Venza deflector is excuse for trip to Montreal
Cars play a major role in many vacation trips.
That point was, er, driven home in the planning of a mini-vacation to Montreal in late August.
Good friend Ken drives a Venza, one that is driven a whole lot of miles. He and his wife Helen (and Vixie, their German Shepherd) have adopted the snowbird lifestyle, splitting their time between Florida and New Hampshire.
Last summer, Ken noticed around the Lakes Region of New Hampshire two Venzas with smoke-colored air deflectors. He also noticed both of those Venzas had Canadian license plates.
The deflectors caught his eye both for their usefulness and style, the style component because the part is constructed with a large hole to display the Toyota logo in the center of the Venza’s hood.
He thought one would be a good addition to his car, especially because it experiences bug season in both states and lots of road debris in Florida.
Inquiries with local dealers led him to the correct conclusion that the part was available for some Toyota models in the United States but not for the Venza. However, a call to a Quebec dealer confirmed that the part was readily available in Canada.
“Just call to order the part and make an appointment,’’ was their response.
When he mentioned his plan to us, Mrs. G was quick to say, “We’ve always wanted to make a trip to Montreal.’’ Thus did a three-day vacation in Old Montreal come to pass.
One of the best parts: Ken did the driving. Others were the legroom (front and rear) in the Venza and how easily it accommodated our luggage. That it also got 26.5 miles per gallon didn’t hurt, either.
Our visit to Chassé Toyota in the heart of Montreal’s Plateau section was a pleasure.
Service advisor Christian Paquin, along with other dealership employees and fellow service customers, dusted off their English and couldn’t have been nicer, offering local tips and stories about life in Montreal to the Americans who’d stumbled into their lives. Afterward, Paquin lifted the hood of the Venza to show how pre-drilled holes and indentations make installing the deflector a simple job.
The Chassé urban dealership started life as a local garage, becoming a Toyota dealership in 1972. It’s since expanded to a series of buildings in the neighborhood—a far cry from the typical US dealership on one large plot of real estate with a lot filled with cars on display.
Chassé uses an in-house elevator to lift cars to a second floor showroom.
“We sell a lot of small cars but very few trucks,’’ says Paquin. “That’s probably the opposite of what they sell in the Toyota dealerships back in your hometowns.’’
Then again, we don’t make our hometown dealerships into tourist destinations.
Spoiled by Luxury
When I was a young lad, my dad always pointed out that having a heater and defroster in our cars was a luxury, telling me that a heater was a significant option in his first pre-WWII cars and the vent windows helped keep fog off the inside of the windshield.
As I grew older, I realized that having air conditioning was a luxury, even during winter storms when you could combine the heat and a/c to keep the windows from fogging up.
Those memories came back over Labor Day Weekend when traffic and torrential downpours turned an expected four-hour drive home from a wedding in Bar Harbor, Maine, to a seven-and-a-half-hour ordeal. The climate control system got a major workout.
We were driving a $68,000 Hyundai Equus, a luxurious rear-wheel-drive luxury car with three-zone climate control. The car attracted curious inquiries over the weekend.
Getting potential luxury car buyers to consider the Equus is Hyundai’s major hurdle because part of the luxury car experience is the prestige, or perceived prestige, that accompanies the nameplate.
Talking to some confirmed long-time Mercedes drivers at the wedding gave an impression they weren’t about to make the switch; however, other wedding guests liked the vehicle and would consider it as a “value proposition.’’
Our test Equus averaged 23.8 miles per gallon, had a great suspension, comfortable seats, and terrific sound system.
Because the Equus had a limousine-like rear seat, we could have offered it for use in the wedding procession. As it was, the car, with its upscale appearance, looked right at home parked out front of the swank resort.
Etc.
Today is Mercedes Day at Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline. The day traditionally brings out an amazing array of vehicles that show the M-B DNA … It’s also a big day around New England with car shows in Wilmington, MA; Rye, NH; and Bristol, VT. You can do a twofer in Plymouth: the 5th Annual Cars ‘n Copters at the airport and a smaller show at Emeritus Assisted Living on Rte. 3A.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com