28 - Friday, November 22, 1991 - North Shore News

AUTOMOTIVES
Sedan’s design much improved

From page 27

120 millimetres (4.7 inches) to
2,500 mm and the track is slightly
wider. As a result, rear passengers
have more legroom, the ride is less
choppy than before, and handling
stabitity has been improved.

There is less wind noise than
before because of the wind-
cheating exterior; however, engine
noise seeps into the cabin on
heavy acceleration.

The redesigned exterior offers a
straightforward, no-nonsense
Honda design. The instrument
pod now merges gracefully with
the rest of the dash and Sarge,
round instruments are easy-to sec
at a glance.

An improvement this year is a
centre console that has been mov-
ed cioser to the driver. Radio and
heater controls are now easier to
reach. A new air vent in the mid-
dle of the dash improves interior

air flow, but on sunny days, it
feflects in the middle of the wind-
screen.

The rear seats offer outboard
lap and shoulder belts and the
rear seatback folds down for extra
cargo space. As with most small
sedans ihe rear windows will only
wind down about two-thirds of
the way.

The base model sedan, which
starts at $12,395, is now called the
LX (instead of DX). Standard
equipment includes power steer-
ing, five-speed manual trassmis-
sion, adjustable steering wheel,
one-piece fold-dawn lockable rear
seatback, two-speed intermittent
wipers, and cloth upholstery. Not
included is a tachometer, which
should be standard on any vehicle
with a manual transmission.

The next step up, the EX sedan
(previously LX) starts at $14,295.
In addition to the standard

equipment offered on the LX, the
EX has power windows and door
locks, cruise control, tachometer,
electronically-operated outside
mirrors and centre armrest.

The new EX-V sedan adds a
125-horsepower 1.6-litre engine
with variable valve timing, four-
wheel-disc brakes with an ABS
(anti-lock braking system), front
and rear anti-roll bars for im-
proved handling, and larger !75/
65R-14 radial tires. An elec-
trically-operated tilt/slide sunroof
is also standard, as is a driver’s
side airbag. The base EX-V sedan
starts at $17,695.

Though not expensive, Civic
sedans have traditionally offered
god reliability, nimble handling,
and a good resale value. Apart
from my obvious dislike of the
styling, the new Civic is a better
all-around car in almost every
way.

Device prevents drinkers from driving

SOBERING NEWS for
drivers who drink: new
technology. may now stop
you from. harming
yourselves or the rest of us
to wit, an electronic
device that prevents anyone
who is drunk from starting
the car.

Called the Guardian Interlock
ignition System, the gadget links a
hand-held breath analyzer to a
sensor and microcomputer wired
into the ignition system. To start
the car, you must breathe into the
analyzer. But if your blood
alcohol level is too high, the car
will not start.

Forget about cheating. With
this fail-safe electronic memory,
the system will turn off the engine
after a specified time if the car is

left idling and, to prevent some-
one other than the driver from
starting the car, each interlock has
an individual breath code — a se-
quence of long and short dreaths.

Already the mechanism has
caught on as an instrument of the
criminal-justice system. According
to its manufacturer, Guardian
Technologies, Inc., more than 500
judges in the United States have
sentenced offenders to iease the
device and to submit to regular
vehicle inspections to ensure com-
pliance for as long as the sentence
lasts.

Under this pilect program, the
recidivism rate among court-
ordered interlock drivers is less
than 1%. Typically, 20% of
drunk-driving first offenders are
arrested again within a year.

**We may eventually seil the in-
terlock to trucking companies, for

PUBLIC INFORMATION FAIR
(over 50 interest groups exhibiting)

Saturday, November 23

Location:
Time.

Sentinel High School
West Vancouver (250 Chartwell)

Scientific Infomnation Fair. }Oam-dpm
Panel discussion:

79pm

For senior students and adulls, in-depth investigations of a
variety of environmental, industrial and educational issues
will be possibie both through the fair itself and the evening
scientific pane! discussion that will focus on the major issues.

For elementary and junior students there will be “hands on"
workshops, contests, face-painting, a live drama show and
an opportunity to collect “show and tell” material for pfesen-

tations to their classmates.

At LOO pm. a Hbbon cutting ceremony (of a chloride-free
Krat paper sample from Howe Sound Pulp and Paper's New
Mill) will take place with the Minister of the Environment
Johs Cashore, Minister of Advanced Education Tom Perry,
MLA. Deputy Adam Corbin, and Mayor Mark Sager.

550,000 people work hard to ;
protect Canada’s endangered species.

You can heip too.

+ Fos more indormahon,
‘widen Fede Federcition
1673 Coning Ae Averwn
KA 3It
(683) TSH

Pet
LF

school buses and to parents con-
cerned about teen-age drivers,’*
says Richard Freund, national
marketing manager for the com-
pany. Chrysler and General
Motors are currently considering
the interlock standard in future
cars.

~ Distributed by Los Angeles Time

Syndicate

s

@ > test transmission
performance (road

This week's
SPECIAL

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

8 SERVICE & INSPECTION

we will...
© Replace transmission

2 Replace transraission * Replace transmission of
Clean & Inspect trans. pan © Adjust Enkage as nec.
Expires November 29th 1991

ual
he
ng

inal 1991 Clearance

ALL 1891’s SALE PRICED TO GO!!
| 1894 TERCEL “=” [1994 PICK-UP TRUCK |

© Fuel injected
® intermittent wipers
* Digital clock

88 ———
WAGON

¢ Tinted glass
® All season tires
& much much more.

8 89 866"

"86 oc
MERKUR XRAT! |

*Plus freight & PDI.

°84 HONDA
PRELUDE |

‘86 MAZDA |
626 TURBO

mr us

CONVERTIBLE
As new cond., full opt.
incl. taather,

88 CAMARO
Sport vine

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g Mon. Tinure. T:30zmn-9:00 pm Fri, & Sat. 7:30a0-6:009m