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Wednesday, July 14, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C7 AUTOMOTIVE A n e x p e n s i v e l o o k i n g c a r f o r a n e c o n o m y - s i z e d w a l l e t By Malcolm Gunn SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Buyers will flock to a car that looks and feels more expensive than it really is. That sums up Mazda's approach to the mostly all-new 1999 Protege. Mazda's preoccupation with this value-for-the- money theme has been a tradition since the com­ pany arrived on these shores some 30 years ago. Although having never risen to the lofty sales ranks of Toyota, Nissan or Honda, Mazda has steadfastly produced vehicles that are well- designed and modem looking with a lengthy stan­ dard features list and affordable sticker. With the '99 Protege you can add high-style to that list. Viewed from the front, the car has a crisp, one- piece look that's clearly teutonically inspired. Both front and rear wheel arches bulge outward, giving it a wide, 'planted' stance. From the rear, the Protege's design conveys the shape of a C-cIass Mercedes. Everywhere there are sharp creases and angles that speak of attention to detail in both design and construction. Last year's Protege was a good-look­ ing piece; this latest version is even more deli­ cious. The premium look also extends inside, where rich-looking tone-on-tone textures are used on the dashboard, door and seat fabrics. Neither driver or passengers will ever be made to feel as though they're sitting in the bargain basement. Dimensionally, the old and new Proteges are in a dead heat, with overall length, width, height, wheelbase and curb weight differing only slightly. But last year's Protege platform has been replaced by one more closely related to the larger and more rigid 626. The suspension bits and have also been upgraded and more sound deadening material added to improve the car's handling and keep unnecessary noise and vibration from invad­ ing the passenger compartment. There's more good news under the hood, espe­ cially if you're contemplating the base DX, or mid-level SE Protege. Replacing last year's 1.5- litre 92-horsepower engine is a 1,6-litre four-cylin­ der DOHC unit that delivers 105 horsepower, an increase of 14 percent. Selecting the top-of-the-line Protege LX gets you the 122-horsepower 18-litre DOHC four- cylinder powerplant that carries over from the pre­ vious model. With either engine, you can select a five-speed manual, or optional four-speed automatic trans­ mission. All Proteges arrive with items such as power rack- and- pinion steering, front and rear anti-sway bars, tilt steering wheel, colour-keyed bumpers, remote fuel door and trunk release and rear heater ducts. The SE adds cruise control, AM/FM/CD audio system, and a 60/40 split folding rear seat. Along with the bigger engine, the LX includes a tachometer, 15-inch alloy wheels, power door locks and mirrors, keyless remote entry, upgraded upholstery and height/tilt adjustable driver's seat. There are also several option packages avail­ able that, depending on the model, include such items as air conditioning, ABS, a power glass moonroof and an upgraded audio system. Mazda says all its research and development centers -- California, Germany and Japan -- were involved in designing the Protege. Viewing the end result, it's clear that the German designers con­ tributed the most to this tasty-looking package that should sell like ... Schnitzel. H owto foil car thieves There are a number of very basic things dri­ vers can do to protect their cars from theft. Surprisingly, the best advice simply is to roll up the windows, lock the doors and pocket the key whenever you leave your car or van. Four out of five cars are unlocked when they are stolen. And one in five is recovered with the owner's keys still in it. To make it more difficult for thieves to steal your vehicle: • First and foremost: Always lock your car. • Park only in w e l l - l i g h t e d areas. • Equip your car with fuel and ignition cut-offs that prevent it from being start­ ed by a thief. These "kill switches" are available from alarm dealers. (In addition, you'll probably be eligi­ ble for insurance premium dis­ counts for anti­ theft devices:) • Sharply turn the front wheels of the car to make it difficult to tow backwards. On front-wheel drive vehicles, engage the emergency brake and set the gear in park to lock all four wheels. • Put packages and valuables out of sight. These items invite a break-in, particu­ larly at shopping malls. • Keep the license and regis­ tration in your wallet or purse. It's much easier for thieves to sell your car when the registration is left in it. • Have your vehicle identifi­ cation number (VIN) etched onto the wind­ shield. This will help identify your car in the recov­ ery process. THE ALL-NEW 2000 MPV Value Pricing f r o m 24,555 • V6 • Automatic Transmission (4-spd./with overdrive) »Dual De-Powered Air Bags • Air Conditioning • AM/FM CD Player • Dual Sliding Doors/with Roll Down Windows (An Industry First) • Side by Slide 2nd Row Seat • Tumble Under 3rd Row Seat »7 Cup Holders + 2 Bottle Holders • & Front Wheel Drive + much more. ' Plus freight, PDI taxes and license. Sure, it"s hard to take your eyes off it - and when was the last time you said that about a minivan? Then open the door, and see how well we blend style with func­ tion. Just to start with, the MPV has unique Side by Slide™ second-row seats and a "Tumble-Under" third-row seat. Rear cargo space is close to that of most long-wheelbase minivans. Dual sliding rear doors have roll-down windows to give a sense of space and freedom. You get seven cup holders, two bottle holders, an available in-dash 6-CD changer, V6 power, solid construction - and at no extra charge, a long line of envious neighbours. Vehicle not exactly as shown. Get in. Be moved. m Q . 6 . W . 1 3R D LIN E 4T H LIN E 'BfllVAHOO S P E E R S R O . Here's a sample of what you ' ll get in the all-new MPV. Just remind your friends that i t 's not polite to stare. o O a k v i l l e WSZD3 1 2 9 1 S P E E R S R O A D N o r t h s ide be tween 3rd Line & 4 t h Line 905- 827-4242 AUTOMOTIVE By Malcolm Gunn Value Pricing from