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Smart technology in a 1986 Buick Riviera? We were as surprised as you are!
Continue reading "Buick Riviera" →Knowing the Industry
Wildlife Sanctuary
Animal charities have heart
Offering our wildlife sanctuary is a core Canadian value. Of our nearing 1,000 Canadian charities, dozens are animal care organizations. Donate a Car Canada donors often put their donation dollars toward these causes.
Continue reading "Wildlife Sanctuary" →VW Beetle | Punch Buggy…Purple?
The VW Beetle offered its final edition in 2019. Punch buggy aficionados find unique ways to honor this beloved icon. One of our previous donors, C. McDonald of Calgary, Alberta, put a little extra into his current car, a 1.6 Turbo, 2017 slug bug.
Transformation
Mr. McDonald's original purchase was a forest green -- interior and exterior. His first addition to the car (his second VW Beetle) was two 12" subwoofers. Soon to follow: 18" gold rims.
He quickly began dreaming up a paint job for his prized find. The paint job plans soon morphed into saving up for a vinyl wrap -- front to back!
Out of this world
Considering many options (including a galaxy-spangled frunk -- you know: the front-trunk), the owner settled on a
3m gloss deep space purple and hexis gloss and super chrome gold highlights. The gold highlights to some interior surfaces complement the earlier addition of the rims.
This wrap has a surreal effect! Is the car blue? Purple? Bronze? Copper? Green? Depending on the position of the sun, the quality of light, and your perspective, the color changes continuously.
Running with the big boys
This work of art was no small effort. Riley, of ZR Auto in Calgary, Alberta took personal pride in the work and attention to detailed quality. Accustomed to working on high-end vehicles, Riley worked his skills to beautiful effect. The result? Mr. McDonald's punch buggy is a crowd stopper. It's not unusual for this VW Beetle to stop passersby mid-step. Smart phones at the ready, its a sure thing that there are a lot of pics of this shifty little slug bug all over cyberspace.
If you're in the Calgary area and looking for a unique addition to your ongoing game of Punch Buggy!, keep your eyes wide open for this 2017 purple...no, blue...make that copper VW Beetle!
Full-size Cars
I was born in 1970, a year when the North American love affair with full-size cars (read, BIG cars) was in full swing.
My earliest memory of a family car is a 70's model Pontiac Catalina. Four doors. Forest green. Seats as rough as sandpaper, and an eight-track cassette player the churned out the Oakridge Boys for days.
Barbies, singalongs, & the open road
The interior of that Pontiac was astonishing. My little sister and I had the run of the place -- pre-seatbelt era. We stuffed that mother ship of full-size cars to the roof with our barbies and books. We hunkered into the sunburnt back seat and sang our little lungs out, Dad harmonizing all along, on the long treks to and from Grandma's farm.
That behemoth journeyed us across provinces and down the way to Sunday school. Countless memories were made as we squabbled and star-gazed and explored in the safety of the Catalina.
Big cars | A thing of the past?
The march of time and progress have had their effect on our relationship with big cars. Today's full-size cars are feather-light by comparison. A car like the Catalina weighed-in closer to the size of our current mid-size SUVs (at a healthy 4000+ lbs). That said, the Dodge Charger (our best option in full-size sedans, according to CarGurus.com) weighs in with a curb weight of 4500+ lbs.
Length, height, and cargo space -- not to mention our always evolving relationship with aesthetics -- have shifted dramatically over time. Moreover, drivability and safety are deal breakers for today's buyer.
Ready to move on
If you've been nostalgically holding on to your 70's, 80's, 90's full-size car, consider extending its service in a different way? What if that non-drivable old vehicle could be transformed into donation dollars? Through our program, you can choose your charity and get that car off the back parking pad for free. Keep the steering wheel, or a chip of paint. Remove a mirror or memorialize it with a hubcap. A tiny bit of insignia is so much cheaper and easier to tend than that big ol' pile of metal. And the pile of metal can do good work on behalf of someone, or something, who needs it!
My Junk Car, a Charity Treasure
Happy Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Donor
"Good riddance to bad rubbish" was this donor's heartfelt post. His donation on behalf of the CPFF was processed earlier this month. A recycle-ready vehicle, the donor received his free tow in quicktime by Quick's Towing. This faithful agent has been serving Donate a Car Canada in Ontario for years. So many donors and their charities of choice served by one company!
What happens to my junk car?
Not all of us feel quite so strongly about our recycle-ready vehicles as our Equinox donor! We may not be so ready to call Old Faithful, "junk." Whatever the readiness, our process in caring for your donation will hold steady.
You will always receive a free tow from one of our trusted supporting agents. These stalwarts will either recycle or re-sell your vehicle. This is dependent on many factors specific to your location, and the condition of the auto. Donation dollar outcomes vary from one province to the next. This is as should be: metal prices fluctuate constantly. Your donation outcome will reflect that variance.
And your charity? Monies in hand within weeks of us receiving the pay out from our agent. Your tax receipt is then issued to you in the subsequent weeks.
But what if it's not junk?
"Take care of my junk car!" may not be your cry. Perhaps your donation-ready vehicle is in sale-able condition. We're the company for you! Simply submit the car or truck particulars and we'll promptly assess its condition. If we, based on what we know about the industry and our database of sale outcomes, determine that it can be re-sold, or auctioned off, we'll do so! This can result in a much stronger donation outcome on driveable, sturdy, good lookin' units! 'Good for your charity, and great for your tax claims!
Hit the donate button, or give us a call today!
Summer Travel 2020
Summer travel in the time of COVID-19. Do you have plans in place? Are you desperate to hit the open road, or is the plan to stay close to home?
Whatever your process, the present normal of intentionality, care, and health have likely affected you.
Cross-border travel continues to be in question. Furthermore, road travel between provinces is a bit of a puzzler. With some of us masking-up, sanitizing, and isolating while others go about their business as usual, there is much uncertainty about how to interact with holiday time.
What we know for sure
Summer travel is sure to be disrupted by a few key factors. What we know for sure...is that we don't know anything for sure!
First, be prepared for unusual road closures. Some provinces continue to keep roads closed. There are towns that restrict visitation, and others that will allow only residents.
There is an ebb and flow to the way COVID-19 does its thing. For that reason, unpredictable (or, even predictable ones, for that matter!) spikes could result in you being stalled in your journey. Have your car stocked and ready for limited access to amenities.
All that hand washing you're doing at home? Be ready to ramp that up. Keep in mind that some stores may insist on masks, and not all roadside locations will be open for business.
What happens on the other side
Returning home from summer travel is another thing to consider. The broader your exposure to your fellow Canadians, the higher your chance of exposure to sickness. Consider your circle of contact upon returning home: is your possible contact with the virus going to put others in danger?
While these are limiting and frustrating considerations it may serve well to err on the side of care this summer.
When camping in the yard is a thing
As you've, no doubt, considered, summer travel in 2020 may be a lot more effort than it's worth. Here's to creativity and ingenuity rising to meet the challenge! Perhaps you have already come up with an inspiration that will find you and your loved ones enjoying every moment of the season? Is this the year to make friends with pitching a tent in the back yard? Could exploring the wonders nearby bring new appreciation for what's at hand?
For more on how to sort your summer, check out CTV News. The National Post encourages you in your "staycation" plans. Even more detailed is the Global News guidance on what various provinces and airlines are up to.
Whatever your summer travel plans, we wish you good health and the freedom to connect with the ones you love!
Acura RDX, 2020
The 2020 Acura RDX is beloved by reviewers and drivers alike. The ride, the cargo space, and the economy. What's not to love? Well, the non-Android-compatible, not-touch-screen multi-media system. And yet, reviewers agree: utility and performance make the Acura RDX a win for the money.
Car Gurus have their say
"A capable, spacious, luxury cross-over" is George Kennedy's summation of the Acura RDX. While, he notes, it's not that much different from the 2019 model, he has a lot to say about the value and drivability of the RDX.
Trouble spots? He does highlight the Acura's infamous infotainment system. Users seem to weigh-in as having easily adapted with a little time and savvy. On the other hand, reviewers love to pin their criticism to that component.
TFLCar - The Fast Lane's review
TFL loves the Acura, but consider the multimedia system, "a nightmare." From the sounds to the unintuitive radio screen access, this reviewer is super sad about the infotainment and navigation system.
Stay with this video to learn about sport and sport plus modes. The Acura RDX has some fun features to play with!
Honda and Acura vehicle donations
Hondas and Toyotas make for strong donation outcomes. As our decade-plus files show, these makes hold their value well. Furthermore, donated Camrys and Accords bring in some of our highest donation outcomes.
New Charities
New charities join our program each month. As a result, we have over 900 to choose from. Your vehicle donation dollars will go to the organization that matters to you.
In the beginning
Before Donate a Car Canada was launched, there was only one vehicle donation program available in Canada. Kidney Car was doing the valuable work of drawing dollars into the Kidney Foundation through car donation.
This is an important cause to any who have loved ones with Kidney disease of any kind. The charity is doing its work well. It led our founders to consider: could vehicle donation be a means of support for those who suffer from other illness? Moreover, what if we imagined beyond illness and into other forms of marginalization?
When I joined DACC in 2012 we had just over 80 charities on board. And now? Just over a decade later, we have charities seeking us out and asking to join the program. Combined with our own diligence in keeping invitation to join alive, this means hundreds of active charities are benefiting.
December's new charities
Consequently, even in our quietest season, new charities sign on to receive the monetary gifts that come from your car donation.
For example, in December, five new organizations were added to our offering:
Choice as unique as you
As you can see from the cross section of new charities added last month, the choice of charity is broad. Perhaps you'll choose by region of the country. Or, your decision can be made by personal experience of celebration or suffering. A choice may be based on interests and curiosity. Our participating charities are varied and each attend to a unique aspect of our Canadian experience.
We welcome your calls, queries, and submissions, so if you have a vehicle that is ready for donation, reach out. Our staff cover long hours to ensure that you receive donor support well into the evening, and on weekends. Our charities don't need to do anything at all! Their only responsibility, once signed on with the program, is to issue tax receipts in a timely manner. This, too, benefits you as the donor.
Ready to make your charity choice? Consider one of our newly signed organizations, or select from our 800+ long-term participants. We look forward to hearing from you!
5 Star Testimonials
5 start testimonials speak to the heart and soul of who we are at Donate a Car Canada. Priding ourselves on excellence in donor, charity, and agent support alike, we reach for those stars.
What donors have to say
" My service has been fantastic, everyone was very helpful the tow truck driver was here when he said he was going to be and very friendly. I am very happy I chose to donate my car to such a professional and great company. Thank you! " (Alex)
"The towing company called in a timely manner, and pickup was arranged right away. They came within the hour, as promised, and the driver was very friendly.This is an excellent service, and I have recommended it to many people who may be in a similar position to donate in the future. We are so happy we could do this to support the SPCA, and delighted the process was so seamless.Thanks again!" (Maureen)
"I received an email from Donate A Car Canada saying that they have forwarded the net sale proceeds of our 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi to The Farley Foundation in the amount of $2744.87!" (Kevin)
When things go wonky
We welcome all feedback here at Donate a Car (not all can be 5 star testimonials!). Sometimes donors misread information, and sometimes we run into a glitch in service. We take this so seriously each time it happens. And we post the unhappy testimonials right along with the happier ones.
Kelly noted, " From start to finish the service provided by Donate A Car was excellent. The process was simple and the service couldn't have been more impressive. I was only disappointed that the value of metal has dropped so much lessoning the value of the donation. As the tow truck driver pulled out I thought to call the tow company personally and compliment the professionalism of their driver, he maneuvered our narrow driveway and had everything loaded and paperwork sorted in no time. It was a real pleasure to have dealt with Donate A Car. Thank you"
Even if something more serious occurs (like a mix-up with documentation, or a complication with an estate), our DAC staff are immediate and caring in their hands-on response. Our response time with unhappy donors is same-day wherever possible, and our agents are equally supportive.
We work assertively to resolve any issues. This has ensured a long-standing A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Your donation experience
'Have a vehicle that you're ready to part with? Consider donating it on behalf of a Canadian charity. 'Need a little more reassurance? Check out our testimonials page for more feedback on the process. Or, call/write in with your curiosities. We're here to assist!
Car Maintenance
From the rubber on up
This past week I got another flat tire. I say "another," because our family's primary car maintenance expenditure is on tires. We've always lived in suburbs-under-construction. That means there's always something rolling around on the asphalt just waiting for our tires to it pick up.
So, the night before Thanksgiving Monday I realized that my rear passenger tire was woefully low. And I realized I was going to need to look for tire support on holiday Monday.
To my happy (thankful!) surprise, I got right in at the shop. 9:30 am on Thanksgiving Monday and the service guys were ready to help. Given the season, I opted to leave off repair of the flat and swap on winter tires instead. They were happy to do that, too -- and then threw in a new set of windshield wipers to boot!
How much maintenance is enough?
The amount of care and money we put into our car maintenance is part necessity, part personal preference.
In a robust article written by Consumer Affairs' senior report, Aaron Sultzman, he notes that discretion needs be applied. He asks, "Are Canadian car owners being misled about how often their cars need to be serviced?"
With a spectrum of climates and road conditions across the country, car care will vary from one province to the next. Some provinces use salt to clear ice; others rely on sand. Our coastal provinces have a running battle with moisture, whereas our Northern locales experience harsh weather. Sultzman explores the line between regular maintenance and dealerships who push for more costly attention than is required.
'Tired of maintaining?
If you're swapping out an older model for something shiny, consider having us auction your running vehicle off on behalf of charity. Or, if you have a recycle ready car just taking up space in the garage, we can help with that, too! You give us your vehicle particulars and choose your charity (there are over 800 to pick from!), we'll take care of the rest.
