How to choose a ride made for Canada
Climate poses challenge for manufacturers
Which was the most Canadian vehicle: the 1932 Frontenac 6-70 made in Leaside, the 1961 Mercury Meteor Montcalm from Oakville, the 1966 Studebaker Commander Series built in Hamilton, or the 1964 Volvo produced in Nova Scotia? At one time, carmakers found it profitable to design, manufacture and market products specifically for Canucks, but sadly no more.
But our unique geography and climate still pose challenges that few automakers ever really live up to. So when you’re on the hunt for your next set of wheels, you won’t find any vehicle specifically made for us, but you can use your savvy to make sure you get a ride that can endure all four seasons.
Some bodies only look good at the beach. Low aerodynamic bumper covers and plastic side skirts might have some limited beneficial effect on fuel mileage, but those savings quickly evaporate the first time you kiss a frozen snow bank or parking lot curb stone. Rather than kicking tires, you might consider checking the thickness and impact resistance of common collision body panels. If you can easily flex the lower part of a bumper cover with your hand, consider how it will stand up in the real world of your daily commute.
If you have a particularly steep driveway approach at home, maybe a vehicle with less than two inches of front ground clearance shouldn’t be on your short list.
Before car shopping, check your calendar. Ever wonder why automakers and their retailers advertise winter tire packages only in the snowy months? If they’re able to squeeze a set of steel rims and snow tires into the deal in December, they can do the same any other month of the year. When you go car shopping in May, remember winter is only a few months away, and avoid the December rush and unwanted hit to your Christmas budget by getting winter tires included with your deal.
In winter, you need to see and be seen. Since most of us commute during the apparently endless darkness of our late autumn, winter and early spring, you’d think car shoppers would take a test drive at night to check out the effectiveness of some headlamps. But the number of calls made to accessory stores by desperate drivers looking for brighter lights say otherwise. LED-trimmed teardrop- shape headlamps might look cool, but they can leave a lot to be desired in terms of function.
And knowing that the majority of our landscape is ( usually) covered in snow for a considerable length of time each year, why is white still one of the top three colour choices? The other two popular colours, black and silver, also make no sense for urban commuting in dark grey concrete jungles. Pick a bright colour and be seen.