C2 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 22,2000 B By Rob Beintema e s t W h e e l s O a k v i l l e Toyota Tundra--a hi-tech sophisticated alternative SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A utomotive reviews seem to fol low a seasonal pattern. It's not really planned. It just sort of works out that way. Sports cars and convertibles tend to get reviewed during the spring in eager anticipation of warmer summer days. Sedans, well, they fit in pretty well during any season. And stories about sport utes tend to happen during the dri ving rigors of winter when even auto Jetta GL This diesel's a gas to drive. 4.41/ The Volkswagen Jetta TDI. At I 142 km per tankful*, these fun driving, German engineered gazelles can get you | to th e end of th e Earth and back again without any of the noise, smell o r smoke you might expect from a diesel.The Volkswagen Jetta TDI, starting at $ 2 3 ,100.Tough to beat when you've got a lot of driving to do. 100km Drivers w a n te d (o w ) 2000 model year. 'Transport Canada estimated mileage: 4.41/100 km. highway, 5.6/100 km. city for Jetta TDI. Your mileage may vary. Base MSRP excluding shipping, taxes, title, license, other options and dealer charges. Oakville Volkswagen 557 Kerr Street, Oakville (905) 844-3285 ©1999 Volkswagen. 1-800 DRIVE VW or WWW.VW.COM J.D. Power and Associates 1999 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study. Study based on 87,639 U.S. __________________________ comsumer responses, www.jdpower.com journalists are happier with that fourwheel drive sense of security under their butts. So I hesitated for a moment when Toyota told me that, sorry, their 4X4s were booked solid but how would I like to try a mid-winter test of a two-wheel drive Tundra, Toyota's new full-size pickup? Lemme see, I thought. A fresh snow fall. A rear-wheel drive vehicle with lit tle or no appreciable weight over the back axle. V8 powered yet. With a gasstomping goofball like me at the wheel. Hmmm, sounded like a recipe for disaster, if ever I heard one. But what the heck, I reconsidered. Pickup owners don't lock themselves in the house every time a little snow falls. Why should I? The Tundra arrived and so did more snow but fortunately I didn't really have any problems thanks to aggressive P265/70R16 mud + snow Dunlops and not-too-aggressive driving on my part. Chalk up an assist from a rather large 100 L gas tank that helped plant the rear end for a little extra traction. The result was an enjoyable test drive and a first introduction to the new Toyota Tundra. The Toyota Tundra is not just an all new truck. It's also the first time that a Japanese company has dared to cross that invisible line in the sand and go up against the GM, Ford and Dodge monopoly that's practically owned the full-size domestic pickup market until now. The Tundra comes in a complete lineup featuring a full array of model configuration, powertrain, option pack ages and trim choices. Regular 2-door cab with eight foot cargo bed or 4-door extended Access cab with its six and a six and a half foot box. In 4X2 or 4X4. Models are avail able in Deluxe, SR5 and Limited trim levels. While the basic truck starts with Toyota's respectable 3.4L 190 hp V6, the Tundra really bursts from the start ing blocks as a new performance leader when powered by the first 32-valve V8 engine ever used in a pickup - a twincam 4.7L V8 that makes 245 hp and 315 lb-ft of torque. The iron-block, alloy-head, "iForce" V8 is based on the Toyota Land Cruiser/Lexus LX 470 engine, stroked and finessed with hi-tech components including the "drive-by-wire" electron 2000 Toyota TUndra ic throttle control used in Lexus luxury sedans. A 4-speed electronically-con trolled automatic transmission trans lates the V8's power through virtually seamless shifts. The powertrain is com plimented by a fully-independent front suspension, solid rear axle with length ened leaf springs, low-pressure nitro gen shocks and a rack & pinion steering system that combine to provide one of the most sophisticated "carlike" rides in the pickup market. Yes, the Tundra is still the smallest of the full-size pickups with a shorter length and wheelbase than the F I 50 or Silverado but with width and height in the same ballpark as the big boys. It's bigger than a Dodge Dakota. It's smaller than a Ram. My tester was an Access cab version and, inside, the Tundra feels full-size roomy with a good supply of head room, leg room and shoulder room for the driver and front passenger. The dash is laid out with direct simplicity. The radio is within easy reach on top of the black centre instrument module with large rotary dials for heating, ventila tion and air conditioning (HVAC) situ ated immediately below. An ashtray and slide out cupholders are bracketed by a cigar lighter and two auxiliary power points. Plenty of power access for laptops, cell phones, etc. Not much to gripe about. I always wish Toyota would illuminate more of their door and dash switches. Chrome door releases would also be easier to find at night. But overall, everything works well enough and the instrumen tation and gauges are laid out with ergonomic forethought. The Access cab lets rear passengers board easily through rear-hinged doors that swing open more than 90 degrees and opened with exterior-mounted door handles. The rear pew is flat-foamed and angular as a deacon's bench. Drivers shouldn't be surprised if they get a tap bn the shoulder and a request for seat adjustment compromise from occasional passengers. For stay-dry secure storage, the rear 60/40 seat can be folded to field any combination of passengers and cargo. The rear also fea tures pop-open rear quarter windows, a fold-down armrest with cupholders and storage bins under the seat. The ToyotaTundra starts at $23,915. All models feature standard items like tinted glass, mudguards, auto-off headlamps, cargo lamp, assist grips, child seat anchors, etc. The Access cab V8 configuration adds more goodies and another $8,200. Factory options on my tester includ ed aluminum alloy wheels, air condi tioning, bucket seats, chrome trim, power door locks, bed liner and a light ing package. Price as tested $36,390. The 2000 Toyota Tundra is not just another entry in the full-size pickup truck. With a leading-edge optional powertrain, excellent road-holding abilities and car-like interior comfort levels, the Tundra is a sophisticated alternative that's worth a look. Oakville DAYS TAG IFINANCING up to 48 months 2000 MILLENIA S Vehicle not exactly as shown PURCHASE FROM ** $5,500 DOWN PAYMENT ( Freight/P.D.E. included) lease fo r . NICELY EQUIPPED FOR... Value Pkg Includes: · 2.0L 4-Cyl. DOHCengine · 4-spd. Auto Trans w/Overdrive * ABS Braking System · Air · Cruise · AM/FM/CD, 4 Spkrs. · Power Windows & Door FEATURES INCLUDE: 2.3L DOHC 24 valve/m iller cycle engine (210 horsepower) Leather interior · 17" alloy wheels · Power tilt steering with memory 8 way power driver/front passenger seat · AM/FM CD Player · Power glass moon roof · Plus much more! s$ 2 5 4 " $ 3 ,7 0 0 DOWN P A Y M EN T . FR EIG H T & PD E INCLUDED R O A D S I D E R S S I S T f l n C E P fiO G R fllll 3 T im e W in n e r E x p r e s s Lu b e 29 m inutes on r e y ojs ur ng eg xj t o pp N o C h a rg e S h u ttle S e rv ic e in· o a k v in e . And don 1forgef the excellent coffee! Of The Toyota Canada " President's P ride A ward Fno W i r e Fvrci i cwrc" rUR SERVICE tXCELiENCE Service & Parts Extended Hours Mon-Fri 7:30am-9:00pm Saturday 7:30am-6:00pm i l l e n n i u m 36 months regardless of kilometres, concurrent with your Mazda Warranty start date. MAZDA GRADUATE PROGRAM ASRHOUR DEALER ABOUT w [them's ufMRsny / COLLEGE GRADUATE PfiflGRflm ITlflZ D fl L E A D E R S H I P l U f l R R A m y Ask about our outstanding comprehensive and powertrain warranty coverage. . * 2.9% financing example: $15,000 48-month term payments are $331.35/mth. C.O.B. $904.80, total payments $15,904.80.0.A .C . Purchase price does not include FR/P.D.E., lie., admin. & taxes. Special purchase offers and special finance rates can not be combined. · · 48-month lease, down payment or equiv. trade required as noted. FR/P.D.E. included. 1st payment & security deposit due upon delivery. Lie., admin. & taxes extra. 20,000 km/yr. restriction. If exceeded 8{/km applies. O A C . Other terms available. See Oakville Mazda for details. T o y o t a Q u a l i t y F o r T h e N e x t M o a k v i l l e 1 @> TOYOTA QEW SPEERS ______________ "#/ Volume Import Dealer In Oakville for 2 Consecutive Yearstn" Where Good Service Is R Fact. Hot Just II Promisel Oakville See dealer for details. 1091 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE 842-8400 VISIT US AT OUR WEB SITE AT w w w.oakvilletoyota.com tte a se ffin a n c in g fro m 'Ib y o ta C rK litC a n a d a ln c .O A C .O fle rev a lido nn e w 2 0 0 0m o d e isle a s e d /fin a n c e da n dd e tv e re db y4p m M a y3 1 /2 0 0 0 ftR a ym e n tssto im a re tB se d o n a 3 6 o r4 & T O (iltiw a l< a w jyfa se w itti s h a w ird o w n o re q u iv a le n ttra d ep itsfiistp a y m e n t,se a in tyd e p o s it S c w is e . In s u ra rc ea n da p p ic a b leta x e sK ito m e lwa k w a n c eo l2 4 .0 0 0In np e ry e a r. E x c e s sla io m e te rsvpty v e h ic le stob es e le c le dfro m s to c k a ro o m in gu n its .4 .8 % fin a n o n pe x a m p le :$ 2 0 ,0 0 0fin a n c a la t48 % to4 8m o n th s = $ 4 S 8 .7 Mmw ithaC O B o f$ 2 .0 2 1 .4 4a n dato ta lo b lig a tio no f$ 2 2 ,0 2 14 4 .ttt1999c*nc»ye* th ro u g hT o y o taC a ia d a . 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