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THE INFINIT! J30 helped its company top the 1992 J.D. Power Associates’ New Car tritiai Quality

Study.

Survey indicates quality improving

From page 3&2

which outscored established
nameplates such as Acura, Mazda,
and even Mercedes-Benz. 1 am.
sure that Saturn officials couldn't
get the smiles off their faces when
they first heard this news.

“It's increasingly difficult to set
yourself apart now that the quali-
ty gap is nmarrowing,” said Gun
Dukes, an executive at J.D.
Power, in a phone interview.

With the average IQS this year
at an impressive 125 problems per
100 cars — a 6% improvement
over last year, following a 5%
improvement the year before —
many manufacturers ‘have reached
@ level of quality that was thought
to be unachievable several years
ago.

“The capabilities of cars being
brought by all the manufacturers
are really excellent, in terms of
quality and = execution,’’ com-
mented David Cole, director of
the University of Michigan’s of-
fice for the study of automotive
transportation -— one of the
foremost authorities in the
automotive industry.

There aren’t ‘‘many dogs
anymore,’’ added Cole.

With consistent improvement in.

quality, the level of customer
satisfaction -- that is, how happy
the owners are with respect to
their cars and the dealership ser-
vice — is also making new waves.
In Power’s Customer Satisfac-

YMCA hosting
children’s New
Year sleepover

PARENTS WHO have a
difficult time finding a
babysitter on New Year’s
Eve may be pleased to
know that the West Van-
couver YMCA is hosting a
New Year’s sleepover for
children aged five to 12
years.

Organizers are promising plenty
of fun activities to keep everyone
in the festive spirit. There will be
games, crafts, videos and pop-
corn.

Parents can drop off their kids
at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31
and pick them up by 10 a.m. the
next day.

The cost is $35 for one child,
$50 for two, and $10 for each ad-
ditonal youngster.

For more information call
926-5541, or visit the West Van-
couver YMCA, lacated at 1735
Inglewood Ave.

tion survey which measures exact-
ly this over a period of one year,
a similar trend caa be seen,

Cut of the 36 makes that were
evaluated, exactly half of them
achieved a CSi (Customer
Satisfaction Index) number above
average.

Here, seven Japanese name-
plates, four American, and seven
European made it on the “honor
roll.’’ The top 10 nameplates were
(from first to 10th}: Lexus, In-
fini, Saturn, Acura, Mercedes-

Benz, Toyota, Audi, Cadillac,
Honda (a tie with Cadillac), and
Jaguar.

Of course, these results, no
matier how encouraging they may
be, do not imply that every car
produced by the panicular name-
plate is of high quality.

Still, the results from not only
Power’s survey but also from
Consumer Reports and CAA in-
dicate that things are only going
1o get better frain now on.

THE FOLLOWING are the
scheduled road closures and
detours for the coming
week in North Vancouver
District, City, West’ Van-
couver District and along
area highways.

@ North Vancouver District:
Mount Seymour Parkway: Apex
Road to Mount Seymour Road:
Road construction. Expect some
delays.

Woodlands/Sunshine: Water main
installation. Expect delays.

700 block East Kings Road be-
tween Royal Avenue and Duchess

” 1992 GRAND
PRIX LE

1992 SUNBIRD

4 $Dr. for air cond,
Bal. GM warranty.
Stk. #9-5191-0

+ IMMEDIATE DELIVERY!

Avenue: Water main installation.
Local traffic only.

@ North Vancouver City: No
scieduled road closures or
detours.

@ West Vancouver District: No
scheduled road closures or
detours.

@ Minisiry of Highways:
Squamish Highway: No scheduled
road closures or detours but
motorists are reminded thal good
winter tires are required. Carry
chains and expect winter condi-
tions.

1992 CENTURY
» CUSTOR
a | 4 Dr. Ba Guiwanene ‘
Bas aera”

| # 888 | a ,

MINUTES FROM THE 2ND NARROWS

209. 0123

Friday, December 18, 1992 - North Shore News - 39

Tips to help reduce tragedies

BCAA REMINDS vou to be
“First a friend, then a host’’
this holiday season.

**Accident statistics for B.C.
show that about ane in three
traffic fatatties are alcohol
related,”* said BCAA public
affairs officer Marian Zadra.
“You can help reduce the
tragedies on our highways by
being 4 responsible host."

The ‘First a friend, then a
host’’ brochure provides holi-
day hosts with helpful sugges-
tions on how to hold a respon-

sible purty.

The brochure jucludes reci-
pes for non-alcoholic beverages
and high-caloric foods which
help slew dawn alcohol ab-
sorption, and ideas on how to
take the focus away from
alcohol.

“First a friend, then a host"
brochures are available free of
charge at ihe Park Royal South
Service Centre, located at 908
South Mall, Park Royai shop-
ping centre,

"ALL PRICES
INCLUDE FREIGHT! §

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