26 - Friday,

uine 11, 1993 - North Shore News

NEWS photo Mike Wakotleld

DAVE PAXTON, the Lower Mainland's self-described Dent Wizard, polishes a smooth moulded door
that minutes earlier was sporting a golf ball-size dent. How does he do it? ‘‘That’s a trade secret,”’

is all Paxton will say.

WITH THE cost of a new car surpassing the purchase
price of the oider generation’s first home, becoming fanat-
ical about the smooth lines of your investment is not un-

common.

However, a dent in your gleam-
ing new car caused by a stray rock
is, apart from infuriating, costly

to fix. And once fixed, most peo- ;

ple want to get a new paint job.
The Dent Wizard, also known

as Dave Paxton, has been offering |

an inexpensive, fast, and conve-
nient alternative to the bodyshop
grind for the past year-and-a-half
to Lower Mainland drivers.

Paxton is a one-man mobile
repair shop, specializing in making
dents — he prefers to call them
‘*dings’’ — disappear.

“T learned the process down in
Florida at our central office a few
years back, and brought it out
here a year-and-a-half ago,” said
the North Vancouver resident
from his four-wheeled office.

Paxton’s only business number
is his cellular phone.

A call placed-to it is answered
by Paxton, who then will set up

By A.P. McCredie
Automotive Reporter

an appointment for an estimate
and repair. Both done by Paxton.

Once the Wizard has arrived at
your house and is ready to get to
work, he will politely ask you to
leave.

Why he ‘‘vants to be alone’
with your .car is a matter of
secrecy.

The technique taught to Paxton
is one that incorporates specially
designed tools that, when used
correctly, make dings disappear.

“I’m not sure about the history
of the procedure, but one thing
that enables the process to work
so effectively on today’s cars is
the quality of the paint,’? he ex-
plained. ‘‘It holds up better to
impacts, and stretches with the
metal when an impact occurs.’’

Samara includes three-year warranty

From page 24
hatchback certainly looks like an
attractive buy.

But the Samara does have its
drawbacks. Its non-assisted steer-
ing is quite heavy, the carbureted
1.3-litre SOHC four-cylinder
engine with 60 horsepower is
rather noisy, and the standard
five-speed. manual transmission is
rather clunky. An automatic
transmission is not available.

The brakes need a fair amount
of pedai effort, and the fit and
finish of the interior is poor com-
pared to other economy cars.

Up-level Samara hatchbacks
and sedans offer a larger 1.5-litre

engine with 68 horsepower.

The ,Samara comes with a
three-year/60,000-kilometre war-
tanty and Lada likes to advertise
the Samara as a viable alternative
to a used car,

@ Leda Signet
($6,980)

Don’t even think about buying

this car.

station wagon

(Next week, Greg Wilson com-
pletes the list of new cars under
$10,000 with the Lada Niva/
Cossack, Mazda 323, Pontiac
LeMans/Asuna, Subaru Justy,
Suzuki Swift, and the Toyota
Tercel.)

— Sales & Service —
DEAL DIRECT WITH
FACTORY TRAINED

MERCEDES TECHNICIANS

If the paint is broken or chip-
ped, the Dent Wizard can still get
the ding out, but re-painting will
still be required.

With a recent acknowledgement
of his repair skills by ICBC, and

growing interest from car dealer-

ships, Paxton may well have to

divulge his secret to a trusted new

employee.

EXERCISE

1993 TOYOTA
TERCEL

AM en $9 699"
- 600"

RETAIL
OPTION DISCOUNT.
YOUR PRICE.

COOLING SYSTEM
SERVICE CHECK .

An annual Cooling System Tune-Up Suggestion List should include (with some exceptions):

1.4 visual check of the cooling
system for indications of Jeaks or

“ axcessive oil content.

2. Pressure check the cooling
system for internal and external

. leaks wilh filler cap and neck
adapter and tester.

9. Check crankcase and automatic
transmission oi! for water content.

4, Test coolant thermostat with
tadlator thermomater.

5, Check temperature gauge for ac:
curacy.

6, Drain system and flush till clean

Expires June 18/93

7. Clean foreign matter: {rom “3

tadiator fins,

&§. Test radiator pressure cap with”
cap tester.

9, Check fan blades and pulleys for
alignment and damage,

10, Internal and extatnal inspection of
all hoses for cracks and
daterioration.

11, Check core plugs (where possi-
ble) for seepage.

12. Aalil! system with correct coolant
and check for air locks.

13. Check condition and tansion of
drive belts with tension gauge.

Pius parts & tax:

i001 | wrench

EXTENDED HOURS OF SERVICE RECEPTION:

Badminton’s easy and exciting!
After work or on the weekend.
miake it part of your game plan!

Thurs. 7:30am-9:00pm, Fri. & Sat. 7:20am-G:00pm

RETAIL ccc crensarrnrnenrnrneer 14,598” B
OPTION DISCOUNT pe - 1,100"

* OTHER OPTION DISCOUNTS
UP TO 2000” ON ...

Service and Parts Hours: i
Monday thre Friday 7:30un-Spm, Sanerday Yum-ipm. §
Sales Departrent Hours: §
Munday thru Friday &:30am-9pim, Saturday 3:30un-6pm, Sunday | (ere "

1765 MARINE DRIVE |
NORTH VAN COUVER |

SALSS & SERVICE 985-0591 pants DEPARTMENT 904-0744 |

"A great alternative to your regular dealer”

* 987-3133 *«