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Wednesday, May 26, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Does Your Vehicle Need a Physical? S S E B B E E p airviewSt. 4121 Moms Dr. 632-8151 1634-4211 CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT Art Oakville Beaver Advertising Feature To advertise in this section call 845-3824 S tiff com petition inspires Nissan to refine popular Pathfinder W hen you're at the pinnacle of the import sport utility vehicle mountain, you've got to keep climbing to stay on top. That's the position Nissan finds itself JIM ROBINSON Road Worthy in with the Pathfinder. Even though it has been the top-selling V6 import SUV since it was introduced, the competition like 4Runner and Trooper keeps getting stronger. Ergo the 1999.5 Pathfinder that has been refined and face-lifted. There remain four models beginning with the entry-level XE and the sporty SE both of which have been significantly upgraded. The top-of-the-line LE is the lap of luxu­ ry- Outwardly, the Pathfinder can be identified by a simpler but more rugged- looking front end. The tail gets a redesigned life-gate and tail lights. Major improvements on this model 1999.5 Nissan Pathfinder include: □ Standard rear limited-slip differen­ tial on all Pathfinders. □ The standard 3.3-litre V6 now pro­ duces 170 hp and 200 ft/lb of torque. Ninety per cent of the torque comes in at 1,500 rpm. □ Coupled with the limited slip dif­ ferential is a revised driveshaft that helps create quieter, smoother driving. □ The rear shocks have been relocat­ ed for improved ride and handling. □ The 15-inch tires on the previous Pathfinder are replaced by P245/70 16- inch boots on the XE and P225/65 R-16- inch tires on the SE and LE. □ All Pathfinders now come with de- powered airbags. Side airbags are now standard on all Pathfinders with leather­ faced seats. Security has been upgraded with the inclusion of an ignition immobilizer to compliment the keyless remote entry sys­ tem. The power doors use Nissan Smart Doors logic that prevents the doors being locked with the key in the ignition. Power is retained by the system for 30 second to allow for closing of windows and sunroof after the car is turned off. Headlights and interior lights switch off automatically. Canadians will be glad to know heat­ ed power door mirrors are now standard on all Pathfinders as well as having solar filter glass on the side windows. I had the opportunity to test the 1999.5 Pathfinder at a 5,000-acre 4X4 dedicated park in Hollister, Calif. The park offers a combination of steep rocky climbs, deep sandy stretches and sharp drops where engine-braking makes you feel you're defying the laws of gravity. With torque coming in at 1,500, switching to 4Lo is reserved only for the toughest bits. One of the reasons people buy SUVs is for the outward view. In a place like Hollister, that really is important because you can come around a comer and be faced with a sheer drop­ off. The run through Hollister was in a Pathfinder LE with the all-season tires. Thanks to all that torque, getting stuck was never a problem. Nissan has worked on keeping the pricing in line with the XE starting at $33,298 and the high-lux LE at $41,499. There's no question that sport utility trucks are now attracting not just the well-heeled, but the average consumer who is being won over to an ever- expanding SUV world. For those who find "sport-cutes" to small and big boys like Tahoe and Expedition too large, the mid-size Pathfinder continues the formula that keeps it as the king-of-the-hill of import V6 SUVs. Impreza T S Forester S Tonneau Cover Sunglass Holder Digital Compass Side Airbag Other members of the Nissan family offer these excellent values Altima G XE Maxima ES S U B A R U QAKM Ill-l M 2 4 1 2 South Service Rd. W ., Oakville ________________________ www.peninsulaimports.com The Beauty of All-Wheel Drivec Even though w e can 't im prove your gam e, w e can surely give you the best drive! Driving a car is a bit like golfing: the more control you have, the better your performance. That's why all Subaru's are built with our unique All-Wheel Drive sys­ tem. It provides greater traction by automatically shifting power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip. The result: enhanced safety and more control. Four-time Car Guide Magazine Best Buy • 150-HP, 2.4L, DOHC 16-valve engine • 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission • Air conditioning • Cruise control • Power windows, antenna, mirrors and Smart Doors" locks • AM/FM/cassette with four speakers /month* lease for 48 months Down payment only $980 Purchase for *20,900 One of the world's ten best engines ■ Ward's Magazine • 190-HP, 3.0L, DOHC V6 engine • Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) • 4-speed automatic transmission • Sport-tuned suspension • Heated sport seats • Cruise control • Traction Control System • Power antenna, mirrors, windows & door locks • Automatic climate-control air conditioning • Premium AM/FM/CD with cassette and much more Purchase for *28,690 o r 4*8% 0Ac:ing A Consumer's Digest Best Buy for 1998 • 115-HP, 1.6L, 16-valve engine • 5-speed manual transmission • XE Value Option Package:Air conditioning, 4-speaker AM/FM, cassette, Digital clock s199\ /month* lease for 48 months Down payment only $980 plus freight & delivery 48% O.A.C.O on purchase Nissan-built with integrity - driven with passion Hurry these offers end May 31,1999 Ask about Nissan's No-Nonsense Leasing. • P.S. All New Nissans Come With A 24HR Roadside Assistance Warranty people always read the fine P drt.A nd they always wear their seaaelts. Limited-time o ffe rS ee Oakville Nissan for details. -4 8 month lease on 1999 Sentra XE. down payment or epuivalent trade o f $980; 1999 Altima GXE. with down payment or equivalent trade o f $980; 1999 Maxima ES. with dottiTpayrnenr or equivalent trade o f $2,900; 36*nonth lease on 1 9 ^ . 5 P ath firrte rft^A .LR . 6.8% with down payment or equivalent tradeo f $4,075. First payment & security deposit due at lease signing. Sentra and Altima lease based on maximum o f 96,000km with excess km charged at $0.06/km. Pathfinder lease based on maximum o f 72,000km with excess km charged at $0.08/km. All offers are 0A.C., and exclude acquisition fees, destination and delivery, license, insurance and taxes. fBased on Compusearch data, January-November 1998. Vehicles may not be exactly as illustrated. a month 48 month lease, 20,000 km per ye freight & P.D.I. included See Oakville Subaru for details$4000 down $4500 down Auto Climate Control Class III Receiver and Bose Audio System Tow Hitch Some items are optional. OAKVILLE NISSAN Celebrating 25 Years o f Excellent Service. •S A L E S • A C C E S S O R IE S • LE A S IN G FAC TO R Y PARTS • S E R V IC E • T IR E S 1450 SPEERS ROAD, OAKVILLE 827-1177 SERVICE MON 7:30-8. TUES-FRI 7:30-5 SALES SHOWROOM MON-THURS 8-9. FRI & SAT 8-6 ENJOY TH E SAVINGS When Only Luxuiy Will Do... rtier and more nigged we've ever built. *32,900 The newly styled Pathfinder looks si - its the sleel Pathfinder '99.5 The Ifl-selling import V6 compact sport utility vehicle' • 170-HP, 3.3L, SOHC V6 engine • 5-speed manual overdrive trans. • 4-wheel All-Terrain ABS • Limited-slip differential • Air conditioning • Cruise control • Dual airbags • Remote keyless entry • Anti-theft system • Roof rack • Dark titanium-coloured bumpers /month- tease • Power windows, door locks and heated mirrors 9 36 morahl • lOOwatt AM/FM/CD with cassette stereo STwS/s™ with 6 speakers • Nissan \fehicle Immobilizer Security System Purĉ se We've included the luxuries you've come to expect driving Nissan. k \ i http://www.peninsulaimports.com