Dear Editor:

It is truly ironic to find in
communities where large num-
bers of residents support user-
pay systems and private schools
to hear so much whining about
the wansit levy.

While not in favour. of

increased taxes, I am very much
in favour of this one. 1 admire
the courage of politicians who

voted for it because it isn’t pop-
ular but that is the meaning of
leadership.

‘Today's automotive fashion
dictates gargantuan truck-
based “sport-utility” vehicles.
‘The Expedition, Navigator and
Escalade are nwice the weight
of a 1959 Cadillac (which we
once thought the very defini-
tion of consumer bad taste).

lers off ihe r

You can look out the passenger
window into the cockpit of a
Kenworth. Excursions and
Suburbans are even bigger.
Today’s Toyota +Runner tow-
ers over the Land Cruiser of the
previous decade. Today’s F150,
Ram and Silverado pickup
trucks could easily carry a pick-
up tuck of the 1960s. Yet few
of these vehicles seem to even

2

=

be equipped with turn signals.
They are sold as safe although
they have phenomenal roll-over
rates, they are biiied as manly
but driven equally by women
or pot-bellied, double-chinned
dorks on cellphones commut-
ing to Vancouver. Safe — not
to the drivers and not to other
motorists driving sensible auto-
tuobiles. Necessary? We man-
aged to gee to Whistler in VW
bugs, MGs and Austins before
the roads were good.

The air in Vancouver is
deteriorating, the roads are
crowded and these big
dinosaurs make it worse. The
Inuit have to find words for
phenomena — they . haven’

encountered belore such as
robins and thunder storms as
global warming continues. ;
1 am: a car guy. I subscribe :..
to four car magazines. I love
cars but we could be commurt-
ing in electric vehicles the size.
of golf carts today. Tax the big ©
testosterone buggies out of our
fives, Tax the medium’ ones
heavily and give tax incentives
to drivers of small and alter:
nately-fuelled , cars. Let's see:
fewer of these ridiculous status .
symbols. You are sill a man (or
a woman) behind the wheel of
a Rav4, Civic, Insight, Prius or."
Miata.
Dave Smith
North Vancouver

a

This —— get Trem thiake

you always wanted.
om

Down Payment

D0

bal _ Dear Open Road: :
~ Iwas the fortunate winner of f the Nozth ‘Shove News July
c34 Auto Pro contest, which was $300 worth of bodywork, from:
= Adepts Auto Body Shop. :
ad Tjust wanted to let you know that the owner, Edward Staron,
_ did an excellent job of listening to my lengthy wish list, provid-
ed valuable advice, and completed the work within budget..:
For. quality work ‘that you can trust, I highly, recommend
Edward and his crew at Adepts.-
Stephen Johansen ;
North Vancouver.

Payments

Purchase Financing
Pf up to 48 months
gn . _ plus
For 12 months -
- Purchase Financing up to 48 months” ; a “4 Down Payment
Ce Mie OB Teepe , ~ Payments for 90 days

Interest for 90 days
_ General Motors pays the interest)

‘Interest . oF
Goreral Motors pays the interest)

es

ER NS

ae

Sport pkg, OnStar Communication system,
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