C2 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 26, 2000 B e s t W h e e l s O a k v i l l e Town and Country: Chrysler' s artistic minivan masterpiece By Rob Beintema SPECIAL TO T H E BEAVER I was a little surprised. You don't normally expect to be dazzled by a minivan. But even on the gloomiest of days, the Chrysler Town & Country seemed to shine with a luminescence all its own. Maybe it was the gorgeous Bright Silver Metallic paint job gleaming under its clear coat finish. Or the big polished Correction! The O a k v ille V o lk s w a g o n service a d v e r t i s e m e n t in t he W e d n e s d a y A pri l 1 9 , 2 0 0 0 O a k v i l l e Beaver s ho ul d h a v e r e a d as b e l o w * S p rin g T u n e -U p Special O il C h a n g e Included u $ 7 9 .9 5 (Parts E xtra) a> Q_ < /) Drivers kn o w real Volksw agen service m akes a real difference. Your Volkswagen is one sophisticated automobile. W e have the latest high-tecn diagnostic tools to keep your Volkswagen performing like new. Volkswagens Love Real Volksw agen Parts & Service. Keepin' it real. V C X K S W A G E N PARTS-& SERVICE a> ifi Oakville Volkswagen 557 Kerr Street, Oakville (905) 844-3285 Plus tax where applicable. Please present coupon at time of write-up. not to be combined with other offers. Not redeemable for advertised specials, previous purchases, or cash, expires June 30, 2000. chrome wheels. Or the glint of chrome on door handles and badging, accented even further by newfor-2000 chrome strips running the length of the side trim. All that abundance of chrome may sound like a recipe for tacki ness but on the Town & Country, it works. The brightwork just high lights the dolphin-smooth styling and flair of this, the ultimate mini van. Chrysler first introduced the Town & Country in 1990. Luxury minivans are a natural evolution of product, but today's Town & Country seems a world apart from the first minivans that Chrysler invented when they slapped a small van body on a K-car plat form and gave birth to an automo tive revolution. Since its debut a decade ago, the Town & Country has evolved in luxury and style itself, while selling in steadily increasing num bers. Sales have doubled in the last five years alone and the Town & Country now dominates the luxu ry minivan segment, supplying more than half of all minivans priced over $30,000. The Town & Country is built on the long-wheelbase platform shared with the Dodge Grand Caravan. Three trim levels are available for 2000 - LXi, Limited and the Limited AWD (All-Wheel Drive). The base LXi - actually, there's nothing base about it - comes loaded with a full complement of equipment and amenities includ ing leather-faced quad seating, dual-zone temperature control air conditioning, 4-wheel ABS brakes, front windshield wiper deicer, overhead console with com- Chrysler 2 0 0 0 Town and Country puter, compass and homelink, built-in fog lamps, a roof rack, AM/FM/Cassette/CD, power seats, power windows, power locks and a whole lot more. The Limited version - just introduced last year - ups the luxu ry ante with leather-faced and Preferred Suede heated front buck ets, auto headlights, auto dimming mirror, upgraded 18 ounce carpet ing, body-colored cladding and the fancier chrome touches on the wheels, door handles and trim. Inside my Limited tester, the upscale appointments and ameni ties combine to create one of the most opulent interiors of any mini van. Comfortable seating offers good support and plenty of stretch out room. A built-in child seat is available (in leather of course). White-faced sport gauges are an unexpected but not too weird con trast to the dark, classy interior and the dials are easily legible. The Town & Country features my favorite all-in-one steering wheel - a la Grand Cherokee - with cruise controls on the front and handy audio buttons on the back of the spokes. Redwood burl woodgrain is tastefully limited to the centre module surround and thin strips running along the door pan els, garnished with Chrysler's winged emblem up front. Convenience items include sturdy cupholders, a lockable front passenger side-compartment, map pockets, door compartments and grocery bag hooks on the back of the rear bench. Bonus points for a handy cargo net stretched between the two front seats.. Perfect for purses, papers or any of the junk collected during daily driving chores. All models come with dual sliding doors that allow for easy access to the sec ond row or even the third row, thanks to the tip-forward seats. Seating can be arranged in a variety of configurations to suit individual needs. The rollout third row bench has wheels on the base for eas ier removal but it still takes two people or a guy looking for a hernia to lift the bench out. All three models are powered by Chrysler's top-of-the-line minivan motor a 180 hp 3.8 L V6 engine coupled to a 4speed automatic transmission. The motor makes 240 lb-ft of torque - enough haul ing grunt to earn a 3500 lb tow rating. Low-speed traction control is featured on all front-wheel drive models and the Limited also offers very down-to-earth add-ons like a rear-load leveling system for the trailer-hauling crowd and the allweather driving security of optional all wheel drive. The optional AWD system works seamlessly. During normal driving about ninety percent of the engine's power is directed to the front wheels (almost like normal front-wheel drive) with just a lit tle assist to the rear. However, in bad weather or on any kind of loose surface, wheel slippage up front will cause an instant transfer of torque to the rear wheels. This happens via a viscous cou pling, a drive-link between the front and the rear axle. There are no flashing lights, bells or whistles when it happens. The AWD power ebbs and flows automatical ly as needed. The AWD system will cost you around $3000, 200 lbs and about 1 mile per gallon of gas. But, though not meant for real off-roading, the AWD will inspire a quiet sense of security and driving con fidence in the very real rain, snow or slush conditions of normal driving, as well as providing improved traction in straight-line acceleration, hill-climbing and cornering. With all these features the 2000 Chrysler Town & Country Limited AWD model stands out as a well-equipped and noticeable statement of style and luxury in a world swamped with minivans. Is this the ultimate minivan? Well, yes. And no. Chrysler's next batch of minivans, the fifth generation lineup, will see some major revisions for 2001, changes that will address the few deficiencies of cur rent models - side impact airbags and power sliding doors for example. Not to mention industry firsts like a lock-inplace moveable console, a rear cargo organizer and an easier-to-remove 50/50 split rear bench. The 3.8 L V6 will also see a twenty percent power boost - from 180 hp to 215 hp. So it might pay to be patient The 2000 Chrysler Town & Country Limited AWD. Luxury accommodation for seven and culmination of the art of minivan. Or at least until next year's mod els come out. Suggested retail price - $47,275. As tested - $47,605 TORONTO FORD DEALERS «SP BREAKAWAY TO YOUR TORONTO FORD DEALER FOR LIMITED TIME OFFERS ON 00R AU-STAR UNE-OP 2000 Ford Windstar LX 299 O 4r Per M o n th /36 M o n th Lease $4,895 D o w n P aym ent Plus $945 F reig ht and $350 S ecurity D e po sit L** 48 M o n th P u rch a se F inancing The Windstar is the only minivan to achieve a Five Star Safety Rating for front impact for driver and front passenger, six years in a ro w in U.S. governm ent testing.** 2000 Ford Taurus SE >299 \ /N / X f " N/ Per M o nth 36 M o n th Lease $3,995 D ow n Paym ent Plus $890 Freight and $350 Security Deposit A /S A A A Taurus has earned five stars the highest possible U.S. governm ent crash test rating for both driver and front passenger tw o years in a row." Buy or lease any 2000 Taurus between April 1" - May 31", 2000 and get an 8 piece set of Mizuno T-Zoid® SureTM Irons and go lf bag at NO EXTRA CHARGE* ATTENTION 2000 Ford Focus SE Celebrate the Focus Hat Trick Focus named North American Car of the Year - Focus LX named AJAC's Best New Economy Car Focus ZX3 named AJAC's Best New Sports Coupe 2000 Ford Explorer Sport Includes value-added Premium Sport Group: · 16" Aluminum Wheels · Fog Lamps · Platinum Front and Rear Bumpers · Side Step Bars · Wheellip Mouldings TOYOTA OWNERS! Certified Toyota Service Technidan Graham Sharpe has joined the 4 Sure Auto Clinic Team! >329 1 .9 B .. U iS N .k r t r m o n tn 36 M onth Lease $4,995 D o w n Paym ent Plus $815 Freight and $375 Security Deposit Per Month/36 M o nth Lease $2,525 D ow n Paym ent Plus $720 Freight and $275 Security Deposit *229 Now you can have DEALERSHIP QUALITY SERVICE without the dealership price. PLai* call m m tjOMi f A i t t f M tU H ttH O MC* i l U M C * . . , w w w.ford.ca/offers YOUR TORONTO FORI) DEALERS. WISE BUYERS READ THE LEGAL COPY: ` Lease a new 2000 Ford Windstar LX/Focus SE/Taurus SE/Explorer 2 Door Sport at 5299/5229/5299/5329 a month with 54,895/52,525/53,995/54,995 down payment or equivalent trade based on a 36 month lease and a 4.5%/6 9%/2.9%/4.9% annual lease rate from Okm ove m M applies, k r " " plus ` applicable · taxes. First month's payment required. Frelaht and securii y deposit Ford Credit to qualified retail lessees, on approved credit, Total lease obligation Is $15,659/510,769/514,759/516,839. Some conditions and a charge of 50.08/km above mileage restriction of 60,000 over 36 months as indicated. *2.9% lease financing available on new 2000 Taurus for a maximum of 36 months on approved credit. E.i lease a new 2000 Taurus for 5299 a month with 53,995 down payment or equivalent trade based on a 36 month lease and a 2.9% annual lease rate from Ford credit to qualified retail _ conditions and a b charoe · · . .................................................... - -*** · " l) not included. Some charge of JQ.r* 50.0 " Sport for a maximum of 48 months on exclude licence, insurance and applicable taxes. Dealer may sell with any other offers. See dealers for details. *Golf club and bag offer only available on in-stock new 2000 Taurus that are retailed delivered to and received by the purchaser/lessor on or before May 31st, 2000' Fleet deliveries are not eligible. While supplies last. Offer available at participating dealers only. "The highest front impact rating for both the driver and front passenger in U.S. government National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing (www.NHTSA.com) Toronto FDA P.O. Box 2000, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5E4. Toronto FDA P.O. Box 2000, Oakville, Ontario L6J St4 E .g .I "" " .................. 4 SURE AUTO CUNIC 1240 P L A IN SR D .LC O R N E RO FM APLf & P L A IN S 634-5257