Is Your Car ‘Winter-Ready’? For Many, the Answer is ‘Sell It’

The leaves are all but gone in High Park, the nights are sharp, and that first “Special Weather Statement” from Environment Canada is just around the corner. Every Torontonian knows what’s coming. No, not the opening of the rink at Nathan Phillips Square. We’re talking about the annual, and often dreaded, ritual: getting your car ready for when the DVP turns into a parking lot and the side streets of Cabbagetown become bobsled tracks.

But for many in the GTA this year, a simple tire swap won’t cut it. Faced with a checklist of rapidly escalating costs, they’re asking a serious question: is it even worth it? The mathematical problems have reached a critical point which demands immediate solutions. The owner should consider selling their 10-year-old vehicle before winter arrives because it would be more financially beneficial than spending $1,500 for repairs. Selling your car through TopCashForCars can often be completed in 24 hours, turning a winter headache into cash in hand.

The “Winter Bill” is Shocking

The process of preparing a car for winter in The 6ix requires more than just adding washer fluid to the system. People today sell their items right away because the current financial crisis has reached its peak.

We need to calculate the total expenses you would need to pay through this process.

• Winter Tires: The cost of new winter tires exceeds $1,000 because you need to purchase proper winter tires which do not include rim prices. The present inflation rate makes the $1,000 bill appear more costly than it used to be in past years. The process of booking a swap appointment in November becomes more difficult because of the problems that already exist.
• Rust-Proofing: Salt. So. Much. Salt. Our city crews lay down that aggressive brine mix thick, and it’s actively trying to eat the undercarriage of your car. A professional rust-proofing service will cost you around $300 to protect your vehicle for the next eight years.
• Suspension & “Pothole” Repairs: The Gardiner experienced its annual pothole season during the previous spring. Your suspension certainly does. Any experienced mechanic will advise you to inspect and possibly fix these parts before you drive into winter’s fresh collection of craters which lie beneath the snow. Shop rates for this kind of work have crept up, too.

The total cost will reach between $1,500 and $2,000. The work requires no maintenance because it functions as a short break.

The RWD Reality Check

The actual problem extends beyond financial expenses because it involves the car itself. We’re looking at you, 10-year-old, rear-wheel-drive (RWD) sedan.

We’ve all seen it in January: that one older car, hopelessly spinning its wheels, going nowhere on the slight, icy incline of Bathurst Street or trying to get out of a parking spot in Roncesvalles. The AWD crossovers move by while their drivers show a mixture of sympathy and frustration through their facial expressions.

The reality shows that no matter how expensive winter tires you choose for your RWD vehicle you will still lose traction because power delivery remains incorrect for Toronto winter conditions. You continue to battle against the physical laws which govern the car. It’s that heart-in-your-throat feeling of the back end fishtailing on black ice on the 401 express, or the simple, infuriating inability to get traction in an unplowed alley.

The $1,500 fee lets you maintain your fear of all major weather events which forecasters predict. The financial calculations no longer work in favor of numerous property owners.

The decision needs financial management instead of surrendering. Why should I spend money on a vehicle that will not perform well during the upcoming five months?That $1,500+ you were going to give to your mechanic?The proposed fund creates a significant winter transportation fund. People can now use ride-sharing services through storms without hesitation while they can purchase Presto passes for GO train travel and maintain their money for any upcoming expenses. The primary goal requires students to achieve complete control of weather forecasting.