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Wednesday, May 5, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER D7 AUTOMOTIVE Xtrem e S-10 pickup is street rod in disguise Go fast! Look good! That pretty well sums up GM's own take on the incredible rush to trucks and the even greater rush to individualize them. GM, and the other truck makers, have noticed that billions of dollars are being spent on after-market suspension kits, wheels, body modifications, special light­ ing, and the list goes on and on. JIM ROBINSON Road Worthy So instead of watching all those dol­ lars fly to others, GM has been one of the first to offer that NASCAR race truck look as an optional package. It's called the Xtreme and it turns the S-IO from a pleasant little light duty pick­ up to heavy duty street rod that happens to have a useable bed for hauling things. The S-IO is offered in a variety of long- and short-bed, regular and extended cab, and four- or two-wheel drive ver­ sions. The Xtreme begins life as a regular or extended cab LS version with a list price of $19,140. The first thing that's added is the $3,410 Xtreme Package that includes a real sports suspension, color-keyed front and rear bumpers as well as ground effects pieces that include a front air dam with integrated foglamps. Air condition­ ing and a leather -wrapped steering wheel 1999 Chevrolet S -10 Xtreme pickup are part of the package as well as 16-inch by 8-inch alloy wheels with P235/55R-16 Goodyear performance tires to match. Out goes the standard 2.2-litre, in-line four to be replaced with a 4.3-litre Vortec V6. There are four V6 versions of the 4.3 available depending on the transmission and drive mode. In the case of the Xtreme as tested it was the 175 hp and 240 ft/lb version. There is a choice of five-speed manual or four's peed automatic transmis­ sions. The enhanced performance version of the same engine raises horses by five and torgue by five ft/lb. The Vortec, by the way, is a $1,675 option. Now hold on to you calculates because the power group (windows, locks, etc.) costs $740 and getting the Sportside bed was $650. Tilt wheel with cruise added another $515. The upgraded stereo with CD was $395. The door panel that makes the Extended Cab much easier to enter is $390 while the reclining front seats add another $350. We're not done yet, folks! A locking differential (almost essen­ tial) was $220 and the remote keyless entry was another $140. Dial in $710 for the shipping and $100 for the aircon tax and the grand total was $28,750. Now that may sound like a lot, and it is. But if you tried to add all these pieces after market you would probably pay $35,000-$40,000 and none of it would be factory issue, or in terms of the drivetrain, covered by a factory warranty. I even believe and extended warranty package is extended to the Xtreme. Available only in red, white and black, my tester came in Dale Eamhart black devoid of chrome and wonderfully low to the ground. With the big wheels and deep- grunt sound of the exhaust, this little baby attracted attention wherever it went. On the road I was initially impressed by how quick it was. But that was nothing compared to the handling. Combined with the wide rubber, this suspension is a tad on the harsh side, but man does it work. Because of the big engine, the Xtreme is nose heavy and likes to under­ steer. But by using the throttle to steer and coupled with the command the wide rub­ ber has over the suspension, entering into a comer can be a delight - almost play. In classic rear-drive fashion (this was a 4X2), you start to put power down right at the apex so that when you straighten out the wheel, the truck snaps to attention and heads off straight down the road where you point it. Given a few months practice, and a chance to change the brake bias a bit more to the front, the Xtreme could become a sleeper to be reckoned with be it Miata or Mustang. About the only drawback is the very long throw of the five-speed lever (it is a truck after all), so some might want to opt for the automatic. My advice is stick with the five-speed because it puts you more in control, and frankly, it's more satisfying to shift when you want, not have some CPU do the decision making. The young and young-at-heart are going to love this truck. It's got one heck of a lot of personality as opposed to attitude. It pleases the eyes while not being in your face. It also combines go and show with the versatility of being able to do some work on the job site or carry a personal water craft. Look good! Go fast! And enjoy life! That's what the Chevy S-10 Xtreme is all about. Get car checked before vacation If you are one of the millions of Canadians who will be vacationing in your family vehicle, Car Care Canada recom­ mends you follow this simple advice and avoid the last minute rush for needed mainte­ nance or repairs. It could save you time and money. Planning pays off. Before you leave on your trip, have the following systems checked and serviced as needed: cooling system; engine system, including an oil and filter change; engine and electrical sys­ tem; undercar, including brake and exhaust sys­ tems, tires, suspen­ sion and wheel alignment; trans­ mission, verify fluid levels, etc; lights; and wind­ shield wipers. And don't for­ get the interior and exterior appear­ ance of your vehi­ cle - family travel can be hard on a vehicle. For example, a minor upholstery tear can turn into a gaping hole during a fam­ ily vacation. A hole in the carpet at the accelerator pedal can become a safety hazard if it catches your heal in an emergency. A dragging mud guard can turn into a dangerous pro­ jectile for the car behind you. It's really quite simple, practising these simple pre­ ventative mainte­ nance techniques can save you lots of time and money on your vacation. Replacing a brack­ et on your exhaust system before you leave will cost you under $20.00, replacing your entire muffler on your vacation will costs you consid­ erably more money, as well as a great deal of your vacation time. During our sale at Kerr Cadillac Porvtiac Buick Ltd., every new, used or lease gives you a chance to spin and win A The prize wheel \ ML-jpn,, j in our showroom { is loaded w ith _TTil cash incentives. It's the Annual SPECIAL RATES! APPRAISERS ON HAND! NO CREDIT APPLICATION REFUSED! * * * * * g ft l KERRI CAD ILLAC PO N TIA C B U IC K Ltd * Selected models only 410 SOUTH SERVICE RD. W. (JUST WEST OF DORVAL) CADILLAC PONTIAC BUICK INC. ~-'7 7 7