40 ~ Friday, April 30, 1999 — Nort’ Shore News

NO geographic area has
an edge in producing,
vehicles that deliver a
quality experience,
according to Strategic
Vision, Inc.

The San Diego based
research firm recently
announced the winners of its
1999 ‘Toral Quality Award in
16 ditierent segments.

The feaders came almost
equally from domestic,
European, and Asian) compa-
nies and included both new
models and old standbys.

This premier measure of
new vehicle owner satisfaction
measures buyers’ experiences of
buying, owning and driving
their purchases.

Based on the responses of
more than 33,000 buyers, the
following 1999 models topped
cach segment (" denotes a
1998 winner, “N” denotes a
new model):

@ Small Car: Volkswagen
Golf*
@ Compact Car: Pontiac
Grand Am (N)
@ Mid-Size Car: Volkswagen
Passat*
mn Larger Car: Chrysler LHS
(N) 5
"1. Small Specialty (under
$30,000): Volkswagen Beetle
& Mid-Specialty: Honda
Accord Coupe; Toyota Solara

(N)
Car; BMW 3

Car: Volvo S80 (N)
a Convertibles (under
$30,000): ler Sebring*
Hi Ninf Honda
Odyssey(N)
@ Smali SUV: Subaru
Forester*
@ Medium SUV: Toyora 4-
Runner
@ Large SUV: Chevrolet
Suburban; Ford Expedition*

@ Luxury SUV: Lexus LX .

470°

@ Compact Pickup: Dodge
Dakota _

& Full-Size Pickup: Chevrolet
Silverado (N)

The Total Quality Index
(TM) calculates how buyers
rate the whole ownership expe-
tience — from buying to dri-
vingand service.

Factors, such as reliability,
safety, craftsmanship, style,
ride, power, handling, comfort,
and useful innovation, as well
as the dealership experience are
used to calculate the index.

Strategic Vision also mea-
sures buyers’ emotions associ-
ated with their ownership expe-

November of 19S, and had
owned then atleast 90 days.
Their answers show how
well cach vehicle measured up
to the buyer's ideal, vbich
would be 2 score of 1,000 on
the TM. The winners, followed
by their TOL scores, stood our
as leaders in their class in the
following ways:
@ Volkswagen Golf (839) by
giving drivers better than aver-
age contort and power gener-
ated feelings of personal satis-
faction and confidence;
@ Pontiac Grand Am (870).
Style, convenience, power, and
innovation propel this new GM
entry to the head of the class;
B Volkswagen Passat (879).
For the second year, Passat’s
style, innovation, and thought-
ful design make it a winner. Its
owners feel pride and personal
satisfaction in a car that’s fin to
drive.
@ Chrysler LHS (890). Style,
innovation, and better-than-
average power put the new
LHS well ahead of the pack.
® Volkswagen Beetle (878).
Volkswagen continues its win-
ning streak with the Beetle:
Style, innovation, thoughtful
design, comfort, and ease of

north shore news

# AU

TO

Quality awards announced

33,000 buyers rate 1999 autos
on their ownership experience

use enhance a package that its
owners find dehehtfil, tricndly,
manufactured with the highest
standards, and a deader.

@ Honda Accord Coupe
(877)/Toyota Solara (876)
These two cars take the lead
with craftsmanship, both inside
and out. Solara excels in quiet-
ess and comiort, while Accord
Coupe wins in convenience.

@ BMW 3 Series (906). The
new “3” excels in stvle, road-
ability, handling, innovation,
and craftsmanship. Offering
the highest standards, they
make their owners — feel
delight, personal satisfaction,
esteem, and pride in cars that
are fun to drive and create
excitement,

B Volvo S80 (922). In a tough
category Volvo added style to
its usual comfort, innovation,
and room/capacity to nrake
the ‘new $80 a winner.

@ Chrysler Sebring (831).
Sebring owners find the ride,
the unexpected room/capacity,
ease of use, and the dealership
experience well above average.
@ Honda Odyssey (866). The
all new Odyssey gets excellent
scores for thoughtful design,
ease of use, and innovation.

Good power and: rocun capac

sty anake this a smart choice and
3 teader by otfermy the highest
standards ina haste tree vehi

cle,

@ Subaru borester (S821). For
thase who need more than a
car, the all wheel drive Forester
cacely ind safety, readability,
power, and ease of use,

@ Toveta 4-Runner (858).
Abvays a contender, 4-Runner
is a strong performer in exteri-
or crafismanship, quietness,
comfort, and roadability,

@ Chevrofer Suburban
(849 )/Ford Expedition (849).
Suburban's room and capacity
help make its owners feel
safe/secure and proud,
Expedition offers style and
exterior craftsmanship.

B® Lexus LX 470 (918). The
highest scoring sports utility
vehicle does well in all areas and
especially well in cratismanship,
comfort, quictness, and
room/eapacity. Its owners feel
comfortable, proud, aad taken
care of in a vehicle that they
believe is a smart choice.

B Dodge Dakota (830). Style,
craftsmanship, roadability, and
power put Dakota ahead of the
pack. Scoring well above aver-
age in all areas.

@ Chevrolet Silverado (859).
Power, safety, and innovation
are the strengths of Cheveolet’s
new full-size pickup.

ur choice —

L,

[

The New 1999
Altima GXE

* power windows, focks, mirrors,

antenna
© power steering

rience. Buyers who participated

in the survey had purchased
vehicles in October and

Salish
Auto Haus

31 years on the Narth Shore! |

A lather & son business where
you can talk to the German
mechanics who work on your car.

a 3 uy

FOR SALE
MERCEDES OF
= 4 DN ems

: n =
convertible, col-
Call for more cars & Info.

1590 Pemberton Ave.
t North Vancouver 987-3133

cruise control
© 150 horsepower
dual airbags

* power steering

e air conditioning

+ AM/FM cassette
with 4 speakers

° 1.6L, 16 valve,
DOHC engine

¢ front disc brakes

« dual outside mirrors

rear window
defroster

* tilt steering
¢ dual airbags

locks

* color-keyed
bumpers

four speaker AM/FM cassette
anti-lockout protection

* air conditioning

NEWS photo Terry Petera

Wash wars

SUTHERLAND secondary’s Scott Butchart and
Christine Saunders prepare for the grad class car
wash fundralser Sunday May 2 at Lonsdale Ave. and
13th St. where boys and giris will compete for cash.

evariable intermittent wipers
©60/40 split fold-down rear seat
eilluminated entry system

© upgraded cloth bucket seats

© 60/40 split folding
rear bench seat

© childproof rear door

© full wheel covers

« Intermittent wipers

1999 Maxima ES
leather steering
wheel
anti-lock brakas
* 16” alloy wheels
eail power
equipment
cruise control
* sport suspension

six speakder CD
systam

«heated front seats

keyless remote
entry

automatic climate
control

© 190 horsepower V6