ac ASK THE
EXPERT rE"

ASK THE Expert is a weekly column in the North
Shore News’ Automotives section. Each week a
reader’s question will be answered by an expert
from the British Columbia Automobile Associa-
tion (BCAA). This week’s question is:

What is the proper way to stop a

runaway car with automatic

@ transmission? It has happened a few

times in West Van recently and just by absolute
luck the drivers escaped without injury.

A I’m not familiar with the West Vancouver
e incidents you mention. The term ‘runaway
car’ can be interpreted in a number of different
ways, but since you stressed automatic transmis-
sion, I presume it’s a situation where the
transmission is in ‘‘Drive’’ and the engine sud-
denly speeds up.

Let’s take a look at the options available to you
to stop the car:

1) the brakes on any car should be capable of
overcoming the power of the engine. If you press
hard enough on the brakes the car will stop.

2) putting the transmission shift lever into
neutral will also cut power to the road wheels, but
in a panic situation there is a risk of overshooting

ue neutral and going into reverse.
Y 3) turning the ignition key to the off position
will kill the engine power but you lose power
assist to both steering and brakes.

What to do in an emergency situation will de-
pend on the dangers faced, the controls within
- reach, and physical limitations. Brakes should be
oa your first reaction, but a large number of

ae documented sudden acceleration incidents have
revealed that drivers were inadvertently pressing
the accelerator instead of the brake pedal.

Many car manufacturers are now fitting shift-
lock devices on automatic transmissions. It pre-
vents the driver from starting the car or taking it
out of park unless his/her foot is on the brake
pedal.

Making sure one foot is on the brake pedal be-
fore starting a car with an automatic transmission
is a safe driving technique we should all practice.
Bob McHugh,

BCAA’s Consumer and Technical Advisory Dept.

a : If you have an auto-related question, write to: ‘‘Ask the Ex-
oo pert,” North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, North
7 Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4.

A UT O MOT i!

VY E §

29 - Friday, March 23, 1990 - North Shore News

New Japanese luxury cars
arrive in Canada this fall

INFINITI AND Lexus,
the new luxury cars
from Nissan and
Toyota, will be arriving
in Canadian

showrooms this fall
after a successful in-
troduction in the U.S.
last year.

Targeted at the one-in-20
Canadian car buyers who
prefer luxury cars, Infiniti
and Lexus automobiles are
aimed squarely at the
lucrative imported luxury car
market dominated by BMW
and Mercedes.

Last year, BMW actually
lowered retail prices on some
of their models and rein-
troduced a cheaper version
of their 3-series sedan. !
can't help thinking that this
is in anticipation of the new
barrage of fower-priced lux-
ury cars from the East.

Infiniti (a division of
Nissan), and Lexus (a divi-
sion of Toyota), are follow-
ing Acura’s (Honda’s)
leading in using a distinct
nameplate for their higher
priced automobiles.

This is purely a North
American marketing concept
because in other parts of the

world Acuras are called
Hondas.
Acura formed separate

dealerships in Canada three
years ago, selling the {ntegra
sports coupe, the Legend
luxury coupe and sedan, and
recently, the $75,000 NS-X
mid-engined sports car.

Unlike Acura, Lexus and
Infiniti will not have sepa-
rate dealerships but will be
affiliated with existing
Toyota and Nissan dealer-
ships.

Both Lexus and [Infiniti
will offer two models, a lux-
ury performance sedan in
the $50,000 to $60,000
range, and a compact sports

sedan in the $25,000 to
$35,000 range.
Infiniti’s top-of-the-line

model, the Q45, goes head-
to-head with Jaguar’s XJ6,
BMW S-series sedans, and
Mercedes S class and 300
sedans.

Its distinctive and some-
what unusual styling is
highlighted by a _ large,
chromed [Infiniti badge

FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS
NORTH SHORE NISSAN IS HAVING A BIG SALE.

ONLY....

aitery t 1 Th

ae eg

so 88eey

steers aS ay
+” Sary od x

i

‘
Photo submitted

A NEW iuxury car from Toyota, the Lexus LS 400 will arrive in Canada this fall. The Lexus
will be offered in two models initially: the rear-wheel-drive LS 400 sedan und the smaller,
front-wheel-drive ES250 which is essentially a luxucy version of the Toyota Camry.

Auto Motion

Greg Wilson

located in the very centre of
the front hood.

The front engine/rear-
wheel-drive Q45 is powered
by a sophisticated aluminum
4.5 litre V8 engine with four
camshafts and 32 valves and
develops a potent 278 horse-
power.

Expected price of the Q45
will be around $55,000.

Though the Q45 steals the
limelight, Infiniti’s volume-
seller will be the smaller G20
sports sedan. Full details are
not yet available on this
model but it will have a high
performance four cylinder
engine and a full comple-
ment of luxury features.

The G20 will compete with
cars such as the Mercedes
Benz 190, Saab 9000, BMW

3-series, and some Volvos.
The price of the G20 will be
under $30,000.

Nissan claims that the cars
themselves will be only a
pan. of ‘The Total Ownrer-
ship Experience.’ Infiniti

staff are undergoing an in-
training course

tensive

190 VW Corrado
Super Charger

# Sunroot, low kms.

Stk. #2081
Bae $25,999
'89 VW Scirocco

Sale Price

Very low kms. Auto trans.,
sunroof, p/steering.
Toronado Red

@ Stk. * 216101

Special

i Sale Price 516,589

90 VW Camper
Multi-Van

Automatic, alloy wheels, power
central locks, power windows.
§ Bordeaux Red

= metallic. $27 640

’88 Nissan °
Sentra XE

2 Door, 5 speed, sunroot,
power steering. Silver met.

omy” $12,490

Only

84 Dodge Aries
Station Wagon

§ Fully loaded One-owner. Auto
A trans. Custom roof rack

 Bace $5950
‘87 Tempo

2 Door, 5 speed, air cond
Blue metatlic.
m Very clean

Sale
a Price

‘7985

FON THE.
. SPOT
FINANCING

9:A.C

designed at achieving a high
level of customer satisfaction
and loyalty, and Infiniti
showrooms will be architec-
turally designed for the
comfort and privacy of cus-
tomers.

’89 VW Cabriolet
Best Seller Serres Sapphire
met , 5 spd. trans., p/steering
Stk #5053

Spectat

Sale Price $19,989
90 VW Jetta

5 speed trans., pisteenng,
picentral locks, cruise controt.
Calypso metallic paint.

27

Stock #21 :
513,989

81 Rabbit
Convertible

Biue wiBlack top

5 spd. trans.

Pree” $7900
'88 VW Vanagon GL
4x4 Synchro Dr.

7-Pass Bus. Met. Red, siroof,
bal. of wy. Stk. #146401

Special
Sale Price

Stieprcee §©—2.1,900
’81 Chrysler

LeBaron

4-Door auto, air cond, power

windows
°4350

Sale
Price
DOZENS OF
GOOD USED
IMPORT CARS