Answers to your car questions

QUESTION I just bought my first new car. I’m 67! It’s a Honda CR-V AWD LX 2018 and I’m wondering if you think it is worth undercoating. I was thinking of getting Krown rust protection for this vehicle since I keep my vehicles at least 10 years and some of my driving is on gravel roads. Thank you, Maria from Port Dover ANSWER It is well worth the money to have a vehicle rust protected especially if you intend on keeping the vehicle past it’s warranty time. QUESTION I am interested in buying a 2007 Lexus RX350 with only 125,000 klms on it. It has been serviced by a Lexus dealer since new and the selling price is only $10,700, Subsequent investigation however, through another Lexus dealer, has disclosed that the interior has been flooded because of a reported blockage of the air conditioner drain. The owner sold it this past August to a used car dealer presumably because of the flooding. Is this a potential deal breaker and one that I should stay away from or is the risk of long-term damage too insignificant to worry about? I live in Brantford and the car is at a dealer in York. Thank you in advance for any advice that you may provide on this. Best regards, Ray from Brantford ANSWER I think that the word flooding is a little bit of exaggeration because any excess moisture in the car would have been noticed on the windshield long before the driver would have noticed any excessive dampness on the floor. To put your mind at ease, lift up the carpet on the passenger’s side to determine if the under pad is completely dried out and there isn’t any evidence of rusting on the floor pan. Also check under the dash for any evidence of rusting and if there is, it is best to stay away from purchasing that vehicle. Make sure that you get a Carfax history of the car before you sign on the dotted line. QUESTION Is it okay to ask the dealer for another salesperson when buying a new car? I went to a local dealer in Hamilton and was greeted by a salesperson of different origin. I have dealt with these people in the past and it has not been favourable because I cannot trust what they say. Is it okay to approach the new car sales manager and ask for another salesperson or will that end up in me getting slapped with a discrimination lawsuit? The car in question is the one that I have been looking for, for some time and I would like to purchase it but from another salesperson. How do I go about this? Prefer that you do not use my name ANSWER I can certainly understand why you do not want your name to be used. Just because you had a bad experience in the past with a person from a different background, does not mean that you have to associate that experience with every other person with the same background. That my friend, is a problem with you and not the salesperson. If I took that position with everyone that I have disagreed with in the past, I would not be talking to anyone other than the person in the mirror. If you are capable of reading contracts then make sure that everything that you are asking for is put on that contract and by doing so, it does not matter if that salesperson is from another background or not. QUESTION I purchased two new tires from a local garage about two months ago and just last week, while driving to St Jacob’s, the left rear wheel came off the car and caused extensive damage to the rear quarter of the car. I have zero deductible on my car but I do not feel that my insurance should be paying for the damage when it was the garage that left the wheel loose. I have been back to the garage and they basically told me to shove salt - - -. My insurance company does not seem to have any backbone to try and resolve this problem. Is this something that you can look into for me? Danny from Guelph ANSWER If you have notified your insurance company about your concerns then they will definitely look into the possibility that the garage might have left the wheels loose. I suspect that the insurance company has already told you that, at this time, it would be futile to go after the garage when two months have gone by since they installed the wheels. Rather than steam rolling ahead to look for fault, you should just be thankful that you and/or others on the road were not injured when the wheel came off. Rest assured that if the insurance company could fault the garage, they would jump at the opportunity to do so and they would be totally within their rights. A HAPPY READER I just want to thank you and the Spectator for having a column where a customer can get satisfaction when they have been wronged by a garage. The garage in question did give me back thirty-six dollars out of a thirty-six dollars and sixty cent dispute and I am happy with that. The garage even gave me a free oil change while I was there so I will continue to use that garage for the foreseeable future. Iona from Kitchener