`lunatic' Takes Police On Wild Trip 
Ten-hour Battle Ensues Following Routine Arrest

3 Care Centers Get New Owner 
Three Area Personal Care Centers Are Part Of A Major Purchase By 
Mechanicsburg-based Balanced Care Corp.

Sunday, February 02, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





I have no idea what was falling from the sky, but I m sure it was cold and
wet and it didn t come from pigeons. Sleet? Snow? Freezing rain? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Yes. Maybe. Who cares? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I m not a meteorologist, I m a car guy. I leave it to them to define the
form, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 type and quantity of precipitation. My concern is not getting too wet and
being able to get where I want to goGood thing I was driving a Toyota 4Runner
when Mother Nature started drooling all over us recently. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The 4Runner is a sport/utility vehicle (SUV), which means it is built to go
over mountains and through forests, even though most SUVs will never even be
driven on a dirt road. In fact, the toughest obstacle most SUV owners are
likely to encounter is the drive-through window at Burger King. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So I was confident my 1997 4Runner SR5 test vehicle would get me to my
Whopper and back regardless of the road conditions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The 4Runner doesn t have the most sophisticated four-wheel drive system in
its class. The system doesn t operate full-time and doesn t use the kind of
computer controls and viscous couplings that can divert full power to just one
wheel if that s the only one with traction. You even have to move a mechanical
lever to shift the SR5 into four-wheel drive, although the 4Runner flagship
Limited model features pushbutton engagement. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On the other hand, you can shift in and out of 4WD on even the entry level
4Runner at speeds up to 50 mph. The front hubs lock automatically. And Toyota
is one of the few SUV manufacturers that still offers a locking rear
differential (a $325 option) that can help you claw your way out of trouble
whether you re one of those rare SUV owners who do go off-road or you somehow
find yourself in a snowbank on the way home from Burger King. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Once I finished wiping the ketchup and mayonnaise off the optional leather
jacket on its steering wheel, I was pretty impressed with the way the 4Runner
SR5 behaved. I didn t run into any snowbanks on my trip home, but the road was
coated by a super-slick combination of snow, sleet.... wait, I m getting into
meteorologist territory again. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 You get the idea. The road was slippery. The 4Runner handled it. It felt
surefooted and self-assured. When I wanted to stop even suddenly its
four-wheel antilock brakes prevented the Toyota from sliding uncontrollably
like one of the pickles on my Whopper. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I was still picking sesame seeds out of my teeth when I stopped at the
hardware store. After picking up a few odds- and-ends (not to mention a few
odd looks at the mustard stains on my sweater), I found a couple of additional
reasons to appreciate the 4Runner. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For one thing, its cargo bay is large. Toyota says it measures 44.6 cubic
feet with the split folding rear seats upright, and around 80 cubic feet with
them folded flat. I never got out the ruler, but I can tell you there s enough
room for a bunch of suitcases, a couple of pairs of skis and a ton of french
fries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The thing I really appreciated about the 4Runner on this particularly nasty
day was the design of its tailgate. Some SUV tailgates flip up, some drop down
and others swing open. But the 4Runner is the only one I know that has a
power-operated window in a swing-up tailgate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This design allows you to fully lower the rear window by pressing a button
on the center console or turning the key in the tailgate. Either way, it s
much more convenient than the flip-up windows on some SUVs. Plus, when the
weather is bad or you have large, bulky items to load, the 4Runner s flip-up
tailgate provides easy access and wonderful protection from the elements. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Toyota did a wonderful job of lowering the 4Runner s load floor around four
inches without sacrificing ground clearance. The lower floor height is a
back-saver when loading heavy cargo, and the 4Runner s ground clearance
(between 10 and 11 inches, depending on tires) ensures being able to reach the
drive-through window. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Spend too much time visiting that window and you ll also be glad Toyota
made its third-generation 4Runner roomier and easier to climb in and out of.
The entry portals have been lowered nearly 2.5 inches, all four door openings
are 1.5 inches higher and the rear doors are 1.5 inches wider. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the doorsills on Toyota s 4Runner are still among the highest in their
class. The Limited model comes with very practical and attractive
runningboards, but I did a lot of pullups climbing into the SR5 model. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At least the climb is worth it. The front bucket seats are supportive and
comfortable, and the back seat is roomier than ever. With 35 inches of
legroom, 51.4 inches of hip room and nearly 39 inches of head room in the rear
seat, two adults and a child can ride pretty comfortably. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The comfort comes from the 4Runner s engineering as well as its roominess.
It may look like Toyota s Tacoma pickup truck and share its basic powertrain,
but the 4Runner actually has its own sheetmetal and suspension. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That suspension delivers a composed, comfortable ride on all types of
roads. Steering control and road feel are good, and the 4Runner corners quite
well for an SUV. It s also pretty quiet, although the V-6 engine in my test
vehicle roared a bit when approaching its 5,500 rpm redline. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Otherwise, the 3.4-liter, twincam engine is delightful. It feels very
strong around town and smooth on the highway. I d like just a little more
punch for high-speed passing, but the 183-horsepower engine moves the 4Runner
SR5 from zero to 60 mph in a respectable 10 seconds. Also respectable for an
SUV are the 4Runner s EPA mileage ratings of 16 city/19 highway. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Another 4Runner attribute is its cockpit design. Toyotas typically feature
excellent ergonomic design, so it s no surprise that the switches, controls
and instruments are easy to use. But you may not expect such a car-like
instrument panel in a truck, even though it bears the Toyota name. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Over the years, that name has come to stand for durability, dependability
and quality. That reputation is in good hands with the new 4Runner. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Scott Wasser s car column runs on Sunday. You can e-mail him at
ScottYski@aol.com &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I Have No Idea What Was Falling From The Sky, But I M Sure It Was Cold And Wet 
And It Didn T Come From Pigeons. Sleet? Snow? Freezing Rain? 
Yes. Maybe. Who Cares? 
I M Not A Meteorologist, I M A Car Guy. I Leave It To Them To Define The Form, 
Type And Quantity Of Precipitation. My Concern Is Not Getting Too Wet And 
Being Able To Get Where I Want To Go.