winning wagon gLen
woodcock glen@manicgt.com
Last fall it was time to retire my “sit ter” — the car that spends most of its time parked in auto manufacturers’ lots while I drive one of their vehicles for my weekly new car road test. For the past seven years, that sitter had been my faithful 1999 Saturn station wagon. But as the years passed, more and more ingenuity was required to keep it operating, and parts were growing harder and harder to find. So it was time to scrap the Saturn and find a replacement. That’s when a car parked at the side of the road, with a “For sale” sign in the front window, caught my eye. I wouldn’t even have stopped to look if it hadn’t been a station wagon. But I love wagons and, from a distance, this Oldsmobile looked pretty clean. It was even better up close — a 1995 Custom Cruiser SL, with not a hint of rust on its Drif twood Metallic body. Details on the sign told why: it was from Texas, where sun damage to rubber parts is a far greater risk than rust from road salt. I liked what I saw — and the way it drove — and quickly made a deal. It has all new hoses, a completely new exhaust system and the rear-facing third row of seats look like they’ve never been used. So my Saturn was replaced by another orphan — one that’s even older. But my mechanic, Mike Johnston, couldn’t find a thing wrong when doing the safety. In fact, he said “This car will last longer than you.” (Hope he doesn’t know something I don’t!) It’s powered by GM’s bulletproof 3.1L V6, and now that Mike’s replaced the spark plugs, which he thought might be the originals, the car runs like a top. It came with all the repair records and the original window sticker showing that
its price, when new, was $17,895. That included $430 in optional items, such as a power driver’s seat, and destination charges of $535. The other day, while pumping some gas so it could get to its next parking spot, I noticed a woman giving it the eye while she filled up her SUV. “Your car is almost vintage,” she said. Well, yes it is. So I took that as a compliment. In just two more years it will be eligible to participate in events staged by the Antique and Classic Car Club of Canada. The Oldsmobile really is a time machine because it shows how far cars have come in the short time since it was new. In some regards, it still is a modern automobile; in others, its age is showing. For instance, it has anti-lock brakes, traction control, power doors/locks/ mirrors, halogen headlamps and sequential fuel injection. But there is only one airbag — for the driver. Others weren’t even optional. Its odd front seatbelts are anchored to the doors, and can be kept buckled up to encourage Americans to use them. Cupholders were in their infancy in 1995 and in order to retrofit them to the Cruiser they have been located in the front bench seat’s flip-down armrest. Hit a few good bumps with a full cup of coffee and you’ll be getting out the spot remover. Air conditioning is manual and the automatic is a four-speed. There is no outside temperature display, no heated mirrors and no driver information centre to provide info such as instant fuel economy. No navigation system, no backup camera, no self-dimming headlamps, no adaptive cruise control, no AWD. Nor is there satellite radio — but it does have a cassette player! But what really gives away its age is the simple fact it is a station wagon — and it has whitewall tires. It’s a true survivor and I like driving it. Too bad I only get to do that once a week.
• glen woodcock/QMi Agency In some regards, the Oldsmobile is still is a modern automobile; in others, its age is showing.
WOMAN ON WHEELS
TIME MACHINEs
Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune • Thursday, May 17, 2012
battle of the sexes Who are really the better drivers, all things considered — men or Women?
KaY
LAYNe
kay.layne@sunmedia.ca
I was giving a male friend a lift the other day. Just before getting out of my car, he turned to me and mentioned that I drive really, really well. Had he stopped there, the conversation would have been forgotten by now. But no, he added that my driving skills were outstanding for a woman. He then jumped out my vehicle and walked off, leaving me to ponder what that meant exactly. Now, I must admit I have received this backward praise before. One guy thought he was giving me the ultimate compliment when he said that I drove like a guy. When men and women came here from Mars and Venus, respectively, did we fly our spaceships with different levels of competency? So, who are the better drivers? Men or women? Mostly people are aware that women on average live longer than men. I wonder if it has any correlation to their driving skills. According to the Carnegie Mellon University’s Center for the Study & Improvement of Regulation, male drivers have a 77% higher risk of
dying in a car accident than women. Here in Canada, men are around three times more likely to get a speeding ticket. Does that mean men are faster drivers? Maybe they are just wo rse at avoidin g get tin g c a ught. Maybe they are not as equipped with the skills needed to get out of receiving a ticket. How about parking? A study produced by a U.K . car park firm NCP shows that ladies may be slightly better skilled at slot ting into a space. Re searchers obser ved 2,5 0 0 drivers across its 700 car parks in Britain over a one-month period. They found that while men were faster at completing the manoeuvre, women were more accurate. Fifty-two per cent of women parked in the middle of each spot, compared to 25% of men. Science also indicates that women are better drivers — actuarial science, that is. According to Canadian insurance companies, women have fewer accidents than their male counterparts. Not only are men involved in more crashes, but when they do, larger payouts are usually needed. Honestly, I think that driving is a skill. Like any other skill, it can always be improved regardless of your sex. There are plenty of advanced and defensive driving courses out there to help you hone your skills behind the wheel.
• shutterstock According to Canadian insurance companies, women have fewer accidents than their male counterparts.
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