From page 38 steering, wheel, intermittent wipers, removable second and third row bench seats, and 15-inch tires. The Trans Sport’s major domestic competitors offer a choice of four and six cylin- der engines, but the Trans Sport has just one engine /transmission combi- nation: a 180 horsepower 3.4-litre V6 engine mated to a four-speed automatic trans- mission with a column shifter. This is the most pow- erful standard engine avail- able in a mini-van, and in my driving tests, it provided more-than-adequate stand- ing-start and passing power. The engine features a “limp home” mode in case of coolant Joss, and battery run- dowr: protection. Fuel con- sumption averages 11.7 litres per 100 kilometres (25 m.p.g.) in combined city and highway use, according to Transport Canada. Interior packaging is very important to mini-van own- ers, and General Motors” designers have put a lot of thought into the Trans Sport’s interior. Standard seven-passenger scating includes two front buckets with armrests, a wo-person center bench, and a three- person split 50/50 rear bench with a reclining seat- back. Both rear seats have fold-down seatbacks, adjustable outboard head restraints, and both rear benches can be removed from the van with a quick release mechanism. There is plenty of head- room in the Trans Sport, and access in and out is very casy due to the wide doors and low step-in height. However, the centre bench seats sit low to the floor, and tall adults may find their knees sticking up in the air. The Trans Sport offers an optional power-operated slid- ing right door which can be operated from the driver's seat or the sliding door. To prevent smail children from opening it inadvertently, the door switch can be locked out from the driver's seat and the power door has a “pinch prevention” mecha- nism ro prevent hands and arms from being caught in the door, The optional left- side sliding rear door is not available with power opera- tion. Optional seating arrange- ments include a reclining, 60/40 bench seat, or nwo or three buckets in the center position, and two bucket seats can also be placed ar the rear. Up to eight passen- gers can be accommodated in the Trans Sport. With the rear seat (or seats) in place in the standard length Trans Sport, there is not a lor of cargo room at the rear, bur the rear seat- back can be folded to increase space. The rear hatch opening is wide and low and the hatch opens Price as tested: $27,510 Base price: $23,690 Type: three- or four-door mini-van Layout: twansverse front engine/front- wheel-drive Engine: 3.4-litre OHV V6 Horsepower: 180 @ 5,200 r.p.m. Torque: 205 ft.-Ibs. @ 4,000 r.p.m. Transmission: four-speed automatic Tires: P215/70R-15 all-season Fuel consumption: City — 13.7 1/100 km (21 mp.g.), Hwy — 9.7 1/100 km (29 m.p.g.) Warranty: three vears/60,000 km high enough to stand under. Though the Trans Sport's cabin is about ovo inches narrower than a comparable Dodge Caravan, it is still big enough for seven people and will fit. a 4°X 8" sheet of card- board between the rear wheelwells. Trans Sports are available with a unique appearance and handling Montana package which includes a stiffer suspension, wider P215/70R-15 inch all- season tires with self-sealing, capabilir-. auminum wheels, automatic load leveling, trac- tion control, luggaye rack, and special two-tone paint with extra body cladding. Dollar for dollar, the Trans Sport has more stan- dard features than its com- petitors, but it must compete against the well-established reputations of Chryster’s and Ford's mini-vans. At least, this time, GM is starting with a sensibly-designed mini-van. Merging: Go with the flow a Pricing inay va From page 39 and stick his arm out as the train goes by — he’d lose his arm. Our hero would get on his horse and race along beside the train for a stretch (the acceleration lane) and then pick a spot on one of the box cars, probably the lad- ler (an Open space on traffic), reach out and hop on board as if both he and the train where at a standstill as theic actual speed was relative and equaling zero. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. made it look so easy. OF course, our hero could have just stopped and waited for the train to go by and then climbed onto the tracks at his leisure but he would have run the risk of getting mowed down from behind by his posse bringing up the rear or mowed down by the next wain to come along. Or our hero could have just stood there like an idiot thereby relinquishing his hero status. Here’s the advice, folks: Be a hero, speed up to merge. Be safe. Prices inchide.... T AMFM Stereo Cassette af Dual airbnigs $5 All Season lires 6 60-10 spit rear seats 7 AL height & PDI costs 8 Tit steenng wheel 9 intermittent windshedd ‘> -Ldligheed at Willingdon. s+ pS S injgutes.trom 28d Narrows. . Technical Data: 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport sane Part of the Provinciai Road Safety Program. MERCEDES BENZ OWNERS If you wish to sell your vehicle directly to Mercedes Benz or if you would like a current SPR ‘Lube Oil on luxury and diesel equipped vehicles. Ask for details. tnciudes: lubrication, up to 5 Em litres of warranty approved Esso regular 10W30 motor oil, new oil filter. Metric filters extra. Most cars/light pick-ups. $ a ay cr less. Plus environmentat charges and faxes. | Brake Service includes: tabour to install new premium quality dg brakelinings; resurface two drake drums: 9-point fea braking system check; repack wheel bearings; road test. Cost of brake linings extra, Most.cars. Ask for F details. Bise brakes. inctudes: labour to instal new #3 “§ premium quality dist pads; resurface two disc @.rotors; 7-point braking system check; road test. Cost of brake pads extra. Rear disc brakes extra. * Most cars. Ask for details 97 2 wheel disc or drum brakes, Most cars. MILO VANAELST AMBLESIDE ESSO 1392 MARINE DRIVE WEST VANCOUVER 922-3925/922-0138 LAN WILSON FULLERTON ESSO 1801 CAPILANO ROAD NORTH VANCOUVER 984-9194 MONROEF | 256 pt. Car Care | slinspection m With the lube & oil change service. P $29.97 without lube & oil service. Know where you stand and avoid the unexpected. We check your brakes, & suspension, f exhaust, all hoses, belts & bulbs, engine covers 2 and much more. | Maintenance Tune-Up Includes: Labour to instali new spark plugs: Pertorm cylinder balance test: Check and adjust timing, H.T. wiring, distributor cap, rotor, check P.C.V. valve, check and adjust idia speeds (rpm's); 28 final ignition system analysis, road test. #T Most cars and light pick-ups, Vans and ‘i minivans extra. Ask for detalis 1949%,.°59"| or less,plus taxes ft - or less most & cyl, V6 or less, most 4 cyt ” & V8 cars plus taxes cars plus taxes. PETER WILLONER & TONY HORVATH MOUIFAIN HIGHWAY ESSO- 2747 MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY NORTH VANCOUVER 985-5712 (sds) Government approved inspection facility Pati weer wares [gy fl