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06 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 23, 1999 AUTOMOTIVE SEE MORE OF THE GREEN. U ) U)i£&cm Outbacks also receive the kind of aggressive side body molding SUV-market buyers crave. All Subarus are all-wheel- drive and the 2000 Legacy is no exception, having one of the best all-time systems available any­ where. Normally front-wheel- drive, it has a limited slip rear differential governed by sensors at all four wheels. These gauge which wheel(s) have traction. It then channels torque back and forth between the front and rear so smoothly it is impossible to tell what wheels are slipping and what wheels are gripping. All you can tell is the car feels rock solid. Subaru Legacy GT 2000 The GT is a Gentleman's Express if there ever was one. One of Subaru's failings has been drab interiors. Not just dull, but truly drab. The last generation Legacy was a big improvement, but the new one is on par with the best in the business. Legacy even has available wood trim, some­ thing unheard of in a Subaru only five years ago. If you opt for the automatic, it has a gated shifter now and it looks very Germanic indeed. On the exterior the nose has been sculpted with a minimum of intersecting lines so that it seems more like a solid piece ready to cut through the wind. The best part (and executed on the GT especially well) is the treatment of the rear quarter win­ dow and roof line that gives the car a hunkered down, autobahn stromlinenwagon (streamliner) look. At Kuuzu, I took the five- speed version of the GT right into the high banking, knowing that once committed, you don't lift off the gas. To do so is to cut centrifugal force and face a loss of adhesion where the car starts to swap ends. See NASCAR stokers for what I mean. But not to worry, the GT skimmed into the highband, planted itself along the upper rim and shot around like a Hot Wheels in one of those loops. No fuss, not muss, no bother -- just lots of go. The thing was I didn't have the pedal down all the way either, there was still more power, thus an even greater safe­ ty margin, left. Thank all-wheel- drive for that. While we took the Outback Wagon and Sedan around the track for a few hot laps, the real surprise waited for us on the 4X4 portion. Subaru stacked it up against another Japanese maker's luxury SUV for comparisons. With four people on board each, the first challenge was going over drain pipes set up like a corduroy road. While we got through okay, the LuxSUV kept snagging its lower suspension arms. But what got me was when the test driver started heading straight uphill and then, believe it or not, did a U-turn at the rim of the cliff before proceeding to motor down again. I was so shaken up, I declined the test dri­ ver's offer to take a turn behind the wheel and do it myself. The LuxSUV made it, but looked pretty wobbly perched up on top rung of its suspension. If I had been in that one, I'm sure I would have passed out from fright. Needless to say, it you can make it there (Kuuzu), you can make it anywhere. Pre-trip check-up C o o l i n g System: Coolant at proper level and clean; pressure cap, thermostat and hoses in good c o n d i t i o n . Connections tight. Drive Belts: Check condition and adjustments. B a t t e r y : Check fluid, where applicable. Inspect terminals. Engine: As a preventative mea­ sure, invest in a diagnostic check of electrical, igni­ tion, fuel and emission control systems. Have needed services, including tune-up, performed. L u b rican ts: Check all fluids. Change engine oil and filter, trans­ mission fluid and filter, as needed. Lubricate chassis where applicable. Steering and Tires: Check steering linkage, shock absorbers and/or struts. Inspect tires, rotate and balance as required. Check wheel alignments if tire wear so indicates. Brakes: Inspect brake lin­ ing and pads, hydraulic system. Replace worn pads. E x h a u s t System: Check for holes in muf­ fler and pipes, loose support hangers. W i n d s h i e l d Wipers: Check operation of wipers and wash­ ers. Inspect blade and arm. Replace as needed. Top off washer fluid. Lights: Check all lights, turn sig­ nals and flashers. Body: Start out with a clean car, inside and out Clean and apply wax or other pro­ tective coating to paint and trim sur­ faces. Clean and repair interior fab­ rics. NOTE: If your plans include towing a trailer or hauling abnormal loads, consider installing overload shock absorbers for a safer, more comfortable ride. V JIM ROBINSON Inside an extinct volcano may seem like an odd place to test a car, but it's child's play when it comes to an all-wheel- drive Subaru. Although the 2000 Subaru Legacy GT, Outback Sedan and Outback Wagon won't be in show­ rooms until later this summer, I had a unique chance to test all three last year at Subaru's one-of-a- kind test track in Kuuzu, Japan. Subaru spent years assembling all the bits of privately- held land until they could built a high­ speed track and nes­ tle it out of sight. Needless to say, for all-wheel-drive, no need to go further than up the sides of the volcano, but more on that in a bit. Subaru has really come storming out of the doldrums led by movie star Paul Hogan and the Outbacks. In a market increasingly shifting to multi­ function vehicles, the idea of a sedan or wagon with off the beat­ en track mobility has touched many a receptive nerve, or should I say wallet. The model year 2000 is the third generation of the Legacy. The first Legacy was a major Road Worthy styling and engineering depar­ ture from the Loyale and GLs that had gone before. The 2000 vehicles take all the mechanical gains but present them in more purposeful styling. Subaru certainly has learned the art of taking one chassis and spinning off different cars from it and the 2000 Legacy GT and the two Outbacks are no exception. All three start with the same 2,650 mm (104.3 inch) wheel­ base. All three have the same 2.5-litre engine familiar to that in the current Forester and the Impreza RS 2.5. _____ For 2000, Subaru has gone to a single over­ head cam instead of the double overhead cams used to date. Subaru says it means fewer mov­ ing parts and slightly less weight. It does, however, produce the same 165 hp and 166 ft/lb of torque and there is a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. They share the same four-wheel MacPherson inde­ pendent suspension at the front and a modified and improved multi-link system at the rear. The Outbacks are raised up on their suspension to give more gener­ ous ground clearance. The ttTotal due on signing includes down payment, freight, security Ti's payme ' . Licence, insurance, P.P.5.A. and admin, fees extra. igning . . _ deposit, ist month's payment plus taxes, GST, PST and gas tax. SmartLease PER MONTH/36 MONTHS/$2,960 DOWN PAYMENT REQUIRED/S835 FREIGHT AND $350 SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIREDs288 PURCHASE PRICE s 2 4 , 2 9 8 w | ™ t / EXCLUDES FREIGHT $835 PURCHASE FINANCING FOR 48 MONTHS • 3 .8 L V 6 20 0 HP engine • 4 -speed autom atic transm ission w ith overdrive • Next Generation dual front air bags • 4 -w heel ABS • 6 -way pow er seats • Grand Touring package • Enhanced traction system • rem ote keyless entry/PASS-Key® II th eft-de terren t system • dual-zone clim ate control • AM /FM w ith CD • pow er operated sunroof • heated seats SmartLease PURCHASE s358 " s29,878 PER M O N TH/36 M ON THS/ $ 3 ,4 4 5 DOWN PAYMENT REQUIRED/ $ 8 3 5 FREIGHT AND $ 4 2 5 SECURITY D EPO SIT REQUIRED EXCLUDES FREIGHT $835 • 3 .8 L V 6 2 0 5 HP engine • 4 -speed au tom atic transm ission w ith overdrive • Next Generation dual front a ir bags • 4 -w heel ABS • rem ote keyless en try system /perim eter lighting/PASS-Key® th e ft-d e terren t system • dual-zone clim ate control • 1 0 -w ay pow er driver/passenger seats • pow er w indow s/doors /trunk LEASE RATE UP TO 36 MONTHS RIGHT NOW THE PURCHASE OR LEASE OF A BUICK INCLUDES A SET OF WILSON "FAT SHAFT™" IRONS (STEEL SHAFTS), 3 THROUGH PITCHING WEDGE. APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE $850.00. BUT HURRY - OFFER ENDS JUNE 30, 1999. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. • 3 .8 L V 6 2 0 5 HP engine • 4 -speed autom atic transmission w ith overdrive • Next Generation dual front air bags • 4 -w heel ABS • rem ote keyless entry system / PASS-Key® II theft-deterrent system • tilt • cruise • air • pow er w indow s/doors/trunk • 6 -way power driver seat SmartLease PURCHASE s398 » s26,998 DC D unuTU/.c UAllTUC 'PER MONTH/36 MONTHS/ $ 3,450 DOWN PAYMENT REQUIRED/ $940 FREIGHT AND $475 SECURITY DEPOSIT REQUIRED EXCLUDES FREIGHT $940 W i l s o n " Fa t S h a f t ™ " I r o n s . "The most stable club in golf. Deadly accuracy - Rem arkable Distance" . • 3.1 L V6 160 HP engine • 4-speed automatic transmission • Next Generation dual front air bags • 4-wheel ABS • child security rear door locks • remote keyless entry/PASS-Key® II theft-deterrent system • air conditioning/filtration system • cruise • Tilt • AM/FM cassette • power door locks Down Paym ent Lease Paym ent Total Due On S ig n in g n $ 0 $ 3 7 9 / m o n t h $ 1 , 9 3 2 - 3 5 $ 2 , 9 6 0 $ 2 8 8 / m o n t h $ 5 , 1 3 1 . 7 0 $ 5 , 0 0 0 $ 2 2 6 / m o n t h $ 7 , 3 5 6 . 4 0 p ^ i n n i W ' Two Years Running THE 1999 BUICK CENTURY LIMITED TIM E OFFER ONLY AT YOUR BUICK DEALERS. We'd like you to know more: Come visit us at your local dealer, on our website at www.gmcanada.com or call 1-800-GM-DRIVE. ' tO ffers based on a Century R7Z/Regal LS iSC/LeSabre R7Z/Park Avenue. Annual cost of borrowing 6.9%/6.9%/10.4%/2.8% per annum. Annual kilometre limit 20,000 km, $0.12 per excess kilometre. Other lease options available. 'fF re ight (as indicated), licence, insurance, P.P.S.A., administration fees, and taxes not included. Dealer may sell or lease for less. ^Financing on approved GMAC credit only. Example: $10,000 at 4.9% APR, the monthly payment is $229.48 for 48 months. Cost of borrowing is $1,032.32. Total obligation is $11,032.32. Down payment, trade and/or security deposit may be required. Monthly payment and cost of borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed and down payment/trade. *t$Offers apply to select 1998, 1999 & 2000 new or demonstrator models, and to qualified customers in Ontario only (excluding Northwestern Ontario). Limited time offers which may not be combined with other offers. Dealer order or trade may be necessary. See your dealer(s) for conditions and details. 'Wilson Iron offer cannot be combined with General Motors Employee Vehicle Purchase Program, Supplier Vehicle Purchase Program or Preferred Programs. At participating dealerships only. See dealer for details. PONTIAC B U I C K GMC Subaru Legacy passes volcanic test t http://www.gmcanada.com