CONSUMER REPORT PART 2

Evaluating what’s

LAST WEEK we listed the
first five of (he eleven new
tars available in Canada
under $10,060.

AUTOMOTION

This week we'll look at the rest.

Prices quoted are Manufactur-
er’s Suggested Retail Prices for
the 1993 model year and are sub-
ject to change. Some dealerships
may charge more or less than the
manufacturer's suggested price.
® Lada Niva/Cossack 4WD
sport-utility ($8,345/$9,385)

The Lada Niva is the only
four-wheel-drive sport-utility left
on the market under $10,000
(after Suzuki dropped the
Samarai).

The two-door, four-passenger
Niva offers a standard 1.6-litre
carbureted four-cylinder motor
with 72 horsepower, a five-speed
manual transmission and full-time
four-wheel drive, with high and
low ranges.

Like the Samarai, the manual
steering is heavy, gear changes are
serious motions, and noise is in-
trusive,

But the Niva is rugged and, as
an off-road vehicle, doesn’t need
to be as refined as a passenger
car.

The rear seat folds down for
extra cargo space and the hatch is
a lift-up tailgate. A tachometer
and {6-inch tires and wheels are
standard equipment.

A three-year/60,000-kilometre
warranty is also part of the
package.

As an off-road vehicle, no
other new vehicle can match the
Niva’s performance and versatility
for the price.

@ Mazda 323 ($9,435)

The base version of the Mazda
323 managed to sneak in under
the $10,000 wire, although bet-
ter-equipped models go up to
$15,000.

As | mentioned in a recent
review, the two-door 323 hatch-
back is a contemporary small car
with a sweet 1.6-litre four-

cylinder engine, slippery Sive-
speed manual transmission, roomy
five-passenger interior, roomy
cargo area with fold-down rear

THE FOLLOWING are the
scheduled road closures and
detours for the coming week in
North Vancouver District, City,
West Vancouver District and
along area highways.

@ North Vancouver District:
Doran Road: Fromme Road to
Mountain Highway: Watermain
replacement. Local traffic only.

East 18th Street: Mountain High-
way to Alderiyan Drive: Water-
main replacement. Local traffic
only. ,

Prospect Road: Capilano Road te
Cliffridge Avenue: Watermain

—aete

seat, and a quiet, comfestable
ride, A four-speed automatic is
available as an option.

The base model is not available
with power steering or a radio,
and the upholstery is vinyl.

Hf you want to stay under
$10,000, you'll have to make do
with a comfortable, reliable car
with few luxuries.

The 323's warranty is excellent:
basic, three years/80,000 km;
powertrain, five years/100,000
Km.
© Pontine LeMans/Asuna SE/GT
($8,495)

The five-passenger LeMans will
soon be history, so you can prob-
ably strike a pretty good deal.

General Motors has severed
their relationship with South
Korean maker Daewoo, and the
LeMans will not be imported next
year. In addition, the Asuna
brand has been discontinued.

Based on a German Opel
design, the LeMans two-door
hatchback and four-door sedan
offers a roomy interior, standard
power steering, five-speed manual
transmission, and a 74-
horsepower 1.6-litre SOHC
four-cylinder engine, A three-
speed automatic transmission is
optional.

Outward visibitity is excellent
and cargo capacity in the hatch-
back is absolutely huge with the
rear seats folded down.

LeMans build quality and fit &
finish have been criticized in re-
cent years, but the LeMans does
come with a three-year/60,000-
kilometre basic warranty.

@ Subaru Justy DL/GL two-door
hatchback ($7,795/$8,795)

The tiny 1.2-litre three-cylinder
Justy two-door hatchback has 73
horsepower, standard power steer-
ing, 13-inch radials, and a five-
speed manual transmission, all for
$7,795.

Subaru’s unique shiftless ECVT
transmission (electronic con-
tinuously variable transmission) is
available on the Justy. It takes the
place of an automatic transmis-
sion and from the driver’s point
of view, there are no perceptible

gear changes.
The warranty is excellent: basic,

three years/60,000 km; power-
train, five years/100,000 km.

Perhaps this is the sleeper in
this class.
© Suzuki Swift GA ($7,395),
Suzuki Swift L/GS (38,395/
$8,995), Suzuki Swift L sedan
($9,195)

The Swift, like the Geo Metro,
is available with either three-
cylinder or four-cylinder engines
as a two-door hatchback, [our-
door hatchback, or four-door
sedan. ,

The Swift GA is priced some
$600 cheaper than the Geo Metro
GA, even though they are essen-
tially the same car. Swift four-
door hatchbacks and sedans are
also priced lower than their Geo
counterparts.

And the Swift also comes with a

replacement. Local traffic only.

Vancouver City: No
road closures or

® North
scheduled
detours,

6 West Vancouver District: No
scheduled road closures or
detours.

@ Ministry of Highways:

Squamish Highway: Closed due to
blasting between 4 a.m. and 8
a.m. on Sunday, June 20. The
closure at Porteau Bluffs, 25
kilometres (16 miles) north of
Horseshoe Bay, is needed to allow
for blasting and rock-face scaling
work along the highway.

better warranty: (hree years/
$0,000 km.

Swift owners must niake do
with a smaller dealer network than
Geo owners, but for local-area
driving, this i is not really an issue.
@ Toyota Tercel S ($9,098)

The base Tercel model, called
the S, is a (wo-door sedan with
five-passenger seating, an 82+
horsepower 1.5-litre SOHC

25 Ton motorhome &
truck hoist

All work guaranteed in
writing

All makes of standard &

auto transmissions

Rear ends, clutches &
front end work

Any size of vehicle

Friday, June 18, 1993 - North Shore News - 37

available for under $10,000

four-cylinder engine, four-speed
manual transmission, standard
power steering, and 13-inch radial
tires. An atttomatic transmission is
not available on the base model.

Base Tercels are sparsely equip-
ped with vinyl upholstery, black
rubber bumpers, and rather ugly
headlamps. Better-equipped DX
and LE models start at $10,368
and $12,218 respectively.

Lack

not o

INCLUDES

© Complete system check
8 * Front wheal bearing service
A © Machining of front rotors

¢ Installing new metallic pads
A * Topping up fluid
@ * Complete road test
hs (>RWD)

However, the Tercel § has all
the basics: a free-revving
overhead cam engine, comfortable
tide, precise steering, and com-
mendable handling.

And the Tercel comes with
Toyota's reputation for reliability
and a good warranty: basic, three
years/60,000 km; powertrain, five
years/ 100,000 km.

VEL SAF!

ular maintenance is
% ‘ag

langerous, it costs you

more in t the long run.

Get

Hey som Ba GR Han Goh Bane E

COMPLETE TRANGARISSION SERVICE:

{INCLUDES

* Install new Aid

* Clean screens

® Full adjustment

® New pan gasket
- @ Complete road test _.,
+ ¢ C/V joint inspection
| © Full condition report

Se) COE A ME EM

ALL SERVICE INCLUDES A FREE CAYALYTIC CONVERTER INSPECTION
* MOST CARS & UGHT TRUCKS porary

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INDEPENDENT SPECIALISTS ‘WORKING FORTOU

1348 MARINE DR.

MON.-THURS. BAM-7PM
FRIDAY 8AM-6PM

NORTH VANCOUVER SATURDAY 10AM-4PM