a) North Vancouver City:

20 - Friday, February 28, 1992 -

North Shore News

AUTOMCTIVE

Quality-built Mercedes Benz
doesi’t compromise on safety

From page 25

ousine-like legroom for rear pas-
sengers, particularly in the SEL.
Headroom has also been increas-

The $00 SEL’s interior, as you
might have guessed, is luxuriously
equipped. The electrically adjust-
able front leather heated seats
have three memory settings for
seat positions. There’s an
automatic climate control system
for both driver and passenger,
with: separate rear fan controls,
and an active charcoal filter to
filter out dirty air and smells be-
fore they enter the passenger
compartment.

The analogue instrument panel
is comprehensive; however, its
plastic cover tends to reflect in-
direct sunlight, a surprising fault

in a car like this. Fit and finish is
excellent, and controls are closely
marked and accessible and most
are illuminated at night.

The S-Class sedans are the first
in the world to be fitted with
double-paned side windows
designed to keep out unwanted
traffic noises. Even so, I found
that some engine and road noise
seeps into the passenger cabin,
and on a subjective basis, | would
rate the Lexus L3400 a quieter
car. Still, 1 prefer tc be able to
hear the engine, particularly dur-
ing those embarrassing moments
when you try to start the engine
while it’s running.

The 322-horsepower, 5.0-litre,
32 valve, dual overhead cam V8
engine manages to give the 500
SEL impressive performance
despite the car’s heavy curb

weight. Zero to 100 km/h takes
about nine seconds. A standard
four-speed automatic transmission
is virtually faultless, being so
smooth you hardly notice it.

All of the above features add
up to what Mercedes calls
“‘stress-free’’ driving. For such a
big, heavy car, the 500 SEL is
amazingly easy and comfortable
to drive. At highway speeds, the
560 SEL feels like it’s hardly mov-
ing, and the driver has a sense of
confidence and control unmatched
by most other cars.

Whenever I drive a Mercedes-
Benz, I always come away with
the same feeling: this is an un-
pretentious, durable, quality-built
automobile that doesn’t com-
promise safety and quality for
contemporary trends.

ROADBLOCKS

THE FOLLOWING are the
scheduled road closures and
detours: for the coming week in
‘North Vancouver District, City,
West Vancouver District and
along area highways.

) North Vancouver District:

‘Ciiffmount Rd-Deep Cove Rd. to
Banbury Rd.: Watermain installa-
tion. Local traffic only.- Detours

_ ‘may be. in effect from time to

No

:THE FOLLOWING are the
Orrent schedules for B.C. Ferry
.Corp. routes . between the
‘mainland, Vancouver Island and

: Langdale:

Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo

: md Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay:

‘In effect until June 25.:
“Leave Horseshoe Bay at 7 a.m.,
9am., ll a.m., | p.m., 3 p.m., 5

. p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

. .Leave Nanaimo at 7 a.m., 9
a.m., 11 am.,-I.p.m., 3 p.m., 5
‘pm., 7 p.m.and9 p.m. ~

x Horseshoe Bay to Langdale

‘asd Langdale to Horseshoe Bay:

scheduled
detours.

road closures or

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

@ Squamish and area:

BC Rail construction work will be
taking place on the following
crossings:

@ March 2: Leskeys Crossing,
Government Rd. from 8:30 a.m.
to 6 p.m.

@ March 4: Depot Rd. from 8:30

In effect until June 25.:

Leave Horseshoe Bay at 7:30
a.m., 9:30_a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:15
p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7:25
p.m. "and 9:15 p.m.

Leave Langdale at 6:20 a.m.,
8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:25 p.m.,
2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.
and 8:20 p.m.

@ Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay and
Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen: In ef-
fect from-Jan. 2 to Feb. 20.:

Leave both terminals daily ex-
cept Fridays and Sundays at 7
am., 9 am., Il a.m., I p.m., 3
p-m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m,

a.m. to 6 p.m.

@ March 9: Brackendale, Gov-
ernment Rd. from 8:30 a.m. to 6
p.m.

The roads at the above loca-
tions will not be passable at the
Posted times. Traffic will be re-
routed to ‘alternate accesses. In
addition to the above, detours will
be in effect at the following loca-
tions:

@ March 11: Spira? Trailer Court
Access Rd.
@ March 16: Cheekeye Rd.

BC. Ferries: Currently scheduled routes

Leave. both terminals Fridays
and Sundays only at 7 a.m., 9
> Liam, 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2

bm. 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 3 p.m.,. 6 _

p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
e ‘Tsawwassen to Nanaimo and
Nanaimo to Tsawwassen: In effect
until spring 1992.:

Leave Tsawwassen at 5:30 a.m.,
8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., I p.m., 3:30
p.m., 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 11
p.m.

Leave Nanaimo at 5:30 a.m., $
a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:30
p.-m., 6 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and II

p.m,

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. Install! ail filter $
2 2° rag. 26.95

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Offer expires March 31/92

+ 1362 MARINE DRIVE

t HORTH VANCOUVER (ee f= Se] 980- 9115;

MADE TO THE
MAN BMW
TRAINED.

1500 FELL AVE.
NORTH VANCOUVER

Sas oa44

PRE: SPRING $
te, Ome 16