36 — Fri THE E redesigned Volkswagen Passat is based on the Audi A4. The standard powerplant is a 150 horsepower turbocharged 1.8-litre four jay, November 21, 1997 ~ North Shore News Photo submitted linder engine and five-speed manual transmission. A five-speed semi-automatic Tiptronic transmission, is optional. Well-equipped, it starts at $28,450. Test drive the new Passat in North Vancouver at Capilano Volkswagen and in West Vancouver at Wetmore Motors. New Passat based LIKE many automobile companies nowadays, Volkswagen, and its lux- ~~auy car division Audi, are sharing vehicle plat- forms, engines and sus- pensions in order to cut production costs. For example, th redesigned 1998 \ Golf, ro be introdu: year, will share a common platform with the new Beetle and the Audi A3, a small luxu- ry car sold in Europe. The 1998 VW Passat, just intro- duced in North. Ame! shares a common platform with the Aud? A4 (introduced 1995), and the Audi A6 igned for 1998). For the consumer, this means that the 1998 Passat is essentially a reskinned Audi At —- for alot less money. ¢ Passatuses the saine engine, transmission, and sus pension asthe A but has a me price under > 30,000, theasands of dutlars cheaper than the Ad. Granted, the Ad JSF has more standard equipment and looks better han the Passat, bur in my opinion, the new Passat is now the “poor man’s Audi” (poor women are also cligi- ble). However, the Passat is still more expensive than its Japanese and American mid- sized sedan competitors — a problem that it’s had tor some time. Volkswagen firmly believes that Passat buyers will ple can get them into the driver’s seat and out onto the road. There is nothing about the new Passat’s styling that says, “Em worth more than a Honda Accord.” It’s a weil- proportioned car with above- average build quality, and a pery drag cocttic of 0.27, but the ‘ling is rather plain. The simp! its arched roof, simple grille and phin taillights will proba- bly grow on us in time — it’s just a matter of when The Passat’s real s its behind-the-wheel driving experience. After driving the nth is new Passat fora full day in a special preview drive, T can state without hesitation that this is the best- handling, mast fun-to-drive mid-sized front- wheel-drive sedan on the mar- ker. Ifyou want a driv sedan under $30,000, the only other car that come’s close is the Ford Contour SE V6. (have excluded the fim- ited edition Contour SVT cause of its limited availabil- LST which has a tur- model, the Passat ased on the Audi A+ bocharged 150 horsepower 1.8-litre four-eviinder engine with five valves per cylinder. Next Spring, 2 190 horsepow- cr V6 Passat — based on the A+ 2.8 — will arrive. There will also be a turbo-diesel model, an all-wheel-drive model, and station wagon models coming next year. Fhe {998 Passat is stig larger than its predec (which dares back to 1990). The wheelbase has been lengthened by 8 cm, but there is about the same amount of rear legroom. However, there’s more front and rear headroom and shoulder room. The two-tone interior is very and well-finished, rivaling di*s high-quality interiors. The trunk is about 8% larger than the previous trunk. The Passat’s $28,450 hase price inchudes almost every- thing except a CD plaver and leather upholstery: side airbags mounted in the seats, de-powered front airbags, air- conditioning, an alarm system, See Turbocharged page 38 isuzu Offers « the Year “The best possible deal ¢ on a new Isuzu is on now!” ‘Extra cab, 2WD, automatic, am/fm cassette ony 263 ce Automatic, air conditioning oni 326.. Sn Automatic, air conditioning, p/w, pil, alloy wheels, deep tint glass 3 69 month. Otters based on 36 month lease 1.9% Rodeo. Trooper 6 1% Homore cl cali Hombre: $2034. Bla 52000 pls Est Payment. Total payments Hombre. $11 $12, Trooper: $13,736, Rodeo $15.264 plus Securty Gepost and taxes