Wednesday, March 16, 1994 â€" Automotive â€" A2 f Ask about _ our lifetime 1 Warranties Nissan 240 SX follows classic sportscar tradition By JIM ROBINSON Special to the Beaver c mmz e alking up to Nissan‘s ‘ 240 SX sportscars is \ like walking up to the old and the new all at once. On the outside, you have essenâ€" tially the same, minimalâ€"list conâ€" ADVANCED CAR CARE! * Computerized Fuel Injections * Computer Diagnostics _ * Brakes, Steering, Alighnments * Safety Cheds * Air Condlitioning, Cooling Systems » Tires 8 Exhaust THIS MONTH‘S SPECIAL Fuel Injection Service Most cars, includes deaner. Will improve vehicles fuel injectors for improved fuel economy 559 Speers Road 842â€"3001 "Localty Owned Operated" FITS MANY CARS, PIPES, CLAMPS . HANGERS . ack Faog‘:‘ “’605' ‘e:\a\\\f- co 10“‘“.‘“‘\:{\“\ am ° uy in um \ woty® a mab mm map mesp \â€"_ MUFFLER SALE FROM 2 8 INSTALLED EXPIRES MARCH 22/94 me Â¥ Ask pout 95 cept the car started out as; while underneath, you have a vehicle crammed with the latest technoâ€" logical advances such as computâ€" erâ€"controlled, fourâ€"wheel steering. The 240 SX follows in the steps, but thank heavens, not the tradition of the earlier 200 SX sports coupes. The first 200 SX was a ghastly looking, frontâ€" engine, rearâ€"drive coupe with angular lines grotesquely marred by ‘upâ€"swept character lines on the flanks and windows. A followâ€"up 200 SX was not as ugly. But it was right in step with the then current vogue of knifeâ€" edged wedges which forever remind me of the shape of the trays you get with breakfast in P > 1992 GMC YUKON GT V8, automatic transmission, o.d., full power options, cruise,â€" windows, air, am/fm cass., pwr. seat, black silver. Stk. No. X4475. Offer good til Sat. Mar. 19/94 KER CADILLAC PONTIAC BUICK LIMITED 410 SOUTH SERVICE RD. WEST, OAKVILLE o enc e Dorval Rd.) Japan. When this car proved as popuâ€" lar as stinkweed and about as fast as the Mount Robson, some deciâ€" sions were made about the entire Nissan line which were to have farâ€"reaching consequences. Datsun, as it was known then, realized most of its cars were about as exciting as the skin on rice pudding. Things were going to have to change or they would get outâ€"sold and knocked off by arch enemy Toyota. In a major catharsis, the bland and/or Giugiaro shapes were tossed aside and the new "organic" ovular body forms took over. The company changed its name offiâ€" cially to Nissan in North America, and they started designing some serious drivetrains matching them to competent suspensions. One of the first to surface was the 240 SX which retained the "SX" of the previous model; but introduced the "240" to make one think of the original Datsun 240 ZX which so thrilled us all 25 years ago. In a way, the 240 SX was simiâ€" lar to the ZX. The first ZX also had a big 2.4â€"litre engine running through a fiveâ€"speed manual box to a rear differential. Seating was for two, with provision for two minipeople in the back, plus a hatch for loading a few crushable bags. It was sensibly priced and offered a modicum of sophisticaâ€" tion. But it drove like a truck, which is not surprising given where the parts for the car were sourced from inside Nissan. As it grew bigger and fatter as the 280 ZX, it became a parody of itself. Not so the new 240 SX which comes in trim and equipment levâ€" els ranging from the base XE through the SE, SE with Sports Pack and the allâ€"singing, allâ€"dancâ€" ing, allâ€"leather LE. This "second generation" 240 SX is slightly different in shape â€" the hard edges being more rounded in keeping with the Nissan ovide school. The engine is a new 16â€"valve, fourâ€"cylinder with 155 hp. The SE and LE get fat, 15â€"inch alloy rims and a standard limitedâ€"slip differâ€" ential in the rear which is a nice thing to have in the wet or out on gravel. Inside, the cabin is quite broad and the floor flat. The seats have a new, lowâ€"back design with sepaâ€" rate headrests, Nissan doing away quietly with the oneâ€"piece molded seats which came with the original 240 SX and never quite caught on. The shifter is a lot smoother than the agricultural unit which went before this due to the addiâ€" tion of doubleâ€"cone synchros on 2nd and 3rd, plus the move to a rod linkage. Being a big fourâ€"banger, torque is found lower down than you‘d expect in a multiâ€"valve engine which, in turn, makes things a lot different at the stop light. You find yourself driving around town mostly in third as that‘s just about all the power you need. With the shifter in third and the revs at 3000, the engine sings its way to the redline as fast as it takes to read this sentence. What Nissan has done with the 240 SX is try and stay true to the simpleâ€"isâ€"best approach while dialing in upâ€"scale addâ€"ons to keep the punters happy. By lookâ€" ing over the option list, you can pick one to suit your driving abiliâ€" ties and your pocket book all at the same time. How to deal with a blowout A tire blowout is not as common today as in years past, especially for drivers who properly maintain their tires, but it can happen. Automotive specialists at General Motors offer a few tips an what to do if you experience a sudden tire failure. If a front tire fails, either in a curve or on a straightâ€"away, the flat 1994 VISION ESi 3.3L, 4 speed automatic, air COfldlthflIflE, ower windows door locks, AM/FM stereo cassette, power brakes, speed control, tilt. $20,998 :: 1 Arrived! Freight taxes extra GLENLEVEN MOTORS LTD. 2388 Royal Windsor Drive Jeep 8$45â€"7575 tire will produce a "drag" that pulls the vehicle toward the side on which the blowout occurs. When a front tire fails, immediâ€" ately take your foot off the accelerâ€" ator, be sure you have a firm grip of the steering wheel, steer to mainâ€" tain lane position (keeping the car under control), the gently brake to a stop well out of the traffic lane. A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may require a skidâ€"type correction (counter steering). In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the accelerator, get the car under control (it may be extremely bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer) and gently brake to a stop well off the road, if possiâ€" ble. In an emergency situation such as a blowout, do your best to react quickly without panic. Do not slam on the brakes. This will only aggraâ€" vate the situation. Modulate your brakes and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. Awardâ€"winning sportscar (Continued from page 1) All versions are powered by a quick and responsive 16â€"valve, 155â€" horsepower engine. Some of the features that make this awardâ€"winning sportscar attractive to performanceâ€"minded drivers are: Q Limitedâ€"slip differential, stanâ€" dard on all three models, to enhance traction on wet, snowy and icy roads. Q Optional Super HICAS fourâ€" wheel steering. Originally introduced on the Nissan 300ZX Turbo, this sophisticated system sharpens 2408X‘s already excellent response and handling, particularly in turns, laneâ€"changes, and other highway maneuvers. Fourâ€"wheel steering is included with the Sports Pack version of the 2408X Fastback. Q Antiâ€"lock brakes â€" standard on the Coupe LE, and available on Fastback models with Sports Pack. Q Smooth 5â€"speed standard transâ€" mission with doubleâ€"cone synchroâ€" nizers on 2nd and 3rd gears, and a positiveâ€" action rodâ€"linkage type shifter. Optional 4â€"speed automatic transâ€" mission â€" electronically controlled, with overdrive and a lightweight torque converter.