18 - Friday, August 5, 1994 - North Shore News

Abdi

ASSOCIATION RECOM-
MENDATIONS... The
Canadian Automobile
Association (CAA) recently
released a major position
paper that makes recommen-
dations to reduce congestion
and make automobiles less-
polluting, rather than restrict
their use.
In a recent survey of auto
clubs around the world, con-
gestion was identified as the
most important emerging
issue facing motorists. In
Canada, funding shortages,
increased truck traffic and
environmental concerns are
placing increasing pressure on
road and automobile use.
To address congestion and
environmental concerns while
ensuring access to secure,
affordable and flexible trans-
portation, CAA recommends
the following mezsures:
¢ Special commuter lanes for
buses and cars with more than
three occupants.
¢ Tighter mandatory and
enforceable fuel consumption
standards.
¢ Inspection and maintenance
programs for vehicle emis-
sions.
* Promotion of alternative
fuels, including financial .
incentives. THE REDESIGNED 1995 Buick Riviera is a two-door, front-wheel-drive luxury coupe with a 225 horsepower supercharged 3.8-litre
* Interactive communication V6 engine, four-speed automatic transmission, disc brakes, ABS and dual airbags. Manufacturer’s suggested retall price is
between roads and vehicles. $37,468. Inquire about the 1995 Riviera at Carter Pontiac Buick, 4550 Lougheed Hwy., Burnaby.
* Synchronized traffic sig-
nals.
* Protected left turn lanes.
* Replacing on-street parking
with off-street parking.
* Tele-commuting and flexible
work hours.
* More bicycle infrastructure.
* Funding improvements with

te $5 bition te teaeral - | SCYLiSh COupe boasts exciting contours and lots of room

ernment currently collects in
gas taxes. The Riviera has often been kg (3,782 Ibs.) car, the Riviera sips ments with extra-large numerals,
¢ Ensuring that vehicles meet Buick’s style leader. The first surprisingly little fuel and uses regu- _ spoiled by the fact that the tachome-
top safety standards. reg Riviera in 1963, now a collectible, lar unleaded too. Transport Canada ter is obscured from view by the
Among the recommenda- e had Pininfarina-influenced propor- ratings are 14.3/100 kilometres (20 steering wheel.
tions the automobile associa- Wi iso rn tions and looked unusually elegant m.p.g.) in the city and 8.7/100 kilo- The Riviera comes in two passen-
tion Cites as ones that should a next to the big American iron of the —s metres (32 m.p.g.) on the highway. ger setups: a standard six-passenger
not be adopted: - maa early °60s. Other Rivieras claimed As with most luxury coupes, a setup with a split front bench seat
¢ Much needed urban parking notoriety as well, including the con- —s manual transmission is not available. and column shifter, or a five-passen-
should not be eliminated. : e troversial 1971 boat-tail design, and The Riviera’s standard features ger arrangement with a center con-
° The price of parking should the 1979 Riviera, Buick's first front- include powerful four wheel disc sole and shifter. Power windows aze
not be raised. j wheel-drive car. brakes with ABS, low-speed traction - standard, but the rear windows won’t
* Aulomobile access to urban : Fanciful styling exercises are control, magnetic variable-effort roll down.
areas should not be restricted. | : often done at the expense of practi- rack-and-pinion steering, automatic Standard interior features include
* Taxes on vehicles or fuels, cality (no rear headroom, etc.), but] —_rear-leveling and Goodyear Eagle dual airbags, separate driver and pas-
above those neéded for road i found that the new Riviera is still a GA 225/60 R-!6 radials mounted on —_ senger temperature controls, Delco
upkeep and construction, é practical five- or six-passenger alloy wheels. AM/FM auto-reverse tape player and
should not be levied. | coupe. Unlike the Aurora's fairly firm optional CD player, six-way power
There's adequate front and rear suspension, the Riviera's is much driver and passenger seats, power
aa : headroom and a surprising amount softer. While comfortable during city door locks, windows and mirrors,
TEST DRIVE of tront and rear legroom. Outward and freeway excursions, the Riviera _ pass-key theft deterrent system with
visibility is also very good. floats over dips, and feels very soft starter interrupt, and remote keyless
FEED B.C.... ICBC's Feed However, the doors are extremely on undulating secondary roads. entry. A large trunk with a flat floor
B.C. program raised more long, !.5 metres (4 feet 10 inches), In my opinion, the Riviera is not offers plenty of luggage space but
than 30,000 pounds of food “MUSCULAR, WELL-BAL- making them difficult to open in a competitor for luxury performance the liftover ‘ unusually high.
stuffs and over $7,500 for ANCED, and modern” — confined parking spaces. coupes like the Lexus SC400 and The base price of the Riviera is
food banks throughout British That's the way Buick exierior The new Riviera is based on the BMW 325i. $37,468 and fully equipped models
Columbia. design chief, William L. same platform as the new Olds- The interior of the Riviera is styl- go for about $41,000, considerably
, mobile Aurora. However, the ish and unique. The most unusual less than most mid-sized luxury

The province-wide cam- .
paign, from July If to 15, was Porter, described the dramat- Riviera is equipped with a revised feature is large. dish-shaped instru- coupes in this class.
designed to keep the shelves ic new styling of the 1995 version of Buick’s 3.8-fitre super-
of food banks well-stocked Buick Riviera. charged pushrod V6 engine rather
during the traditionally slow ‘The Riviera’s rounded contours than Oldsmobile’s overhead cam,
months of summer. ICBC are certainly exciting, but in my multi-valve 4,0-litre V8 engine. : oa ; Tires: P225/60R-16 all-season

turned 50 provincial Claim opinion they owe more than a few The supercharged 3.8-litre V6 — — radials
Centres into drop-off loca- styling debts to Jaguar. The ellipsoid = develops 225 horsepower at 5,000 Price as tested: $39,409 Curb weight: 1,715 kg (3,782
tions for the five-day period. grille opening resembles the XKE p.m. enough power to catapult the Base price: $37.468 Ibs.)
All food that was donated sports car, and the prominent hip, Riviera from zero to 100 km-h (62 Type: two-door, five- or six-pas- Wheelbase: 2,890 mm (113.8
locally stays in their respec- tapered tail, and rounded fenders are m.p.h.) in 9.7 seconds. The engine senger coupe in.)
tive communities. NJ6-like. likes to loaf along at low engine Luyout: transverse front Length: 5,262 mm (207.2 in.)
“We're very happy the Sul, the Riviera’s form is mod- revs: at 100 km-h, the engine tums engine/front-wheel-drive Width: !.905 mm (75.0 in.)
people in British Columbia em anid unique and stands out in a over 1,700 n.p.m. in overdrive, a very Engine: 3.8-litre OHV V6. two Height: [402 mm (55.2 in.)
supported this project,” said crowd. With its bullet-noscd snout. relaxed engine speed. Trained ears valves per cylinder, mull-port Trunk capacity: 174 liters (17.4
spokesman Debbie Hovi. “We swept-back headlamps, sweeping may pick out the mechanical whine fuel injection cu. ft.)
hope that Feed B.C. will con- roofline, and long tail, it resembles of the supercharger Horsepower: 225 @ 5.000 Fuel consumption: City:
tinue to help food banks of the an aerodynamic projectile. A smooth-changing four-speed p.m. 14.3/100 km (20 m.p.g.); Hwy:
province by having created a Ruick boasts that the Rivtera’s automatic transmission is standard Torque: 275 ft-lbs. @ 3,200 —8.7/100 km (32 m.p.g.)
higher level of awareness for sippery body is also very strong. equipment. This transmission is rpm. Warranty: three yrs/60,000 km
their year-round food dona- with a body structure as sdf as a desizned for leisurely performance
tion needs.” Mereedes-Benz E320. and good fuel economy, Fora 1,715