Summer Drive Whatcom 7.20.16

SUMMER

The Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record present

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

drive whatc m WHAT’S INSIDE: Last Saturday’s Razz & Shine auto show as part of the Northwest Raspberry Festival in Lynden brought all kinds of amazing automotive styling and creativity to Front Street...........................C4-C9 The new VW Alltrack wagon has an allure especially suited for the active outdoor Northwest lifestyle ......... C3 Get help in considering how to buy either a new or used car ........................ C10-C11

A supplement of the

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

New VW Alltrack caters to Pacific Northwest drivers All-wheel-drive wagon builds on successful Golf line; new model was big at recent Seattle auto show

By Brent Lindquist news@ferndalerecord.com

WHATCOM ­ — The pre-production version of the 2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Alltrack was the breakout hit of this year’s Seattle International Auto Show, and Travis Graddon, salesman at Roger Jobs Volkswagen in Bellingham, said there’s a reason for that.

“I think what’s unique about this car is that it’s great for this Pacific Northwest market, especially Whatcom County, with so many people with their active lifestyles,” he said.

The Alltrack features roof rails for storage and Volkswagen’s patented 4motion all-wheel-drive system.

The Alltrack features a four-cylinder turbo-charged 170 horsepower engine, and is based on the current Volkswagen Golf model, which is a safety top pick and has received numerous accolades from around the industry for its safety features.

“We heard from dealers and customers that they wanted to see a Golf SportWagen with the all-terrain capability that comes from an all-wheel-drive system,” said Joerg Sommer, vice president, product marketing and strategy for Volkswagen of America, Inc., in a press release. “We are excited to introduce the Golf Alltrack to meet the active lifestyle needs of our customers."

Standard features are 17-inch wheels, higher ground clearance over the standard wagon, Volkswagen’s signature leatherette synthetic leather interior and a back-up camera.

“I think it’s a good fit for this market,” Graddon said.

The Alltrack will be released quite soon, he said, as soon as August of this year, in fact.

In the meantime, Roger Jobs will be stocking some popular new models of the Volkswagen Beetle, including the Beetle Dune, Beetle Denim and Beetle Classic.

Visit www.rogerjobs.com or the dealership at 2200 Iowa St. in Bellingham.

The new Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Alltrack has many key features intended to benefit lovers of the outdoors, especially in the Pacific Northwest. (Courtesy photos/Volkswagen)

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

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Elegant and classy auto creations: he 'makes something beautiful' Camano Island retiree does fancy car projects in his backyard shop that show well in Lynden

By Elisa Claassen for the Lynden Tribune

LYNDEN ­— After all this time, Barbara Courtney still

loves how husband Tom can take a chassis and a box of parts and “make something beautiful.”

When Barbara married Tom almost 52 years ago, she knew he liked cars — at least that is what Tom says. At that time in 1964 he had just ordered a 1965 Mustang. His version is that the new model had just been announced, and he simply had to have one.

“For a guy with no money, it was foolish but fun,” he said.

At the Northwest Raspberry Festival Razz & Shine

show Saturday, Tom Courtney’s entry was a long and elegant silver-and-blue classic replica 1934 Mercedes Benz roadster. The swan hood ornament from a Packard was eye-catching. Tom built this specimen from parts he had bought from the son of a man who had died. In his backyard shop behind his Camano Island home, he started on the project seven years ago. “I spent three years of idle time,” he quips.

What he started with was a fiberglass shell and frame that had been sitting out in the weather. He proceeded to

A 1934 Mercedes Benz roadster was the eye-catching Razz & Shine show entry of Tom and Barbara Courtney on Saturday.

(Elisa Claassen/ Lynden Tribune)

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

fabricate parts.

At the Lynden show, he could walk around the car and point out both large and small pieces and details that he created on a Model 32 bender: ’39 Chevy taillights (the “pillows” for the back lights were cast). He made the dark burl walnut dash himself and bought the steering wheel to match. He painted the car himself, the metallic silver and blue that shimmer more on sunny days, he said.

“It’s hard to see without the sun,” he said. On overcast days, many viewers think the color of paint is gray.

Tom points closer to the metal sides of the front window and says they too were specifically cast and then sent to be chrome plated. The headlights are Peterbilt sitting on a ’32 Ford headlight bar modified to fit the fenders. While “just playing,” he made the grill. He flips up the hook and opens the hood to show a new 350 Chevy crate engine hooked to a Turbo Hydra-matic 700R4 transmission.

He went online to find more pieces and parts. “I was Fed-Ex’s best friend.”

“I searched all kinds of places.” He found wire wheels and Coker tires. The custom “name plate” at the front of the car was made on a 3D printer by his son.

He is retired after selling his business, VN Graphics in Redmond, to his son Samuel.

This is not the only car Tom has built or restored. His first was a 1936 Ford.

The second “meaningful” one, as he put it, was a Devin Bodied Austin-Healey 100-6. The third was a Jaguar Mark X .

“I (then) took a hiatus and worked for a living,” he said with a laugh.

While they did drive the showy replica to the Lynden show, both Tom and Barbara have his-and-hers Jaguars for their normal commuting. Hers is a bronze convertible. His is a blue-over-silver sedan. The family has a total of seven cars, he said. These include another Jaguar, 1979 Triumph TR7, 1975 Oldsmobile Delta ’88 convertible and a new “project” car that also started from “a box of parts.”

Tom found out about the car show in Lynden while attending a draft horse event, he said. The couple goes to about 10 shows a year in the region with the Mercedes or the Oldsmobile.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

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Showing off at the Razz & Shine

Saturday's Razz & Shine car and truck drive-in along Front Street brought a record number of entries, including Lyndenites Sully Kuoppala, left, and David VanWingerden shining down the car of family member Herm Douma.

(Tim Newcomb/Lynden Tribune)

Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

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Decked-out B.C. A&W car visits Lynden Claud Muench’s 1956 Mercury a Razz & Shine crowd-pleaser

by Elisa Claassen for the Lynden Tribune

“I’m leavin’ it all up to you oh oh You decide what you’re gonna do Now do you want my love?

Or are we through?

— Dale and Grace, “I’m Leaving It All Up To You” LYNDEN — ­ The 1950s music wafted over the sidewalk from drive-in theatre car speakers to the crowd milling around for the car show on Front Street Saturday. A carhop mannequin stood next to a display of A&W Drive-in treats on a tray hooked to the window of a 1956 Mercury Montclair.

Something whirling around atop the car caught the eye. It was a model — saddle bronze and Wimbledon white-colored and all — of the car.

Owner Claud Muench of Langley, B.C., said his car was the result of a chance

More than just a car, Claud Muench replays history his 1956 Mercury Montclair. (Elisa Claassen/Lynden Tribune)

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

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encounter.

Where did he get this car, which still retains its original paint job in almost pristine condition? He happened to be traveling across Canada and looked across traffic. He saw it while in the province of Ontario.

“Three seconds later, and I wouldn’t have seen it,” he said.

As it was, he followed the eye-catcher down the street, pulled alongside, got the driver’s attention, and asked if it was for sale. He got “yes” as a reply and that led to a meeting, photos being taken, and an explanation that he was on vacation and wouldn’t be home to western Canada for a month before a deal could be made. Eventually, Muench flew back to Ontario for the car, which was shipped home via the Mackie Group professional moving company.

Surprisingly, the car had been stored well from October through May away from the corrosive salty conditions of eastern Canada and kept its good appearance.

In his years of owning it, Muench has enjoyed driving it to many car shows throughout Washington and British Columbia.

“It’s been written up as the ‘A&W’ car in media,” he said. “It’s the most photographed car in B.C.” He’s had the car for 15 to 20 years now and this was his second visit to the popular Razz & Shine show after seeing an advertisement online in Lee’s Shows.

“This is one of the better street shows,” he said. “People respect the cars here. The kids are well behaved.”

His lively display attracts little eyes, and even little fingers. Muench visited a hobby shop for the small replica, found a convertible version and proceeded to put the pieces together differently to match his car.

He is 12 years retired from decades in a sawmill. He started as a millwright and moved up to being superintendent of the busy plant that worked 24 hours a day five days a week.

Between shows he does take the car on errands to get groceries or go out to dinner.

On mornings he also regularly meets the guys at his local A&W in Aldergrove, B.C. “We tell the same lies every two weeks,” he laughed.

Lynden Chamber of Commerce executive director Gary Vis said there were over 300 cars, a new record, in the Northwest Raspberry Festival Razz & Shine car show, which does not require advance registration. “Just cruise right in” is the policy, he said. Under the pin oaks of Front Street, the vehicles stretched from Seventh Street to B.C. Avenue.

Car owner Claud Muench lives in Langley, B.C. (Elisa Claassen/Lynden Tribune)

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

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A look at your options for buying a vehicle It can be your own cash, a bank/credit union loan or dealer financing There are plenty of good choices for coming up with the money to pay for a great vehicle.

From banks and local credit unions to the dealership, or even your very own checkbook, here are some time-tested ways you can finance your dream car.

Dealer financing One of the easiest ways to finance a used car is by looking for a dealership that offers in-house financing.

Many dealers, especially the larger ones, have financing departments to help you pay for their cars. They probably do a lot of volume and approve financing for people with all types of credit — from good to awful — so they’re generally quick, friendly and thorough.

The big advantage of dealer financing is convenience. You can get your car and your loan both under one roof, and dealers are usually eager to extend financing because it keeps the sales process smooth.

That’s good for both the shopper and the dealership.

The bank While many people assume the easiest way to get a car loan is through a dealership, you may be able to find financing through your local bank with surprising ease.

Depending on your credit condition and what type of car you want to buy, banks frequently lend money to people for buying vehicles. This means you can negotiate a “cash” price at the dealership while getting that cash from your local bank.

Credit unions An increasingly popular option is getting a loan through a local credit union. The process is similar to borrowing money from a bank, except you may have to be a member of a credit union to take out the loan.

The advantage to credit unions is that they are owned by their members and are typically set up as a not-for-profit institution. That means they might be able to offer better terms and lower interest rates than a traditional bank.

Cash Finally, while this isn’t possible for everyone, one of the wisest ways to buy a car is by paying cash for it so you avoid any in-

terest charges.

Some people who pay cash for cars start out driving inexpensive vehicles and work their way up to nicer ones over time.

That’s why it’s a good idea to find a good, reputable dealer that you can develop a long-term relationship with.

When you’re writing a check with your hard-earned money, you want to make sure you’re doing business with the most trustworthy dealer possible.

Consider insurance Insurance policies should be a major consideration in which vehicle you purchase. This can make a big difference in the total cost of owning any particular vehicle, so it’s a good idea to get insurance quotes before making your final decision.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

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Age vs. mileage, both pros and cons Also consider its maintenance before you purchase a used car

according to the manufacturer schedule will likely last a lot longer than a car owned by someone who doesn’t do much maintenance.

In the world of used cars, two factors have a major effect on price: mileage and age. An 8-year-old car is usually less expensive than a 2-year-old car, and a 100,000-mile car is normally less expensive than a 20,000-mile car.

But what about a 2-year-old car with 100,000 miles?

Or an 8-year-old car with only 20,000 miles? If you’re buying a car, should you be more concerned about its miles or its age?

Here are some seemingly contradictory things to keep in mind:

Age matters too But while mileage matters, a car’s age can be just as big of a deal — and in some cases, it’s even more important than mileage. For instance, a 10- or 15-year-old car with only 30,000 or 40,000 miles may be appealing. But given that the driver hasn’t spent that much time behind the wheel in the last 10 or 15 years, has he spent much time doing maintenance?

More importantly, when it comes to an older car with low miles, you should be worried about rubber parts and other components that don’t normally age well if they aren’t exercised. A 6- or 7-year-old car that has spent much of its life sitting, for instance, might cause more concern than a 10-year-old car that’s been well maintained.

As you can see, age and miles may not matter as much as you think. Instead, it’s the way the car has been taken care of during its life that is important. A 5-year-old car with only 50,000 miles may have many more problems than a 10-year-old car with twice the odometer reading. It all depends on the type of vehicle, the type of owner and the type of maintenance that’s been performed.

Taken together, this all adds up to good reason to get a pre-purchase inspection before buying a car — and it’s why you can’t judge a car’s condition based solely on its age and miles.

Mileage matters If you’re buying a used car, mileage should be a huge factor in your decision. After all, a car’s odometer is a measure of how much life it’s lived — so a car with only 70,000 miles is worth a lot more than one that’s covered 170,000 miles. Engine parts and suspension components are only designed to last so long, and a car with too many miles is rarely a good decision.

That said, the way a car has added its miles is important to understand. A vehicle with all city miles will have a lot more wear and tear than one that’s had all highway miles, since highway miles are easier on a car.

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Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Ferndale Record

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