Where are the mainstream vehicles?
I have read the list of vehicles that will be tested soon. Not many mainstream vehicles in there! I can understand that manufacturers push the promotion of vehicles with a high profit margin, but it seems to me that it is your role to hold them back and demand vehicles with a wider distribution.
Claude J.
We ask our readers on a weekly basis to tell us about their experiences. Altered regularly, this list that we produce does not always reflect the analyzes that we will publish in the short term. The data collected is also sometimes used to support certain comments we make in the “mail” section.
As part of the “test bench”, our role is first to inform you about the latest developments in the industry. Moreover, we strive to share with you the strengths and weaknesses of each of them even before they are put on the market, in addition to carrying out a brief comparison with some of their rivals. We cannot include them all, but at least this additional section to the “test bench” allows us to establish a certain hierarchy. You are right to point out that certain vehicles analyzed as part of the “test bench” are not within the reach of all budgets.
Before going any further, two elements are worth putting into perspective. The first, economic: Quebecers spend on average $60,000 on the purchase of their vehicle. The second, mercantile: the manufacturers’ portfolio consists of some 250 models and the vast majority respond to sufficient demand. That said, regardless of price or category, all test benches are of interest. They allow you to better understand trends and discover technologies and technical advances that will have an impact on the entire vehicle fleet relatively quickly.
Finally, for more than 20 years, we have strived to diversify our offering when putting together our testing schedule. This is designed according to numerous parameters (accessibility, innovation, importance, etc.).
Power outage
PHOTO PROVIDED BY KTM
KTM 1290 Super Adventure S
I bought a new KTM 1290 Super Adventure S motorcycle. This motorcycle is a real marvel. On the other hand, after storing it for 21 days in the summer, the battery was completely flat. The dealer tells me this is normal. I have never had this problem with my other motorcycles, even after one winter of storage. Is the dealer telling the truth?
Serge C.
To answer your question, we asked for help from our colleague and motorcycle specialist Bertrand Gahel. This one is clear: “No, it is not normal for a battery to die in three weeks without use. Two questions must be asked before going any further: the battery must be in perfect condition, that is to say fully charged and in the same condition as a new one. Is she? Then, are there accessories that drain the battery even when the ignition is off? That would explain your problem. »
Reimbursement ?
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Car dealerships sometimes offer “excess wear waiver” insurance for leased vehicles.
When I leased my car four years ago, I took out “excessive wear and tear waiver” insurance for the sum of $1,000. This covered, up to $10,000, tires, windshield, scratches, etc. It brought me a certain peace of mind. My lease was expiring, I chose to purchase my rental vehicle. To my great surprise, the $1000 will not be refunded to me. Am I being played by my dealer?
Pauline D.
Logically, you should be entitled to reimbursement for your protection. But there is one condition. The reimbursement request must appear in the rental contract that you signed four years ago. If this provision is not included in the contract, your dealer is not required to reimburse you. According to the Consumer Protection Office (OPC), “the consumer who plans to buy the car at the end of the lease should not subscribe […] such assurance.”
Electric that does not rust
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Our reader wishes there was an anti-rust treatment suitable for electric and hybrid cars.
It seems very difficult, due to the electrical components hidden under electric and hybrid vehicles, to find an anti-rust treatment that does not risk damaging these components or even altering certain manufacturer warranties. With the growing demand for this type of vehicle, government subsidies to encourage their purchase and the difficult winter conditions in our province, can we hope for the imminent arrival on the market of an anti-rust treatment suitable for electric and hybrid cars? ?
Francis L.
It already exists. In fact, some companies specialize in this area by applying a biodegradable anti-rust treatment. It does not contain solvents and presents no risk for these vehicles equipped with numerous electrical and electronic components. To find out which workshops offer such a service in your region, we suggest you contact the Association of Electric Vehicles of Quebec. But before doing so, we strongly suggest that you read the terms of the anti-corrosion guarantee defined by the manufacturer.