Friday, May 2, 2014 Richmond Review · Page 15

|

welcome to the driver’s seat.

Look for more driveway features and information online at

drivewayBC.cato advertise in this weekly featurecall today at 604.247.3704

It’s spring car cleaning time, inside and outIf a road trip is part of your vacation plans this summer, it’s time to get the horseless chariot prepared.That means cleaning it inside and out and performing some important maintenance to ensure you get the best fuel economy.In most parts of B.C., the swap from winter tires to all-season or summer tires is already well under way (studded winter tire removal is mandatory by April 30). Winter tires are made with a softer and stickier rubber compound that wears faster and increases fuel consumption at higher temperatures. They also tend to be noisier and you’ll hear them even more, now that you can finally roll down the windows.You may also be dragging around too much junk in the trunk, like that snow shovel you always pack during in the winter months. Unnecessary weight increases fuel consumption and some of that extra weight could be in the form of mud and dirt on your vehicle’s undercar-riage. Road salt is probably also trapped in that muddy mess, which is a corrosion accelerant that your vehicle’s body doesn’t need. While you’re poking around in the trunk, take a look under the floor cover. Water leaking into the vehicle tends to accumulate in the lowest spots, or maybe that’s why it’s called a spare-wheel well. If the spare is a conventional tire, check its inflation pressure and, while you’re at it, make sure that the emergency jack and tool kit are also in good working order.

An easy check and repair item is lighting. You may need some help confirming that the brake and backup lights are functioning at the rear. Otherwise, it’s a simple walk-around check that should include the turn signals and head-lights (both low and high beams) and don’t forget the license plate and those little side marker lights. If you’ve got a vehicle with a headlight (clear plastic) cover that’s showing its age, there are some good products on the market now that help restore clarity. Wiper blades are another easy check and replace item. A build-up of grease or grim on the windshield will also reduce the effectiveness of the wipers. Clean

the rubber wiper blade with a soft cloth soaked in the glass cleaner. In B.C., those windshield wipers typically work harder than anywhere else in Canada and life expectancy can be less than a year. If they’re still streaking, chattering or generally not doing the job – replace them.Getting back to tires, a loaded vehicle driven at highway speeds for prolonged periods in hot weather conditions can be a punishing test for tires and the dreaded blow-out is a real concern. Even a tire that looks okay and has plenty of tread remaining may not be in great shape. The “best before” date on most passenger tires is eight years old and you should be able to find a date of manufacture stamped somewhere on sidewall of the tire.

A tire also performs best, lasts longer and provides best fuel economy when its internal pressure is set at a level recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, and checked on a regular basis. The tire decal, with optimal front and rear recommended tire pressures, is usually on the driver’s door or door jam. If not, the owner’s manual should give you the information and/or tell you where the tire decal is located. A single under-inflated tire (by about 6 psi /40 kPa) can cause a 3 per cent increase in fuel consumption.Using a grade of fuel with a lower octane rating than recommended by the vehicle manufacturer may cause the engine to ping or knock on hard acceleration or when climbing hills, which is not good for the engine! On the other hand, using a higher-octane fuel than your vehicle’s engine needs is generally a waste of money. That said, the pricier fuel may also contain some additional cleaner additives, which is good. Have a great summer and a safe driving vacation.

bob.mchugh@drivewaybc.ca

‘‘Unnecessary weight increases fuel consumption and some of that extra weight could be in the form of mud and dirt on your vehicle’s undercarriage.’’Bob McHugh

DrivewayCanada.ca DrivewayCanada.ca

Question of the week:Bob McHugh writes about spring cleaning your car, revealing how a clean car consumes less gas. Do you have a spring car cleaning tip to share with fellow readers?

Please explain why you have made that decision.Go to DrivewayCanada.ca to submit your answer and you could win a $100 Safeway gift card.

OF THE WEEK!

?QUESTION

Safety Tip:Failing to yield may seem harmless, but it’s one of the top high-risk driving behaviours that leads to crashes. Every day

there are many situations where you need to yield to another vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist, so slow down and think about it.

Buying used? We’re looking out for you. Find out how at WatchoutforWalt.com

Confessions of a Curber..Confessions of a Curber....

Meet Walt. He lives with his wife and two teenagers in a quiet neighbourhood. Walt goes to work every morning, provides for his family and chats with his neighbours. Walt has a secret. He’s no Walter White from Breaking Bad. But, his love for quick cash and high profi ts drive him to a sideline that makes us all a little less safe and costs some their savings. Walt is a curber.

Walt installs fake airbags!

Visit the photo gallery at DrivewayCanada.ca

Buying used? We’re looking out for you. Find out how at WatchoutforWalt.com

I was getting good at this, so I purchased a used vehicle in the U.S. and imported it. It didn’t have any airbags, so the warning lights were on. But I wasn’t picky. I knew, based on my other tricks, I could solve that before I had it inspected and registered.You just couldn’t be too worried about the truth. I Googled airbags. I saw I had three options. Get certifi ed replacements installed at a repair shop. Buy some and install them myself. Or, override the warning light.I called and found that the fi rst option was out of the question. Way too expensive. But, option two had some promise. There were cheap ones online. Of course, there were some warnings about dangerous fake airbags.Option three, overriding the warning lights, went too far – even for me. You can fi nd how-to videos about anything on the web. So, I ordered cheap ones and had them sent to my U.S. mailbox. I used a buddy’s garage and put them in. Bingo! The warning lights went off and I was on my way. Soon, I had an ad up on several classifi ed websites:Great car for sale. Moving out of the country and need to sell fast! Good condition. Recently inspected. Call cell. I’m fl exible on price!!I couldn’t believe how many calls I had.I found my buyer not long after. A nice man about my age; divorced with three kids. That’s all I know about him – I don’t like getting too personal. I was actually honest about the vehicle this time. I told him that the car had been in an

accident and was from the U.S. I asked if he wanted a vehicle history report*, but he declined. He appreciated my honesty, as he’d gone through a few bad deals. With the transaction done, we parted ways. Then I got a call from my buddy.Being a curious person, he’d read the boxes the airbags came in that I’d left at his shop. “You installed counterfeit airbags,” he said. “So? They look identical to the original airbags,” I said.“I’ve seen videos of bogus airbags catching fi re and with metal bits exploding when they deploy. They’re not safe,” he scolded. I’ll take my chances, I thought. It would only be a problem in an accident.The next day, my buddy left a message. He ended our friendship.Whoa, chill out. A guy’s got a right to make a few bucks.

*Vehicle History Reports: CarProof and ICBC vehicle history reports provide detailed information about the registration and accident history of a vehicle. CarProof Verifi ed BC reports also include a lien search. These reports can’t tell you everything a physical inspection will, but they require the seller to Prove it! and not just say it.

Confessions of a CurberConfessions of a Curber

“They’re not safe. But it would only be a problem in an accident.”

OIL CHANGE

$1695REG. $2400 + TAX

BRAKE SPECIAL $6990*

TRANSMISSION SERVICE $7990*

INCLUDES:• Oil change (up to 5litres

5W30 or 10W30 oil)• Replace oil fi lter• Lubricate chassis, if

applicable• FREE brake & vehicles

maintenance inspection• Most vehicles, with coupon• Free tire check

INCLUDES:• Some foreign cars, trucks & van additional• Inspect rotors, turning additional• Free Brake Inspection• Inspect master cylinder & brake hoses• Add fl uid as needed• Test drive vehicle• Parts additional * MOST VEHICLES. PER AXLE

SAVE FROM TRANSMISSION WITH PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

• Free Road Test• Replace Transmission Fluid• Inspect fl uid for Deposits• Power fl ush included• Most vehicles, with coupon

3640 No. 4 Road Richmond BCwww.vancouvercarcare.com

vancarcare@vancouvercarcare.com(See website for specials)

Cambie

No. 4 Rd.

HONEST & RELIABLEHONEST & RELIABLE604.273.1199604.273.1199

Call for an appointmentCall for an appointment

CALLCALLFOR ANFOR ANAPPOINTMENTAPPOINTMENT

*Most cars. Some vans, pick-ups, transverse & hard-to-tune engines additional. Coupon expires: May 31, 2014

INCLUDESINCLUDES

FREEFREESEASONALSEASONAL

CHECKCHECKREG. $49.95REG. $49.95

FREE Inspection includes: FREE Inspection includes: Check Coolant, Brakes, Check Coolant, Brakes, Steering, Lights, FluidsSteering, Lights, Fluids

Environmental waste disposalEnvironmental waste disposalfee and shop suppliesfee and shop supplies

additional.additional.

Time to shake off thewinter blues

Get your car ready for Spring & Summer traveling

Page 16 · Richmond Review Friday, May 2, 2014

driveway

by Zack Spencer

A recent jaunt to Beijing was a major revelation, from the sheer size of the population to the massive car market and the types of cars people there like to buy.

In the luxury segment, elongated versions of exist-ing sedan are very popular. There “long” wheelbase cars instantly show that the owner has attained a certain level of status and a big part of that is being chauffer driven.

In Canada, we have long wheelbase sedans but typi-cally, they are top models like a BMW 7 Series or S-Class Mercedes. In China, even base models like the BMW 3 Series or Audi A4 have stretched versions. I raise this because the all-new BMW 335GT is the long wheelbase 3 Series, developed for China, modified for a niche market here. Looks

Adding 10 cms of additional legroom to the back seat of the 335GT opens up a differ-ent experience for rear pas-sengers. The GT offers slightly higher seating position and roofline with a hatchback de-sign that makes for a dramatic

and functional car. BMW does have a 3 Series station wagon but it looks like a wagon, this design mimics a sedan silhou-ette with only a slight hint of the cars true practicality. There is a wing that emerges out of the hatch at highway speeds to produce more down force, similar to the one found in Porsche’s Panamera. The GT is sold as a 328GT, with a $48,990 starting price. It has a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and 18-inch wheels. The $56,990 335GT has a larger turbocharged 6-cylinder engine and 19-inch wheels. (The wheels seen here are winter wheels and tires) Inside

The 3 Series sedan is already fitted with top-notch materi-als and a functional dash. This is carried over to the GT model, so the front seats re-main unaltered. It is the back of the car that is dramatically different. With added legroom and a higher roofline the GT feels open, especially when fitted with the panoramic roof. The hatch is electronically operated and provides a long and wide cargo area, plus the rear seats fold in a snap. The rear windows and cargo do not have darkened, privacy class like an SUV, which is something I would prefer. Drive

The 3 Series sedan has been considered the bench-mark in the compact luxury market for decades and a lot of the same goodness is here in the GT. With a longer wheelbase and a slightly higher centre of gravity it doesn’t handle as nimbly as the sedan but it is much better than the taller X3 SUV. The power from either 241 hp turbocharged 4-cylinder or the 300 hp turbocharged 6-cylinder engines goes to all four wheels and is shifted through a very slick 8-speed auto box. There are settings for vehicle dynamics and suspension from “Eco” to “Sport Plus” that can take this car from relaxed to ath-letic at the push of a button. I really enjoyed driving in sport mode and getting the full effect of the 335GT, as the in-line turbo 6-cylinder is still one of the best power plants on the road. For buyers look-ing to save on fuel and when purchasing, the 328GT is still a potent machine.Verdict

The GT falls into a very nice spot in the 3 Series family, and I include the X3 in that group. The sedan is a great car but not as practical as the X3. Yes the X3 has traditional SUV appeal but looses some of the sedans nimbleness. This is where the GT plays. It has a bigger cargo area than the X3, more rear legroom but it also has more a sedan stance on the road. The price is more expensive than the X3 so this is a premium offering in the BMW family.

If I were in the market for a BMW the 335GT or less expensive 328GT would be in the running. With kids I lake having and SUV but still want the fun and stability that a sedan offers. This GT might just be the right balance for some. So thank you China for helping to bring a unique new class of car to our market.zack.spencer@drivewaybc.ca

by Rob Sass

Certain cars just won’t recede into the automotive fossil record.

Designers (particularly those from their company of origin) keep going back to the well. And why not? – It’s almost impossible to top the cars on this list:

1967 Toyota 2000 GT: The gorgeous Toyota 2000 GT sports car was a giant com-mercial flop when it was introduced. The sta-tus of Japanese cars in the U.S. market at the time was roughly the equivalent of Korean cars about 15 years ago, and a Japanese car that cost more than a Jaguar E-Type, a Cor-vette or a Porsche 911 found few takers. Just over 300 were built and the model’s failure continues to haunt Toyota. The roofline and greenhouse of the 1967 2000GT show up almost unaltered in the latest Toyota sports car concept, the FT-1. Incidentally, Toyota has probably had the last laugh here, as the 2000 GT is now the only Japanese collectible car worth $1 million.

1967 Cadillac Eldorado: The ’67 Eldorado is one of the great overlooked post-war American classics. A Bill Mitchell design triumph, it’s an ageless design that wouldn’t look out of place in a showroom today,

particularly since Cadillac continues to revisit the ’67 Eldo rear end, one of the greatest ¾-views of all time.

1954 Jeep CJ-5: The original Jeep CJ may well be the most knocked-off vehicle of all time, inspiring the likes of the Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser, Nissan Patrol, Suzuki Samurai, etc., not to mention, of course, the current Jeep Wrangler.

Jaguar E-Type: The E-Type was one of the prime influences for the above-mentioned Toyota as well as the famous Datsun 240Z. Its extreme long hood, short rear deck design and covered headlight styling cues also continue to show up in Jaguar’s own products like the XK8 and the new F-Type. After all, it was by rival Enzo Ferrari’s own admission the most beautiful car in the world.

1965 Ford Mustang Fastback: Long before Ford went retro with the 2005 Mus-tang, they knocked off their own design for the original pony car with the European Ford Capri. Toyota went one step further with the 1973 Celica Liftback, a virtual ¾-scale replica of the Mustang Fastback. Even the upper crust Aston Martin with its V8 Vantage model of the 1970s went to the Mustang well. The 2015 Mustang still sports design cues from the original 1965 Mustang fastback.

A real s tretch for BMW lovers

Five of the most infl uential classic designs ever

‘‘The all-new BMW 335GT is the long wheelbase 3 Series, developed for China, modified for a niche market here.’’Zack Spencer

The BMW 335GT.