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Friday. January 29, 1999 — North Shore News — 29

NOW offered with a standard 2.8-litre V6 engine and four-speed automatic transmission, the 19$9 VW Eurovan is available as a seven-passenger window van, a semi-

camperized Multivan, or a fully-camperized Camper Van. Prices start at $43,940. Test drive tne new Eurovan in West Vancouver at Wetmore Motors and in North

Vancouver at Capilano Volkswagen.

VR6 engi

UNTIL now,
Volkswagen vans have
never been known for
having an excess of
horsepower.

At one time or another,
we've all passed old VW
microbuses and Westfalia
camper vans trudging slowly
up long mountain climbs ia
the slow lane.

Ta fact, I knew one 60s
microbus owner who said
the only way he could get up
really steep hills was in
reverse! (It is amazing how
fast Volkswagen vans could
travel going downhill
though.)

With the advent of the
front-wheel-drive, five-cylin-
Ger Eurovan in 1992, things
got a little better, but 110
horsepower was still not real-
ly enough for a 4,000 Ibs.
van.

Greg
Wilson

test
drive

Finally, last year
Volkswagen made the 140
horsepower 2.8-litre VR6
engine available in the
Eurovan Camper Van, and
for 1999 this engine is now
standard in the seven-passen-
ger window van.

Though 140 horsepower
doesn’t sound like alot
more than 110, the VR6
engine has much more
torque, and is geared to pro-
vide excellent acceleration at
slow and mid-range speeds. |

ne avail

was surprised at how quick),
this big van leaped off the
line, and how much easier it
was to manoeuvre a big,
boxy vehicle in city trattic
when you have che advan-
tage of good throttle
response.

On the highway, the
engine settles back into a
slow comfortable rhythm
that’s quiet and unobtrusive.
Smooth gear shifts are han-
dled by a standard four-
speed adaptive automatic
transmission,

As it’s much taller than
most mini-vans, the Eurovan
has a top-heavy feeling dur-
ing spirited cornering, but in
day-to-day city and freeway
driving, it feels stable and
extremely comfortable.

With extra-large windows
all-around, outward visibility
is excellent. However, when
conditions are bumid and

3

to walk to the station with one of those red containers. But some things are extra

the windows are steamed up,
the front defogger takes
about five minutes to clear
the front windscreen and has
to work hard to keep it clear.
The rear window has a stan-
dard electric defroster and
rear wiper.

All Eurovan’s come with
a standard sliding-door on
the rear passenger side (a
driver's-side sliding rear door
is not available).

Price as tested: $46,200
Base price: $43,940

Type: three-door, seven-passenger minivan

Layout: transverse front
wheel-drive

Engine: 2.8-litre V6, DOHC, 12 valves
Horsepower: 140 @ 4,500 r.p.m.

Torque: 177 @ 3,000 r.p.m.

Curb weight: 1,972 kg (4,348 Ibs.)

When open, the passen-
ger-side sliding rear reveals a
huge opening to the rear
compartment for casy acces-
sibility, however the big door
is rather heavy to open and
close,

A power-operated door,
like those on the Windstar
and Odyssey, would be a
good idea. Step-in height is
higher than typical froat-
wheel-drive mini-vans, bat

Technical Data

abie in new Eurovan

manageable,
The Eurovan’s interior is

roomy, comfortable and very

well finished. :
Standard models have
avo front captain's chairs
with armrests, 4 two-person
centre bench seat and a
three-person rear bench.
Each seat has a separate
cushion and backrest, arm-

See Eurovans page 30

Wheelbase: 2,920 mm (115.0 in.)
Length: 4,789 mm (183.5 in.)

Vidth: 1,84(
engine /front-

(18 m.p.g.);
m.p.g.)
Warranty: B:

) mm (72.4 in.)

Height: 1,940 mm (76.4 in.)
Fuel consumption: City — 15.8 1/100 km

Hwy — 11.0 1/100 km (26

asic — two vears/40,000 km;

Powertrain — five years/80,000 km

Namely, the 98 Saturns.

The payments shown here are based on the MSRPs for our brand-spankin’-new 1999 Saturn
SLI. They include transportation, retailer prep and even a full tank of gas so you won't have

like taxes

Gorry), license and insucance. These lease payments are based on a low kin bease of 60,000

km ~ which is pretty fi

oller applies to custome

with approved credit. you decid

~ over 3 years. with a charge of We per kin over that amount. This

Ou Wit to: purchase your

Saturn at the end of the lease (and who could blame vou), and you've made a $2,000 down-

payment, you're welcome to for $8,047 plus taxes. Aad with that same dawnpayment, the
maximum lease obligation ofan SLT is $8,588, Oh, and by the way, the vehicle is much larg~

erthaa shown.

8h actable ot

eae sturnica Ac0nt

| We had some high standards to live up to on the 99 Saturns. |

4183/mo.

Foes dav, Mas, leave

14,903

Prive inclades focgalt of PAE

Competitive Finance Rates Available

1999 Saturn SLI
Complete with: WEN atte
Tithef « step rede neat

W@ MORREY SATURN SAAB ISUZU 294-1831

samRN. 4451 Lougheed Hwy at Wi

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