AUTOMOTIVE
Unusua! claims
prove value of
collision coverage

ABOUT 56% of B.C.

motorists

purchase collision

coverage from ICBC. Most think of it as protection in the
event they damage their own vehicles — they pay a deduc-
tible and ICBC covers the remaining repair costs. This
usually results in motorists losing some discount steps on

the claim-rated scale.

However, there are a number of
other scenarios in which collision
coverage looks after repair costs
when the driver is not at fault.
One situations claim motorists are
reporting more often concerns
hit-and-run damages occurring
during shopping visits to the U.S.

ICBC considers hit-and-run in-
cidents as collision claims. When
the incidents oceur in B.C., vic-
tims do not need collision
coverage in order to make a
claim, nor do they lose their dis-
counts. In these cases, they pay
either $150 or their collision
deductible, whichever is less.

Such is not the case when the
hit-and-run happens in
Washington or most other U.S.
states. A B.C. motorist must have
ICBC collision coverage in
to make a claim. The ce
deductible chosen by the motorist
applies, but he o; she will not lose
his or her discount.

Anoiker situation involves B.C.
vehicles damaged by out-of-
province motorists. As the victim,
the B.C. resident has a claim
against the other driver's in-
surance company and ICBC is
usually not involved.

However, if the B.C. vehicle
has collision coverage, the owner
may choose to make a collision
claim with ICBC. This could help
the owner avoid repair delays that

could result from dealing long-.

distance with the out-of-province
insurer.

Here again, the motorist pays
the deductible and does net lose
discounts unless he or she is more

Ken
Harcie

INSURANCE
CORPORATION

OF BRITISH COLUMBIA *
AUTOTOPIC

than 25% at fault in the incident.
ICBC will then deaj with the other
insurance company to get back the
cost of repairs and our motorist’s
deductible.

Yet another situation in which
collision coverage pays off in-
volves situations where a motorist
hits another vehicle through no
fault of his or her own.

A few weeks ago in Victoria, a
pedestrian lurched off a sidewalk
intlo the path of an: oncoming
vehicle. The driver swerved and
struck a parked sports car.

The driver was obviously not
legally liable for causing the dam-
ages, which meant the owner of
the sports car had to rely on his
collision coverage to get the vehi-
cle repaired.

Once again, unlike most colli-
sion claims, this did not lead to
the loss of his claim-rated scale
discount.

For more information on the
protectinn offered by 1CBC’s col-
lision coverage, check with your
Autoplan broker.

Vehicle's mid-size —
dimensions make it
easy tO manoeuvre

From page 29

and a computer-controlled four-
speed automatic transmission, all
help to improve fuel economy.
Gas mileage averages 10.4 litres
per 100 kilometres (28 mpg), not
too bad for a luxury car.

The New Yorker’s mid-sized
dimensions make it easier to
manoeuvre and park in urban en-
vironments. This is particularly
important in downtown
where parking lots and parking
spaces are being designed for
smaller cars. Big cars are often a
real chore to park. ;

The only available engine is a
3.3-litre V6 with 147 horsepower
which, again, is a practical com-
promise between the smooth but
thirsty V8 engine of yesteryear
and the less powerful but more
fuel-efficient comtemporary V6
engine. The V6 engine and four-
speed automatic offer smooth,
refined performance, appropriate

his type OF Car.

10 The pase price of $25,000 in-
cludes air conditioning, power
windows and heated outside mir-
rors, but many features are op-
tional. AM/FM _ stereo cassette,
cruise control, power door locks,
ower seals and sunroof are all

extra-cost options.

areas ©

Two options I*d recommend are
the four-wheel anti-lock braking
system for improved braking and
steering control in slippery road
conditions, and the Infinity sound
systems. The Infinity 1 sound
system in my test car had four
speakers, a graphic equalizer and
a 120-watt amplifier, and the
sound was really superb in its
clarity.

The New Yorker’s big 16.5-
cubic feet trunk will swallow up a
lot of luggage. One of the reasons
it is so big is that theie is a large
cavity where the full-size spare
tire used to be. Replacing it is a
small ‘‘spacesaver’’ spare tire
mounted on the rear wall of the
trunk. An optional automatic
“pull down’? feature is available
to lock the trunk, but this is an
unnecessary expense, in my opi-
nion.

The New Yorker is equipped
with many niceties such as il-
luminated vanity mirrors for both
driver and passenger, dual
overhead map reading lights,
automatically locking doors, and a
proper electronically-operated
sunroof with tinted sliding glass
which also tilts up, and a sliding
sunshade.

ewe E onic wat tet

Seana

“QUARTERLY. 3

ALE

’ 9 only 1990
CHEVY CORSICAS
Lt, 4 dr., V6, air, cruise

7 : $7,795 or $149/mo.*
$456 moan

‘92 FORD EXPLORER XLT
4 or., 4x4, auto, A/C

PRICE $24,152
17 only 1992

CHEVOLET CAVALIERS
4dr., auto, AIC, P/L, cass, A.B.S.

$11,250 or821t/mo.*
$361 /month*

92 TOYOTA CAMRY
V6, auto
PRICE $18,892

10 only 1992

CHEVY ASTRO VANS

$19,495 or'o59/mo,*

S331 monn
‘92 MAZDA MPV
V6, 7 passenger, aulomatic

28 only 1992
CHEVROLET CORSICAS
AIC, ABS, airbag, AM/FM cass.

$12,649 or-$239/mo*
Moin

"82 NISSAN 240 SX
SE, fastback, 5 speed

Price $36,284

13 only 1992
CHEVROLET LUMINAS
Fully loaded

$15,152 or $289/mo-
[SON

$369 month?
"92 NISSAN PATHFINDER
5 speed, air cond.
19,165

CHEVROLET CAVALIERS
4 dr., auto, AIC, AM/FM

£0 < $6,895 or $135/mo.*
299 /month*
92 HONDA ACCORD LX
Sedan, 5 speed

Price $15,716

1 only 1990
CHEVY LUMINAS

89,129 or $1700."

Auto
Air
Cruise

14 PONTIAC LEMANS |
8 - 92 DELTA. 88's

RET AEE TSE Te ES :
HOURS .

Mon-Fn. 6:20am-6pm

Saturday Sam-4pm

VEHICLE LEASING SPECIALISTS AND SALES
1348 MARINE DRIVE, NORTH VANCOUVER 988-1142.
* Based on 48 month open ended tease with ZERO DOWN. OAC.
INCLUDES itr & PDI, taxes extra. Vehicles may not be exactly as illustrated