Page 12, Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, May 18, 1994 C: AudI~ Car shopping?. Don't overlook Sonata By Glen Konorowski "Doing it right» is the oniy way I can simply explain the new Sonata fromn Hyundai. The company has gone ail the way te please the consumer with a car that is good-looking, fun te drive and has a whoie lot of room inside. The designers and engineers at Hyundai should be proud of this car, as it shows that this young car cnniany is second te none in worid class cars. Tne flrwing Unes give a really nice'balanoe te the looks of the Sonata unlike the old niodel. Even thie rear section of the car blende, givirg the car a really finishdlook, unlike lnany other soft-shape d cars. The Sonata cornes only in a four-door version with two basic levels of trini. A four-cylinder engine is standard, while a V6 can be ordered in both the GL and GIS trim leveis. My test car was a well- optioned GIS version, equipped with a sunroof, air condi .tioming anti-lock brakes and upgradecl sound systemi which incluided a CqD player. The.only option mis- sing on the car was the alu- minum wheels. Hyundai 'cars are generaily weIl-equipped. The GIS Sonata was no exception. Some of the noteworthy options on rny test GIS were duai air bags, a 60/40 split folding rear seat, cruise control and steering wheel audio systern controls. The Sonata has a handsorne interior with ail contrQls easy ta, reach and read at a quick glnce. Thfe driver's seat on the GL is a manually controlled six-way' ajustabie which I found quite nice as my wife and I neyer agree on good seating positions. In the rear you wili find corn- fortable seatingz for two and three in a pinchi. My three kids rnngfrorn ages 3 ta 12 had no roueblegetting comfortable dur- Me a two-hour trip ta Orange- One of the big pluses of the 1995 neon Longest established Chryster Dealer in Durham Region. ORDER NOW ~UN STOCK & ON DISPLAY AT Public Open Houses The Oak Ridges Moraine Citizens' Advisary Committee invites you ta attend and participate in the review af the draft Oak Ridges Moraine Area Strategy, uwAn Ecological Approach ta the Protection and Management of the Oak Ridges Moraine". Public open houses ta discuss this draft strategy wiIl be held: Thursday, May 26,,1994 Bowmanvllle Arena Complex K1ing Street (Hwy. 2) & Martin Road Bowmnanvllle, Ontario Public viewing of displays and an informai discussion period wili be tram 5:00 p.m. ta 7:00 p.m. A formai presentation, videa program and a question and answer session wiII follow at 7:00 p.m. (approx. duration: 2 hours). For further information or ta obtain a copy of the draft strategy, please contact Debbe Crandail, Chair, Oak Rldges Moraine Citizens' Advlsory Commlittee, at (905) 880-4111, or Fred Johnson, Mlrdstry of Natural Resources, at (905) 832-7190. (Ontario OA 1995 SONATA Sonata is the two-litre, four- cylnder base engine. This doublee-overhead camn engine pro- duces a very smooth 137 horse- power at 5,800 revolutions per minute. On my firat drive in the car I thought my GIS was equip- ped wththe V6. With onij six more horsepower in, the V,1 would be hard pressed, with the power of this engine, to, bother to rmove Up. As with most front-wheel- drives, the suspension consists of MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link traiiing armi configuration in the rear. Ride quali~ was the way I iiked it, slightly, on the firm side, what ïou expect in a European car. is allowed for good handiing on the highway and spirited driv- ing. One compiaint I had about the IDRI V ING; SAFELY with RANDY RANDY McLEAN IS A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER WHO SPECIALIZES IN TRAFFIC SAFETY. Mr. McLean has reviewed thousands of individual motor vehicle accident reports and his close woking relationships with police ecies, governiments, safety associations, industry and theer public, have given him a true overview of traffic safety issues, problems and solutions in Canada. Motorcyclists: PoIish your bDi*kae, skiffs Motorcycisto, perhaps more than any other road users, need to drive defensively. About 90 Per cent Of ail motorcycie accidents resuit in njy to the motorcycie driver or passenger a'uinmany cases to both. The rasons are obvous. Compared to four wheeied vehicies, motorcces are lesal stable when exposed to collision forces. When impacted, a car will generaly slide on its wheeis - a motorcycie will fail on its side. And whiie over the past decade or two there have been significant imnprovements in the design of cars to crate a survivabie interior lifespace for moSt collisions, motorcycies offer no such protection. For MOtorcydists, the oniy way ta avoid injury is to avoid accidents. What cSn motoecydlist do to be sgafer? Every motorcycist, novice and experienced riders alike, shouid participate in a motorcycle training prograrn . Novice riders iearn can new SkCilis, exPerienced ridera cari refresh and upgrade oid skills that rnay have become rusty. At the training centres qualified instructors teach riders accident avoiace techniques in the safetY of a controlled, supervised handiing was the tires on snow. Ibe Michelins on rny test car were great. in.the rai b ut a littie shy on gr inr the snow. Afler taIking ta t he people at Hyundai, they said they were on ta the é.obie and it wouid be correc- Ini the four-cyinder, braking cornes by way of dises in the front and dus ti the rear. The V6 eipped cars corne with poweul vented disco on ail four corners. In my testing the disc/ drum combination worked per- fectly with the anti-iock brakes. Ail GIS models corne standard with a four-speed automatic transmission. Only the GL with the four-cylinder cornes with a five-speed manual. Unlike many four-cylinder automatic transmissions corn- binations, the Sonata performed weii. Passing in traffic proved no probiem for the car as shifting was fast and precise. If you are i the market for a new car, the Sonata should not be overlooked. You wili have to look hard and ion g ta find a better car in the ciass for the money. enviroriment. The alternative, Iearning on the road frorn your own mistakes cari be dangerous and expensive. Even if you are among the 10 per cent of accident-invoived motorcydlists who escapes i4~ury, you rnay still be stuck with an expansive repair bill and increased insurance premiurns. Aiways wear proper clothing. If you are in an accident clothing may be ail that separates you from the pavement. Clothing should fit- comfortably and be made of a durable matenial like leather. It rnay look and fee cool ta ride around in a T-shirt, cut-off shorts and sandals, but it sends shivers down the spines of passing doctors, police officers and exparienoed motarcyciists. In an accident the initial impact with another vehicie, a raised curb or other object is not nearly as dangerous as the secondary collisions when the motarcycle occupan~ts stnike the pavement and are possibiy thpwn into the path of oncoming traffic. Motorcycists should always wear an approved heirnet as required by law; a faceshield or ggles to protect against wind, dust, bugs an d other de bris (regular sungiasses are not adequate); a jacket and pants ta cover your armes and legs; boots or shoes that cover your ankies and gloves are also important. See and be seen! After an accident many car drivers dlaim the did not see the rnotoecycie. Make yourself visibie, ensure your headlight is operating properiy and the lens cover is dlean, wear a bright coioured heimet and ciothing and avoid dniving in another vehicle's blind spot. Be extra cautious at night when driving in heavy traffic. The headlights of the vehicies behind you may mask the presence of your motarcycle. Be prepared to stop. When approaching intersections expect rnotorists ta turri across or in front of your path. Reduoe your speed accordingiy and be prepared to stop quickiy. Defeneive driving means driving ta prevent collisions in spite of the actions of others. This year when you start to poiish your bike, consider polishing your riding sii as well. Asic your local motarcycle dealer or contact the Mnistry of Transportation driver examination office for information about motorcycles training prograrns in your area. Drive Safely. t r, t' '.14 t -, t "j*t t. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I Il' r 1