: WHAT 1s the fastest way. to
get rid of a headache? For
many, it’s extra strength

“° Tylenol, but for some, it's tak-
ing a drive ix a convertible.

¢ When you smell the fresh air.

* feel the warm sun, and experience

‘the summer wind, you feel like ~
you've escaped to another world.
a: Am f exaggerating? Maybe, but
as d die-hard fan of convertibles. I
think roadsters possess unique, mys-.
- Hal attributes not apparent in any
other types of vehicles.”

Thanks to Chrysler's marketing -:

efforts to revive convertibles back in’

the early 1980s; North American :
buyers now have many roofless
coupes to choose, from. In the afford-

able price range, cars like the Mazda:
Miata comes to’ my mind ‘as the most.

fun-to-drive roadster. At the higher
end, buyers can choose from such.
offerings as the Mercedes-Benz: |

, : SL500 and Jaguar XJS convertible.

But what about something i in.
between? 00!
: In the $40, 000 10 $50, oco price.
: range, | ‘three European car, compa-?,

tes, Audi, BMW, ‘and Saab, offer .*

. three beautiful convertibles with
; decidedly. different flavours.:
: With’a price tag of $54,900, :
Audi's 90 Cabriolet Coupe isn't
- cheap; but it may be; the'most con
» fortable, attractive looking convert-
ible in this'class. Audi's slick- Jook::
ing ‘Cabriolet j is powered bya. 172-
horsepower V-6. engine that i is. :
réfined and smooth, but the car ‘la acks °°
spirit and enthusiasm:- Lane
: “sThe front-wheel-drive Audi Be
‘Cabriolét is onty available with a «
four-speed automatic transmission, :
Which further limits its potential as a”
- sporty. coupe. If you're looking for.”
silky character and a touch of ele-
‘gance. the Audi may. fit your bill.,
When it comes to ultimate han-
: dling and | prowess, however, the con
“’servatively designed Audi-is no"
“ match for. the autobahn-grown’
BMW 325i Cabriolet: Available in
both the punchy five- “speed versio

and four-speed automatic model, the.

‘Tear-wheel-drive 325i Cabriolet i is:
the most fun to drive model i in, this.

Pp : g

553, $00, the 189- -horsepower V-6
BMW roadster is also pricey...
Although the BMW: boasts the most..
‘agile chassis, its superd rear-wheel-
drive Configuration ¢ can‘also bea
handicap'i in the winter, since it is’
easier to get stuck i in snow.. Pees

BMW. offers a cheaper convert:

ible in.the form of'a 318i Cabriolet :

~ Unfortuiiately, this. four-cylinder.”
Toddster only manages ‘138 horse-
Power, which makes i ita slow per-:

: 1995 Toyots
Corolla:

* four-cylinder; a

overdrive

. former, {t is more reasonably priced

at $40,900. but it can reach the _
~ $50,000 iniark when various options»
are, selected. Obviously,

alue isn't”
the strongest point of either one of

the BMW roadsters.

Which brings us tu the new-for-

"1995 Saab 900 convenible — per-

_ haps the. most-balanced, sensible
convertible among the three offer-. -;
ings. The 900 convertibie is available”

in two trims (S and SE), with two:

». transmissions (auto or five- speed), |

and ‘can be powered by. one of. the.
three engines: a°150-hp'2.3-litre . °
a 17-hp 2 25+ litre Ve 6:

and a a poten 2 20- Here turbocharged
four-cylinder engine with 185 hors:
es.

: "Although the starting price of the

BMW 318i at $42,995, the 900 S
comes equipped with significantly
more features aad power. In fact. the
four-cylinder 900 convertible is a
real sleeper in this class: its 150-~
horsepower engine is surprisingly
peppy. and flexes its muscles strong-
ly at all speeds.

Unlike the spaitan-equipped —-.
BMW:318i. the four-cylinder 9008
comes with powered convertible roof.
(with glass rear window), air-condi- .”
uioning, heated seats, power wine.
dows/locks, ABS, leather seats, and
alloy wheels. :

The more expensive, powerful. V-"
6 version and turbocharged model * ”

basic convertible is higher than the Ti

-start ‘at $50,995, and come with vir-_”

tually every conceivable feature.
including a six-dise CD changer,
automatic climate control, and"
power memory power. seat. gains |

these two. models undercut the Audi

and BMW convertibies i in Price by a:

wide margin. :
“Soa next time you suffer from i a

: headache. take a Saab 900 convent.
“Hble for a test drive —- > it just may do
-“yahe trick, 4s. .

DABS:

WE:

RETO AG ERT IG: an 054
ANTS CLASBIFIENS Bae. Biel
PARIS RD EATER TERE aii cad

UTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SERVICE & INSPECTION.

we will err cae
“Test transmission: - . Replace tansmission
parformance’ ~ Gasket se io, ‘
_ (road test). -_*Repiace t transmission :

“*Replace transmissio Ct ge nu
“filter * Adjust linkage as.
-*Clean & inspect t ras. “necessary, a

Age

‘ SUBARI

“4995 Toyota 7
-Tereel