Wednesday, August 18, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C7 Buick Regal gets more powerful every year Jok-kmd Lincoln Menny 844-32733273 Oakville, /A C ar T O R U N O N T H IS PA G E CALL N O W ! KYLIE'S VANS S K f S E 627 0777 KYUE'S VANS 827-0777 1993 EXPLORER E. BAUER 1 ow ner, auto, 4 X 4 , loaded, certified and emissions, 12-m onth 1 2 ,0 0 0 -km warranty. ®9j©SO GLOBAL 1510 Speers Rd. 465-1381GLOBAL 1510 Speers Rd. 465-1381 W i'-xlOitti ktini ikwtibl Mc.t.ny 844*3273KYUE'S VANS B B S S 627-0777 1989 CHEV PICKUP 4X4 Auto., air, 1 6 4 ,0 0 0 kms, certified, emissions, plus 12 -m onth 1 2 ,0 0 0 -k m warranty. *S.4S5 GLOBAL 1510 Speers Rd. 465-1381ktftti UiHoift ivic«44h y 8 4 4 * 3 2 7 3 CDc\kville /vAotors Q4 Q- SALES A LEASING INC W * T w Oakville yV\o+or-s CMQ SALES A LEASING INC W * T W '95 DODGE NEON Back to School special. 4-door, auto, A/C, 105,000 kms. Certified and clean. Oakville /Victors (MQ. SALES A LEASING INC s6,995 O c ik v ille /V \o fo rs CMQ SALES A LEASING INC iurrii lintiiin MeiiMy 844-3273 «*uk iu<iii liinuki Meisury 844-3273 5 speed V-6, A /C , dual air bags, A M /F M cassette, p.w., p.l., tilt wheel, cruise control, Oak-land certified. 6 6 ,7 0 0 kms. i B / & fS k /S k !S m stk. #9x01 2 a » 1 1 / 9 9 5 i«ak kuid iUMoin Mertuty 844-3273 Advertise Youv Pre-O w ned Car or Truck Her ('.ill Rick or Al nt 845-3824 itak-kind Iiwein Memwy 844-3273 The Buick Regal has been with us now for a considerable number of years as one of the mid-size segment's most popular sedans aimed at professionals and white collar managers. But for North Americans long- steeped in the ideal of the great Ameri can road machines, Buicks were for many year synonymous with powerful, long-range cruising in models like the Wildcat, Electra 225, and Roadmaster. Many of us at the upper end of the Baby Boom remember these cars fond ly. One day, we all said to ourselves, I'm going to have myself a big V8 Buick. Well, the days of the big V8s are gone, but the performance is still there in the form of Buick's 3.8-litre 3800 SC (for supercharged) Series II V6. If the supercharged version of the Park Avenue is a bit too big and too for mal, that, blown V6 can be found in the GS version of the Buick Regal. Running on premium fuel, this pow- erplant seems to get more powerful every year. For 1999 it now produces 240 hp and 280 lb/ft. of torque that makes it more powerful than the 5.7- litre V8s GM used in the 1970s and 1980s. In the LS version the engine is normally aspirated on regular fuel but it too is up to 200 hp from 195 hp in the 1998 Regal LS and the torque has risen to 225 Ib./ft. from 200 lb/ft. Both engine offerings are mated to a four-speed automatic transmission dri ving the front wheels. Assembled in Oshawa, there is no question about the fit and finish being first rate and one of the reasons why Buick's initial customer satis faction numbers continue to climb in the J. D. Power and Associates ratings. My test GS came with glis tening black paint and offsetting gray lower body panels. With black-out grille and large 16-inch optional chrome wheels, this GS had that look of power even when standing still. Both LS and GS have an enhanced suspen sion system with increased shock valving to go with more rigid chassis bushings. Both cars also get the nifty GM tire inflation monitor. I n c l u d i n g enhancements to the full-range traction control, there is an upgraded anti lock braking sys tem applied for 1999. At a list price of $30,989, the GS is fabulously equipped with all the above plus stainless steel exhaust, engine block heater, pass-key anti theft, driver information cen tre, Magnasteer sp e e d -v a r ia b le steering, cruise- air-tilt, dual heat ed rearview mir rors, eight-way driver's seat and a rear seat pass through. The test car also comes with a host of options like the six-way passenger power seats, steering wheel mounted radio controls, electrochromatic mirror and ditto outside mirrors as part o f a $945 package. The power sunroof was $905, the chrome wheels $845, the Mon soon eight-speak er sound system with diversity antenna at $325 plus $295 for heated seats and $285 for the full- boogie stereo deck with cas sette and CD. Total price as tested was $35,499 includ ing $810 for ship ping. While this is a mid-size car, it is clearly built for North Americans. The driver's power seats can extend far enough back to make reaching the pedals impossible (at least for me). The seat backs are also broad and extend high enough to cradle the shoulder blades. The seat cushions are comfy but very solidly built for solidly- built people. The supercharged engine is a no- nonsense piece. Put your foot down and it responds. There is no lag, but you can still induce a bit of torque steer to the left from a stop on slightly slick pave ment. Where the SC engine pays off is on highway commuting. While it has the power to out-drag just about any thing, you can set it on cruise and that V6 economy cuts in. According to Transport Canada the SC gives 7.7L/100 km (37 mpg) on the highway, 13.2L/100 km (21 mpg) in the city. That city figure, however, can be a lot higher if you have a heavy right foot. Estimated annual cost in fuel to run this car is (Cdn)$ 1,244. I've concentrated on the power and the improved handling, but modem suspensions make for comfortable tour ing, and this is also an area where the Regal GS excels. Instead of taking a superhighway to work every day (100 km plus round trip) I found myself tak ing the back roads and seeing how farms I used to pass on these routes 10 years ago now sprout acres of homes and nodule plazas. With this power, handling, and ride comfort, getting there for a week dur ing my test drive of the Regal GS, real ly did turn out to be half the fun. If the supercharged version of the Park Avenue is a bit too big and too formal, the blown V6 can be found in the GS version of the Buick Regal. Running on premium fuel, this powerplant seems to get more powerful every year. For 1999 it now produces 240 hp and 280 lb/ft. o f torque that makes it more powerful than the 5.7-Iitre V8s GM used in the 1970s and 1980s. In the LS version the engine is normally aspirated on regular fuel but it too is up to 200 hp from 195 hp in the 1998 Regal LS and the torque has risen to 225 lb./ft. from 200 lb/ft. 1993 EXPLORER leather, privocy glass moonroof, auto lamp system, Fat lory running boards, fog lamps, 4X4, rear wiper washer, power grp., 4LE F IV 6 , < m m i U M 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY LXI - 1 owner, all maintenance records, balance of 7 year 1 2 0 ,0 0 0 km warranty, leather interior, h i/cap , air & heater, "top of t h e r j f a ^ ^ K line", remote entry. | l l Q ' C S tk # 9 T 6 1 3 A U a 7 7 v 1994 TAURUS WAGON 1 2 1 ,0 0 0 km s., lo a d e d , a ir & 3 rd seat. S uper c le a n v e h ic le . P A Y M E N T S d Q r f G f c l A VA ILA B LE . ' 0 ■>- W m 1993 CAVALIER RS WAGON 3.1 V 6 , au to m atic , e x c e lle n t p rice. P A Y M E N TS A VA ILA B LE. 1996 FORD RANGER SPLASH 1 owner, 3 .0L E.F.I. V6, 5-spd., A /C , A M /F M cassette, chrome rims, only 5 5 ,0 0 0 km. Oak land certified. j n B j f f k Stk. # R 0 8 4 4 [ . . j t J J . A H i 1998 FORD ESCORT ZX2 1 owner, 2 5 ,6 0 0 km A/C , remote entry, A M /F M cassette, 2 .0 D0HC 16-valve etec engine, quality cer- 1992 CHEV ASTRO VAN V 6, auto, loaded, new tires, 1 owner, certified and emissions, 12-month 12 ,000-km P/T warranty. 1997 FORD F-250 XLT 1 owner, 29,800 kms, chrome wheels, auto, A/C, boxlin- er, trailer tow group, 5.4L E.F.I., V8, cruise control, tilt steering, excellent condition. Quality certified. Stk. IR0772 '95 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS Fully loaded, V8 and leather. Only 91,000 kms. 6 / m*14,995 1998 FORD CONTOUR Sport pkg. anti-lock brakes 2 .5L D .0 .H .C , V6, fog lamps, air bags, child proof doors, A /C , A M /F M cassette, quality certified, tjfc f j m f i j i i i ' S k f Stk. # A 0 4 6 8 $ [ - j S - 7 . 1988 LEBARON CONVERTIBLE As is, runs g o o d . Still lots o f g o o d w e a th e r left. 1997 LINCOLN MK VIII LSL 1 owner, compad disc, chrome wheels, voke octivated phone, p. moonroof, heated ebony leather seats, onti-theft alarm item, 4 .6 1 32-volve intech S Tsystem, 4.61 J/-vot V8, quality certified warr JiiL lomno '94 SAAB 9000 AERO Fully loaded, 5-speed, inch CD & power roof, 100,000 kms.roof, 100,000 kms Immaculate condition. *17,995 '95 PROBE GT V6, auto., fully loaded, power roof, alloys and leather, 95,000 kms. Jok-kmd Lincoln Menny 844-3273 3273 TO RUN ON THIS PAGE CALL NOW! KYLIE'S VANS SKfSE 627 0777 KYUE'S VANS 827-0777 1993 EXPLORER E. BAUER ®9j©SO Oitti ktini ikwtibl Mc.t.ny 844*3273 KYUE'S VANS BBSS 627-0777 1989 CHEV PICKUP 4X4 *S.4S5 GLOBAL '95 DODGE NEON s6,995 Ocikville /V\ofors CMQ iurrii lintiiin MeiiMy 844-3273 «*uk iu<iii liinuki Meisury 844-3273 i«ak kuid iUMoin Mertuty 844-3273 Advertise Youv Pre-Owned Car or Truck Her itak-kind Iiwein Memwy 844-3273 1993 EXPLORER 1997 CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY 1994 TAURUS WAGON 1993 CAVALIER RS WAGON 1996 FORD RANGER SPLASH 1998 FORD ESCORT ZX2 1992 CHEV ASTRO VAN 1997 FORD F-250 XLT '95 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS *14,995 1998 FORD CONTOUR 1988 LEBARON CONVERTIBLE 1997 LINCOLN MK VIII LSL '94 SAAB 9000 AERO *17,995 '95 PROBE GT