A very long day…

Somewhere around 2:00 am this morning I awoke and dressed myself in an assortment of cotton casuals then descended to the basement to drive my car.  First however I responded to an email from Les Bell, Dealer Principal of Lincoln Heights Ford.  He very kindly invited me to drive another of his Aviator models to compare to my vehicle what if anything leaked from its undercarriage. Meanwhile I continued my examination of the condensation from my own vehicle. Once again this morning I discovered that, upon moving my vehicle immediately from the parking spot (that is, without lingering to allow the engine to diminish the revs upon start-up), there were no collections of contaminants on the garage floor. When I allowed the engine to idle and then backed it into the parking space again, there were no manifest drips. Thus begins the comparative investigation.

Les Bell arrived here around ten o’clock. I drove him back to his office in my vehicle to avoid adding mileage to the “loaner”.  When I returned home I drove the loaner to White Lake and back, then parked the loaner in the garage.  At 7:00 pm we shall repair to the garage to check what if anything is under the car. My suspicion is there will be nothing – consistent with what I have experienced with my own car after having driven it. There may be evidence of pure condensation but this is tolerable and would reflect the high outdoor temperatures today.

The photo below indicates what is pure water condensation likely from the air conditioning system.

After we photograph the 7:00 pm situation I intend to start the engine, allow the engine to idle in the parking space, then remove the car from the parking space to see what if anything appears by way of drips.  Again I suspect there will be little if any contaminants. My own car I believe has a history of producing contaminants primarily upon start-up. Indeed upon starting up the loaner, letting it idle, then checking for drips – there was nothing.

I then removed the loaner (parked it outside), returned my car to the garage, let the engine idle and there was only some water condensation again consistent with the use of the air conditioner.

Near 9:00 pm this evening I checked the loaner – again no evidence of drips, etc.

I also went to the garage to check my car.  I immediately removed it from its parking space – no evidence of drips.  I then parked the car in its space, idled the engine, then removed the car – no drips.  I will check again tomorrow morning – both immediate removal and then replacement and idling – for both vehicles.

Having driven the loaner to White Lake and back was a sufficient reminder of the more profound lesson in this scientific experiment; namely, no one of these vehicles ever attains entire perfection. It naturally sounds absurdly platitudinous to record such an account yet the blunt truth is that people like I attach enormous significance to mechanical purity. Certainly a level of accommodation on both sides of the argument is required; and then, as in most things in life, there are choices to be made. The primary factors are cosmetics – things like colour, wheel size and options. These variables can rocket the capital cost measurably – proof that you get what you pay for. The indignity of paying for one’s indulgences does not however ensure there will be no problems – a result which is frequently the source of objection and sometimes litigation.

As for Lincoln’s 2020 model of the Aviator, it currently has the reputation for having precipitated its fair share of complaints. Nonetheless it unquestionably qualifies as a modern and unspeakably pleasant drive. For the moment at least the new kid on the block will have to undergo further repeated analysis and amendment. It appears that its peccadillos are neither universal nor uniform. This particular experiment is reminiscent of the experience I had when comparing two Steinway pianos – mine (an L-grand in brown mahogany) and John Jamieson’s (a Louis XIV cabinet), having a difference in cost of $35,000 and $105,000. Though I enjoyed the Louis XIV model I preferred my own; the action and sound from the harps were notably different. It is worth comment that all the pins on my piano had to be replaced within weeks of the piano’s arrival because of the change in humidity from the showroom (which was overly humidified) to my house (which had only the regular air conditioning). Significantly however after the associated disruption between retailer (Kenny Lauzon) and purchaser (me) the matter was settled – though effectively not without some contamination from reality. One cannot abuse the retailers for initially applauding the supremacy of their respective products; but as a result they must endure the penalty for failure of almost any description.