30 - Friday, November 1, 1991 ~ North: Shore News

AUTOMOTIVES

Carefully evaluate information
when considering fuel conversion

RECENT PRESS reports have been critical of ICBC’s
claims policy regarding vehicles converted to run on natu-
ral gas and propane. This week, some background infor-
mation on this issue, particularly for motorists who have
invested in an alternative fuel system.

The stories concerned a claim
involving a 1986 Hyundai,
tendered a total toss shortly after
the owner paid $1,500 to install a
natural gas fuel system. The
owner was told that installing the
system had not raised his vehicle’s
value by $1,500, and might have
actually lowered its value in the
local auto market.

We'll discuss market forces in a
moment, but at this point it is
important for owners of converted
vehicles to know their vehicles are
not devalued in the event of a
damage or total loss claim to
ICBC.

Custom paint, big sound

Bonneville’s
interior
completely
redesigned

From page 29

neville is the SE which starts at
about $23,000, and that’s the
model I chose.

Aside from its dynamic new ex-
terior, the Bonneville has a com-
pletely redesigned interior which is
more contemporary and _ better
finished. The new analogue in-
strument cluster employs large, at-
tractive, easy-to-read gauges which

are within the driver’s line of vi--

sion and unobstructed by the
steering wheel or driver’s hands,
A nice touch are instrument lights
that light up automatically when
the outside light dims.

With a long 2,814-mm (I11-
inch} wheelbase -and 1!,880-mm
(74-inch) width, the Bonneville SE
offers a comfortable, big-car ride
and pienty of room for five or six
people (depending on the con-
sumer’s choice of bucket or spi::
bench front seats.)

My test car’s optional six-way
power front bucket seats were ex-
tremely comfortable and suppor-
tive,

A fuel-injected, 170-horsepower
3.8 litre V6 engine and electronic
four-speed automatic transmission
offer quiet, smooth, flawless per-
formance although the the Bon-

Ken
Hardie

INSURANCE
CORPORATION

OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
AUTOTOPIC

systems, repairs or other changes
to vehicles may not increase their
value in the market place. A
brand new paint job on an old car

will not likely result in a purchaser
paying a great deal more for it.

Experience shows the market
value of a fuel conversion systern
can vary, up or down, depending
on the size and type of vehicle and
the geographic area in which it
was operated.

Even though ICBC cannot con-
trol these market features, we do
not ‘‘devalue’’ a converted vehi-
cle. Rather, we establish its value
as an unconverted unit using the
Autotrac data base which follows
vehicle selling prices throughout
B.C. Because Autotrac does not
factor in fuel conversions, we then
check the local market to establish
a value with the conversion unit
included.

The owner gets the greater of
these two amounts.

If the vehicle is a total loss and
the conversion system is

90 CAVALIER
$8990 |

Auto, Air

Leather, ais, PW,PL,
tilt, cruise, PS,

neville is not noted for its fuel t

economy. The Bonneville gets a
maximum of about 8.3 litres per
100 kilometres (34 mpg) in high-
way driving.

Standard features on the Bon-
neville SE include a driver's side
airbag, four-speed automatic
transmission, power steering, air
conditioning, split 45/55 front
Tear seats with armrest, power
door locks and windows, AM/FM
stereo radio with four speakers,
tilt steering wheel, 15-inch steel
wheels and all-season radial tires.

A multitude of options are
available, notably remote keyless
entry, sunroof, cruise control, 16-
inch alloy wheels and tires, theft
deterrent system, heads-up display
and a choice of sophisticated
cassette and CD players.

At press time, manufacturer's
suggested retail price for the SE
was $22,898, SSE $28,598, and
SSEi $33,398. For more informa-
tion see the Carter GM ad on
page 31.

salvageable but has not enhanced
the vehicle’s value in the local
auto market, ICBC pays the mar-
ket value without the conversion
equipment and will allow the
owner to remove and dispose of it
as he or she sees fit.

If the vehicle is not a total loss,
1CBC pays for repairs or
replacement of vehicle and con-
version system parts.

Whether or not converting a
vehicle to an alternative fuel im-
proves its market value, there are
a number of other good reasons
to consider this investment. Chief
among them are lower fuel prices
and cleaner air.

As with any other investment,
motorists considering a fuel con-
version should seek out and
carefully evaluate all the available
information.

87 COLT

|°5,450™

4 door auto, stereo,

great condition

NOTICE
EXTENDED
SERVICE HOURS:

.Nick Debenedeito
welcomes
THE NORTH SHORE
to stop in and view the
exciting new & used line-up
of cars at:

HYLINDA!
Where The Smart Money Buys

700 Marine Drive
North Vancouver, 8.C. V7M 1H3
Tel: 984-7044 Fax: 984-9429

WHY RISK IT ALL?

gumsznr @)

+ ONLI. #035.

v6, | *
PW, PL,
tilt, cruise. Ped