Sirion's Make-over
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday April 12, 2002
Daihatsu has given its small five-door Sirion hatch a make-over. The new-generation 1.0-litre model and sportier 1.3-litre GTvi have new headlamps and grille, redesigned bonnet and front guards along with split bumpers and fluted intakes in the front air dam.
Interior upgrades include the dash and instrument cluster, seat trim and floor covering and additional storage. On the GTvi, extras include new driving lights, alloy wheels and height-adjustable rear headrests. The 1.0 drops $600 to $12,990; the GTvi remains at $16,990.
Meanwhile, a new limited sports edition of Mazda's 323 Protege sedan uses the larger 2.0-litre 98 kW engine of the popular SP20 Astina hatch. Only 250 of the five-speed manual Sports sedans will be built, priced from $28,990.
In Starry Blue mica metallic paint, it is further distinguished by a full body kit with side skirts, special headlamp bezels, circular rally-style fog lamps and 16-inch alloy wheels.
To add a sporty edge to the handling, Mazda has beefed up the suspension towers and cross members and, as in the SP20, added heavier stabiliser bars front and rear.
Inside, the dash has alloy and carbon fibre finishes and silver-faced instruments. The sporty theme runs to heavily bolstered seats, leather-trimmed gear-knob and three-spoke Nardi steering wheel and chrome scuff plates.
Dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, air-conditioning, a six-stack CD player, remote central locking and immobiliser are standard.
Drive a bargain
Holden Frontera SE five-seat 4WD wagon $38,990 plus on-roads
Hunter Holden, West Ryde and St Leonards
3.2-litre V6, four-speed auto. Dual airbags, anti-lock brakes, climate control air-con, central locking. Save $5,000.
Toyota RAV4 Advantage five-seat 4WD wagon $36,990 drive-away
Truscott's Toyota, Five Dock
2.0-litre four-cylinder, four-speed auto. Dual airbags, air-con, remote central locking, engine immobiliser, colour body moulds, hard spare wheel cover, special alloy wheels. Save $2679.
Saab 9-5
FutureProof guaranteed buy-back program
All Saab dealers
Cars bought using Saab Finance have guaranteed minimum 55 per cent trade-in value after 36 months. Example: 9-5 Linear sedan, $61,900 with zero deposit and repayments of $257 a week, has trade-in value of $34,045.
© 2002 Sydney Morning Herald