I don’t think the manufacturers want to open that can of worms. You do have a choice of different sounds on some cars. I think it’s good that they all sound similar, making them more recognisable.
Old hybrids didn’t have those sounds and they’re dead quiet at low speeds which is creepy.
France.
General checkups are considered a US only thing that is actually detrimental. You don’t go see a doctor if you’re all right usually, there a few stupid reasons you still have to. If you have a benign seasonal illness but you need to be off work you need a form filled out by the doctor so your employer has to allow it and the health insurance can pay if they need to (I’ll spare you the details but it mostly depends on the duration of your illness), if you are joining a sports club you typically need your doctor to certify you’re fine to do that (this needs to stop doctors aren’t nannies and they have too much work as it is!!!).
I’m very fortunate that I have a GP who’s generally available within a day or two. There’s a shortage for all healthcare professions, the French refuse to believe it but it’s mostly because it pays shit: Luxembourg and Switzerland don’t nearly have as many issues getting enough staff in hospitals. A lot of people don’t even have a GP. If you can’t travel the waiting times for some exams or specialists are 6 months or more, people think this is somehow acceptable. You can still do medical tourism at the expense of French insurance if you border one of the richer countries, any money leftover you’d have to pay would be a pretty reasonable amount but they may try to wriggle out of paying claiming you’re doing medical tourism for no good reason.
For cancer checks if you live near one of the good hospitals for cancer you don’t have to worry too much about them making you wait until it gets to stage 4. But you have to be assertive and advocate for yourself if you don’t and possibly give up and go 500 km away.
For a broken arm you’d pay nothing usually unless you’re in the cracks of the mandatory extra insurance thing because you don’t have a job but you’re also too rich for the State-funded one, so maybe around 50€ including X-rays and the cast.
France is very behind on mental health care and psychiatric wards in hospitals are a disgrace mostly due to extreme understaffing by doctors. For most other things they’re all right except busy ERs have insane waiting times and they have no money to hospitalise you if you will survive so they’ll send you home even if you barely have the strength to get into a taxi.
The food in hospitals is all right but I wouldn’t ask too much of the vegan options.
Self-cleaning and lubricating.
Jim Green shoes/boots come very wide, decent quality. Gel insoles (replace as recommended by the manufacturer) help a lot with comfort for those kinds of traditionally built footwear. Size up a bit so you have plenty of room to put a nicely cushioned insole.
Classic!