It isn’t every day that I recover from my irrepressible anxieties and thrill to the soothing sensation of a balmy afternoon and the unmistakeable feeling of bien-être, “État agréable résultant de la satisfaction des besoins du corps et du calme de l’esprit“. Today was just such a day. Perfection about captures it! My first hint was immediately upon awakening this morning. As I drew back the patio door to the balcony I overheard a marvellously uplifting bird chirping. This was the prelude to our leisurely bicycle ride alongside the channels of the Mississippi River skirting Coleman’s Island and then through the tranquil countryside to Martin St N.
A subsequent novelty today was the accompanying smoothness of the drive in my new automobile, a 2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve from Lincoln Heights dealership in Ottawa (Prop: Les Bell). I knew the vehicle was a fine production; but it wasn’t until today – after having driven it routinely since April 14th last – that all the parts fell into order and rendered an uncompromisingly pleasant performance.
I must however qualify the gushing compliment by noting my displeasure with the carbon-coloured condensation which persists underneath the car though at times less than others. Based upon the advice of the service department it is merely condensation – which is reputedly normal. My instinct tells me differently. Having owned many new cars I can’t say that black drips are normal from the undercarriage of any new car. I have questioned the dealership whether they specifically advised the service department that the leaks of which I initially complained were not mere water condensation (akin to air conditioning moisture) but carbon-coloured residue. The dealership has not answered me.
Whether it is because of the confusion of the pandemic, Lincoln and their retail agents have in my opinion been slow to address the frustration. It irks me beyond words to tolerate a new vehicle of this calibre with carbon leaks – not to mention the indignity of routinely having to hose and sweep the garage floor to clean it. Time and again I have attempted to dismiss or alter my obsessiveness by reasoning there is some explanation for the corruption. Yet I am daily reminded of its elemental problem. There is no way I can pretend it does not exist. Nor can I imagine most new car owners willingly tolerating this persistent residue. Meanwhile the dealership insists condensation is normal (though pointedly without offering an explanation of the carbon-coloured additive); and they are reportedly working on getting a mat for me to put on the garage floor beneath the car – a further indignity and social embarrassment – but as yet no response.
On the subject of complaints, just days after taking possession of the car I enquired at the dealership about the front passenger door which does not align with the body frame. I was told after a cursory examination of the door that it would be necessary to have a local auto-body shop look into it. Because I have no desire to fix what ain’t broke – and more specifically to screw around with door fittings, adjusting and repainting – I let it go. The dealership owner was unaware of this complaint when I told him about it.
The final straw is that during the past year during which I communicated with the dealership on several occasions I repeatedly listed the few things which were important to me. Among them was my preference for no dealer ID on the car. I have bought about ten cars from the same dealership and I have always insisted on no dealer ID. The new car has dealer ID – at the left rear corner where dealer IDs usually appear. I have not mentioned this petty complaint to the dealer. But I am very close to doing so!