40 - Friday, July 8, 1994 - North Shore News

Greg
Wilson

AUTOMCTION

OK, WHICH car would you
rather own: a 1989 Toyota
Corolla 4WD station wagon
or a 1986 Jaguar Vanden
Plas V12 sedan?

A ridiculous comparison, you
say? Well, both were recently
advertised in the classified section
of a Vancouver newspaper for
exactly the same price: $9,900.

Used luxury cars are the best
buys in the used car marketplace
since most lose between 30% and

=" 50% of their new value in deprecia-

tion in just three years.

That means substantial doljar
savings for buyers who want a
well-equipped, prestigious luxury
car but can’t afford the price tag of
a new one. The rate of depreciation
for luxury cars is not necessarily
greater than family and economy
cars, however the actual dollar
amount lost is always greater.

‘For example, a $70,000
Mercedes-Benz may depreciate
$35,000 in three or four years, but a
$15,000 Honda will depreciate
$7,500 in three or four years.

It deesn’t take an accountant to

The buyer’s market of used

figure out that the luxury car is a
better bargain.

While that may not be particu-
larly good news for people who buy
new luxury cars, it’s great news for
people who want to pick up a pres-
tigious, well-equipped luxury car at
a price that is comparable to buying
a new economy cer.

Consider these examples taken
from the classifieds recently: a
1991 Mercury Grand Marquis for
$12,200; a 1990 Nissan 300ZX
twin turbo for $26,900; a 1989
Acura Legend Coupe for $15,900; a
1989 Lincoln Centinental for
$13,988; a 1989 BMW 325ix for
$18,900; a 1988 Jaguar XJS Coupe
for $21,900; a 1988 Peugeot 505
for $9,500; and a 1988 Volvo 740
Turbo Wagon for $14,000.

The best buys are found in the
five- to 10-years-old time frame.
Cars older than five years are inher-
ently less desirable because they
have more kilometres and the war-
rantivs have run out.

Private sellers often have a
tough time selling these cars
because of poor demand. Many of
these vehicles are low-mileage
gems that have been treated with
kid gloves and deserve a good
home.

Here are a few examples I spied
in the newspaper: a 1988 Mercedes-
Benz 300E for $19,888; a 1987
BMW 325is for $14,900; a 1987
Toyota Supra Turbo Targa for
$9,900; a 1987 Lincoin ‘Town Car
for $9,988; a 1987 Acura Legend
LX for $12,000; a 1986 Cadillac
Fleetwood for $5,000; a 1986
Porsche 944 for $13,900; a 1986
Mercedes-Benz 420SEL for
$18,888; a 1985 Saab 900 Turbo
for $7,800; a 1985 BMW 735i for
$9,888; a 1984 Cadillac Eldorado
convertible for $12,500; a 1984
Cldsmobile Delta 88 Royale for
$2,400; and a 1983 Audi 5000 for
$2,200.

And remember, these are asking
prices. Start out low, and work your

Airbags represent decade’s
~ most crucial safety device

BLINK YOUR eyes and you
might miss it, for it takes
barely a thirtieth of a second
for an airbag to inflate. But
that is more than enough time
.to save a life.

Air bags may be the most
important safety breakthrough in
decades. By having automatic
occupant protection, thousands of
lives can be saved each year.

By next year, virtually every
new car will offer airbags. Until
then, shop carefully; some manu-
facturers offer airbags on all their
passenger cars while others may
not. Don’t assume; ask your dealer.

For now, keep in mind that pas-
senger-side airbags are still mainly
a luxury item offered only on prici-
er models.

1994 SATURN SW1
Fully equipped family wagon
at a fraction of the cost of the
nearest competitor.

SALES © SEAVICE » PARTS
Wittingdon & rousneee saad

22 Tmo.

cll

Air bags are designed to inflate
only when a car is in direct frontal
collision at a speed greater than
about 14 miles per hour.

This kind of accident is respon-
sible for nearly half of all passen-
ger-car fatalities, but airbags will
not work in side impact, rear
impact or rollover crashes.

Even in frontal collisions, peo-
pie may be killed by a secondary
impact if the car continues to spin
out of control after the bag
deflates.

The lap-and-shoulder belt must
always be worn even if you have
an airbag, otherwise you increase
your fatality risk by 41%,

Reprinted with permission from
Prevention Magazine. Distributed
by the Los Angeles Times syndi-
cate,

1994 SATURN SL

Now intatnationally recognized
as the world's 3 value feader.

iti town

way up. When it comes to used lux-
ury cars, it's a buyer's market.

Always have the car checked out
by a qualifed mechanic before you
buy, such as BCAA‘s technical
inspection service, Even if you
know something about cars, it's
easy to miss hidden problems such
as worn valve trains and faulty
transmissions.

Repairs for luxury cars, particu-
larly European ones, can be very
expensive,

On the plus side, luxury car-
owners are more likely to have had
their cav serviced regularly at the

dealership under warranty. And
most luxury car warranties are now
four years long and are trans-
ferrable.

If the car is less then four-years-
old, have the warranty transferred
to your name. You'll be protected
fram unexpected mechanical prob-
lems for warranty’s balance.

Choose a car that has low kilo-
metres (fewer than 25,000
km/!5,500 miles per year), prefer-
ably with one owner who has used
the car sparingly and serviced regu-
larly.

Also, if you buy it from a private

Cars

seller, you don't have to pay the 7%
GST. In my opinion, the best buys
in the luxury car market are Audi’s,
Jaguars, Porsches, Cadillacs,
Lincolns, Rolls-Royces, Bentleys,
and Infinitis.

My favourites? The Audi 90
Quattro; the Jaguar Vanden Plas
V12; the Porsche 944 Turbo; pre-
70s Rolls-Royces and Bentleys; and _
the infiniti Q45.

A well cared-for, pre-owned
luxury car will provide years of
enjoyment and fulfillment that a
new economy car can only hint at.

Purchase any new or used car or truék on sale
and choose one of these exciting free gifts.

BROILKING GAS BBQ

‘94 Toyota Camery coupe

"520,738

MOTOROLA CELL PHONE

‘94 Toyota Tercel 4dr. automatic

"$4 2,995

GIANT 18 SPEED MNT. BIKE

‘94 Toyota Caorrola

"343,098

Choose from over $3 million
of new and used cars & trucks

1994
Sports car driving pleasure at
an economy car price. You can
have your cake and 1 it too,

“Ali payments are lease payments,
plus taxes, 0.A.C.

ATURN SC1
Tajsi a pad

$2,419 dowe iy down

1994 SATURN SL2
D.O.H.C engine, fully appointed
touring sedan at a price you
can live with.

MORREY SATURN SAAB ISUZU 294. 183 1