The Prince George Citizen — Friday, June 9, 1989 — 17

W h e e l s CHEVY WELL-EQUIPPED, INEXPENSIVE Corsica enters sports sedan competition The Chevrolet Corsica, intro-, In this application it produces 130 you forget your BMW. sense, and while there are only but I cannot see how they do, and I duced part way through the 1987 horsepower, not much from this The instrument panel sits up on four station pre-sets, they are easy never felt safe driving the car with model year, was destined to be­ displacement. This engine has a low, fiat-topped dash that allows to work. Sound on the AM band is them. Not only did they not fit come Chevy’s big seller. always been noted for good bot- you to stash parking tickets, sun­ pretty lousy, another Delco tradi­ around my hips, but th shoulder At the time, it fit between the tom-end torque and, especially in glasses and the like, although the tion, but it’s better on FM. belt rubbed against my neck or Cavalier and Celebrity and now re­ our traffic conditions, this is more fence isn’t high enough to keep the The cigdrette lighter (or cellular chin when I did a left shoulder sides between the Cavalier and Lu- important than peak power. stuff from rolling off. The fresh-air telephone socket, as I prefer to call check prior to a lane change. mina. After a slow start, the Corsi­ But during Chevy’s press pre­ vent that sticks out on the left side it) is closer at hand than the radio Maybe it won’t be a problem for ca has in fact become a hot ticket view last summer, I happened to will crack your kneecap when you or heater controls, which means you, depending on your stature. for Chevy, although the less-expen­ be in a 1.6 litre four-cylinder Jim get in if you’re not careful. that somebody’s got their priorities But I’m exactly a median-sized sive Cavalier is currently the most Tracker four-wheel drive sprot util­ The analogue instrumentation all wrong. The heater controls are North American male, so I won’t popular bearer of the blue bow tie ity vehicle, with a colleague right Kenzie consists of medium-sized 180-de­ round knobs, too, the right idea. be alone here. There has to be a emblem. behind me in a Corsica LTZ. Driv­ gree tachometer and speedometer But they’re small, and the shiny better way to meet the laws and For 1989, Chevy has used the ing up a steep hill at about 80 km/h with smaller gauges for oil black plastic material is really still provide decent occupant pro­ Corsica as the basis for a new (50 m.p.h.), the little Tracker was pressure, coolant temperature, fuel cheap looking. • tection. model, intended to compete with able to pull away, albeit slowly, But as the bumps get worse, the level and batery volts. These latter Oddment storage is one area Despite being less than generally European sports sedans. Dubbed from the Corsica. suspension’s lack of wheel travel four are arrayed at odd angles; where the Corsica LTZ matches impressed by the Corsica LTZ, I the LTZ, it is a combination of bits For a European sports sedan, begins to tell and the car thumps, they’re small and hard to read. European competition, with sever­ must admit that it scores well in a from the Corsica options bin and that would be awfully embarras­ crashes and rattles quite badly. The graphics appear white in day­ al cubby bins, door map pockets least one area. It is fully equipped some stuff that’s exclusive to the sing, and it’s not much less so for Even on smooth roads, there is a time and change to a greenish-blue and deep centre console bin that and is well priced. If, for example, LTZ. a domestic pretender. fair degree of noise from the sus­ at night. The red pointers remain also contains the power trunk re­ you want a Toyota Camry with a Visually, the LTZ gets a smoked- A five-speed manual transmis­ pension, despite an “acoustical red. lease. V-6 engine, you’ll be looking at plastic panel in place of the usual sion is standard, although my test sound package” that is standard If the Corsica LTZ were other­ well over $22,000. The Corsica LTZ car had the optional three-speed The seats show how serious Che­ wise the most desirable car in the Corsica egg-crate grille, gloss- on the LTZ. vy is about the LTZ being a Euro­ starts at $15,398, and even with black trim highlights, red and automatic with lock-up torque con­ The power steering has a quicker world, (and it should be clear by what must have been nearly every verter, which shifted well during pean sports sedan. Namely, not now that I don’t think it is), I still available option, it came in under black emblems and a black-painted ratio, which makes the car turn in very. The cloth-covered front bu­ luggage rack on the trunk. my test. The final drive ratio is a quickly. But it’s a mixed blessing couldn’t recommend it because of $17 000 little short - at 120 km/h (75 ckets are small and have virtually the disgraceful seat belts. Still, if GM could get Lotus to The Corsica is a good-looking car in the LTZ. There is neither road no lateral support at all. They — one I have grown into a little — m.p.h.) on the, ah, “test track,” feel nor much self-centring action, These are GM’s attached-to-the- massage the suspension the way it the engine is turning 3200 r.p.m. aren’t lacking in comfort and the door “passive” belts as required so successfully did with Passport’s and the LTZ treatment does it jus­ and the quick ratio can be almost driver does get a European-style tice. The V-6 engine’s healthy note is dangerous since you cannot sense by stupid American laws, which Isuzu I-Mark, and if the General nice to listen to, but might get a manual tilt feature. I ’ve beefed about before. They upgraded the interior, the Corsica The deep windows provide lots of what’s happening by touch. The rear isn’t big enough for bit tiring in long distance cruising. It’s what the Germans call the must meet the crash tests - other­ LTZ could be som uch more car visibility, and the hound-dog-on-a- The suspension, designated FE3, adults - even at five-foot-10 I wise Chevy couldn’t sell the car - for not very much more money. scent look suggested by the car’s “sneeze factor” - a momentary brushed the roof with my hair. features higher-rate springs and lack of concentration combined low nose means the forward view shock absorbers and larger-diame- Most Corsica owners are likely to is particularly impressive. Howev­ with a slight motion of the wheel be young families; the kids will be ter stabilizer bars front and rear. could land you in the ditch. It’s er, in my test car the bottom coup­ Chubby P205/60 R 15 all-season ra­ okay back there. le of inches of the windshield were made worse by the slippery ma­ dial tires are fitted on to unique-to- terial used on the steering wheel There is a fold-down centre arm severely distorted — if you, like LTZ aluminum wheels. rest, and the seat backs open to Chevrolet Corsica LTZ me, suffer from a stigmatism, it’ll rim. allow access to the trunk from in­ This combination generates The biggest complaints about the hurt. excellent cornering power, and the side the car, although they aren’t Model: 4-door sedan; 2.8 L V-6, motion package on test car); up­ Corsica have always been about lockable. OHV, electronic fuel injection; 3- graded sound system ($168). Mechanically, the car uses the u- care stays fiat. The ride is plea­ the cheap-looking interior. The santly firm as long as the road sur­ The minor controls for lights and speed auto; front-wheel drive Extra costs: Destination charge biquitous Chevy 2.8 litre push-rod LTZ gets as good as the Corsica Price, base model: $15,398. As V-6 with multi-port fuel injection. face isn’t too rough. range can offer, but it won’t make wipers are located on the edges of ($485); air conditioner federal the instrument panel. This bank­ tested: $16,979 excise tax ($100) rupt concept has never worked in Standard equipment, base mod­ el: V-6 engine; 5-speed manual Parts Basket (cost of common­ any car it has been tried on, and it ly needed parts, excluding instal­ doesn’t work here, either. You transmission; power steering, brakes, windows, locks, trunk re­ lation): complete exhaust system Vehicle sales records sethave to take your hads off the for $147.75; front fender for $235; wheel to work them, and the wiper lease; intermittent wipers; re­ clining front bucket seats with tail-light lens for $69.50 TORONTO (CP) — Sales of new all-time record truck sales. “The May results boggle me, control - a teeny-weeny slide leav­ cars and trucks in Canada were up Auto industry analyst Mike Ro- really,” Robinet said. “I expected er - is quite hopeless. driver’s side tilt feature; rear Transport Canada fuel econo­ in May, defying forecasts of a drop binet of Autofacts Inc. said the the budget to make a bigger dent.” The cruise control on-off switch arm rest; folding rear seat my: city 12.8 L/100 km (22 as a result of high interest rates strong showing was partly due to Tax increases in the April budget is on the turn signal lever, but the backs; cruise control; overhead m.p.g.); highway 7.5 L/100 km (38 and the federal budget. the fact that May 1989 contained were expected to make consumers other functions are handled by console storage and auxiliary m.p.g.) The Big Three domestic carmak­ one more selling day than the more cautious about buying big- switches on the edges of the horn lighting; all-season performance Warranty: entire car for 3 ers and 15 importers reported this same month last year. ticket items like cars. High inter­ button. Again, they cannot be radial tires; aluminum wheels; years, 80,000 km ($100 deductible week they sold 170,571 new vehicles But he also said incentives, est rates, which analysts blamed reached without taking your hands AM-FM stereo per repair visit after first year or in May, up 1.8 per cent from last offered mainly by the Big Three, for sliding sales in the first three off the wheel. Major options on test car: 20,000 km, no transfer fee); rust- year’s 167,576. May is traditionally deserved credit. months of the year, also appeared The Delco radio shows that three-speed automatic transmis­ through for 6 years, 160,000 km the auto industry’s strongest sales Chrysler offered cut-rate financ­ not to be a factor in May. someone within GM understands sion ($745); air conditioning Copyright: 1989 Toronto Star month. ing starting at 6.9 per cent for the But with those problems still ergonomics. The round knobs for ($1,045, free with marketing pro­ Syndicate Chrysler posted its best sales month, while Ford offered deals very much alive and incentive pro­ volume and tuning still make month in its 63-year history, break­ starting at 8.9-per-cent until May grams ending or being scaled ing the record set in April, while 20 and General Motors chipped in down, the May results are a “last Ford reported its best results in with a 9.9-per-cent hook until May gasp,” said economist George Vas- the past 15 years. GM turned in 11. ic of DRI Canada. C Your British Columbia Jeep/Eagle Dealers invite you to compare> Splendour 1 9 8 9 E A G L E In The Grass.

. Push button electric start with manual back-up Seated lead acid batters recharges while mower's In

Folding eomfort-grip , handle saves storage

Large capacity eas> empty grass catc her

4 hp Briggs & Stratum Why go halfway around the world Maxi engine

Uirge. raised 22" deck for a luxury sedan when you can drive away has a wind tunnel efiect tor more in an Eagle Premier... for thousands less! effective bagging (’.ear-driven front wheel drive self- propelled system for And now save even more with a $1000 Factory Rebate!* bcttercontrol.

SEE HOW PREMIER MEASURES UP EAGLE PREMIER LS SAAB 900S VOLVO 740 GL BMW 3251

Engine 3.0 litre V-6 2.0 litre in-line 4 2.3 litre in-line 4 2.5 litre in-line 6

A ir Conditioning/Power Windows ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

AM/FM cassette/Power Antenna ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Cruise Control V ✓ optional optional 5-position quick-set Power Seats (6-way) V N/A N/A N/A height adjusters

Powertrain Warranty 7/115" 3/60 3/unlimited 3/60 8" front and 9" rear Positive Blade Brake Manufacturer's Suggested radial tread rubber Rake' rreales a cleaner Retail Price" $24,934 $30,630 $27,585 $36,030 Ures for better cut and a quieter traction operation t Eagje Premier ES model including AfT package and optional power seats. 11 See dealer for details." M.S.R.P. of comparably equipped vehicles. See individual dealers for freight and PDI charges. Dealer may sell for less. AU figures based on published manufacturers' information as of |une 1,1989. "Factory rebate can be applied to purchase price of vehicles. Limited time only. In-stock vehicles only, dealer trade may be required. We’ve C ut$200O ff The Price Of O ur 22" Roper Law n Mower. B.C. Interior Jeep/Eagle Dealers Bag $200 in savings and a whole lotta'grass, with less sweat, with this Self Propelled Roper Lawn Mower. Now $200 Off Our Regular Price. Regular 849.98 SALE $649 HARDWARE Price in effect until June 18.1989. while quantities last. Northland Jeep/Eagle 777 Victoria Street Prince George, 564-JEEP WOODWARDS