Going for Service

This morning we had to bring one of the cars for service, to deal with a recall notice, a clunky door, and a few dash lights that had no business blinking and lighting up. 

We enlisted The Colonel to assist in this task, lets see what he has to say:

Guys I don't mind helping out and doing my good deed early in the morning and enduring some commuter traffic, not going there, its o the way...

The price of gas this morning, keeping in mind that premium is an additional 13 cents a liter.

Some things never change...."Auto Dealer Row"

Flags, banners, vehicles on the grass...the usual to ensure that the "stereotype" endures. Lets not forget the iconic 0% to truly embellish.

The manufacturer specific image architecture, makes for an elegant street scape. Wonder what they will do in a few years when the trees lining the sidewalk get bigger?

We have arrived!

Yes...its is a light rain, no its not the Olympic rings...yes it sure looks like a camera at the corner of the building.

 

Here we go...Service, the car is in the RH door, this had better be fast, less than 5 minutes, out in about 3 min. 45 secs...exceptional service. They even have a screen advising of service appointments.

Now lets see how fast they will fix this car.

A "slammed" A6 who would do something like that? Yes...totally refraining from further comments!

 

Its a Panamera S...again refraining from further comments. You know the saying "Discretion...."

Yes adjusted the photo do remove the flags on the light posts...I know where I am, I don't need a bunch of flags telling me where I am, plus have seen enough flags this morning.

A taste / flavour of southbound traffic on the highway on the way back. No...went down by surface streets.

When you bring a car for service to a dealer and you are in and out in less than 5 minutes, its exceptional service. Did in less than 5 minutes this morning...its a good start. Why was I enlisted, or better I volunteered, this dealer charges for alternate transportation, not worth the money or the hassle of acquiring alternate transportation. 

Racing

Informative Autoline After Hours (AAH) episode...

Zen of Washing

We have mentioned on numerous occasions that washing your car with a bucket and a hose is a "Zen Experience". Everyone that understands the Zen has their "modus operandi" to turn washing their car into the "Zen Experience".

We are not going to tell you how to wash your own car, The Colonel (who is this guy?) tells us of his latest car washing Zen Experience. 

Guys it was last Friday, beautiful day, in the morning I was debating either going for a motorcycle ride or washing a car. I knew that either activity would quickly turns into a "Zen Experience".

For whatever reason washing the car wins!

Before anyone gets in knots about doing these activities during working hours on a Friday, what can I tell you life is good! Don't get in knots about the car either...its old!

The car needs a spring freshening / cleaning, and some TLC...

I started with the interior, not that it was dirty, it required a freshening especially after a winter. The usual touch points, steering wheel, shift lever, arm rest, power window switches require more attention. Yes the floor mats were washed, even the pedals.

The rear is easier, just a freshening up, hardly anyone ever sits back there. Still did the seat, door panels, under the doors, rear window parcel shelf. 

Then I made my way to the trunk, vacuumed, cleaned the sides around the weather strip (that trunk looks positively huge in a photo). If you are starting to get the feeling that I do not tolerate a messy car, you would be right.

Moving on to the engine compartment that was a little messy, and "bothering me" its the engine compartment that weighed for the car instead of the motorcycle ride. Nothing that WD40, a good quantity of blue shop wipes, shop latex gloves, and human power cannot fix. 

Do I need to tell you that once the engine compartment was clean, I felt better...hate it when you open a hood and its messy. 

This car has SBC (Sensotronic Brake Control) brakes, you can see the BC clearly on what looks like an ABS box, except this one has an electric motor and pressure reservoir. Yes...I could take a small brush and deal with the grime between the fins....next time...told you its an old car.

On newer cars you have to clean the headlamp, parking light, fog lamp lenses, they usually get a layer of road grime....yes they are Zenon!

I always do the wheels last, use a different sponge and apply tire shine...yes its a minor curb rash (left side)...cars will get a curb rash at one point. You surely know the routine of brake dust, spokes, little bolts on the circumference. It looks good and is a little time consuming to clean properly.

No wheel locks, the lug nuts require an allen key.

 

Once I wash the car with soapy water in a bucket, and a microfiber sponge, wipe off most of the water with a squeegee, clean the door jambs, inside the gas filler, finish drying the car. Do all the glass inside and out. Its a spectacular day, bright sun, my T-shirt is wet, the car is getting a wash, and I'm getting a wash too, not with soapy water.

I now decide that I might as well "go for gusto" and apply a coat of polish/wax. The 6 inch orbital applicator works well to apply, and human power with microfiber cloths works well to remove the wax. The waxing is done in the garage.

Yes...some folks go to the gym, I'm getting a work out while improving my tan...today.

Its clean, its shiny, and for some Zen Reason when they are clean and shiny they run better, go figure.

The individual that is preoccupied with other priorities than washing a car, can always buy a car wash at the self serve gas station, and entirely miss the Zen Experience of washing your car.

Kenworth K100

You rarely see a COE truck, especially one that has been completely redone, and with a Silver 92 (DD 8V-92), if you remember COE trucks, and 8V92's enjoy....and tell us about it...leave a comment.

Vro0m Ro0m

Good Morning!

Lets make some Vroom in the Vroom Room, enjoy the Caffee Latte.

No secret that we were supporting Corvette at LeMans, and we were bitterly disappointed. Did you notice the novel campaign from Audi to increase their Twitter followers?

If you watched the habitual F1 parade in Montreal, did you notice that certain drivers were on a mission to reinforce their personal brand? Need we say much more (use your imagination to fill in the blanks).

All these presumably cool companies that get it, and have a Twitter logo on their site or blog, if anyone communicates with you through Twitter, ideally you should respond. Yes we agree that you really don't know who is trying to engage with you, its seems unrelated, perhaps you even missed it (how could you). By not responding lets just say that you instantly don't look too smart.

In case you missed our thoughts on Canadian Sales...here they are. 

By now we all know that downtown Toronto will be in "lock down mode" with the upcoming G meetings, and its going to cost an obscene amount of our money. You have to wonder why the mainstream media is on a mission to remind us on a daily basis. 

Canadian families are pressed for time, has anyone noticed how most folks drive these days? Its actually pretty good that we reach our destinations. Can you go anywhere in a major metro area without enduring some form of traffic congestion? Want to share your thoughts leave a comment.

Think about this...if you have the possibility of straddling a motorcycle during the week, and going for a ride on a road less traveled its a genuine luxury these days...consider yourself very fortunate...in your case life is good.

You may have missed our Racing Moments on Twitter...its here.

The thought of the day...if one generation is increasingly depended on electronic devices to remain connected, compared to a generation that was dependent on the automobile to remain connected and mobile. Is there a possibility that the budget for the automobile will be affected and altered by the budget for the electronic devices. Care to share your thoughts?

Stunning motorsports photography from John Thawley.

Thought provoking article by Nicholas Carr "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"