Karen Robbins

’ Contributing Writer

_ NEW high-tech car

“. accessories are giving
"drivers the option of.
creating an “entertain-

. ment centre” atmos-

phere in their cars.

North Shore Video and
Audio on West 15th Street
sells the latest in high tech-
nology accessories for cars.

They carry colour display
monitors that can be hocked
up toa VCR, DVD or even a
Playfitation. These seven-inch

_ TVs can be mounted on the.

roof interior of a car, to the
back of a headrest or even to
the dashboard.

Employee Eric Gee said
they only sell about three or
four of these entertainment

_-units a year. ‘They cost about

$3,000 ‘and that’s not includ-
ing cae VCR or DVD player

| RECEIVE 35% Beadix®
BRAKE PADS OR SHOES.

-When ‘installed by M2 Auto
includes most.cars: % and trucl

ks with

Check. eolin ng Systems & Heating - _

Check & top up

fuids (including contrast)

‘the States,”

that you hook up to it.

“They sell best ro parents
with kids,” said Gee.

But some drivers say these
new accessories are impracti-
cal and distracting.

David = Stewart . from
Pacific Honda on Marine
Drive said Honda doesn’t
offer monitors as a feature in

their cars. “We're going to.

wait and see if they catch on
in the domestic market,” he
said.

“Besides,” Stewart contin-.
ued, “I don’t think parents
want the TV. blaring in the
backseat while they’re trying

to drive.”

Darcy Wray, a 35-year-old
lawyer, said a TV in the car
wouldn’t be bad as long as it
was.in the. back seat. “My
brother rented a car that had
a TV in it when he drove to
he said. “It was
reat. It kept the kids quiet
:. hours.” ;

However, Wray said that
‘having a TV in the car has the
~ potential of distracting the
~ driver and causing accidents. :

-. Sharon Druidian, a con-.”

sultant on the North Shore,
agrees. “if you's "re | driving,

: reinstall: with 2 very. malt |
amount of anti-seize paste on

the * threads. Replace . plu,
“every two years if the vehicle
is driven on a regular basis. .
* Also, flush
- brake system every two years
with DOT3:(or DOTS ‘sili-
cone). fluid.: Do not’ use
“DOTS fluid in conventional
“systems “as’ rubber compo-

Ment damage”. may occur.
Bleed the air from the system -

. minimize upper tank corro-

¢ hydraulic

you don’t want ro be distract-
a she said. “I can under-
stand wanting it for driving
long distances, but if you're
driving around the city why
do you need a TV?”

Gce argues that the moni-
tors are built with safety fea-
tures to prevent the driver
from becoming distracted.
Multiple headphones can be
plugged into the unit and
they have individual volume
controls.

Also, the monitors that
mount on the dashboard have
a built-in safery feature — it
only works when the. emer-
gency brake-is on. “The dri-
ver can only watch the screen
if they are parked,” Gee said.

“These -are meant to be
like a rear seat: theatre,” he
said. “We usually recommend
them for the back seat.”

North Shore Audio and
Video ‘also carries. CD/
receivers -with organic dis-_
plays, which: work like \a~
Windows appiication on a
corputer, Like'a screensaver,
they feature three-dimension-
al graphics like swimming
dolphins or an Aztec ruin dis-:-

Play.

and refill.

On this next point our ~

“into too many times,”

r rear seat passengers onl

“Instead of just seeing
numbers and stuff, you can
have something interesting.
on your face plate,” Gee said.

Selling at around $500,’
Gee said these accessories are. 2
popular with younger drivers.

“The younger generation
buys them to impress. their
friends. They think it looks
cool,” he said...

Chris Taylor, a 25-year old
computer. technician from:
North Vancouver, said the’
organic displays are impracti--:
cal. “I’ve had my car ie
e
said. “I'd rather: get some-"
thing practical for my_car.”" 0)

But Gee... said these i

receivers offer more than just’:

graphics. “They -are* more
user-friendly, an have a’ bet".

ter ‘quality of sound,” he said.

One” feature “used. -

! improve: sound : isa micro.

phone that can be plugged
into the receiver. : By. placing
the microphone. where you:
want ‘the best sound =~ the

» driver’s seat or one of the pas

senger, seats —. the micro-
phone tests the tone: of the
speakers and aligns the’ sound

. to that seat.

experts. were divided: one

said to leave as full a tank of
fuel as possible in order to

sion due © to. :; moisture. "::
Another recommended leav- .
ing the fuel tank near empty,

“with “as litde aging” fuel :as

possible for when. you: start

the car. up in springtime.:

Finally, ‘crack. open : the
windows. Slightly and use:a
Bood- quali j dessicator, such

: age.

oP If: you. use :
great. Otherwise use a coh

- quality PVC tarp over an old

bed ' siseet, and. secure with

It needn’

mone . to winterize your col-.
lectible car, andthe payback
will , be..cenfold . when ; you
ake ‘iclout. th

Replacement Tires I

“0. oT tere Store Park Royal
+ 675 Marine Drive
West Vancouver

ot you are interested inbeceming at.

Ambulance
_contact your local Joho Ambulance branch,