30 - Friday. May 28. 1999 — North Shore News morth shore ez A news TO Toyota claims most awards CARS significantly out- pace light trucks in ini- tial quality despite a growing customer trend of replacing cars with light trucks, according to the J.D. Power and Associates” recently released 1999 Initial Quality Study II. “Many anew light-cruck owners expect to experience car-like quality in their new vehicles, specifically in the SUV segment,” said Jacques daCosta, senior manager of product research at J.D. Power and Associates. “The challenge for vehicle manufacturers is to take lessons learned in car quality and apply them to light trucks as more and more car owners migrate to light trucks.” After stalling for two years, initial vehicle qualiry within the automotive industry improved this year by 5% com- pared to a 1998 study results. According to the study, Toyota captures a cotal of cight awards, including two plane awards. The Toyota Corolla, 4Runner, Land Cruiser and Sienna top their segments in initial quality, while the Lexus LS 400 con- dinues to set the standard for initial quality, earning the dis- tinction as the best Premium Lusury car for the third con- secutive vear. The Lexus LX 470 also earns the top ranking in the Luxury SUV category despite its first year in the study. “Toyota is an example of a manufacturer that has applied lessons Jearned on luxury inakes and translated . that across model line-ups,” said daCosta. “These . results are another reinforcement that theiz customers agree with what they are doing.” Other norable results of the study inchide the perfor- mance of General Motors in capturing the top three posi- tions in the Premium Midsize segment led by the Chevrolet Lumina, which achieved its first-ever initial quality award. The U.S.-builr Nissan Altima topped the Entry Midsize segment after placing second last year. The study also shows that manufacturing plants from General Motors and Toyota stand out. GM’s Flint, Michigan assembly plant and Toyota’s Tahara, Japan assembly plant tie for the Platinum plant award based on the Buick LeSabre, Pontiac Bonneville and the Toyota Celica and Lexus LS 400 and GS sedans, respectively. Also in North America, the GM-Toyota joint venture, New United Motor Manufacturing, Ine. car plant in Fremont, Calif., received the Silver plant award based on the Corolla and Prizm models, while GM’s Oshawa assembly plant received the Bronze based on the Lumina in quality study and Monte Carlo madels. The 1999 Tnieal Quality Study 2 is based on 41,004 owners of 1999) model-vear vehicles and monitors che number of problems new- vehicle owners face during the first three months of owner- ship. The study is the industry standard benchmark of initial vehicle quality and is based on problems-per-100 vehicles. One hundred and thirtvtive specific problem areas in nine categories are checked. Headquartered in Agoura Hills, Calif, J.D. Power and Associates is a global market- ing information services firm operating in key business sec- tors including = market research, forecasting and cus- tomer satisfaction. The tirm’s quality and sat- isfaction measurements are based on actual customer responses trom more than one million consumers annually. J.D. Power and Associates can be accessed through the World Wide Web at . CD/ cassette/ 6 speaker stereo air conditioning power heated mirrors power windows, locks keyless remote entry tilt steering 1999.5 Nissan Pathfinder Compared to the others... there are no others! The New 1999.5 Pathfinder seat Come in and browse:) “ * an, Sundays) These are lunied ume offers. 48-month lease applies to 1999.5 Paintinder (5CAGS9 ADO). Downpayment or equiva’ ion $23,370, Leases are close ended, based on 24,000 km a year. Taxes, insurance, and licenses are extta. Selling price includes destination and sare fee io el maa ones. See your ssa Deals ot Ges independent front suspension with stabilizer bar anti theft system leather wrapped steering wheel ° underbody mounted full-size spare flip-up rear liftgate glass monoframe construction cryise control 60/40 split rear bench power steering 3.3 litre V6 engine 200 ft-lb. torque shift on the fly four wheel drive ate limited slip differential all terrain four wheel ABS 16" alloy wheels “smart key" immobilizer roof rack privacy glass cargo area tonneau cover ok Nisit our website at www.cissancanads.com “ASK aboutNo .:* ~ Nonsense teasind: ent trade, $4,746 Required at signing $5,609. “We've gota Spring offer that a you're sure to warm up to.” CARTER CHEVROLET-OLDSMOBILE 987-5231 oe MARINE DRIVE REGENCY PONTIAC-BUICK-CADILLAC-GMC 985-6333