Arive

IN 1990, the futuristi-
cally-styled Chevrolet
Lumina APV nini-van,
and its sister van the
Pontiac Trans Sport,
were launched onto the
automotive scence.

But like the space-age-
inspired tail fins of the 1950s,
GM's “space-shuttle” of the
nineties failed to fly, What
seemed like the Future of
mini-vans slowly faded into
an automotive oddity.

General Motors tried to
revive their vans in 1995 by
changing the profile of the
hood and windshield, bur
customers didn't seem to
notice. So GM designers
went back to the drawing
board, or more accurately,
their CAD/CAM computers,
and designed an all-new
mini-van with a more con-
temporary appearance..

Tike the popular Dodge
Caravan, Plymouth Voyager,
and Ford Windstar, the all-
new Chevrolet Venture and
Pontiac Trans Sport mini-
vans are people-friendly pco-
ple-movers.

They have front-wheel-
drive for maximum space uti-
lization, winter traction, and
a lower ride height. The
Venture/Trans Sport has a
low step-in height, a low roof
height to fit into standard ”

arages, good outward visi-

ility, and car-like ride and
handling. The plastic body
panels were discarded in favor
of stee! mostly because of
cost and production efficien-

technicai data

Price as tested: $26,950
Base price: $23,185

Type: three or four door mini-van
Layout: transverse front engine/front-

wheel-drive
Engine: 3.4-litre OHV V6

Horsepower: 180 @ 5,200 r.p
Torque: 205 ft.-Ibs. @ 4,000 r.p.m.
Curb weight: 1,750 kg (3,860 Ibs.)
Wheelbase: 3,048 mm (120.0 in.)

mM.

THE all-new Chevrolet Venture replaces the Lumina APV.
ols, with a standard 180 horsepower 3.4-

litre V6 engine and four-

Venture at Dick irwin Chevrolet, 845 Marine Drive, North Vancouver (987-5231).

cies.

Both Ventures and ‘Trans
Sports are available in regular
or extended length wheelbase
with standard seven passenger
seating, versatile seating and

cargo

- arrange-
ments.
Extended
length mod-
els also have
an optional
driver’s-side
sliding rear
door. They
also boast
some features
that other
mini-vans

available only on extended
length models.

The Venture and Trans
Sport are virtually identical —
the major differences on the
‘Trans Sport are a $500 high-
er base price, a Pontiac grille,
standard fog lamps, lower
body cladding, and available
two-tone paint, eight-passen-
ger seating, and an upievel
Montana handling and
appearance package.

The standard, and only
powertrain in both models, is
a 180 horsepower 3.4-litre
V6 engine and four-speed
automatic transmission with a
column-mounted shift lever.
This is the most powerful

line acceleration and highway
passing, power — particularly
important when you have
seven passengers and their
luggage on board.

The engine is quiet at
highway speeds, doing, just
1.800 rpm at a steady cruts-
ing speed of 100 km-h (62
m.p.h.). Should the engine
lose its coolant, it offers a
“Jimp-home” made that
allows it to operate at
reduced power until you can
get to a service station.

Anti-lock brakes are stan-
dard on all Ventures, and
low-speed traction control
and a load-levelling rear sus-
pension are optional on all

The seven-passenger Venture comes
speed automatic transmission.

Friday, November 15, 1996 — North Shore News ~ 45

height and low centre of
gravity, the Venture has sur-
prisingly stable, neutral han-
dling — it doesn’t feel
“tipsy” like some mini-vans
do. In addition, the ride is
firm enough to prevent
motion sickness that often
afflicts rear passengers in
mini-vans.

Standard seven-passenger

NEWS photo Paul McGrath

in regular and extended wheelbase mod-
Prices siart at $23,185. Test drive the new

seating consists of two front
captain’s chairs with “walk-
thru” to the second-row two-
person bench seat, and a
third-row three-person bench
seat. All outboard positions
have adjustable head
restraints which are uniquely
designed so as not to impede

See Venture page 47

-

models,

standard engine in its class,
Due to its relatively low

and offers plenty of off-the-

don’t offer,
such as a
power-oper-
ated sliding
right-side rear
door, again,

Length: 5,114 mm (201.3 in.)
Width: 1,830 mm (72.0 in.)
Height: 1,729 mm (68.1 in.)
Tires: P215/70R-15

Warranty: three years/60,000 kms

*Test transmission :@ Replace”:
performance... :; transmission
(road test) ; gasket ue

* Replace « Replace - “ok

‘ transmission filter .. transmission oll:

* Clean & inspect ge as,

ya j trans:pan
e Pee iw io eh aera! ae | | OFFER EXPIRES Nov.'22/96
SERVICE & USED PARTS | ; poe a a oS
(MECHANICAL & BODY PARTS) . rey
By pk. Paint Booth 2 Bsidag Chamtter = insurance Claims
* Perfect Co‘our Hatch ° Guaranteed For as Long 4 7
* Courtesy Cars 2s You Own The Car . yas Ee as 7
EXTENDED HOURS OF SERVICE"
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AL! MAKES & MODELS

GOTT IETT Cer ee

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WESTCAN S88 AUTO REPAIR
1160 West 3rd. St., N. Vancouver I,

937-9866 “i 2 Dele
Fax: 986-0877 ee * ‘North. Vahicouver,
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