Affordable luxury

Automakers produce refined driving machines at far-from-luxury car prices

power windows and locks, eight-
way power driver's seat, automatic
air-conditioning, and a Bose 200W
six-speaker sterco system.

More importantly, the totally
new 190-horsepower 3.0-titre six-
cylinder engine works like a
smooth-running charm. Step on the
gas pedal and the three-digit speed
barrier breaks clean in about eight

David

the Infiniti Q45 and Mercedes-Benz
SL models.

There are plenty of excellent
offerings from Europe as well.

Volvo's 850 sedan has been scll-
ing well thanks to great safety fea-
tures like dual air bags, an integrat-
ed child seat, and a side-impact pro-
tection system. Though still conser-
vative in design, the five-cylinder

850 handies and performs well.

In the fall, Volvo will equip its
models with the new side-impact
bay — that's right, an airbag to pro-
tect you in a side collision.

From Sweden comes the totally
revised Saab 900 sedan, available
in five-door or three-door configu-
rations, With unique looks and out-
standing chassis, the 900 stands out

among the many $30,000-and-up
vehicles.

Its 2.5-litre V6 propels the car
aggressively, while maintaining a
firm, controlled ride. In many ways
the 900 feels and drives like a
BMW 325i, but it has a $10,000
price advantage.

See Passat page 33 ~

OVERDRIVE

WHAT DO you expect in a
luxury automobile?
Probably everything, includ-
ing a quiet cabin, silky ride,
balanced handling, brisk
acceleration, glossy paint fin-
_ish, immaculate quality, first

rate safety features, and
power everything.

Now the tough part: how much
are you willing to pay?

There is no doubt that many

people would love to own a luxuri- .

ous automobile equipped with all
the toys and gadgets, but who can

afford to spend $60,000 or more on

a car these days?

Thanks to the latest round of
new automobiles arriving in the
market, it’s now possible to buy
power-everything, highly-refined
sedans for nearly half the cost of
the so called “real” luxury cars.

In fact, for less than $35,000,
you can own a smooth-riding, high
quality car that offers virtually all
the amenities and features of a
$60,000-plus car.

One of the most luxury-like
sedans that has arrived in recent
weeks is the all-new '95 Maxima
from Nissan. In the top GLE trim,
which starts just below $30,000 and
goes up to about $33,000, the
Maxima boasts such luxury features
as butter-smooth leather seats,

seconds.

The Maxima is so refined and
quiet that you will constantly be
asking yourself why anyone would
spend another $30,000 to buy a
Lexus or Infiniti.

Though no longer the newest
modet in its class, the Toyota
Camry is still one of my favourites
in the “almost luxury” category.
For about the same price as the
Maxima, you can get your hands on
a silky Toyota Camry LE equipped
with a 188-horsepower V6, and just
about every conceivable feature

Because the Camry and the
Lexus ES300 share a basically
identical platform, the Carnry inher-
its much of the baby Lexus’ well-
behaved, refined and quict ride, as
well as its velvety smooth power-
train.

On the North American side, the
Mercury Sable, Buick LeSabre, and
Chrysler Concorde all represent
excellent buys as semi-luxury vehi-
cles. All feature a quiet, supple ride
and solid powertrain to back up the
rest of the car.

The Buick is the most American
of the three, with a cushy feel and
chrome trims, while the Concorde
is the most agile of the bunch.

The Mercury Sable strikes a
good balance between the two
extremes,

For about $30,000 to $33,000,
all three can be had with power
windows/locks, air-conditioning,
leather seats, CD players, ad
numerous other comfort and conve-
nience features. As far as quality is
concerned, they have reached a
level close to that of the Japanese
models, though some differences
still remain.

In the recent J.D. Power Initial
Quality survey, the Buick LeSabre
did very weil, posting a higher
ranking than such respected cars as

Phote submitted

2504 MARINE DR.
| UNDARAVE | west vANCOUVER

@1995 DODGE NEON
5 speed - dual airbags
sees S14 561"
OnlyS 159 /month**
@1994 NISSAN SENTRA
4 dr, DLX, 5 spd., met. paint
quo ins 542,156

Only$2 15 /month**

61994 JEEP CHERGKEE
Sport 26E pkg., auto, air
Che LEASE 39 22,048 *

©1989 TOYOTA COROLLA

Air cond., auto, AM/FM cass.

$8950 or 197 fo

*** 36 month lease with $1,250 down
©1984 NISSAN SENTRA

4 door, auto, local car,
excellent condition

53,700

01992 BMW 735iL
Absolutely loaded, upgraded tire

wheel package, a gorgeous car in mint
shape, only 35,000 km

THE NISSAN Maxiina is so refined and quiet that you will con-
stantly be asking yourself why anyone would spend another
$30,000 to buy a Lexus or Infiniti.

WAYLORPMOTIVE” COLLISION CENTRE
i sLC.B.C. - B.C.A.A. - A.R.A. APPROVED CENTRE

COLLISION SPECIALISTS OUR

FREE COURTESY CARS FOR COLLISION SéTH

LIFETIME GUARANTEE *xCONSULTATION®
174 PEMBERTON AVE.N.VAN. 985-7455

OnlyS+2 1 fmonth**

Lease acquisition cost

*49,999

OR LEASE
TERMS TO SUIT

Based on $1,250 down, 48 months

LET CUSTOM DESIGN YOUR NEW LEASE

CUSTOM LEASE

INDEPENDENT SPECIALISTS WORKING FOR YOU segecogepp ans .

988-1142 a

1348 MARINE DR.

MON.-FRI. 8:00 -
N.VANCOUVER 0:00 -

7:00
SATURDAY 1 4:00