32 — Friday, August 7, 1998 — Nosth

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THE term “user-friend-
ly” is most often applied
to software and comput-
er hardware, but it is a
term that could be used
equally well to describe
the kind of improve-
ments being made to
medern automobiles.

Over the past couple of
decades, advances in suspen-
siuns, powertrains, electronics,
brakes, safety technology, and
overall body design have macie
most modern cars easier and
safer to drive.

One aspect that’s uiider-
gone rapid improvement in
the past five years is interior

~Sgonomics. Webste ‘

ergonomics as. “the study of
the relationship berween peo-
ple and the furniture, toc!s
and machinery they use at
work. The obj to improve
work performance by remov-
ing sources of general stress
and fatigue. For exampl:, by
presenting data and control
panels in casy-to-view form; t
making office furniture com-
fortabie; and creating a gerer-
ally pleasant environme:it.”

If you take out the refer-
ences to “work” and “office”,
you have a fairly good idea of
the type of improvements
made to the interior of the
1998 Honda Accord sedan.

Examples of improved
ergonomics are not hard to
weeSfid in the recently-redesigned
°98 Accord sedan. The front
seats are larger and more com-
fortable, and there's more
legroom, headroom and hip-
room — all of which con-
tributes to a “generally pleas-

MORREY SATURN SAAB ISUZU

4451 Lougheed Hwy at Wil

THE redesigned 1998 Honda Accord sedan has more

interioz room,

mere horsepower, a bigger trunk, and

improved interior design. Coupes have different,
sportier styling and a shorter wheelbase.

ant environment”.

Detail improvements
include a centre dash area
moved closer to the driver,
larger contrci knubs that are
easier io reach and operate,
and a larger, easier-to-read
speedometer that’s direcdly
ahead of the driver. ‘Those
annoying small horn buttons
on the siecring wheel spokes
have been replaced by a but-
ton right in the centre of the
steering wheel. Slender, easy-

SL

to-use stalks are used for head-
light and wiper functions.

Still, I have a couple of
complain tts: a one-piece fold-
ing seatback is standard put a
split folding rear seatback is
not available. That means vou
cannot take your kids to the
hardware store and bring
home both the kids and the
new headboard. One consola-
tion is that 3 rear

See Accord page 33

ngdon, Burnaby

See them today at Morrey Saab.
Available for immediate delivery.

294-1831

*Includes PDI, add $800 transportation