Day 7
February 4th 2010
Today, the cat was let out of the bag. No, Mercedes did not release any trade secrets about the little fortwo, it was the fortwo that finally displayed a pair of weaknesses. Honestly, after over 4,000 km, the smart seemed infallible. Its performance has been nearly beyond reproach; remember, this is not the GL350 Bluetec or GL450, let alone the military-spec G-wagen that the Mercedes people get to drive, this is a smart fortwo.
Today, on the road to Fort St-John from Muncho Lake, the first town I have seen in a week since leaving Montreal last Friday at 6 am, the fortwo did show a related pair of weaknesses. Thank Goodness otherwise no one, regardless of my experience, countless pictures and upcoming video, would have believed that I was being objective about the car and the event.
So, what happened? To put things into context, as we head south, the roads are no longer ice covered; they are wet and muddy or sandy. In a caravan, as we are, that means that all vehicles save for the lead, get pummeled with rocks and muck. Although the rocks will do some serious damage, it's the wet dirt and sand that immediately hamper visibility. Well, we found out first hand that the fortwo does not have a washer-fluid low-level indicator. This left one car praying for a quick stop for a fluid top-up as soon as it was possible.
Relatedly, the headlights also get their fair share of "opaqueness" inducing crap that literally had the headlights painted over. Without headlight-washers, as the Sun dropped down below the skyline, they were rendered all but useless. Important faults? In this situation, perhaps. In typical day-to-day driving? Not so much. But, come on! This is all that I've got...
Once again, the scenery was breathtaking; negotiating the Northern Rockies is one of those epic drives that just about any Canadian must do at some point in their life.
I will be honest with you all at this point; I am starting to miss my wife, family and cat. Thankfully, the Mercedes gang along with the Driving Unlimited crew have become a second family to me over the last week and as the kilometres progress and our goal of reaching Vancouver approaches, I can't help but be a little sad that we will all have to go our separate ways... Not to mention that I will have to leave behind my adopted fortwo: Champion of the Yukon!
Two more days left, roughly 1,250 km to go and then I head back home to the frigid Québec winter climate. The weather around here has been so incredible, I can barely wrap my mind around the previous sentence.
Tomorrow: Williams Lake.
February 4th 2010
Today, the cat was let out of the bag. No, Mercedes did not release any trade secrets about the little fortwo, it was the fortwo that finally displayed a pair of weaknesses. Honestly, after over 4,000 km, the smart seemed infallible. Its performance has been nearly beyond reproach; remember, this is not the GL350 Bluetec or GL450, let alone the military-spec G-wagen that the Mercedes people get to drive, this is a smart fortwo.
Today, on the road to Fort St-John from Muncho Lake, the first town I have seen in a week since leaving Montreal last Friday at 6 am, the fortwo did show a related pair of weaknesses. Thank Goodness otherwise no one, regardless of my experience, countless pictures and upcoming video, would have believed that I was being objective about the car and the event.
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So, what happened? To put things into context, as we head south, the roads are no longer ice covered; they are wet and muddy or sandy. In a caravan, as we are, that means that all vehicles save for the lead, get pummeled with rocks and muck. Although the rocks will do some serious damage, it's the wet dirt and sand that immediately hamper visibility. Well, we found out first hand that the fortwo does not have a washer-fluid low-level indicator. This left one car praying for a quick stop for a fluid top-up as soon as it was possible.
Relatedly, the headlights also get their fair share of "opaqueness" inducing crap that literally had the headlights painted over. Without headlight-washers, as the Sun dropped down below the skyline, they were rendered all but useless. Important faults? In this situation, perhaps. In typical day-to-day driving? Not so much. But, come on! This is all that I've got...
Once again, the scenery was breathtaking; negotiating the Northern Rockies is one of those epic drives that just about any Canadian must do at some point in their life.
I will be honest with you all at this point; I am starting to miss my wife, family and cat. Thankfully, the Mercedes gang along with the Driving Unlimited crew have become a second family to me over the last week and as the kilometres progress and our goal of reaching Vancouver approaches, I can't help but be a little sad that we will all have to go our separate ways... Not to mention that I will have to leave behind my adopted fortwo: Champion of the Yukon!
Two more days left, roughly 1,250 km to go and then I head back home to the frigid Québec winter climate. The weather around here has been so incredible, I can barely wrap my mind around the previous sentence.
Tomorrow: Williams Lake.