, and wonder how the -company that bears his name got so far from a business principle that was so obviously right. w, '88CHRYSLER NEW YORKER LANDAU 0., r - lTvnnriTm Aixxrmc PAC ATTr-TT%:evý.A long