Greg” Wilson .. KARLIER THIS year. * Honda’s luxury car arm ~~ Acura replaced the Vigor = sedan with the2.5TL,a . Stretched, restyled version of. the Vigor. with the’same 2.5- Hter five-cylinder engine | and : basic platform 7m “AL the time, | remarked that the PEN ene ou Rte aah WHO TO CALL: Auto Editor Andrew McCredie $85-2131 mf 147) SEIZE ATS Cee EL LE “3.2TL's strong body, fully indepen dent double wishbone suspension and speed-sensitive power-assisted steering provide a pleasant,-con- troiled driving experience. ; Even with its considerable ”: horsepower, the 3,2-litre V6 engine doesn’ t produce much “torque-: steer” and offers more-than-ade- quate off-the-line and passing acccleration, A four-speed automat- ic transmission with Honda’ '§ Gradef Logic’ System is standard equip- : ment, This “smart” transmission is designed not to hunt back and ‘forth . when climbing minor ‘grades and won't immediately shift into top . gear when descending minor. - » grades, A manual transmission _ not available'on the 2.STL or. 3.2TL. ° For $39,900, the 3.2TL comes fully, loaded. Standard equipment includes leather upholstery, duai airbags, power driver ‘and passenger § heated seats, simulated-svood dash: “and console, automatic climate co et trol, AM/FM stereo cassette/CD _: 2.5TL was a very enjoyable car to _ -player'with eight speakers, glass; "dive with, but that it had one less | ~: . co ; ° “ Pkate submitted “sunroof with sunshade,. -power win- cylinder than most of its competi. THE “ACURA 3.2TL isa compact, ‘front-wheel. drive: luxury car from Honda's luxury division. . dows and door:locks, cruise con: :: tors. From a marketing point of... : Stafidard equipment includes a 200 horsepower V6 engine, four-speed automatic transmission, trol, tilt Steering-wheel, keyless view..this tends to be, A quantitaive fully independent. suspension, and a host of luxury, features including leather upholstery, and “entry systera, anti-theft system and disadvantage’, » automatic climate control. ; ; : ‘heated door-mirrors: : ‘Now that the ¥6- -powered 3 2TL : ‘is here,’Acura salespeople can claim cylinder equality with Bimmers and Lexuses: The 200 horsepower 3.2-liue V6" en Sie * 2 Like most luxury Cars; the 7 for people who want the distinctiveness ofa a luxury brand. but ‘seat dogs not fotd down t but. there | ig a ski sack through the can't quite afford, or don’t want.a bigger luxury car: 2. rear armrest. So. ~ éngine-in the.3.2TL was borrowed from the Acura Legend... Like the 2.5TL, the 3.2TL is based on the Vigor first intro. Price-wise. “the 3 3.2TLi is : competitive with the Infiniti I of compact “near” luxury sedans that includes the BMW 325i,” their styling, but in my opinion still rather bland. . Toyota Avalon. Lexus E5300, Infiniti 130, Mercedes-Benz =, But for those wanting a well-appointed, trou- C280. Saab 900, Mazda Millenia. and Audi Ad. These are cars : ble. free compact car with lots of power, the 3.2TL is a good choice. it's quiet. comfortable, well- -appointed, easy-to-drive and practical. ‘The uiry cabin has-room for five adults and the trunk. ; — re en __ is useful size with’ a flat floor and easy: loading :-MSRP: $39, 900. woe TE , access, | ‘Type: four-door, five- -passenger compact luxury’ sedan. . A tasteful but ‘simulated wyod-trimmed inte- ‘Layout: longitudinal front engine/front-wheel- drive. ; rior has a simple elegant horizontal theme with © : Engine: 3.2-litre V6, SGHC, 24 valves easy-to-reach controls and:a gated floor shifter.’ Horsepower: 200 @ 5,300 r.p.m. : This is in contrast to the trendy, mono- colored Torque: 210 @ 4,500 rp.m. -, dashboards found ‘in some luxury cars.’ "Transmission: four-speed automatic - Unlike most front-wheel-drive cars, the ve- i engine in the’3.2TL.is mounted longitudinally _. father than transversely. This reduces drivetrain.” Vibrations. and improves: ‘weight distribution | which helps handling. However. as with all ~ front-wheel-drive cars. front to. rear weight-dis- ‘ ~ tribution is biased towards the front which pro-. “duces undersizer.or “ploughing” at the limit. _ However. . during everyday driving. the”, re «ome SPECLALSH + tel Roth tition, Widths 1-800 mer COLL in.) offers han ompetition. | Height:.1,415.mm G5. 7,10. eine years Basic _ three to tn ee oo oe a ar mem me ey d ‘Oil, Lube & Filver Change j INCLUDES: Labour, Pen: nzoil or Quaker: 1, State Oil, 1Qw 30, @rarn Filter &21 point af | if Mehicle inspection 4 OS sconmensr & Pu oan 7 B Fon ‘Tune-Up i : eal Tune Ug Spec ae "To WELCOME THRIFTY TO Is | weap Labour 4cy! Spark plugs, Resetting , & i OPERA ION. "manufacturer's ; wie 4 Fay, : i » Beyl ...-. $69.88 | | To CELEBRATE WE Wi BE ‘ Grand Caravan SE $24 995 | 9 Grand Caravan SE Mh 995: your engine to 6cy! a specif ications - ewes | ae “We ‘also do: . ww BRAKES * SHOCKS ° “* STRUTS. ie MUFFLERS * CLUTCHES: * TIRES * Pius much much moret!, 2570. ‘MAIN STREET. ORTH VANCOUVER AC (OY QURAN HE) | O25 ilaiotiaconn