24°. Friday; June 10.

“SPARE PARTS _

ALFA ROMEO CLUB...
The Vancouver Alfa Romeo
invites all owners of dlalian
vehicles to an ttalian Car and
Motorcycle display at Water-
front Park this Sunday, June
12, from 10 a.m, to 5 pan.
Entertainment will be provid-
ed by the Classical Flute Duo
from noon to 2 p.m.

There is no registration
fee, but if you plain to bring
your car or bike, call Fritz or
Theresa at 988-7904,

CAA NEWS... Canadian
Automobile Association
(CAA) members will get
good break from their mem-
bership cards, thanks to
improvements in the Ryder
Truck Rental Program.
“Ryder has become
CAA‘Ss exclusive truck rental
supplier, and in return has
enhanced the benefits it pro-
vides CAA members,” says
CAA . acting © president
Richard Godding.
For local rentals, those in
~ which the truck is returned to
the same rental outlet, CAA
members get 15% off stan-
dard rental rates for trucks.
This rate is increased from
the previous 10%, and also
applies to certain rentablé
moving equipment, such as

hand tricks, furniture pads.

and towing equipment.

For one-way rentals, those
in which the truck is returned
to a rental outlet in another
city, CAA members get 12%

. off standard rental rates. This
tate now applies to moves to
the United States as well.

“The Ryder Truck Rental

‘Program. is just one of the
many ways our members-can
. Save ‘money using their CAA
memberships cards,” says
Godding. Through the “Show
Your Card & Save” program,
CAA members get the best
available discounts on a wide
range of goods and services.”

- These discounts are avail-
able to CAA members who
call a special toll-free num-

ber. This number is 1-800- «

663-1200.

DRIVING OFFENCES... A
.-22-Year-old Coquitlam man
was’ recently jailed 21 days in
,connection with a’ charge of
‘diving while prohibited in
North Vancouver District.
: Siamak Zahedi pleaded guilty
to the charge stemming from

a Feb. 25, 1993 incident.

The jail sentence was to be
served consecutively with a
jail sentence Zahedi was serv-
ing at the time of conviction.
Judge Jerome Paradis sen-
tenced Zahedi in North
Vancouver. provincial court

. on.May.4. es

‘A. 32-year-old North
Vancouver swoman was
recently jailed l4 days in
connection with a charge of
driving Without insurance.
Deanna Georgina Brogan
pleaded guilty to the charge
stemming from a Feb. 16
incident in North Vancouver
District.
> The jail sentence will be
served through the electronic
monitoring program. Judge
Doug Moss sentenced Brogan
in North Vancouver provin-
cial court on May 5.

_Phato submitted

THE 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo is based on the redesigned Lumina, Chevrolet's mid-sized, front-wheel-drive sedan. The Monte
Carlo offers a quiet interior, a high level of standard equipment and plenty of power from the optional 210- ‘horsepower 3.4-litre

DGHC V6 engine.

New two-door boasts elegant lines and sporty appearance.

Greg
Wilson

TEST DRIVE

CHEVROLET’S FOUR-
DOOR, mid-sized, front-
wheel-drive car, the Lumina,
has been renamed the Monte
Carlo for the 1995 medel
year.

Both the four-door Lumina and
the two-door Monte Carlo have
been given all new sheetmetal, a
new interior, a stiffer body structure
and more standard features.

The 1995 Luminas start at
$19,348, while the Monte Carlo LS
starts at $21,498 and the Monte
Carlo 234 begins at $23,598. These
prices are not much higher than last
year’s even though both cars have
More standard equipment, new
styling. and a number of technical
improvements,

The Monte Carlo badge was s First
used in 1970 on a two-door coupe
based on the Chevelle chassis. The
muscle car was noted for Hs huge
454 cubic-inch engine, sculpted
fenders and hood that was six feet
in length, The Monite Carlo went

through three body styles until it
was phased out in 1988.

The new two-door Monte Carlo
offers some of the cleanest styling

‘seen on a General Motors product

in years: the tapered nose is simple
and uncluttered: there's a flowing
roofline, airplane-like doors, flush-
mounted windows, and a high,
rounded tail.

The styling of the two-door
Monte Carlo differs only slightly
from the four-door Lumina. The

Monte Cuarlo’s doors are longer,
making it easier to enter the rear
seat, and there's a thicker “C" side-
pillar and a single rear side win-
dow,

Other Monte Carlo styling fea-
tures are designed to give ita
sportier appearance — dual exhaust
pipes, larger 16-inch tires on alloy
wheels, open grille intakes up front,
and a blacked-out appliqué between
the rear tail-lights.

The interior has been redesigned
too. Controls are now simpler, clos-
er to the driver and easier to use.

In particular, the rotary heater
controls have a soft, tactile motion,
and the stereo buttons are larger
and easier to see ata glance.
There's also some wood trim which
wrips around the dashboard onto
the doors.

A nice touch is the glovebox
door which is designed to drop
down slowly rather than fall onto
the passenger's knees,

The cowl and dash height are
still rather high by modern stan-
dards and the aggressive styling
cues of the dashboard won't appeal
to everyone. But froma practical
point of view, the interior is reomy

with adequate headroom and

legroom for both front and rear pas-
sengers,

Both the standard 160 horse-
power 3.]-litre V6 and. optional 210
horsepower 3.4-litre dual overhead

* cam V6 have been refined for

reduced harshness and vibration. A
four-speed automatic transmission
is standard on all models (a manual
transmission is not available).

Fuel economy is surprisingly
good. The 3.1-litre engine averages
10.1/100 km (28 m.p.g.), and the
3.4 engine averages 11.0/100 km
(25 m.p.g.), according to Transport
Canada.

The combined effect of the
Monte Carlo’s aerodynamic styling,
quieter powertrains, and a stiffer
body structure has reduced interior
noise levels and vibration consider-
ably. Highway performance is
whisper-quicl as the optional 3.4-
litre engine turns over a lazy 1,900
p.m, ata steady 100 km-h (62
m.p.h.) on the flat.

Ride and handling have also
been much improved. The Monte
Carlo seems considerably less nose-
heavy, more stable in the turns and
more comfortable. Ail Monte
Carlos have independent suspen-
sion and Z34 models get larger-
diameter 225/60 R-16 performance
radials.

Steering feel is still rather numb,
though. The power-assisted rack
and pinion steering is light, but.

Price as tested (234): $24,354
Base price (base): $21,498

Type: two-door, five-passenger
mid-size coupe

Layout: — transverse
engine/front-wheel-drive
Engine: 3.4-litre V6, DOHC, two
valves/eylinder, multi-port fuel
Injection

Horsepower: 210 @ 5,200 r.p.m.
Torque: 215 ft-lbs. @ 4,000
np.m,

front

offers little in the way of road feed-
back.

The standard 3.1-litre engine
delivers sufficient performance for
everyday urban and freeway dri-
ving, but the Z34’s extra 50 horse-
power gives this model a much :
sportier, performance-oriented feel.

If you’re in the market for a
Monte Carlo, | would say that the
3.4-litre engine is worth the extra
$2,500. Standard features on the
base Monte Carlo LS include dual:
airbags, four-wheel anti-lock brakes
(front disc/rear drum), power steer-
ing, air-conditioning, power door
locks, AM/FM stereo with cassette
player, automatic transmission,
intermittent wipers, tilt steering
wheel, split-folding rear seat, and
two cupholders,

234 models add alloy wheels,
keyless entry, cruise control and of
course, the 3.4-litre engine.
Because of the console, 234 models ...
get only one cupholder. 7°

Options are few, including
leather seating and six-way power
driver's seat. Considering its high
level of standard equipment, the
Monte Carlo LS and Z34 represent
good value for money in the mid-
size segment,

Transmission: four-speed auto-
matic .

Tires: P225/60R-16

Curb weight: 1,565 kg (3,451
Ibs.) ;
Wheelbase: 2.730 mm (107.5 in.)
Length: 5.09% mm (200.7 in.)
Width: 1.841 mm (72.5 in.)
Height: 1,367 mm (53.8 in.)
Trunk space: 445 litres (15.7 cu.
ft)

Fuel consumption: City 13.8/100
km (21 m.p.g.) Hwy; $.2/100 km
(13 mp.g.)

Warranty: three yrs/60,000 km