Author Topic: Public Service Announcement to Quebec Motorists -- What day is it today? (Read 4658 times)

Angry Chicken · « **on:** December 15, 2009, 08:05:59 am »

Today is the 1st day of mandatory winter tire fitment on your cars and light trucks. Cops aren't issuing warnings *this* winter.

Too bad it isn't mandatory in other jurisdictions....

quadzilla · « **Reply #1 on:** December 15, 2009, 08:28:06 am »

Cue the "But I'm a good driver and have never been in an accident and never had winter tires before so I don't need them now." responses.

Thinking Out Loud · « **Reply #2 on:** December 15, 2009, 08:38:05 am »

Ford it it on the head with some recent advertising where they included 4 winter tires with the purchase of any Fusion, Focus or Escape.

Paying $750+ for summers and $750+ for winters (assuming we are driving 16" rims and not the $65 advertised tire special for 13" rims Canadian Tire advertises) - could likely be reduced if the winters were bought in greater bulk.

I went through the exercise in replacing the MPV's rubber recently and given the unique size (and wanting winter rubber) I was facing a $2,000 tab for two sets of shoes and one set of steelies. Went with Nokian WR's as a compromise for my budget for a thousand bucks.

My point? Volume should bring down cost - winters only get run seasonally I believe and are seem priced as a 'premium' product.

Ford is on the right track with winters as an automatic 'included' feature - even if the reality is that it is built into the car price.

tpl · « **Reply #3 on:** December 15, 2009, 08:47:04 am »

Quote from: quadzilla on December 15, 2009, 08:28:06 am

Cue the "But I'm a good driver and have never been in an accident and never had winter tires before so I don't need them now." responses.

Here is a sample of the opposite response.

But I'm a competent driver and have never been in an accident probably because I have always had winter tires and I still need them now.
AND I have no problem driving more slowly and carefully when conditions are bad.
AND I have no problem getting all the snow and ice off the car as well as making sure the windscreen washer system is full.
AND I check the tire pressures so they are not low in cold weather.

quadzilla · « **Reply #4 on:** December 15, 2009, 08:49:38 am »

Quote from: Thinking Out Loud on December 15, 2009, 08:38:05 am

Ford is on the right track with winters as an automatic 'included' feature - even if the reality is that it is built into the car price.

Even if you had to pay for it when you buy the car, lumping another $800 on top of the price and paying for it over 3-5 years is nothing. People have no problem springing for leather, upgrade stereo or sunroofs but when it comes to winter tires that can make driving safer it all of a sudden becomes a lot of money.

Thinking Out Loud · « **Reply #5 on:** December 15, 2009, 09:22:11 am »

Quote from: quadzilla on December 15, 2009, 08:49:38 am

Quote from: Thinking Out Loud on December 15, 2009, 08:38:05 am
Ford is on the right track with winters as an automatic 'included' feature - even if the reality is that it is built into the car price.

Even if you had to pay for it when you buy the car, lumping another $800 on top of the price and paying for it over 3-5 years is nothing. People have no problem springing for leather, upgrade stereo or sunroofs but when it comes to winter tires that can make driving safer it all of a sudden becomes a lot of money.

Of all the new cars I have acquired over the years, never once have I been offered a 'Winter Tire Package' and a quote for what it would add per month to my lease / finance. I certainly would have jumped on it if it were offered, as it wasn't on the top of my mind at the time of negotiating for $15 more per month or so!

The FI people can't juststify additional rustproofing and try to sell it anyway....yet here is an upgrade that has an immediately appreciable benefit ....Cord, take notes!

Once the OE tires are toast 2 years from now and you are looking for replacements - looking to purchase two set of rubber IS an expensive proposition. Goooooooo Ford!

tpl · « **Reply #6 on:** December 15, 2009, 09:25:09 am »

I was offered a winter package when I bought my BMW. About $3600 IIRC. 4 Borbet alloys and 4 Pirelli tires. I refused that and did my own, with alloys and Yoko AVS Winters for about $1800.

wing · « **Reply #7 on:** December 15, 2009, 09:32:29 am »

Local Nissan dealer was "throwing" in tires on new Versa's although who knows how much the cost was it's a great idea.

Shnak · « **Reply #8 on:** December 15, 2009, 09:35:35 am »

The thing I don't like about these dealerships 'throwing in' winter tires is you don't really know the quality of the tires you're getting... If they throw them in for free, I think it's safe to say they won't give you the best tires out there. I suppose cheap winter tires are better than no winter tires at all... but still, I would much rather get that discount on the sale price and then shop for the tires myself...

quadzilla · « **Reply #9 on:** December 15, 2009, 10:20:00 am »

Quote from: Shnak on December 15, 2009, 09:35:35 am

The thing I don't like about these dealerships 'throwing in' winter tires is you don't really know the quality of the tires you're getting... If they throw them in for free, I think it's safe to say they won't give you the best tires out there. I suppose cheap winter tires are better than no winter tires at all... but still, I would much rather get that discount on the sale price and then shop for the tires myself...

Am I the only person that checks what kind of tires I'll be getting on my car?

Same to the winter tires, just ask what model they are and if you can upgrade.

safristi · « **Reply #10 on:** December 15, 2009, 10:32:35 am »

................

new HOLIDAY in QUEBEC..................................DRIVE HEVRES

named after the Saint of OVERINDULGENCE................

Shnak · « **Reply #11 on:** December 15, 2009, 10:38:46 am »

Quote from: quadzilla on December 15, 2009, 10:20:00 am

Quote from: Shnak on December 15, 2009, 09:35:35 am
The thing I don't like about these dealerships 'throwing in' winter tires is you don't really know the quality of the tires you're getting... If they throw them in for free, I think it's safe to say they won't give you the best tires out there. I suppose cheap winter tires are better than no winter tires at all... but still, I would much rather get that discount on the sale price and then shop for the tires myself...

Am I the only person that checks what kind of tires I'll be getting on my car?

Same to the winter tires, just ask what model they are and if you can upgrade.

I suppose... but considering how cheap most OEM all season tires usually are, I wouldn't have much hope of getting quality winter tires 'thrown in' with a new vehicle purchase... as I said, I'd either look to get a credit on the purchase price, or pay extra to upgrade to something of higher quality (like you said).

Then again, for most people, all winter tires are created equal, and they couldn't care less how cheap the thrown in tires are... they're getting WINTER TIRES FOR FREE!!! Dealerships are not dumb... they're in it for the money. They buy cheap winter tires in bulk and pass them off to ignorant consummers who have no clue what they're buying.

Shnak · « **Reply #12 on:** December 15, 2009, 10:44:10 am »

It's like that place here in Hull that sells used cars, Mega Automobiles. Their radio ad these days says they'll throw in winter tires with any sale, in addition to a pair of plane tickets for the dominican republic (or one of these warm places) plus a GPS unit... that's BS IMO... instead of these gimmicks, why not just lower the price by $1500? I'll get my own tires, and bank the difference, thank you very much.

blur911 · « **Reply #13 on:** December 15, 2009, 10:47:51 am »

Quote from: Shnak on December 15, 2009, 10:44:10 am

It's like that place here in Hull that sells used cars, Mega Automobiles. Their radio ad these days says they'll throw in winter tires with any sale, in addition to a pair of plane tickets for the dominican republic (or one of these warm places) plus a GPS unit... that's BS IMO... instead of these gimmicks, why not just lower the price by $1500? I'll get my own tires, and bank the difference, thank you very much.

They're throwing in all that because people are financing it on their "car loan".
Remember Find-a-Car, they were up to the same thing, but moreso.

Angry Chicken · « **Reply #14 on:** December 15, 2009, 07:36:52 pm »

Quote from: wing on December 15, 2009, 09:32:29 am

Local Nissan dealer was "throwing" in tires on new Versa's although who knows how much the cost was it's a great idea.

I wonder if that upside-down blue Versa which figures prominently in the pics of the 70-car pileup yesterday on the 416 (http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/topic,65144.0.html)had winter tires that were thrown into the deal?

You get what you pay for....

dr_spock · « **Reply #15 on:** December 15, 2009, 08:40:51 pm »

I was offered the winter package but it was heated cloth seats and heated windshield washer nozzles. I'd rather pick and buy own tires but it would have been nice if they offered oem rims for winter tires as part of that winter package.

toolatecrew · « **Reply #16 on:** December 15, 2009, 09:08:03 pm »

Fortunatley this is only in Quebec. I have winters on my main car. I have all seasons on my secondary car. Today it was plus 6 and raining. I drove the secondary car (which rarley leaves the city limits. All seasons were just fine in 6 C and rain. When it snows it can stay home and I'll drive the car with winters. No need for me to buy 600$ plus worth of winters to drive my second car in good conditions now is there? That $600 can go towards keeping good quality winters on my main car .

I agree that winters are best but maing them mandatory is questionable at best.

Thinking Out Loud · « **Reply #17 on:** December 15, 2009, 09:26:50 pm »

Quote from: Angry Chicken on December 15, 2009, 07:36:52 pm

Quote from: wing on December 15, 2009, 09:32:29 am
Local Nissan dealer was "throwing" in tires on new Versa's although who knows how much the cost was it's a great idea.
I wonder if that upside-down blue Versa which figures prominently in the pics of the 70-car pileup yesterday on the 416 (http://www.canadiandriver.com/forum/index.php/topic,65144.0.html)had winter tires that were thrown into the deal?

You get what you pay for....

You are of course assuming that Versa:

- had the free winters (and tire quality presumed poor)
- the Versa had not in fact stopped without incident but got slammed by a WRX (or similar) slaloming down the 417
- the Versa didn't have the highest quality snow shoes on the planet

The road are only as safe as the biggest jerk on the road, in any condition, with any tire. Unfortunately...

Cheap winters are likely better than the best all seasons in these conditions....especially half-worn all seasons.

Angry Chicken · « **Reply #18 on:** December 15, 2009, 11:28:08 pm »

My post was a tongue-in-cheek reply to Wing's observation about the local dealer throwing in cheap winter tires with Versa sales. :-o

Shnak · « **Reply #19 on:** December 16, 2009, 07:41:52 am »

Quote from: toolatecrew on December 15, 2009, 09:08:03 pm

Fortunatley this is only in Quebec. I have winters on my main car. I have all seasons on my secondary car. Today it was plus 6 and raining. I drove the secondary car (which rarley leaves the city limits. All seasons were just fine in 6 C and rain. When it snows it can stay home and I'll drive the car with winters. No need for me to buy 600$ plus worth of winters to drive my second car in good conditions now is there? That $600 can go towards keeping good quality winters on my main car .

I agree that winters are best but maing them mandatory is questionable at best.

What happens that day it starts out warming than 0ºC but slower creeps down to below-zero by the time you want to head home? Roads start to freeze, and A/S tires become hockey pucks in freezing temperatures...

As someone else has said already, purchasing winter tires should be budgeted into regular operating costs of a vehicle. Besides, saying that this $600 can go towards quality winters on your main car is BS. If you have the money to purchase and operate TWO vehicles, you have the money to put winters on both. That's just BS IMO.