28 - North Shore News - Friday, July 14. 2000

enroad

From page 25

trol functions have been moved to the steering wheel spokes.

As before, power window buttons and power mirror controls
are on the centre console between the front seats rather than on
the doors — an unusual feature in an American car. A 12 volt
power point is just ahead of the transmission lever, and there are
traction control and fog lamp buttons on lower left dash.

My test ca: had optional Teather seats; the front buckets have
good side bolsters for lateral support, but the seat cushion felt
shallow, at least to my rear-end. The front seats have been given
an additional 1} mm of seat travel to accommodate taller drivers,
and a new lumbar adjustment.

A centre arrarest/storage bin between the seats has a storage
area for tapes and valuables, but it’s small. There are also a small
glovebox, door map pockets with built-in 12 oz. can holders,
and net-type storage pockets on the back of the front seats.

There are a toral of six cupholders: one open cupholder just
ahead of the transmission lever, another behind the transmission
lever, and two pull-out cupholders at the rear of the centre con-
sole for rear passengers — plus the can holders in the doors.

Though it’s a compact sedan, the S12 has adequate head-
room and legroom for four adult passengers. The rear seat may
be a bit narrow for three adult passengers.

Standard 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks provide cargo-car-
rving versatility and can be locked for security. The
locking/uniocking feature has been moved inside the trunk to
prevent thieves from accessing the trunk from the passenger
compartment. Also, an optional valet key, which operates the
ignition only, is now available.

The $L2's 12.1-cubic-foot trunk is roomy and easy to access
because of the wide trunklid which extends down to the bumper.

Standard interior safety features include four outboard three-
point seatbelts, a centre rear lapbelt, rear tether anchors for child
seats, and front and rear head restraints.

Driving impressions

SL2 models have a more powerful engine than SL and SL]

models even though the SL2’s engine has the same displacement.

Saban S-sevies
Base price......
Price as teste
TYME... csosessesecseee vo-door, two-passenger sports car
Layout................longitudinal front engine/rear-wheel drive
~ Engine......... 1.8-litre four-cylinder, DOHC, 16 vaives
Horsepower 140 @ 6,500 r.p.m.
Torque............ 19 ft-lb. @ 5,000 rp.m.
Curb WEIGN........scsssssocsssssetsesesseeseeeseees t O47 KG (2,308 Ib.)
2.26 m (89.2 in.)
3.94 m (12.94 ft.)
sescoese vesseeeee 1.7 1 (66.0 in.)
seencel 23 M (48.4 in.)
Trunk space... ... 144 litres (5.1 cu. ft.)
Fuel consumption..........city: 9.7 litres/100 km (29 m.p.g.)
highway: 7.4 titres/100 km (38 m.p.g.)
three years/80,000 km
five years/100,000 km

Summer is kere, sa put your mind

at ease with our Special offer.

LUBE, fit, Filrs correct if necessary $94. $3°
“inelodes oll & filter .. a (see ssh
Summer Super Service

Tone up laciuding ignition syrtem saspection,

seplace spark plugs, battery service, air filter service, ¢ Gi
scope caging and chack extaust =
atnixsion levels

bare
bd ucts}

Wo nina bave specink om 6 & 8 ext (moct cart aot

Gootiag System Service
Pressure test esoting system, change antifreeze,

check belts and hoses. $
includes xatifreaze ..

Wheel Alignment
On the latest 611 Hoater alignment
machine providing a computer gsnerated betore & after roport

* Four wheel *
alignatont .. $70 38

“axes. Parts extra if required. Prices cower mast makes art models
We are atso a complete auiobudy repat stop.

TL 183 Pemberton Ave. WALSAES |
985-7195 laaeee |

‘as eis (mest cars 8 Halt tacts) 1

Front wheal
alignment

29 |

EERE PILI LINNEA EL DELS LIEN RG EO

S improved

Its 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine has dual overhead camshafts
instead of a single overhead camshaft, and develops 124 horse-
power instead of 100 horsepower. However, it develops the same
amount of torque (114 ft.-Ib. at 2,800 rp.m.), so it doesn’t teel
significantly more responsive at city speeds particularly as it
weighs about 30 kg (70 Ib.) more than the SL1.

‘The SL2’s engine is basically the same engine that Saturn
introduced in 1990, but Sarurn has reduced the noise and vibra-
tions that used to accompany this drivetrain. The engine lets out
a buzzy drone when accelerating, but at cruising speeds, it’s very
quiet in part because of a low engine speed of 2,500 rp.m. at
100 km/h. There’s not much wind noise cither, so the passenger
cabin is reasonably quiet for this class of car.

My car had the opdonal four-speed aur smatic transmission,

See Automatic page 31

NEWS photo Julie iverson

THE Saturn SL2 includes a steering wheel with a cen-
tre horn, instead of horn buttons on spokes.

GUARANTEED
If you can find a lower price than ours,
we'll beat it.

‘2088 am

ZO GHASLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE LIMITED
ae ——enene

Now *44,927