26 - Friday, January 19, 1990 - North Shore News A U TT O M OT f Luxury cars earn gas jockey’s respect AS ONE of our most visible possessions, the car is often perceived as a symbol of social standing and economic status (whether or not we have ac- tually achieved these goals). People do tend to judge you by the kind of car you drive (though they may not be aware they are doing it). This may not be obvious to you if you drive the same type of car each day, but as an automotive journalist assigned to reviewing dif- ferent types of cars, I am often surprised at other people’s attitudes to me, depending on what type of car I’m driving. Last summer, I had an opportunity to drive a bright red Mazda Miata sports car. As you probably have al- ready heard through exten- sive media coverage, the Miata qualifies as one of the sexiest new shapes on the toad today. AutoMotion Driving the Miata, I discovered that people would smile and wave to me on the street as though I were an old friend. Perfect strangers would come over to the car and chit chat with me as though we’d been through high schscl together. By some unexplained pro- cess of automotive osmosis, the sporty, fun-loving qualities of the car seem to rub off on me, the driver. Other types of cars inspire different reactions. Pulling into a gas station in a new Jaguar XJ-6 sedan, the at- tendant rushed up to my window, addressed me as ‘Sir’ and gave me the sub- dued respect normally reserved for barristers and bank managers. Strangely cnough, this doesn’t happen to me when I’m driving my own Volkswagen. Could there be some kind of subconscious discrimination here? It would seem that many people afford you courtesy in direct proportion to the prestige level of your automobile. And this is one of the main reasons people spend two to four times as much money for a prestige sedan than a home-grown domestic sedan. Like Rodney Dangerfield, people want a little respect, even if they have to buy it. But be aware that the price of status is starting to get steep. With the exception of certain cars like the Miata, most luxury and per- formance cars cost over $25,000. The price of many European luxury cars is now approaching $100,000 and some have already exceeded this mark. Some cars, such as the Rolls Royce Corniche con- vertible and the Ferrari Testarrossa cost well over $200,000. But in the context of $20,000 Rolex watches and valuable oil paintings, a Mercedes S560SEL can seem like a bargain for $105,000. Indeed, the value of a prestige car transcends the value of its nuts and bolts and reaches into the realm of art, and money for value. Few cars, however, hold their value. Most cars depreciate about 15 per cent in the first year and 10 per cent the next. Subtracting maintenance and repair costs and ad- justing for inflation, a car generally makes a poor in- vestment. Being of champagne tastes ASK THE EXPERT and a Kool-Aid budget myself, | have made up a list of the cars that | think offer the most status for the money. These cars exude in- dividuality, class, and charisma, and will probably hold their value better than average. A new convertible model of the Chevrolet Sprint/ Pontiac Firefly will be com- ing out this spring and I think this cutie will be a hit for around $13,000. The Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet (convertible) has quite a bit of sex appeal for See Cars Page 28 yE § BOB MULLIN mulls over whether he should purchase NEWS photo Mike Wakefield one of the hottest luxury cars of the year...the Mazda Miata. The sports car is on display at North Shore Mazda. TRODUCI “great, NG TWO Great INCENTIVES General G.M.AC. it’s our Direct from Motors of Canada and “January White Sale”. LIMITED TIME OFFER! G.M.AC. 48 MONTH TERM FIXED RATE FINANCING ON SELECT! ED MODELS 90 DOWN INTEREST & PAYMENTS @ O.AS, til April ‘90 G.M.A.C. DAY DEFERRAL MAXIMUM 6O MONTH TERM | ON SELECTED MODELS ASK THE Expert is a weekly column in the North Shore news’ Automotives section. Each week a reader's question will be answered by an expert in the automotives trade. This week’s question is: “You ‘pick out a Camaro We show you the invoice *388” Where is the seatbelt buzzer wire or fuse in the 1987 Nissan Multi? We hate it and want to disconnect it. @ Richard and Sherry Wingate North Vancouver A combined seat belt and headlight warning chime e should be located under the dash on the right side of the glove box in your 1987 Nissan Multi. If you unplug the warning chime, you will not only disconnect the seat belt warning chime, but also disconnect the headlight: warning system. BCAA strongly recommends you do not unplug or tamper with this warning system but instead buckle your scat belt before you put the key in the ignition, The buzzer is telling you that an unsafe condition exists...A reminder that could save your life. Rob McHugh, BCAA Consumer and Technical Advisory Dept. YOU PAY ONLY OVER INVOICE Peronce : EXTENDED SERVICE HOURS: HevRoLeT owpsMosite Sass ee What ag fae Guy: yy! oo RS SASK the Ea- ir you have an auto-related question, write la: Nouh pert," North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2#I4.