car pulls to the left, maybe you're the problem

[masraum]

http://canwest.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/canwest-globaledmonton-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=troubleshootermedium&maven_referralObject=3475882

"I was crushed and humiliated", well, that may be, but that doesn't mean that they were wrong.

[stomachmonkey]

Touchy subject. Used to work in a ski shop way back when.

Had a bunch of girls come in all excited about renting skis for an upcoming group trip.

One girl was immense, 300 lb range.

Small girl size feet but huge ankles/calves.

We spent an hour trying to fit her with boots. I personally tried to customize several pair with extra long bales so we could get them to close around her ankles. NG.

Even if we could've gotten boots to fit her we still had the problem of finding a binding, everything set up for a small foot size did not have a beefy enough spring for the weight.

I really felt horrible when we had to tell her we could not rent her anything.

She really looked crushed.

I did feel good about my co-workers though, the whole time everyone really tried to get her set up and no one made a joke after she left. We all felt her humiliation.

I don't think the suggestion of aligning it with her in the car was so out of line.

Seems like Kia were trying to resolve her situation.

[jeffgrant]

Un-*******-believable.

The tech was bang on with his diagnosis and solution.

It's called a CORNER BALANCE.

Holy crap.

[911Rob]

Can't help but feel for that gal.

I have had this issue all my adult life, due to my size I don't dare think about owning a car or truck until I find out if I can fit inside. When I was a young kid I saw a car special about Ferraris, Lambos and Porsches. They said the Porsche was the easiest for a large man to fit into; they were right!

It's no ones fault, its just the way things are sometimes? Whatyagonnado?

[Dave L]

What was so wrong with having her sit in the car during the alignment? Its fairly common practice to put weight in the drivers seat when corner weighting and doing a good alignment.

[Big Ed]

Seriously, how is it improper for them to suggest aligning the car with her in it? It seems to me the diagnosis was probably correct.

Maybe she's humiliated enough to step away from the buffet.

[911Rob]

It might have been more appropriate to have a large mechanic sit in the car OR use a weight. C'mon people, we're human, we come in ALL sizes.

Without large people, we wouldn't have small people or perfect people; like you?

[Big Ed]

Originally Posted by 911Rob

It might have been more appropriate to have a large mechanic sit in the car OR use a weight. C'mon people, we're human, we come in ALL sizes.

Without large people, we wouldn't have small people or perfect people; like you?

That's a good point, Rob. Thanks for the reality check...I'm a little cranky today I guess. Although I will say, I was a very large guy for many years...and I didn't find it humiliating when the small turboprop plane was being balanced and I was the guy asked to move my seat. I guess I am just a realist that way.

[911Rob]

Ha, Ha; Kinda figured from your user name Ed? That was a genaric point, not intended for you at all..... because I KNOW you're NOT perfect Ha.

Life! Ain't it sweet!!!

I am what I ams.

[911Rob]

I had a really good buddy that I used to travel with; this guy was super-large. We'd get on a plane and he'd have to get those seat belt extensions to buckle up. We used to tell him all the time that the reason he was so large was so that his HUGE heart could fit in there!

I hadn't seen him in years and I ran into his nephew one day and got his number. I called the guy up and said Hello, was just thinking about ya! We talked about some of the good 'ol days and he started crying on the phone. He was so happy that I'd remembered those good times. Just a gem of a guy and he made me look small too

[jwhcars]

Bottom line is the women needs to loose weight or face the fact that SHE is responsible for her problems caused by her weight. Her feelings where hurt....tough beans if you can not handle the truth....yes they might have been able to be more tactful but even now she is not accepting responsiblity ...she should have purchased a full size truck.

[911Rob]

[jeffgrant]

I hear ya Rob... after all, I'm a short, fat guy myself.

But sticking your head in the sand and making it into a news segment is not an appropriate response, in my opinion.

Sounds like she has serious denial issues, and is set on making it everyone else's problem except hers.

When you're overweight like that, you have to at least take SOME responsibility, and not expect everyone to handle you with kid gloves.

$0.02 (CDN)

[nostatic]

"our growing society"?!?!?

So it is ok to be morbidly obese, and in fact manufacturers are supposed to change their design parameters to meet the needs of our "growing society"? How about instead we go to the root of the problem

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/maps/

[aigel]

When I have my cars set up at Roger Kraus Racing, they ask me to sit in there. And I am probably half the weight of that lady.

It is a difficult task for those Kia people. You can't win that one: If you do not ask the lady to sit in there during alignment / corner balance, how do you know how much weight to put in the seat? Can you put her on a scale or ask her what her weight is? Or do you just put your fattest mechanic or a couple of normal weight guys in there?

I see some serious denial by this lady. There are a lot of XXXL people out there that are surrounded by family and friends that look just like it, and it doesn't even occur to them that they are morbidly obese. Such people need help by a psychologist before they even see a nutritionist.

And finally, what amazes me most is how this story made the news? Did this lady go to the press with a complaint? And on top of that the news now makes it look like it is acceptable to ask a compact car manufacturer to design for 300 pound people.

George

[jeffgrant]

I emailed the reporter, and just got a response.

Originally Posted by Erin Harrison

Hi Jeff,
Thank you for your email.
We understand that it makes sense a car will pull to the left because of
the weight...that is why the technician's clip was included in the story
saying exactly that...but that was an outside technician, not someone
from KIA. That technician also said, if he is dealing with an
overweight customer, they look at putting someone else in the car to
equal out the weight. He said they would never make the actual person
sit in the vehicle as that could be very humiliating for the individual.

I agree that our society needs to be more aware of their health...but
the fact of the matter is that we continue to grow. Despite warnings,
obesity numbers are increasing. This story was just to show -- just like
the airline companies, which now have to allow 2 seats for overweight
passengers -- perhaps cars manufacturers will soon have to make changes
as well. Again, not that I agree they should have to, but I can't stop
our society from growing, I can only report on what's happening.
Thank you again for the feedback. If you have any other questions, let
me know.
Erin Harrison

[stomachmonkey]

Hmm

Me thinks me will send the reporter an email

If that was the intent of her piece she failed miserably

And no, auto manufacturers do not need to account for our growing society

At least not until the majority of our society become morbidly obese

Gimme a break

[imcarthur]

Just a customer service issue (they failed) that is being blown out of proportion by a local TV affiliate. They should just offer her free Tim Horton's (java & donuts) for a month & she would be delirious.

The KIA dealer blew it by insulting her. They should have been discreet & solved her problem. They learned their lesson & corporate trainers everywhere will be getting a memo.

Ian

[Jims5543]

Bimmerforums got hold of this and went to town. They found her myspace page too.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=109830554

Then the hilarity ensued:

[Aurel]

That is what they made SUVs for, hey dummy ! Why buy a tiny car when you are a member of the growing society (gotta love that politically correct expression). I am surprised she did not find an attorney to sue the car company yet...