Friday, July 21,2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER 21 B e s t W h e e l s · O a k v i l l e Pickup for all occasions (Continued from page 17) number of upgrades that show just how fast truck makers must react to stay at the top of their game. For 2000 a new optional rear driver-side fourth door is available on the Extended Cab to allow easier cargo loading behind the front seats and making it easier to those in the back to get out A third door is stan dard on all Extended Cab Chevys. The Silverado comes in Regular and Extended Cab in 1500 and 2500 models. Both are available in short and long box while there is a Sportside Box on certain 1500 models. Of course two- and fourwheel-drive are offered and there are three trim levels - Base, LS and LT. And on top of that, there are about a zillion different ways to outfit one of these. There are four engine choices: 4300 V6 with 220 hp and 260 lb/ft of torque, the 4800 V8 with 270 hp and 285 ft/lb of torque, the 5300 V8 with 285 hp and 325 lb/ft, and the 6000 V8 with 300 hp and 355 lb/ft Power is actually up 15 hp on both the 4800 and the 5300. Tested here is the Extended Cab LT with all the amenities of a Cadillac. The test LT also came with GM's AutoTrac four-wheel-drive system. It's really magic stuff when you can select 2Hi, 4Hi or 4Lo just by pushing a button on the dash. It was only a generation ago when getting out and locking the front hubs was the only way to get four-wheel traction. Today, it's all electronic and foolproof. The test truck came equipped with a 5300 Vortec V8 attached to GM's burstproof four-speed automatic which has been enhanced for 2000. At the tip of the steering column mount ed shifter lever is a button that engages the industry-exclusive tow/haul mode. This in an qverdrive lockout that greatly enhances the ability of the Silverado to trailer loads by letting the transmission adopt a more aggressive shift pattern. With the $370 (including hitch, transmission cooler and severfcgin connector) trailering package fit ted to the tester, the Silverado is ready to pull upwards of 9,500 lb in the 4X4 version as tested, and 11,200 lbs in the 2X4. Because the engine and transmission work so well together, you can tow the maxi mum, but not be restricted by engine power to the inside lane. At highway speeds, you can pass and be fairly quick about it to boot My driving was in and around town that mostly involved the usual battle along Highway 401 during rush-hour. For a truck 5,781 mm (227.6 in) long, 1,994 mm (78.5 in) wide, and 1,890 mm (74,4 in) tall, it's surprisingly agile. Thanks to standard fourwheel anti-lock brakes, and discs at all four comers, stopping is progressive and easily judged. As mentioned above, the interior is a world away from not so long ago when the dashboards were sheet metal with a gauge or two popped into place. Today, climate control and demisting systems remove ice, moisture or mist in a flash. I admit I some time do miss side vent windows, but I've almost forgotten how to use them. The LT comes standard with really sup ple leather like a Cadillac Seville and it has dual six-way power seats at front as well. Of course it has power windows, locks and cruise control - all items unheard of a gen eration ago. Add to this outside heated mir ror, climate control and six-speaker sound system and you have a limo that can pay its own way at the work site. An interesting feature found at the bot tom of the speedometer is an engine hour readout that lets owners know how long the engine has been in use. For working trucks, it's a boon especially those that idle a large part of the time. The 2000 Silverado Shortbox is truly equipped like a luxury car and costs $40,305. My tester had the $1,040 optional 5300 engine, adjustable electronic suspen sion and all-tenrain tires ($370) for a price as tested of $42,669 or $43,620 with the $960 shipping charge. And just like the well-heeled luxury car buyers, this is the year 2000 and anyone spending this kind of money wants to have a few toys and the Silverado delivers in big rig fashion. My favorite is the optional tele scoping door-mounted minors that can extend out when hauling- a side load. Another is an optional tent compete with mesh doors and air vents that can be erect ed over the box to create a camping area anywhere you park your truck. In terms of running a beast like this that weighs around three tons, fuel consump tion is pretty good, and better than a lot of SUVs I've driven lately. According to Transport Canada my test truck gets 16.2L/100 km (17 mpg) city and 12.3L/100 km (23 mpg) highway. When you look at modem trucks you'll also learn they gamer a very high degree of brand loyalty. People will buy Chevy after Chevy and loudly wonder why anyone would consider Brand F or D, let alone Brand T. That's because pickups seem to be an acquired taste that soon blossoms into a full-scale love affair that's been going strong on this continent for almost 100 years and shows little sign of abating. Considering its civility of a vehicle that's as at home on the job site as at a gala reception, there's little reason to ask why a vehicle like the Chev Silverado is so prized by its owners. The ro le m odel h r la m ly vehicles. Technically advanced y e t In vitin g. Clegont ve t practiced. P o w e rfu l y e t safe. Comes w e l equipped w ith : · 4-Speea Automatic Transmission · CFC-Free Air CoodHkming · Power Windows, _ _ Door Lodes S Healed Minors · ABS Brokes · Dual Airbags · AM/FM Stereo with 4 S B speakers · 2.3 litre, 150-hp VTK Engine · Fuel Injectio· Immobitzer Theft-Deterrent System · Cruise Control · Rock-ond-pinion Steering · 4-Wheel Double-Wishbone Suspension · Body Coloured Door Handles l Mirrors · Remote Trunk Release · l More... »E D A N EA 92UOUMSKP* a s of the Accord Special M in t p lu s: · Power Sunroof with Tit Feature Toother Interior · Hooted Front Seots · 8-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat · 15' Aloy Wheels · Driver l Passenger Side Airbags · Driver's eat Lumbar 'Adjustment · 4-Wheel Disc Brokes · Body-Coloured Rocker Panels · h More.. W IT HO litY52,200 D 0W H CIVIC SEDAN 9BMtMf«4'$16,900 ow Im agine a car th a t can s a tis fy yo u r need fa r practicaS ty, y e t is capable o f d e tv U T U v a u lt IIK I I DEO Z OVER $1,300 · CF( Free Air Ctodhioeag · Fewer floor locks . Reyless Reerete Retry kdrCekend Dear Heeler ?" ulW iYXV) 041436*2314230 pet mondl lor 40 m ortis OCA 9.4V7.2V7.0V7OH (total lease ot*gat»n ol S16.704At7.664rtl1.424rt1l.424) Down payment or enurtent trade ol SUf * · " r*7 *< * ham anilaMi) plus Srst monWy payment and seamy deposit |S425rt425rt27Srt275) Option to pordiase at lease end tor Sl1.930«12.960rt6j04rt0,450 pus taas lirueru m utt ha tmkan h., I,.h, D C Y V I If 4/u,. no! WVt ,u... . . . . . u . u .. a__ ___ _j1 _1_.11. __i-_ L . m _ . .... . . .. . . . .... * (* ? 1 or i new 2000 Aeon) Sedan St. Autom atc/taort Sedan EX 4-Cyt. im omanoOvic Couoe SE, 5-saeedfCivie Sedan SE. Scored (model and P0.E. (S650) t50% conventional financing 0 available on new 2000 Civic Sedans lor 24,36.40 or 60 mondi terms, financing example $20,000 at 5.8% per annum equals S340.00 per month lor lor an oMoabon total ol S23.066.00. Down payment may be required If-T r.e s bcerice, msurana, bdrnitbstiabon and maintenance lees are additional Dealer may lease/sel lot less lease 0 6n»ra 191 WYECROFT RD. OAKVILLE 9 0 5 -8 4 4 -9 8 3 1 O p tim u m V a lu e V e h k le s 99 Sunfire 99 Grand Prix w d , $13,995 Aulo, air, cass., ABS. / o n ly $19/495 Loaded, V6, alloy, remote. ___ \ -----^ i ^ 99 GRAND AM only 99 Sunfire Conv. only 99 Centur only $16,995 $20,888 $19,91 Optimum USED VEHICLES et M ore F o rL ess. KERR CARES C A D I L L A C "G - P O N T IA C l - B U IC K W BURLINGTON Q E W TORONTO S. S E R V IC ER D .W . 410 SOUTH SERVICE RD., W. OAKVILLE8 4 5 1 6 8 1