7x2associated TIRE PROCESS

The BMWi electric car powered its way with ease around city streets and along picturesque Dutch canals. KEITH MORGAN

The future is electricAMSTERDAM – BMW has joined the race for the electric car dollar.On the evidence of two days driving the funky-looking all-electric i3 through the narrow streets of old Amsterdam and alongside the picturesque canals of rural Holland, the German manufactur-er may have a winner.For starters, it is simply great fun to drive. The lithium-ion battery, encased in an aluminum cage below the five-seater cabin, provides enough in-stant zap to the electric motor to propel the car smoothly to 100 klicks in less than eight seconds. Left the stopwatch

at home, but counting “one-and-two etc.” to count seconds, my lips barely mouthed “six” before the speedo leapt from 80 to 120 km/h while passing.It handles beautifully at any speed and hugs the road; thanks to the technolo-gy-laden aluminum platform, that gives it a very low centre of gravity. Turns on a Euro too, as we found during the many U-turns made on blocked streets.Of course, F1 take-offs will suck the battery dry somewhat more quickly but you need not be a snail in the so-called Comfort mode to achieve the adver-tised 160 kilometres range on a full

tank, sorry, fully-charged battery. Plug it in at home overnight and you are ready to roar; go for the enhanced charger and raring to go in three hours.The remarkable efficiency is largely due to two factors. The carbon-fibre body is light and regener-ative braking generously juices up the cells. In a two-hour drive, the only time I dropped the anchors was when one of Amsterdam’s kazillion cyclists cut in front of me. Ruined my score, the blighter.Accepting the more slug-gish EcoPro and EcoPro+ modes will add 20 and 40 km to the range. Frankly, in this configuration the i3, is good for any daily commute between Vancouver and Abbotsford and most journeys in southern Vancouver Island. The very areas where BMW expects to do the most business.The i3 offers premium brand luxury for few dollars short of $45,000. Shell out another $4,000 grand for the unimag-inatively named ‘range-extender’ and

you have a car for the Interior and beyond. Way beyond. As the battery runs low, a two-cylinder, 647cc gas engine, which sits neatly by the side of its electric brother, kicks in and generates power to top up the battery. Push it and gas stops will be frequent because only a minuscule nine-litre tank feeds it. However, most folks will get a chance to recharge before too many visits to the pump.There is another hope for those living beyond Hope. Private companies are seriously evaluating the supply of fast char-gers that top up batteries in less than half an hour.

Eyes will be on the Sea-to-Sky Highway where chargers are now found at Bri-tannia Beach. And they are popping up in parking lots the length and breadth of the province as the popularity of plug-in hybrid models by other brands grows.View our BMWi3 gallery and read more about the electric car at drivewayBC.ca

‘‘The lithium-ion battery provides enough instant zap to the electric motor to propel the car smoothly to 100 klicks in less than eight seconds.’’Keith Morgan

In a two-hour drive, the only time I dropped the anchors was when one

of Amsterdam’s kazillion cyclists cut in front of me.

Keith Morgan

Find more online at

drivewayBC.ca

Safety Tip:As drivers, please slow down next week and be extra vigilant, especially around residential areas. Children are always caught up in the excitement of

Halloween and can easily forget the rules of the road.

QuestionOF THE WEEK:

We all have a favourite car in our past. What was your best car ever and why?Go to drivewayBC.ca to submit your answer and enter to win a $100 Safeway gift cardPost a photo if you have one.

drivewayBC.ca | Welcome to the driver’s seat

1710 Island Hwy, Campbell River250-286-6132

www.CampbellRiverMirror.com FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 | CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR | A9

A10 | CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 www.CampbellRiverMirror.com

2014 Mazda3Mazda, on a global scale, is a small company, so develop-ing new products is a major undertaking. This is why they shared engineering with the Ford Motor Company for many years but that relationship dissolved in 2010. Instead of modifying existing, co-developed vehicles platforms, engines and transmission, the company took a radical turn in the way they develop new products. I’m sure by now you have seen Mazda’s ads for “Skyactiv Technology”. This is the name for their radical design and manufacturing approach. By engineering vehicles from a blank sheet of paper, Mazda could focus on simplifying the manufacturing process to save money, a crucial part of this small companies survival. This new 2014 Mazda3 is the third vehicle to be built using Mazda’s Skyactiv Technology, behind the Mazda CX-5 SUV and Mazda6 sedan.

Looks >The platform used to build this all new Mazda3 is a shared chassis with the other two Skyactiv products. They elongate, widen or shorten the platform to suit each vehicle. In this case, it is slightly shorter then the CX-5. In fact, the new Mazda3 is lower, wider and slightly shorter than the last model but the wheelbase has been stretched by 60mm. This pushes the wheels out to the corner of the car, providing a solid stance and improving interior space. Then Mazda went about hand forming the body to produce a style that conveys motion, even standing still. Sold as a sedan or hatchback, the long hood, sweeping lines and powerful stance make a statement in a class that can be rather subdued.

Inside >The goal for this latest model was to have a dynamic looking interior, fitted with materials and features not typically found in a compact car. The dashboard is covered with, not only a soft material, rather a plush-feeling dash. Then there is the dash-mounted communication screen placed in the centre of the dash. This is standard on the middle GS and upper GT trim; the base GX is not so lucky. The driver can touch the screen to access

music, navigation and phone settings but once the car is in motion the screen is only adjustable through a rotary dial controller between the front seats. Mazda places three, easy-to-memories, buttons above the dial for access to the most common functions. On the top GT model there is even a heads-up display that sits right on top of the driver’s instrument cluster, helping to keep the information high enough that it focuses the driver’ s attention on the road. The seats are comfortable and can be fitted with leather on the top model. Even though Mazda lengthened the wheel-base by 60mm, the back seat isn’t long on legroom.

Drive >By developing the direct injection engines, chassis and transmission at the same time, the Mazda engineers were able to shed weight. The lighter platform and powerful 2.0L 4-cylinder with 155hp is a nice match on the base and GS trim levels, driving either a 6-speed manual or all-new 6-speed automatic. The top GT is equipped with a 2.5L

engine with 184hp but is only available with the automatic. I’m surprised that the manual is not offered with this engine, as driving enthusiast will be attracted to this engine right away. On the road, the steering is very quick and the feedback well above average. The previous Mazda3 was at the top of the class in terms of driving dynamics and this new model takes it to a whole new level. I’m confident in saying that this new model feels like a much more expensive car.

Verdict >The standard features list is strong, including keyless entry, push button start, Bluetooth and USB connectivity for $15,995. If you equip the base model with air conditioning and automatic transmission, the price jumps to $18,795. The middle GS trim is the place most Canadians will shop and the range is from $19,695-$22,595 for things like heated seats, leather steering wheel, rain sensing wipers and more. The top GT with the larger engine, 18-inch wheels, xenon headlamps, Bose stereo and navigation,

At the Wheel 2014 Mazda3

Zack Spencer is a professional broadcaster, writer and host covering all media, including TV, radio, print and on-line. For over 21 years Zack has been covering every aspect of the new and used car automotive marketplace as an automotive journalist. Many will recognize Zack as the host and writer for the national TV program called Driving Television, which has been running for over 10 years on Global TV. Also on GlobalBC and BC1 are new automotive reviews and automotive product information segments. Driving With Zack Spencer is the name of the national radio program he hosts every week on the Corus Radio Network. On-line is a fast growing part of the media business and Zack has developed his own outlet called www.motormouth.ca where he posts his articles and high quality video reviews of new vehicles. On YouTube, his channel called MotormouthCanada has over 5000 subscribers and millions of video views.This unique combination of electronic media capability and writing has propelled him to be one of the top automotive personalities in Canada.Zack is married with two sons and lives in Vancouver BC. Photography, traveling and spending time with his family along with a full work schedule keep him busy.

zack.spencer@drivewaybc.ca

Zack Spencer

drivewayBC.ca.

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‘‘Mazda went about hand forming the body to produce a style that conveys motion, even standing still.’’Zack Spencer

continued on page A11

2014 Mazda3

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Sell your vehicle using Campbell River Mirror classifieds

bcclassified.com

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BUY, RENT, SELL, TELL...

www.CampbellRiverMirror.com FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 | CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR | A11

Driveway7x14

PROCESS

driveway

ranges from $25,855-$$29,855. As you can see, the price can ratchet up rather quickly. The upside is that this is a car that can provide solid, fun to drive transportation, wrapped in a stylish package. Higher-end models feel like a much more expensive car, with qualities not found previously in this class of car. So, the price might be justified. I truly believe that Mazda is onto something, this is the best car in the compact class.zack@motormouth.ca

2014 Mazda3Controller

2014 Mazda3Navigation screen

2014 Mazda3Dash horizontal

2014 Mazda3Heads-up display

2014 Mazda3 -8 Rear side

2014 Mazda3 Front ¾

continued from page A10

The LowdownPower: 2.0L 4-cylinder with 155hp or 2.5L with 184hpFill-up: 9.9L/7.0L/100km (city/highway) Sticker price: $15,995-$29,895

At the Wheel 2014 Mazda3

‘‘This is a car that can provide solid, fun to drive transportation.’’Zack Spencer

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Amy@UsedEverywhere.com778-402-8817For advertising opportunities

A12 | CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 www.CampbellRiverMirror.com

Why I bought a minivan

‘‘The signing on the dotted line did make her heart beat quite a bit faster.’’Alexandra Straub

Amy Lawson, 35, leads an active life.

She likes to be outdoors, to play sports, surf, bake and has a thriving social life.

Professionally, she was recently promoted to be the Terri-tory Manager for Drydock Footwear Group. Her territory covers British Columbia and Alberta.

Being on the road is a sizeable component of her work.

When it came time to trade in her Nissan Xtrail – which she loved to pieces – she was torn when deciding what vehicle to purchase.

“The Xtrail has been a fabulous car, but I’ve outgrown it and need something that can better accommodate all my equipment,” she says.

In the process, she considered SUVs, hatchbacks and cross-overs. The Ford Flex, Ford Escape, Honda Pilot, Mitsubishi

Photos by: AlexAndrA strAubcontinued on page A13

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3 MONTHS FREE TRIAL**

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^Whichever comes first. See dealer for limited warranty details. VEHICLE PRICING IS NOW EASIER TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE ALL OUR PRICES INCLUDE FREIGHT, PDI AND PPSA.

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driveway

Why I bought a minivan2X14

TYEE CHEV

Most of the focus on the collector car world comes from televised auctions where six-fig-ure cars are the norm, so it’s easy to conclude that the average person is priced out of the collector car world. But the fact of the matter is there are still plenty of interesting collectible cars out there for under 10 grand. Granted, they tend to be from the 1970s and 1980s rather than the 1950s or 1960s, but they’re all fun to drive and relatively easy to live with. Here are five of our favorites:1. 1985-93 Ford Mustang: The third generation or “Fox” platform Mustang brought affordable V-8 muscle back to the masses. Although it was introduced in 1979, better breathing cylinder heads and a re-designed four-barrel carburetor in 1985 pushed horsepower above 200 for the first time since the early 1970s. The relatively light and simple design of the car made the best use of the newfound ponies. While the oldest are just under 30 years old, the collector world is starting to wake up. Still, nice 5.0-liter V-8 examples of all three body styles (coupe, hatchback and convert-ible) are still available in LX and GT trim for 10 grand or less.

2. 1966-77 Ford Bronco: The Bronco pushes the 10 grand budget the most and you’ll have to look hard to find an unrusted or unmodified original Bronco in this price range, but they do occasion-ally lurk on Craigslist. Competition for the likes of the International Harvester Scout, early Broncos look right in the way that early Land Rovers do and collectors have taken a big shine to them lately. Buy now.3. 1965-69 Chevrolet Corvair Corsa coupe: The poor Corvair. Shunned by Chevy fans and import fans alike, it really is a poor-man’s Porsche, with styling on the second generation cars as nice as anything to come out of Germany, Italy or the U.S. at that time. Corvairs pioneered the use of turbocharging, and later cars could be made to handle quite well with some relatively inexpensive modifications, in spite of what Ralph Nader said. Incidentally, the 50th anniversary of the book “Unsafe at Any Speed” is coming up the year after next. Good reason to buy a Corvair, we think. Jay Leno loves his red Corsa Coupe.4. 1983-91 Porsche 944 coupe: The vintage Porsche market is on fire right now, with some

cars appreciating 300 percent or more over the last five years. All have one thing in common — they’re air cooled and the engine is in the back. Wa-ter-cooled front-en-gine Porsches have yet to see the love from collectors, and we think that the 944 is one of the best of the bunch.  A derivative of the nicely balanced but underpowered 924, the fender bulges and smoother and

more powerful balance shaft-equipped twin-cam four was just was Dr. Porsche ordered to make the 944 a credible performance car. Maintenance doesn’t come cheaply (break a timing belt and you’ll wish you hadn’t been born), but the 944 is a bargain-priced precision instrument for dissecting curvy back roads.5. 1976 Chevrolet Corvette: Malaise-era Cor-vettes get a bum rap from most Corvette fans but in reality, they’re quite nice and anything but pathetically slow. The move from gross to net horsepower makes it seem as though power was down more than it really was, and mid-1970s Corvettes came in some great colors with nice options like competition-inspired gymkhana suspension and aluminum wheels. Looks weren’t really compromised by bumper standards with Chevy’s solution of hiding the bumpers under body-colored urethane panels among the best of any manufacturer.Hagerty is the world’s leading specialist provider of classic car and boat insurance. Learn more at hagerty.ca

Best Classic Cars For Ten Grand Or Less

‘‘There are still plenty of interesting collectible cars out there for under 10 grand.’’Rob Sass

1966 Ford Bronco

Outlander were on her list to look at.

Amy states, “When I started to research vehicles, the No. 1 thing on my priority list was interior space. I needed lots of it.”

She continues, “I didn’t mind if the vehicle wasn’t sexy! I need func-tional. Good looks were secondary to me.”

Because of her current role, it requires travelling around the Lower Main-land, Vancouver Island, BC and Alberta with var-ious promotional gear, display units, sample products and more.

Not to mention, if she can pack in her sports equipment like her bicycle, snowboard or surfboard in, too, that would be even better.

Price was also a factor for her.

“I had a budget to work with, and I needed my payments to be around $500 a month,” Amy mentions.

“And since I’d be spend-ing a fair amount of time behind the wheel, I’d need something that was comfortable, too.”

When chatting about po-tential matches, the idea of a minivan came up.

I saw the excitement in her eyes.

In her personal life, she is not the typical minivan candidate. With no chil-dren to drive to hockey or soccer practice, some people might question her enthusiasm.

But to her, it seemed like the perfect fit.

“I was just so excited about it. Minivans make life so much easier and you can just do so much with them,” she explains.

“It made a lot more sense than a pickup and much more sense than an SUV.”

A few minivans/mini-van-esque vehicles she looked into were the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna and Mazda5.

Though the Honda and Toyota appealed to her, it was the Dodge Grand Caravan that had exactly what she was looking for. It was in her price range and had some handy features that would allow easy loading and unloading of her gear.

She even really likes its look.

Amy tells me, “I can fit two mountain bikes inside with people and still have room for more.”

The Dodge Grand Caravan that she selected is the Crewe trim, which also came with some extras. She has a towing pack-age, a rear DVD entertainment system (perfect for passing time on ferry rides!), Stow ‘n Go seats, remote keyless entry to the doors and liftgate and more.

While she can’t be happier with her purchase, the signing on the dotted line did make her

heart beat quite a bit faster.

“There’s a lot of anxiety to buying a car. It’s a big purchase and you want to make sure you make the best choice you can.”

And speaking of choices, the biggest question when select-ing her chariot of choice?

“Should I get the white one or the black one?!” she jokingly asked.

She went with black.

When looking back on the experience and looking at her Grand Caravan, she happily says, “What I didn’t think would be very sexy vehicle ended up being the sexiest

to me. And there’s so much space!”

Ladies, if you’re looking at buying a new vehicle and would like some suggestions/assistance, email the Car Girl’s Garage and you could poten-tially be featured in Driveway.

Include your name, email address where best to be reached, a little bit about yourself, what you’re looking for and what price range you need to work with.

thecargirlsgarage@gmail.com

Twitter.com/cargirlsgarage

Photos by: AlexAndrA strAub

Drive Smart BC

Cst. Tim Schewe (Rtd.)DriveSmartBCwww.drivesmartbc.caTwitter: @drivesmartbc

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The Prudent Pedestrian & The Diligent Driver

Over the five years ending with 2012 B.C. saw an average of 2,300 pedestrian involved collisions with 2,400 injuries and 60 fatalities. Almost 42% of these were aged 61 or over. Males tend to be involved more often with 35 deaths each year compared to 25 female deaths. While the majority of collision causes are driver related, over 20% of contributing factors were attributed to pedestrians.

It’s probably a risky choice to start an article with a paragraph of statistics. People see numbers, not their community members at risk or the significance of their chances of colliding with a pedestrian. If there is no personal impact (pun intended), readers will skip along to something more interesting. I’m hoping that I still have your attention.

If you are a pedestrian, you can use the sidewalk, walk on the left if there isn’t, cross at crosswalks, look both ways, point your way to safety and wear reflective clothing or use lights. If you are a driver, realize that you must exercise care at all times to avoid colliding with a pedestrian. Think pedestrian when the car adjacent to you slows and stops in an unexpected place and when you approach residential areas, crosswalks, school and playground zones.

Whew! That’s a lot of thoughts in only a few paragraphs. Please try to keep them all in mind, both of you.

The author is a retired constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. To comment or learn more, please visit www.drivesmartbc.ca.

driveway

continued from page A12

www.CampbellRiverMirror.com FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 | CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR | A13

drivewayNear New: 2010-2012 Ford Fusion

Amid lingering global financial turmoil, recession re-covery was already in high-gear at Ford, with an over a 40 per cent year-over-year sales gain that made Ford the top-selling automaker in Canada, in 2009. It was also the year it launched an all-new 2010 model year version of its popular mid-sized family car the Ford Fusion.

The 2010 Fusion was offered in SE and SEL trim levels with a choice of a 2.5-litre I4 or a 3.0-litre V6 engines and a 3.5-litre V6 powered an all-new Fusion Sport model with all-wheel-drive. Ford also

introduced its first hy-brid edition of Fusion with an Atkinson cycle version of the 2.5-litre engine and an elec-tronically controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT).

The hybrid’s battery is a nickel-metal hydride type that’s smaller and lighter than competi-tors and it’s tempera-

ture is controlled by air extracted from the passenger cabin. Claimed city/highway fuel consumption is a very impressive 4.6/5.4 L/100km.

Fuel consumption ratings for the other Fusion engines are as follows; 9.4/6.4 L/100 km (city/high-way) for the 2.5-litre; 11.1/7.3 (city/highway) for the 3.0-litre V6 models; and 12.7/8.3 (city/highway) for the 3.5-litre with all-wheel drive.

A new optional safety feature on the 2010 Fusion (well worth having) was a Blind Spot system that

comes with Cross Traffic Alert, which was a unique to Ford system. Radar sensors in the rear side quarter panels can detect a moving object within a 20 metre (65-ft) range on either side. Great to have when vision is restricted (as it often is) when backing out of a parking stall.

This generation is also a quieter Fusion. Changes to reduce cabin noise levels include an acoustic wind-shield, thicker front-door glass, new hood insulators, additional sound deadening in the trunk and a new headliner in the cabin that’s made with an absorp-tion material. An air filter that removes respiratory irritants and toxins from entering the cabin was also a new standard feature of Fusion.

A new standard innovation was a fuel filler system called EasyFuel. Not only does it eliminate the need to remove a gas cap when filling up, it reduces evap-orative emissions. You simply push the fuel-pump nozzle into a gas tank receptacle and it automatically seals shut when removed.

Six standard airbags helped the Fusion attain a top five-star crash-test rating. If an air bag is deployed, Fusion also has a unique emergency alert system

that flashes the hazard warning lights and sounds the horn, to attract attention. An electronic stabil-ity-control system with a brake-activated traction control system was a new standard safety feature.

The MyKey security system was made a standard feature on the 2011 Fusion, a spotter mirror, to help eliminate blind spots, was incorporated in the door mirrors and the SE edition got standard automatic headlights. No significant changes were made for 2012.

Good reliability, owner satisfaction and low cost of repair ratings helped the 2012 Ford Fusion get a “Recommend” rating from Consumer Reports. Ford Fusion buyers also benefit from having a good supply of them on the market and used prices tend to be reasonable. A potentially great value pre-owned purchase.

‘‘Good reliability, owner satisfaction and low cost of repair ratings.’’Bob McHugh

2010 Fusion Sport

BMW believes there is a big future for wind power in its cars.No, not for the propulsion of the prestige brand’s models but the making of their sleek machines of the future.Long before visitors arrive at the auto manufacturer’s new hi-tech factory in this economically depressed region of what was once communist East Germany, they greeted with a wave from four giant wind tur-bines. Those metal giants

will power the production of the impressive four-seater BMW i3, which will roll silently off the production line later this year. Silently, not just because it’s an all-elec-tric vehicle but also because the entire manufacturing process rarely rises above a whisper.The BMW i3 is the first of the manufacturer’s projects for which the environmental sustainability objectives were determinedly set at the same high standards as the economic goals applied to the manufacturing process.To achieve those lofty dual goals, the BMW Group retains close control over the complete production process from the carbon fibre production, which starts in a hydroelec-tric powered plant in Moses Lake, Wa. Entire noisy and stinky processes associated with manufacturing in steel are gone. Robots screw and bond the important parts together and send the shells on their way, suspended form an overhead rail. Happy workers can actually hear each other chat down on the factory floor, bathed in sunlight and breathing freely courtesy of an efficient hi-tech ventilation system.

Amazingly, the energy used is 50 percent of that required to turn out a conventional car and 70 percent less water is used. My group roamed around looking for waste, which turned out to be a waste (of time) in itself. The bits and bats and ‘wasted’ trim are gathered up and recycled for use elsewhere along the production line.BMW even boasts the lithium ion batteries that will power each car’s motor will outlive the individual car’s life. They can be used as storage batteries when the car is put out to pasture, sorry, recycled.If one of the eight modules should fail then a replace-ment easily drops in rather than there be a need for an entire battery replacement. The lightweight body is also designed with a view to quick and economical repair in the event of a collision. Body parts again drop into place

with the minimum of fuss and cost. They say the cost of a fix will likely mirror that of putting a BMW 1-series back on the road after a similar crash.Now we await the car, expected to sell for around $45,000, to see if it lives up to its green promise on the road. BMW boasts the electric motor will generate 170 horsepower and take off from zero to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds, and can accelerate from 80-to-120-km/h in just 5.4 seconds – important when passing on the freeway.The i3 offers a driving range of 160 kilometres, which should ease the range anxiety that comes into play among prospective purchasers of electric vehicles. kmorgan@blackpress.catwitter.com/changegears

Powered by wind: BMW gets greener

‘‘ The energy used is 50 percent of that required to turn out a conventional car’’Keith Morgan

LEIPZIG, Germany:

BMW believes there is a big future for wind power in its cars.

Price Check

2010 to 2012 Ford Fusion (October 2013)

Year Edition Expect to Pay Today

2010 SEL $11,000 to $14,000

2011 SEL $13,000 to $16,000

2012 SEL $16,000 to $20,000 Prices vary depending on a used vehicle’s condition, mileage, usage and history. A complete mechanical check should always be performed by a reliable auto technician prior to purchase.

Recalls on the 2010 to 2012 Ford Fusion:

2010 - A problem with the manual recliner mechanisms on the front seats may cause additional movement of the seat back. Dealers will replace the seat recliner mechanisms.

2010 - A park pawl in the automatic transmission may not fully engage when shifted into “Park” and this could allow the vehicle to roll on an incline, if the park brake is not activated. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the park rod guide retention pin.

2010/2011- The lug nuts on vehicles equipped with 17 inch steel wheels may loosen and this could result in wheel sep-aration. Dealers will replace the lug nuts on all four wheels, inspect the rear brake rotors and replace them as necessary.

Drivingwheel@shaw.ca

A14 | CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 www.CampbellRiverMirror.com

www.CampbellRiverMirror.com FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 | CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR | A15

It can be very difficult, if not impossible, to tell if tires are un-der-inflated just by looking at them. Yet most drivers don’t check tire pressure regularly. Proper tire pressure saves money, fuel consumption, helps the environment – and saves lives. Having TPMS on vehicles helps to keep Canada’s roads safe by giving drivers the critical warning they need when one or more of their tires has low air pressure.

Facts on Maintaining Proper Tire Pressure: Saving lives – vehicle safety and performance Under-inflation is the leading cause of tire failure2. Even if your tires look fine, they could be underinflated by as much as 20 per cent1. According to a recent study, about 50 per cent of the vehicles on the road in Canada have at least one tire that is either over or underinflated by more than 10 per cent. In fact, 10 per cent of all vehicles surveyed had at least one tire underinflated by 20 per cent1. When your tires don’t have the right amount of air, the sides flex, bend and build heat. Underinflated tires compromise your vehicle’s steering, braking and cornering abilities. Operating a vehicle with just one tire underinflated by 8 PSI can reduce the life of the tire by 15,000 km1.

Saving fuel and the environment Annually, 643 million litres of extra fuel are consumed by Cana-dian vehicles because of improper tire maintenance practices. As a result, over one million tonnes of carbon dioxide are unneces-sarily released into the environment4. Canadians dispose of 29 million used tires every year, which has a significant impact on landfills. Even modest improvements in extending tire life could have a significant positive impact on our environment as energy used to produce new tires emits harmful pollutants into the atmosphere4.

Saving money Fuel consumption increases by 1 per cent for every 5 per cent

of under-inflation. Operating a vehicle with just one tire un-der-inflated by 8 PSI can reduce the life of the tire by 15,000 km and can increase the vehicle’s fuel consumption by 4 per cent4. Example: • If fuel costs $1.32/litre and it takes approximately 9.1 litres per

100 km = $12.01 / 100 km. • Increasing fuel consumption by 4 per cent = $12.47/100 km • If you average 22,000 km / year, you would save $100 annually

($2642 vs. $2743) by keeping proper tire pressure Maintaining proper tire pressure could save you approximately two weeks of fuel a year, enough to pay for one full set of tires over the average 9-year life of a vehicle5. Under-inflation also reduces tire life. Driving with tires that are under-inflated by 8 PSI will increase tire wear by 16% (ap-proximately 15,000 km). This will hit your pocketbook as you will have to replace tires sooner than you would if they were properly maintained4.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System TPMS will trigger the dashboard symbol to illuminate when one or more tires are under-inflated by 25 per cent. TPMS improves your vehicle’s handling and stability, decreasing your chances of catastrophic tire failure and having an accident. While not currently mandated, an estimated 70 per cent of new vehicles (model year 2007+) sold in Canada are TPMS-equipped3. Starting in 2007, TPMS became a legislated feature on all pas-senger vehicles sold in the U.S.

Tips for Drivers: Get in the habit of manually checking your tire pressure at least once a month or before a long road trip. Even if your vehicle has TPMS installed, regular tire maintenance is the best way to increase your safety. The best way to get the most accurate reading is to check your tire pressure before you drive, when the tire is cold.

To determine if your vehicle has TPMS, look for the TPMS symbol on the dashboard when you first turn your key to the on posi-tion. Consult your owner’s manual for more information. When installing winter tires or buying new wheels, be sure to have TPMS sensors installed in the wheels. Failure to do this will make your TPMS inoperative. Large temperature drops, usually during winter, can cause the low tire pressure warning to come on. Have a tire service centre properly check your tire pressure and TPMS if this happens. TPMS batteries, expected to last between five and seven years (or approximately 140,000 – 160,000km/year), are encased and can’t be replaced. Since some of the first TPMS-equipped vehi-cles have now been on the road for more than five years, drivers will soon need to see TPMS specialists for maintenance. Once the battery dies, a new TPMS sensor must be installed. When the TPMS illuminates on your dashboard, it means one or more of your tires may be at least 25 per cent below recom-mended inflation pressure. Pull over and check your tire pressure. Once checked, if the tires appear normal, proceed with caution to a tire service centre to have them properly inspected.

Sources 1. Transport Canada 2. Canada Safety Council 3. Schrader International 4. The Rubber Association of Canada 5. AIA Canada

Drives-U-Crazy…Erratic drivers

KIA concept

ICBC Safety Tip: As drivers, please slow down next week and be extra vigilant, especially

around residential areas. Children are always caught up in the excitement of Halloween

and can easily forget the rules of the road.

Forgetting the rules of the road

An early morning drive from Kelowna to Vancouver is normally a pleasurable experience.But a recent a jaunt was made much less so by an erratic driver, whose actions required all fellow travellers to watch his antics with great care and attention. The young guy at the wheel of a late model Honda CR-V constantly changed speed, below and beyond the posted speed limit. If he wasn’t passing and cutting in too early, he was inexplicably reducing his speed and dropping back in the passing lane. Thank goodness, he pulled off at Merritt. What drives-u-crazy.kmorgan@blackpress.ca

Drives

UCrazy!

?

Playful but gutsy, sturdy yet impish – Kia’s dramatic new European concept to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show next month.Although there are no current plans for production, the vehicle’s unveiling will be used to gauge potential customer response for future showroom models.

ICBC SAFETY

TIP

driveway

Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)FACTS AND TIPS FOR DRIVERS

Driveway

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drivewayA16 | CAMPBELL RIVER MIRROR | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 www.CampbellRiverMirror.com