Going topless

The season of the convertible roadster is here

avid

OVERDRIVE

IT’S SUMMER. it’s time for
hotdogs, suntan iction, fish-
ing rods and golf clubs, It’s
time to enjoy the sunshine.

And where else can you take
advantage of the UV rays better
than from the seat of a convertible?

If you have been itching to get
your hands on a wind-in-your-face
roadster, this may be your lucky
year.

‘Thanks to the renewed interest
in the drop-top vehicles in the past
several years — a trend that was
first revived by Chrysler's launch
of the roadsters back in the '80s and
carried through by such cars as the
Mazda Miata in the ‘90s — car
buyers have one of the widest
selections of convertibles to choose
from for the 1994/95 model years.

If tire-burning acceleration and
needle- -sharp handling is what you
expect in a convertible, you're in
for a real treat this year. Auto-giant
Generai Motors has introduced a

_hot-rod convertible version of the
ail-muscle Chevrolet Camaro.

- _ In the top-performing trim level
_ (Camaro 228), this sports car offers
one of the most impressive power

and torque output you'll find any-
where: 275 horsepower and 325 ft.-
Ib. of torque out of a Corvette-
derived 5.7-litre V8.

Keep in mind, however, thal
while this plastie-bodied coupe
bousts neck-snapping performance,
it closely follows the all-American:
muscle-car theme, and therefore
may feel a bit rough and unrefined
when compared to the tanier,
smoother Japanese sports cars.

The Camaro convertible is alsa
available in it less powerful VO ver-
sion, with the prices starting in the
mid-$20,000 range. Chevy's sister
division, Pontiac, will also bring
ou a drop-top made} of the Pontiac
Firebird in the fall.

General Motors is not the only
company offering raw horsepower
packaged inside a muscutar-looking
body. Archrival Ford has been busy
this past year touting its completely
revised Mustang model as the better
muscle car.

Ford's pony cart is also available
in both V6 and V8 versions, with
the top powerplant pumping out
strong 215 horsepower. The pow-
ered convertible top, as in the case
of the GM coupe, opens and closes
with minimal hassle,

Though the V8 Mustang GT
trails slightly in acceleration and
pure handling capability when com-
pared directly to the Camaro 228, it
feels a little more refined and civi-
lized.

The Japanese car companies are
taking it easy this year on new con-
vertibles, but that doesn’t mean
they don’t already offer a good
selection of roadsters.

Nissan, for example, introduced
the slick limited edition 300ZX
convertible in the beginning of the
*94 model year. Although this
mode! was offered in the U.S. for
some time, Canadians did not have
the chance to purchase one of these
highly-respected roofless sports
cars until now because of different
seatbelt regulations.

The 300ZX has been around
since 1990, but it has aged extreme-
ly well against such worthy com-
petitors as the Mazda RX-7, Toyota
Supra and Acura NSX.

Besides, none of these models
offer the true open-top feel of the
300ZX convertible (Supra has a

4 Boor, automatic, AM/FM cassette,

cloth interior &
so > much more.

“ON THE SPOT
FINANCING, C

A.C.

NEW SAAB 9000 CSE TURBO.

Lar foph.

Other all-time
Japanese
favorites include
the cute-but-
aggressive
Mazda Miata and
the semi-convert-
ible (larga style)
Honds del Sol.
Both offer a high
level of fun-to-
drive factor at
reasonable prices
($21,000 and up).

If Japanese are
on the defense this year, Europeans
are definitely on the offense.

German manufacturers
Volkswagen, Audi and BMW all
have launched roadster versions of
their existing or re-engineered mod-
els,

Volkswagen is especially busy
this year, with the debut of the new
Golf-based VW Cabrio and Audi
90-derived Cabriolet.

The $26,600 VW Cabrio, in par-
ticular, arouses interest because of
its irresistibly bubbly fee! and
trendy looks. It’s extremely diffi-
cult to look at one of the VW
Cabrios and not smile at it — in
many ways itis the German-equiv-
alent of the fun-loving Mazda
Miata.

only wish that VW would drop
the potent VR6 engine into the

June

Cabrio; right now it only has the
not-so-exciting 115-horsepower
four-banger.

Audi's new V6-powered
Cabriolet strikes a higher tune than
the VW Cabrio, of course, since it
is targeted at the luxury car buyers.

Unlike the BMW 3-series, the
Avdi Cabriolet is driven via front-
wheels and therefore offers some
additional traction advantage in
slippery weather conditions over
the teutonic BMW roadsters.

BMW, by the way, is certainly
not making Audi's debut easier —~
it has introduced a more affordable,
four-cylinder equipped 318i con-
vertible (see today's Test Drive)
which slashes over $10,000 off the
more potent but pricier 325i
Cabriolet model.

As if there aren't enough cars to

eS Wu9d - Nenn Shore News - 45

Fhoto submitted

VOLKSWAGEN'S NEW Golf-based Cabrio is the German answer to the fun-
loving Mazda Miata.

choose from, Saab will soon bring
out the roadster version of its high-
ly successful new 900 series.
Equipped with a power-happy V6
or power-charged turbo four, the
900 carves a niche in this field with
distinctive Saab styling and charac-
ter.

And of course, if these new
entries somehow do not satisfy your
requirements, there are still many
other existing convertible models to
choose from, including: the mam-
moth Dodge Viper, the budget-
priced Chevy Cavalier, the classy
Jaguar XJS, the brute-force
Corvette, the fearless Porsche 911
and 968 Cabriolets, and the high-
grade Mercedes-Benz SL and E-
series roadsters.

It's time to enjoy the top-down
driving experience.

1994 LINCOLN CONTINENTAL

- Power Moon Roof

- Power Windows
1 - Power Locks
| - Tilt Wheel

~ Speed Control

- Air Conditioning CFC
| - Dual Air Bags

- Anti-lock Brakes

1994 LINCOLN MARK VIII

| NEW, 4.6 CTRE | FOUR. CAM ve ENGINE,

} CHROME DIRECTIONAL WHEELS, J.B.L. AUDIO
SOUND SYSTEM AM FM CASSETTE WITH C.D.

j PLAYER, LEATHER INTERIOR & MORE

46,633"

| WAS 454, 575°
NOW

- Keyless Entry System J.
- Leather Individual Seats |
- 3.8 litre V6 Engine j

- Geometric Wheels

- Convenience Group

~Roadside Assistance Warranty

$37,995."

1994 LINCOLN TOWN CAR

- Was $44,125." |

BLACK TIE EDITION

WAS £50,124"

NOW.

NEW, WHITE OPALESCENT, WHITE LEATHER IN-
TERIOR, HANDLING PKG, POWER MOON ROOF, ;
C.D PLAYER, a's THEFT ALARM abi) & MORE §

Isn't it tine you test drove a new SAAB. The
automotive press has and they are raving
ahout the eabre line

200hp, Automatic, Leather, Air
Conditioning. PAV, P/L. P/Seats,

PiSunraot. Exceptional Handing
SALES ¢ SERVICE « PARTS

Willingdon & Lougheed, Burnahy M QO RRE Y

So re UNL nes ee aS LA ERPS Ara

Total pai
$34,892

RL Leen, APL Rnd at

529"

NEW SAAB 9600 CS $399*

Astomatic, Leather, Air Conditioning
PW, P/E, Fully Sauipped a paid

: 1 1e94 SAAB 9300S
d , } Now you can own this
% incredible sedan tor a

ees 740*

SATURN SAAB ISUZU 294-183 -

ane mate