Latest survey gives nod to average-priced cars OVERDRIVE ONE OF the reasons people buy luxury: cars and pay. premium prices for them — “is that they expect to enjoy . more time with the car itself and less time taking the car to the dealership for fixing problems. : “They feel the. extra $10,000 or so they’ve paid, for the luxury cars © is worth the money because they are supposed to be more reliable, - dependable, and trouble-free. “; However, according to the latest. . Survey conducted by the well- respected California-based auto- motive marketing firm; J.D. Power ~. and Associates, luxury car manu- . facturers can no longer claim. exclusivity: -when ‘it comes to offer- ing high quality, defect-free vehi- : cles.” ne . More specifically, ‘the 1994 J.D. Power and Associates New Car and Light ‘Sruck Quality Studies *' (QS) show that a whopping 43% Capilano | Volkswagen - 935-0694 47151 Marine Dr. - | SORE tin 5894 ‘at Capilano Uolkawagan Available from our parts department one day only 15% off all in stock items for all air cooled WW’'s and 20% aff of (VW ‘sug. retail) any prepaid special order items for air cooled VW’s | -’ the problem is rattles, wind noise, a ‘ misadjusted door, or whatever. companies when you consider “» achieved one of the highest quality - * defects per car), $70,000 Infiniti - (Fa@ORMOTIVE? | COLLISION - I-C.B.C. - B.C.A.A,- A.RA. APPROVED CENTRE | COLLISION SPECIALISTS | 3ern FREE COURTESY CARS FOR COLLISION YEAR LIFETIME GUARANTEE " #¢CONSULTATION®: 174 PEMBERTON AVE. N.VAN. 985-7455 “Ete wee 1 Honda Accord, “ : @ Other “average-priced” cars : that achieved first-class survey : " rou nee Grom meres a TOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERVICE & INSPECTION Maxima, Toyota Corolla, Eagle gwe will... Summit, Honda Civic, Maida Protege, Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera, ° ‘fest transmission « Replace transmission performance (road test! * ‘gasket -. - Buick Century, Toyota Celica, * Raplace transmission . Rep! a?) filter * Clean & inspect trans. - of average-priced vehicles ($12,000 US to $17,000 US) achieved a first-class quality level normally associated with much more expensive luxury cars. In the first 90 days, the owners of these high-ranking vehicles reported, on average, less than one problem per vehicle. Think about that for a moment. That’s less than one defect — any kind of defect — per car, whether r q i See Power page 29 ° Adjust linkage as necessary. - “Top: 25 Models m Expires dune 10/94. This is quite a feat by the car Initial Quality Study problems are often reported more frequently during the first few months of ownership. New vehicle owners tend to have sharper eyes for defects during the “honey- moon” stage of the new car experi- ence.’ Here are some other interesting — facts on this issue: @ The $11,000 Toyota Tercel 7: (scores in brackets expressed in average problems .. per vehicle) Lexus LS400 (0.32) Lexus GS300 (0.48) Lexus SC400 (0.52) Geo Prism (not sold’ ~ Canada) (0.56) : Acura. Legend (0. 57): Infiniti J30 (0.61) Mercury Grand -Marquis (0.61) vio Camry (0.63) Toyota Terce] (0.67) . Lexus ES300 (0.68) _ _Lincoln Town Car (0.68) Toyota Paseo (0.69) * Toyota Previa (0.71) Nissan Maxima (0.72) - . ~ Buick Park Avenue (0. 76) EXTENDED HOURS OF SERVICE| Mon.-Thurs. 7:30am-8: 00pm Fri. & Sat. 7:308 survey scores (0.67 defects per car on the average), ahead of many luxury cars. @ The $12,000 Saturn sedan owners reported less problems (0.76 defects per car) than the ° $50,000 BMW 5-series (0.81 Q45 (0.84 per car), or $100,000. . Mercedes-Benz S-ciass cars (0. 92, per car). ‘ & Ford Crown Victoria, Buick. LeSabre, and Ford Ranger truck -- scored higher on the quality index, than Volvo 940, BMW T-series, * Oldsmobile 98 (0.79) Saturn Sedan (0.76) | - ’. Foyota Corolla (0.76) ‘Ford Crown Victoria (0. 78) Volvo 960 (0.78) . “STUDENTS. ARE READY TO WORK ‘HIRE A STUDENT | 666-9192 and Infiniti Q45. Mercury Grand Marquis ranked seventh in the survey, a position that’s ‘ahead of such heavy hitters as the Lexus ES300, Toyota Camry, Nissan Maxima, and “. Saturn Coupe (0.79) Toyota T100 (0.79) Buick LeSabre (0.80) BMW 5-series (0.81) Ford Explorer (0.83) If your Honda i is a 1988 or older, ‘then we’ve got a deal for youl t ¢ ! Your Fitness Packa e Includes: TUNE-UP LUBE, OIL & FILTER . © Scope check and adjusted to specs © Replace engine oil and filter © Labour to install tune-up parts ® Lube locks and hinges ; ® Roadtest vehicle 9 >. © Check all fluids Parts Extra : , World Class Pennzoil and genuine Honda 22 POINT INSPECTION oil filter inchided * Includes inspection of suspension, , steering, brake linings, batcery load testing, coolant, etc. Not valid with any other offer or discount, extended until June 30 / 94 PLUS US TAXES Let our factory trained service technicians check your Honda from head to toe; and make sure everything is running smoothly. v Pacific Honda 2 blocks East of Capilano Mall REPAIR CENTRE Cert 250354 Sales & Leasing 984-0331 © 725 Marine Drive, North Vancouver .