Auto Guide #5

• May 17, 2012 • Volume 1, Issue 6

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I’ll never understand some drivers’ obsessions with parking as close as possible to the entrance of a public place. Have we become so depend-ent on our vehicles that the thought of walking farther than a dozen steps is unfathomable?

No wonder our children’s obesity rate is growing.

Now, I am as guilty as the next guy or gal when there’s bad weather out … I’ll troll and wait in big-box store park-

ing lots for that one parking spot that’s just beyond the “mother with child” range; but when it’s nice out, I rather enjoy the walk, regardless of how full my arms may be on the way out.

The other day (a nice shorts-and-sandals type of spring day) I found a nice close spot nobody seemed to be paying much attention to. When I dis-covered it was actually a walkway (to help shoppers and their carts safely navigate the long rows of parked cars) that only seemed like a parking spot to my diminutive test car, I drove through and found a spot farther away. By the time I’d parked the car and walked to the entrance, two cars (larger than mine) had parked in that very area. Not only did they then force people to

walk in unsafe areas (either for them or the cars parked around them) but they also made it terribly challenging for the young couple parked beside one of them to load up their infant.

That brings up another problem. Today’s smaller parking spots (in order to fit in more cars) are not geared toward the large pickup- or SUV-driv-ing male, who seems to be the most prone to grabbing the closest possible parking spot to the entrance, rather than the farthest one where he can take up two spots without much incon-venience to other parkers.

No, these gentlemen (and I use the term loosely) are more apt to either park through to the next spot in order to not leave bodywork hanging out in the driving lane, and leaving little room for the car in front (or behind), or they park within the spot bounda-ries and hang out in the driving lane. This also sets up challenges for the vehicles beside the behemoth to (a) get in or out of the parking spot due to the added bulky obstacle to visibil-ity; and (b) make it doubly challeng-ing for the other vehicle’s occupants to get in and out effectively.

I know this is more of a rant than a call to action because (a) today’s driver is far more busy than I, and (b) stores aren’t going to do anything about parking restrictions that may drive even one single shopper away, but it does show the impor tance placed on today’s vehicles in help-ing us get our routines over with as quickly as possible.

New Subaru BRZ light, agile and a ton of fun to drive

Compass offers an impressive array of options

all the latest products reviewed

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Gadget: headlight restoration kitPrice: $19.99Available at: Walmart, Canadian Tire and other car care supply stores

If you’ve noticed the illumi-nation from your headlights fading over the years, it might be time for a bit of a headlight makeover. The plastic that cov-ers your headlights can become scratched and pitted over the ye a r s , l i m i t i n g th e a m o u n t of light the plastic will allow through.

The solution? A headlight res-toration kit, and lots of elbow grease. This kit comes w i t h l e n s p o l i s h , l e n s sealer, ultra-fine sandpa-per and sanding/polish-

ing block (for extremely yel-lowed or severely scratched h e a dl ight s), a n d p ol ish in g cloths.

Granted, this isn’t the only headlight restoration kit on the market today. What makes it unique is the claim made by the manufacturer: compared to other headlight kits on the market which always require sanding of the lens to remove the yellowing, the included

special QUIXX polish-ing compound is so effective that sanding the lens is usually not required, except for removing light scratches, says the com-pany.

Not sure if your headlights are in need of repair? A simple look at the car in daylight and exam-ining the headl ight s for one or more of these will help you determine if they need restora-tion: the lenses look milky, foggy or yellow; you can’t see the bulb through the lens; the lenses are scratched or scarred.

Gadget: radiator sealantPrice: about $12 a bottleAvailable at: NAPA, Walmart, Canadian Tire

G ot a l e a k? D o n’t w a n t to spend big bucks to replace an entire radiator? New Rislone Radiator Stop Leak Concentrate seals coolant leaks in radiators, heater cores and freeze plugs.

The company says that most leaks are plugged up within a few minutes of pouring the prod-uct in, and that the concentrate then remains in the cooling sys-tem, protecting it against future leaks. Sounds l ike a winning

combination to me.It can be used in any water-cooled

vehicle and is compatible with all types of coolant, so if a new radiator isn’t going to fit into the budget this month, this new product might be worth a second look.

Gadget: gorgeous wheelsPrice: starts at about $800 a pieceAvailable at: www.americanforcewheels.com

This company makes some of the most unique wheels on the market today,

designed specifi-cally for big boys with big toys — the pickup-driv-ing crowd.

You wouldn’t want to put these o n t h e f a m i l y sedan, but if you d r ive a p icku p, you might want to take a closer look at this company’s newest creation — the KOLT and KOLT SS. KOLT wheels are ideal in rural country settings where out-doorsmen desire a bold look and greater performance. Designed for horse owners, ranchers and Albertans (?), the wheels boast a horseshoe design stamped into the wheel face. Built from forged alumi-num, they’re available in custom finishes, including a polished mirror finish, black matte powder coat and black gloss.

If you’ve seen gadgets and gizmos you think our readers should know about, please e-mail details to [email protected]. If we use your sug-gestion we will not send you a t-shirt, a cap or a plaque. However, you will have bragging rights in that you’ll be able to tell all your friends that the featured gadget was your bright idea.

SUPPLIED PHOTOSA headlight restoration kit renews your lights.

Stop Leak seals coolant leaks.

KOLT wheels are ideal in rural country settings.

MR. G

ADGE

T

JACKKAZMIERSKI

[email protected]

LighTs, CoNCeNTrATe, ActIonMr. GadGet

reVIeW

COVer8

4

6

Closer at all Costs seems to be the parking mantra of the day

CloSe enCOunters

Joeduarte

[email protected]

autonet.ca/duarte

THE P

ASSIN

G LAN

EInsIdeM a y 1 7 , 2 0 1 2

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automakers Lead the chargeE i g h t a u t o m a k e r s f r o m

around the globe showed off new harmonized fast charging technology at the 2012 Elec-tric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles (EVS26).

Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Porsche and Volkswagen have collabo-rated to create what they call

the Combined Charging System. The tech-nology integrates four charging systems — one-phase AC-charging, fast three-phase AC-charging, at-home DC-charging and ultra-fast DC-charging at public stations —

into one inlet.In other words, the system will

incorporate a single plug that can be inserted into one of sev-eral possible power sources, depending on w h e r e a n E V driver needs to charge and the type of power delivery avail-

able. Current vehicles that can accept a DC charge have a separate inlet.

The participating automakers claim a recharging time for most vehicles of as little as 15 minutes. Currently, charging some EVs from zero to full charge can take up to 20 hours or more when using a standard 120V electrical outlet.

The Combined Charging System has been created to work with vehicles in both Europe and the United States, and plans are for chargers to be available by the end of 2012. Vehicles could begin using the technology starting in 2013.

ACEA, the European association of vehicle manufacturers, has selected the Combined Charging System as its AC/DC-charging interface for all new vehicle types in Europe beginning in 2017.

The design of the system was chosen based on “the collaborative review and analysis of existing charging strategies, the ergonomics of the connector and preferences of U.S. and European cus-tomers.”

The Combined Charging System creates a uniform standard with identical electri-cal systems, charge controllers, package dimensions and safety mechanisms. It was developed for “all international vehi-

cle markets”, which leaves the possibility open for automakers from other markets such as Asia to use the system.

Dream machine brings sci-fi to life

SyFy channel is helping to bring fantasy vehicles to life, and the latest is a futuris-tic dune-buggy type roadster sponsored by AutoTrader.com.

The vehicle is the creation of Marc and Shannon Parker, whose Florida-based Parker Brothers Concepts is responsible for creating some of moviedom’s most memorable vehicles — the latest Batmo-bile and Tron’s light-cycles, for example. The shop and crew are the basis for the Dream Machines weekly reality show on SyFy that showcases vehicles from other media (television, films, comic books, etc.) and brings them to life.

The latest Dream Machines project weighs in at 2,400 lbs., most of it taken up by the electric powertrain that can gener-ate up to 500 hp. The media site claims a charge time of just two hours and a range of 48 km, though actual testing hasn’t be performed due to the car not yet being certified for real-world use.

It measures 4,064 mm in length (riding

on a 2,540 mm wheelbase) by 2,032 mm wide, and stands just 1,321 mm tall from road to the top of the bodywork. Open to the outside world, the car features a clear bullet-proof floor, and futuristic clear steering wheel and centre console, with an iPad as the touchscreen control centre.

The vehicle, labelled as Mars Rover by SyFy, will reside at AutoTrader.com’s headquarters in Atlanta and will embark on a promotional tour during the upcom-ing auto show season.

– QMI Agency

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The Combined Charging System integrates four charging systems into one inlet.

• Supplied photoSMars Rover is the latest Dream Machine.

ENVIR

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Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Thursday, May 17, 2012 3

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compass points to comfort

I f th e 201 2 J e ep C om pas s were an athlete, it would have an asterisk next to its name in the record books.

Yes, it did finish second in its class at the 2012 competition for Canadian Car of the Year (CCOTY), but the only three com-petitors in that category — Best New SUV-CUV Under $35,000 — all were products of Chrysler Corp. So it was strictly a fam-ily affair as the Compass placed behind Dodge Journey but ahead of Jeep Wrangler.

Our test vehicle is the Com-pass North All Season 4x4, just

one step down from the ultimate Limited version, but a long way from the base Sport 4x2 model which is more of an economy car than a real Jeep. For an MSRP of $17,200 it’s got lots of safety features, such as ABS and elec-tronic stability control, but not much else in the way of crea-ture comforts. Everything else is available from a long list of options.

W i t h a s t a r t i n g p r i c e o f $23,340, the North All Season 4x4 doesn’t seem like a bad buy — and has some useful packages such as the Freedom Drive II Off-Road Group that turns it into something worthy of the Jeep nameplate. But whoever ordered our tester for Chrysler Canada’s media fleet really started to pile on the options. When they were done, it topped out at $31,395.

The Compass is not as tall as most crossovers — in fact, it looks more like a wagon than a CUV. But it has a low centre of gravity, and with its fully inde-pendent suspension system, plus front and rear stabilizers, it really hugs the road. Unlike many rivals, it’s a treat to drive quickly through the esses, stay-ing flat with little body roll. And, also unlike many rivals, it has the ability to go anywhere.

O n t h e c o n s o l e - m o u n t e d shifter, there’s a setting marked “L,” for low-range off-road use, which allows our Compass to crawl over rough terrain, and a 4WD button in the centre con-sole to electrically lock the trans-fer case. Hill descent control and skid plates for the transmission, oil pan and fuel tank complete the picture.

I like snarly little 4-cylinder engines but not noisy continu-ously variable transmissions (CVTs). Unfortunately, our Com-pas s has b oth. Th e 2.4-l i tre DOHC inline four makes 172 hp, and has good grunt with peak torque of 165 lb.-ft. But the noisy CVT seems a bad trade-off for the ability to go rock-crawling, especially if the Compass prima-rily will be a road car.

However, for those who like to venture off the beaten track, the Compass can hold 643 litres of cargo behind the rear seats and has a payload capacity of 420 kg.

In testing by the Automobile Journalists Association of Can-ada (AJAC), the Compass North 4x4 acceler ate d from 0 -10 0 km/h in 11.8 seconds and from 80-120 in 8.0. Of the 55 vehi-cles tested in the 2012 CCOTY competition, only the Fiat 500 posted slower times.

B u t in th is c a s e, l e isu re ly acceleration doesn’t translate into fuel economy. This Compass points to the next gas station because, when full, the tank has a range of just 455 km and com-bined fuel economy is 11.1L/100 km. Mercifully, it burns less-expensive regular gas.

AJAC judges at CCOTY gave the Compass its highest marks in areas related to interior space and comfort, including driver position and ergonomics, visibil-ity, roominess/access and ride comfort. Perhaps not surpris-ingly, its lowest marks came for transmission/drivetrain. Unless I needed the CVT’s ability to crawl over rocks, I’d save $1,750 and go for the standard five-speed stick.

The Compass is a nice size, with good seats and user-friendly controls including a touchscreen display for audio, phone, hard drive, etc. Its styling elicits posi-tive comments wherever it goes.

This is a vehicle that can be whatever you want it to be — an inexpensive FWD hatchback with rugged good looks or a 4x4 with real off-road attitude.

With a long list of options, you can tailor it to your own personal taste.

As tested (before tax): $31,395freight/PDI: $1,400options on test car: customer pre-ferred package 28E ($3,300), sun and sound Group ($1,250), trailer tow prep Group ($225), security and con-venience Group ($800), north all sea-son Group ($695), premium sound Group ($400), Freedom ii off-Road Group ($750), media centre ($750), full-size spare ($200), cVt ($1,750)Engine/transmission: 2.4L i4, con-tinuously variablePower/torque: 172 hp/165 lb.-ft. fuel (capacity): regular (55L)fuel economy ratings (L/100 km): 9.9 city, 7.7 hwyobserved fuel economy: 11.1L/100 km over 612 kmWarranties: three years/60,000 km basic, five years/100,000 km power-traincompetitors: chevrolet Equinox, Ford Escape, Honda cR-V, Hyundai tucson, Kia sportage, toyota RaV4Strengths: trail-Rated 4WD, roomy interior, looks goodWeaknesses: a little slow, noisy cVt, minimal towing capacity

fAct fILE

rEPort cArD

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VALUE FOR $

FUEL ECONOMY

STYLING

COMFORT

PERFORMANCE

OVERALL

RATING OUT OF 5

autonet.ca/2012compass

2012 jeep compass scores top marks in interior comfort and offers a long list of options to suit your needs and budget

2 0 1 2 j e e p c o m p a s s n o r t h a l l s e a s o n 4 x 4

• GLEn WooDcock/Qmi aGEncyThe styling of the 2012 Jeep Compass North All Season 4x4 elicits positive comments wherever it goes.

TEST

DRIVE

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“C” offers smooth sailing

Toyota Canada took me to “C” recently — Prius C, that is.

The new entry in the subcom-pact segment for 2012, whose name stands for City, is the third in the Prius line — and the small-est of the family. And while it bears the same name as the reg-ular Prius and the larger Prius V, it has a look all its own.

Not Prius-like at all, really, it looks like a lot of the other five-door vehicles in the segment. Nothing really stands out except for the huge white- and red-lensed tail lights. In front there’s a vaguely f ish-l ike face cen-

tred by Toyota’s signature blue-backed hybrid badge. In between is a hatchback profile that holds the promise of interior space.

Once inside I discover there’s room for four people of aver-age size to travel comfortably, although I find the driver seat cushion uncomfortable.

I have a multi-function steer-ing wheel that handles audio, cli-mate and dash display controls. Everything is within easy reach, including a long twig-like shift selector.

Set just slightly left of cen-tre is the low binnacle which houses the digital speedometer and information display — and there’s plenty of information. One of the neatest is a display that will tell you how much your trip is costing you. All you have to do is input the cost of fuel

in your area and the computer takes it from there. For instance, a 40 km trip in Calgary cost me $1.58.

That’s cheap, but in ever y other aspect the Prius C cannot be called cheap — it’s too well put together for that — but it is certainly inexpensive. Yes, plas-tic is the most prevalent finish material in the cabin, but it has a soft, upscale look to it.

You can get into a base model like my tester for under $21,000 (before taxes), which brings you everything you really need in a car. If you’re not satisfied with cloth seats, and convenience features like power windows, lo ck s a n d m irro r s , a d e c e n t audio system, air conditioning, cruise control and well-laid-out interior, you can jazz it up with navigation, moonroof and faux-

leather seats (heated up front) and sti l l keep it just a shade under 26 grand.

There are plenty of larger vehi-cles with more interior space and more power out there in the same price range, so what sets the C apart?

Number one is its fuel econ-omy. Toyota claims it won’t often be seen at gas pumps. It’s true. I drove this base C for a week and still had a quarter-tank of fuel after averaging 4.8 L/100 km. I could probably have done better, but I never babied the car during our time together.

The l i t t le 1 .5L four-banger under the hood got a workout. If it wasn’t for the boost from the Hybrid Synergy Drive elec-tric motor, the C wouldn’t pull the skin off a pudding. With that extra battery kick, the combined 9 9 h orsep ower get s en o ugh oomph to get a brisk start from stoplights and to handle traffic situations in the city.

If you’re thinking about mak-ing a pass on the highway, the C requires plenty of space because you’re not going to get much response, other than rev noise, when you step on the gas at 100 km/h, even with the CVT trans-mis sion supposedly keeping things in the “sweet spot.” That’s the price you pay for exceptional fuel economy.

Number two is handling. The C is surprisingly nimble in city traffic and handles all the bumps and holes of springtime streets without jarring its passengers. On the highway, wind and road noise are about average for the segment, meaning this is no cone-of-silence vehicle by any means.

Compared to the other mem-bers of the Prius family, the C is smaller but a bit more city-friendly and even more environ-mentally friendly.

“ N e a t l i t t l e c a r,” s ays th e attendant at my usual station. “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in a couple of weeks.”

“Oh, I’ve been around here,” I say. “I just didn’t need fuel.”

“Good thing everybody doesn’t drive one of those,” he says. “I’d go broke.”

as tested (before tax): $20,950Options on test vehicle: noneFreight/PDi: $1,565Configuration: front engine, front-wheel driveEngine/transmission: 1.5L 4 cyl. with hybrid synergy Drive/ contin-uously variable automaticPower/torque: 99 hp combined/N/AFuel (capacity): regular (36L)F u e l e c o n o m y r a t i n g s (l/100km): 3.5 city, 4.0 hwyObserved fuel economy: 4.8 L/100km over 426 kmWarranties: three years/ 60,000 km (basic), five years/ 100,000 km (powertrain), eight years/160,000 km (hybrid components)Competitors: honda Civic hybrid, honda fit, Nissan Versa, toyota Yarisstrengths: great price, outstand-ing fuel economy Weaknesses: lack of power, uncomfortable driver seat

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Prius C is surPrisingly nimble in City traffiC and handles all the bumPs and holes of sPringtime streets without jarring its Passengers

2 0 1 2 t o y o t a P r i u s C

• HaRRy PEgg/QmI AgeNCYNot Prius-like at all, really, the C looks like a lot of the other five-door vehicles in the segment.

TEST

DRIVE

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Gadget: headlight restoration kitPrice: $19.99Available at: Walmart, Canadian Tire and other car care supply stores

If you’ve noticed the illumi-nation from your headlights fading over the years, it might be time for a bit of a headlight makeover. The plastic that cov-ers your headlights can become scratched and pitted over the ye a r s , l i m i t i n g th e a m o u n t of light the plastic will allow through.

The solution? A headlight res-toration kit, and lots of elbow grease. This kit comes w i t h l e n s p o l i s h , l e n s sealer, ultra-fine sandpa-per and sanding/polish-

ing block (for extremely yel-lowed or severely scratched h e a dl ight s), a n d p ol ish in g cloths.

Granted, this isn’t the only headlight restoration kit on the market today. What makes it unique is the claim made by the manufacturer: compared to other headlight kits on the market which always require sanding of the lens to remove the yellowing, the included

special QUIXX polish-ing compound is so effective that sanding the lens is usually not required, except for removing light scratches, says the com-pany.

Not sure if your headlights are in need of repair? A simple look at the car in daylight and exam-ining the headl ight s for one or more of these will help you determine if they need restora-tion: the lenses look milky, foggy or yellow; you can’t see the bulb through the lens; the lenses are scratched or scarred.

Gadget: radiator sealantPrice: about $12 a bottleAvailable at: NAPA, Walmart, Canadian Tire

G ot a l e a k? D o n’t w a n t to spend big bucks to replace an entire radiator? New Rislone Radiator Stop Leak Concentrate seals coolant leaks in radiators, heater cores and freeze plugs.

The company says that most leaks are plugged up within a few minutes of pouring the prod-uct in, and that the concentrate then remains in the cooling sys-tem, protecting it against future leaks. Sounds l ike a winning

combination to me.It can be used in any water-cooled

vehicle and is compatible with all types of coolant, so if a new radiator isn’t going to fit into the budget this month, this new product might be worth a second look.

Gadget: gorgeous wheelsPrice: starts at about $800 a pieceAvailable at: www.americanforcewheels.com

This company makes some of the most unique wheels on the market today,

designed specifi-cally for big boys with big toys — the pickup-driv-ing crowd.

You wouldn’t want to put these o n t h e f a m i l y sedan, but if you d r ive a p icku p, you might want to take a closer look at this company’s newest creation — the KOLT and KOLT SS. KOLT wheels are ideal in rural country settings where out-doorsmen desire a bold look and greater performance. Designed for horse owners, ranchers and Albertans (?), the wheels boast a horseshoe design stamped into the wheel face. Built from forged alumi-num, they’re available in custom finishes, including a polished mirror finish, black matte powder coat and black gloss.

If you’ve seen gadgets and gizmos you think our readers should know about, please e-mail details to [email protected]. If we use your sug-gestion we will not send you a t-shirt, a cap or a plaque. However, you will have bragging rights in that you’ll be able to tell all your friends that the featured gadget was your bright idea.

SUPPLIED PHOTOSA headlight restoration kit renews your lights.

Stop Leak seals coolant leaks.

KOLT wheels are ideal in rural country settings.

MR. G

ADGE

T

JACKKAZMIERSKI

[email protected]

LighTs, CoNCeNTrATe, ActIon6 Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Thursday, May 17, 2012

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I was giving a male friend a lift the other day. Just before getting out of my car, he turned to me and mentioned that I drive really, really well. Had he stopped there, the conversation would have been forgotten by now. But no, he added that my driving skills were out-standing for a woman. He then jumped out my vehicle and walked off, leaving me to ponder what that meant exactly.

Now, I must admit I have received this backward praise before. One guy thought he was giving me the ultimate compliment when he said that I drove like a guy. When men and women came here from Mars and Venus, respec-tively, did we fly our spaceships with different levels of competency?

So, who are the better drivers? Men or women?

Mostly people are aware that women on average live longer than men. I won-der if it has any correlation to their driving skills. According to the Carne-gie Mellon University’s Center for the Study & Improvement of Regulation, male drivers have a 77% higher risk of

dying in a car accident than women.Here in Canada, men are around

three times more likely to get a speed-ing ticket. Does that mean men are faster drivers? Maybe they are just worse at avoiding get ting caught. Maybe they are not as equipped with the skills needed to get out of receiv-ing a ticket.

How about parking? A study pro-duced by a U.K. car park f irm NCP shows that ladies may be slightly bet-ter skilled at slotting into a space. Researchers obser ved 2,500 driv-ers across its 700 car parks in Britain over a one-month period. They found that while men were faster at complet-ing the manoeuvre, women were more accurate. Fifty-two per cent of women parked in the middle of each spot, com-pared to 25% of men.

Science also indicates that women are better drivers — actuarial science, that is. According to Canadian insur-ance companies, women have fewer accidents than their male counter-parts. Not only are men involved in more crashes, but when they do, larger payouts are usually needed.

Honestly, I think that driving is a skill. Like any other skill, it can always be improved regardless of your sex. There are plenty of advanced and defensive driving courses out there to help you hone your skills behind the wheel.

battle of the sexes

Who are really the better drivers, all things considered — men or Women?WO

MAN O

N WHE

ELS

[email protected]

• shutterstockAccording to Canadian insurance companies, women have fewer accidents than their male counterparts.

winning wagon

• glen woodcock/QMi AgencyIn some regards, the Oldsmobile is still is a modern automobile; in others, its age is showing.

Last fall it was time to retire my “sit ter” — the car that spends most of its time parked in auto manu-

facturers’ lots while I drive one of their vehicles for my weekly new car road test.

For the past seven years, that sitter had been my faithful 1999 Saturn sta-tion wagon. But as the years passed, more and more ingenuity was required to keep it operating, and parts were growing harder and harder to find.

So it was time to scrap the Saturn and find a replacement. That’s when a car parked at the side of the road, with a “For sale” sign in the front window, caught my eye.

I wouldn’t even have stopped to look if it hadn’t been a station wagon. But I love wagons and, from a distance, this Oldsmobile looked pretty clean.

It was even better up close — a 1995 Custom Cruiser SL, with not a hint of rust on its Driftwood Metallic body. Details on the sign told why: it was from Texas, where sun damage to rubber parts is a far greater risk than rust from road salt.

I liked what I saw — and the way it drove — and quickly made a deal. It has all new hoses, a completely new exhaust system and the rear-facing third row of seats look like they’ve never been used.

So my Saturn was replaced by another orphan — one that’s even older.

But my mechanic, Mike Johnston, couldn’t find a thing wrong when doing the safety. In fact, he said “This car will last longer than you.” (Hope he doesn’t know something I don’t!)

It’s powered by GM’s bulletproof 3.1L V6, and now that Mike’s replaced the spark plugs, which he thought might be the originals, the car runs like a top.

It came with all the repair records and the original window sticker showing that

its price, when new, was $17,895. That included $430 in optional items, such as a power driver’s seat, and destina-tion charges of $535.

The other day, while pumping some gas so it could get to its next parking spot, I noticed a woman giving it the eye while she filled up her SUV.

“Your car is almost vintage,” she said.

Well, yes it is. So I took that as a com-pliment. In just two more years it will be eligible to participate in events staged by the Antique and Classic Car Club of Canada.

T h e O l d s m o b i l e re a l l y i s a t i m e machine because it shows how far cars have come in the short time since it was new. In some regards, it still is a modern automobile; in others, its age is show-ing.

For instance, it has anti-lock brakes, traction control, power doors/locks/m i r r o r s , h a l o g e n h e a d l a m p s a n d sequential fuel injection.

But there is only one airbag — for the driver. Others weren’t even optional. Its odd front seatbelts are anchored to the doors, and can be kept buckled up to encourage Americans to use them.

Cupholders were in their infancy in 1995 and in order to retrofit them to the Cruiser they have been located in the front bench seat’s flip-down armrest. Hit a few good bumps with a full cup of coffee and you’ll be getting out the spot remover.

Air conditioning is manual and the automatic is a four-speed. There is no outside temperature display, no heated mirrors and no driver information cen-tre to provide info such as instant fuel economy.

No navigation system, no backup camera, no self-dimming headlamps, no adaptive cruise control, no AWD.

Nor is there satellite radio — but it does have a cassette player!

But what really gives away its age is the simple fact it is a station wagon — and it has whitewall tires.

It’s a true survivor and I like driving it. Too bad I only get to do that once a week.

TIME M

ACHI

NEs

[email protected]


brz handles like a dream

HOOD RIVER, Ore. — The 2013 BRZ is taking Subaru where the company has never gone before — the realm of rear-wheel-drive sports cars.

Known globally for all-wheel-drive vehicles like WRX and STi, Subaru has teamed up with Toy-ota to produce this stunning rear-wheel-drive sport coupe.

It’s light, it’s agile and it’s a ton of fun to drive.

The last time the company had a two-wheel-drive of any kind was in 1994, and it’s never offered a rear-wheel-drive car in North America.

Subaru handled the BRZ engi-neering, development and pro-duction while Toyota supplied the interior and exterior design and product planning.

It’s an unusual alliance, but the result, at least from the Subaru end (I have not driven the Scion version), is a home run.

There are two models of BRZ — base and Sport-tech — each w i th a Su b a r u fo u r- c y l i n d e r

Boxer engine turning out 200 horsepower and 151 lb.-f t. of torque. In either BRZ model, a smooth, ultra-slick six-speed manual transmission handles the shift work. You can opt for a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters if you prefer electronic gear choices.

T h e e x t e r i o r i s t e r r i f i c — maybe even sexy. The purpose-ful profile starts from a BRZ-spe-cific face and stretches over an aluminum hood and low cabin to a short deck, with a BRZ-specific spoiler in Sport-tech versions. T h e 17- i n c h a l u m i n u m a l l oy wheels fill the wheel wells nicely.

Inside, it has all the power convenience features, terrific seats, navigation if you want it and an excellent audio system. Switches and knobs are kept to a bare minimum. To get what you want, you turn a knob or flip a switch — no electronic gimmicks to work through. Ever y thing quickly becomes instinctive.

T h e c a r i s b i l l e d a s a 2 x 2 sports coupe, but there’s no way you’re going to get people into the back seat. And to install a child seat requires some agility on the part of the parent.

To give you some idea where the Subaru folks see this car

going, if you fold the one-piece r e a r s e a t b a c k a n d p a s s e n -ger seat down, you expand the already-impressive trunk space to handle four racing tires and a tool bag.

We’re in this area east of Port-land to run BRZ around the free-ways and narrow, twisting back roads and on the challenging road course at Oregon Raceway Park.

The route to the racetrack offers no guard rails to stop a long fall if the driver screws up.

The BRZ has the usual stabil-ity control and traction nannies, but it’s the superb balance that allows the car to keep on the chosen course without body roll or lean.

The electronic power steer-ing gives an excellent feel of the road and only requires gen-tle input to produce those road-hugging turns. The independent suspension is surprisingly com-pliant for a sports car and road imperfections are easily handled without jarring occupants.

Downsides? There aren’t many. In fact, the only thing I really dis-like is the excessive road noise on an aggregate surface.

At t h e t r a c k , t h e r e a l f u n begins. It ’s a technical track requiring the driver to pay strict at tention to the busine s s at hand. I prefer the automatic transmission in this situation. It is quicker to shift than I am with the manual. It is more precise, and if I brake hard before a cor-ner, it will downshift two gears — on its own — setting me up in exactly the right gear to exit the corner.

BRZ is a refined kind of sports car. It doesn’t have the brute power of WRX or STi, but it is beautifully balanced, rides nicely and handles like a dream. It may only have 200 horses under the hood, but it makes full use of those ponies and it’s set up to provide a terrific track experi-ence and super road manners.

Trim levels available: base, sport-techmSrP range: $27,295-$30,495Notable options: navigation sys-temConfiguration: front engine, rear wheel driveavailable engines: 2.0l four-cyl-inder (200 hp/151 lb.-ft.)available transmissions: six-speed manual, six-speed automatic with sequential shiftF u e l e c o n o m y r a t i n g s (L/100km): 9.6 city/6.6 hwy (manual), 8.3/5.9 (automatic)Warranties: three years/ 60,000 km (basic), five years/ 100,000 km (powertrain)Competitors: Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, dodge Challenger, honda Civic si, hyundai Genesis Coupe, Mazda MX-5, Mini Cooper, scion Fr-s, Volkswagen GTiStrengths: powertrain, handling, stylingWeaknesses: road noise, no room in back seat

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autonet.ca/subarubrz

There aren’T many downsides To This lighT, agile and fun-To-drive subaru designed in parTnership wiTh ToyoTa

2 0 1 3 s u b a r u b r Z

• Harry Pegg/QMi aGenCy PhoTosThe exterior of the 2013 Subaru BRZ is terrific — maybe even sexy.

To get what you want, you turn a knob or flip a switch — no electronic gimmicks to work through.

FIRST

DRIVE

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Auto Guide #5

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Transcript of Auto Guide #5