a

34 ~— Friday, June 5,

THIRTY years ago,
bigger WAS better —
and I’m not talking
Godzilla here.

Big, rear-wheel-crive
American sedans were the
most popular vehicles on the
road, vith the possible excep-

“tion of that North American
workhorse, the pickup truck.

If you aren’t old cnough
to have owned a full-size
rear-driver, ask your parents
about them, Remember that
big-car-ride, lazy-but-power-
ful V8 engine, roomy six-pas-
senger interior, and humon-
gous trunk? Big, cars, it
seemed, had more of every-
thing.

A sudden, unanticipated
shortage of oil in 1974
prompted a new generation
of smaller, fuel-efficient,
space-efficient front- wheel-
drive cars. For people who
needed more space, more
power, or more versati
mini-vans and sport-utility
vehicles were born to fill their
neéds. -
Today, the sole remaining
full-size, rear-wheel-drive |
family car is the Ford Crown
Victoria and its slightly
upscale, but nearly identical

ON

1998 — North Shore News

north shore news

_@AUTO_

CHANGES and refinements for 1998 include a stylis1g makeover, a freshened interior, a little more horsepower, a revised rear suspension,
new 16-inch tires, bigger front brakes, and a new all-speed traction control system. The Grand Marquis is built in St. Thomas, Ontario.

sibling, the Mercury Grand
Marquis. Previous rear-wheel-
drive stalwaris like Chrysler,
Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile
and Chevrolet

switched to front-wheel-drive
or abandoned their big rear-
drivers.

Rut there’s an anomaly
here — most big luxury cars
are still rear-wheel-drive. The
Mercedes-Benz S-Class,
BMW 740i, Volvo 960,

THE

SPOT FINANCING
0.A.C.

95 CHEROKEE COUNTRY
2 - leather, auto, loaded with options
O0km:..... m1)

automatic, low km, excelleat cond.
price $9,988

‘97 TOYOTA TERCELS feet
fetumns, 2 di, auto, P/S, P/B, bal of fact
wart, AEM cass ..from $12,988

25 EXPLORER LTD
uly equippel x
fike new. PP reduced to $28,388

ae
auto, 4 Gr, a/c, excellent condition ,
aS

97 COROLLA SD 4 ¢:. sedan,
AM/FM cass., fleet returns, bal. of
fact. wart. — at $14,488

Lexus £$400), Infiniti Q45,
Jaguar XJ8, and the Lincoln
Town Car are all rear-wheel-
drive, There’s even a rumor
that the next generation
Cadillac Seville will return to
rear-wheel -drive. Only
Cadillac (except the Catera)
and the Lincoln Continental

have switched to front-wheel-

drive.
Why did the luxury car
makers stay with RWD? Ina

92 MAZDA 323
auto., sporty & economical, $7 88
conditio 98

98 TOYOTA PASEO auto,
black, CD, onty 1400km, new Bee
$18,800. Yours for only.$16,888

"3 TOYOTA 4-AU

V6, 5 spa, loaded
price .

nutshell, they recognized the
rior vehicle dynamics of a
big, rear-wheel-drive c:

A wpical front-dniver “has
60% of its weight over the
front wheels and 40% over
the rear — a rear-driver has a
balanced 50/50 front/rear
weight distribution. Front-
wheel-drive cars are great in
the snow, but they’re nose-
heavy during braking and
cornering -- more true the

OWNER
PROTECTION

95 DODGE CARAVAN
loaded low km, local, excellent
condition ........Sale price $15,995

92 TOYOTA PASEO —
sport pkg., like new, auto, sunroof
cass "only $8

‘92 TERCEL LE

5 speed, special optional tsi 95,8 ae
very nice

bigger and heavier a car gets.

Steering feel in a front-
wheel-drive car is affected
because the frant wheels are
being steered and accelerared
at the same time. Also, the
ride in a front-wheel-drive car
is often. not as comfortable as
a rear-driver particularly on
winding roads.

In fact, all the reasons we
liked big cars back in the *60s
and °70s are still valid today

— we just didn’t have big
front-drivers to compare
them ro. Great ride, powerful
V8 engine, roomy interior
and family- sized trunk.

Fortunately, you ¢an still
get these attributes in the ©
Mercury Grand Marquis and
Ford Crown Victoria without
paying for a luxury sedan:

is week’s test car, a

See Big pege 35°

EVERY VEHICLE
PRICED TO
SELL!

Sr wg
eather, absolutely loaded.
iow km, immaculate......$84,995

“4 EAGLE SL MMT WAGON 4 ©
1, ony 43,000km. Like new
Special al "$12,888

94 CAMRY E | ait PAW. P 2
nicely equipped incl. air, “DL.
ecial at $18,988

E great go anywn
machine. Reduced to

95 PATHFINDER SE 4X4:
*- V6, auto, loaded with all power

convenience options..... $23,988

97 RAVA AXA 4 ci, aut, uly equipped,
includes air, fleet return, ike new, under
10,000 km, reduced to. . $27,488

“DOLLAR. FOR
YOUR TRADE