Hello Fellow Desis:
We are submitting this thread to get your valued guidance and opinion.
We landed in Toronto about 5 months ago as new immigrants. We have recently got our G2 license and were interested in purchasing a pre-owned/used car. Being new to the process, we request for your views on how to proceed. We had some queries in mind as under for which we solicit your inputs and feedback.
1. We were working with budget around $3K-5K for buying a used car? Is this budget reasonable?
2. What will be approx mileage and what year of manufactured car will be available at this price?
3. What factors should we consider while deciding used car?
4. Should we buy from an owner directly or from a used-car dealer? What are their respective pros and cons based on your experiences?
5. How do we go about searching a car? Please provide list of websites, other sources where we can view used cars?
6. Which brands would you suggest – Japanese, American, Korean, etc – based on the maintainability expenses, cost of owning it and resale value.
7. Once a car is decided, what are the next steps? Kindly explain.
8. Which car insurance company will gives us a good deal?
9. Do we need to take both (husband and wife) car insurances as both have G2 licences?
10. What do we mean by etest and certification of used cars? How do we get this done? What are its benefits? Should this be done by us or by the seller?
We will appreciate your valuable point-wise response to our queries.
We thank all the respondents for helping us and assisting us. We have always got answers to many issues from our desi brothers and sisters and we are sure to get their support in this matter.
With best regards & have a good day!
You posted under the feedback section - which is for feedback to owners/moderators regarding the site or technical issues
There is a separate driving section and a few sticky posts in that section (which will always appear at top of the section) that carry very valuable suggestions. Please review them and let us know any specific questions you might have.
http://www.canadiandesi.com/board.php?FID=11
You are at the beginning of a very long, tiring as well as exciting journey - please be patient and vigilant for all kinds of answers, comments or opinions.
Good luck.
Hiren
My 2 cents is as follows:
Do not be fussy about the brand as long as it falls within the age criteria
Go to kiji or craigslist and look for estate sales. Usually people dispose these cars faster at a reasonable price because they do not want to carry insurance charges. ALso estate sale means the driver will be older and hence will have used the car carefully and less.
I was looking for a used Toyota or Honda but came across a 2006 Buick Allure in an estate sale which had 18,000 kms and a 4 yr warranty for a very reasonable price and grabbed it. So be flexible and look for estate sales.
1. We were working with budget around $3K-5K for buying a used car? Is this budget reasonable?
Budget 5K to 6K
plus always budget 100$/month for repairs and oil. You wont be spending it every month but will definately need it.
2. What will be approx mileage and what year of manufactured car will be available at this price?
Depends on the Brand, With Honda and Toyota you may have to go upto 10 years with GM about 4-6 years.
3. What factors should we consider while deciding used car?
Service Hitory. If you have service records and the car has been maintained then you should be ok
4. Should we buy from an owner directly or from a used-car dealer? What are their respective pros and cons based on your experiences?
If you find a honest dealer then go ahead (very few there nowadays)
5. How do we go about searching a car? Please provide list of websites, other sources where we can view used cars? autotrader.ca, craigslist.ca, kijiji.ca
6. Which brands would you suggest – Japanese, American, Korean, etc – based on the maintainability expenses, cost of owning it and resale value.
Given what you are looking for i would look at Ford Focus/Ford Fusion Cheverlot Cavalier Cobalt/Pontiac Sunfire G5
Dont got for Japnese...its not that they are not reliable its just that you will get a very old car
7. Once a car is decided, what are the next steps? Kindly explain.
Look at autotrader.ca etc for cars
Make a shortlist of cars/models in your budget
Call insurance compay to find out what kind of car has how much premium.
You will have to shop around for insurnace. Once you have 1/2 different models shortlisted call around and see who will give you better rates. Expect to pay around 250$/month when you have no previous insurance history (may be lower or higher)
Test drive car
see service records
take car to a local mechanic for inspection
ask for etest and safety certificate before buying
bargain and close the deal
Get insurance
take all papers (ownership transfer signed from previous ownwer, etest and safety to local MTO office and buy plates.
Put plates on car
put insurance and ownership document in car
drive awayyy...
buy winter tires and put them on just before it starts to snow..
Have fiun..
someones dealers will do some of the stuff mentioned above.
its seems complicated but is not that hard..
8. Which car insurance company will gives us a good deal?
For a new driver there is very little option. Try TD and RBC and cooperators.
9. Do we need to take both (husband and wife) car insurances as both have G2 licences? You will have to provide licensing information of everyone who lives in the house. You can designate one as the primary driver.
10. What do we mean by etest and certification of used cars? How do we get this done? What are its benefits? Should this be done by us or by the seller?
etest is required, certification is required before registration. Either the seller does it or you do it. If the car does not pass etest/safety then you will have to fix it before you can get a plate.
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Live and Let Live
Location: Mississauga/ Toronto, Can
Posted on: 22-09-09 17:06:34
Do check the services offered by: TransDeal - http://www.transdeal.ca/
Trinity
Quote:
Originally posted by chittesh
1. We were working with budget around $3K-5K for buying a used car? Is this budget reasonable?
Budget 5K to 6K
plus always budget 100$/month for repairs and oil. You wont be spending it every month but will definately need it.
I would say depending on the car $3-5K is is reasonable budget
2. What will be approx mileage and what year of manufactured car will be available at this price?
Depends on the Brand, With Honda and Toyota you may have to go upto 10 years with GM about 4-6 years.
Honda or Toyota would be my choice, Japanese cars are good upto 300,000Kms but for the budget over 100,000Kms is possible.
3. What factors should we consider while deciding used car?
Service Hitory. If you have service records and the car has been maintained then you should be ok
No doubt service history or single owner would be my preference
4. Should we buy from an owner directly or from a used-car dealer? What are their respective pros and cons based on your experiences?
If you find a honest dealer then go ahead (very few there nowadays)
Best deals can be got direct, and also you need to do due diligence.
5. How do we go about searching a car? Please provide list of websites, other sources where we can view used cars? autotrader.ca, craigslist.ca, kijiji.ca
6. Which brands would you suggest – Japanese, American, Korean, etc – based on the maintainability expenses, cost of owning it and resale value.
Given what you are looking for i would look at Ford Focus/Ford Fusion Cheverlot Cavalier Cobalt/Pontiac Sunfire G5
Dont got for Japnese...its not that they are not reliable its just that you will get a very old car
I recommend Japanese car for thire proven reliability, availability of spare parts at low cost and good re-sale market
7. Once a car is decided, what are the next steps? Kindly explain.
Look at autotrader.ca etc for cars
Make a shortlist of cars/models in your budget
Call insurance compay to find out what kind of car has how much premium.
You will have to shop around for insurnace. Once you have 1/2 different models shortlisted call around and see who will give you better rates. Expect to pay around 250$/month when you have no previous insurance history (may be lower or higher)
Test drive car
see service records
take car to a local mechanic for inspection
ask for etest and safety certificate before buying
bargain and close the deal
Get insurance
take all papers (ownership transfer signed from previous ownwer, etest and safety to local MTO office and buy plates.
Put plates on car
put insurance and ownership document in car
drive awayyy...
buy winter tires and put them on just before it starts to snow..
Have fiun..
someones dealers will do some of the stuff mentioned above.
its seems complicated but is not that hard..
8. Which car insurance company will gives us a good deal?
For a new driver there is very little option. Try TD and RBC and cooperators.
9. Do we need to take both (husband and wife) car insurances as both have G2 licences? You will have to provide licensing information of everyone who lives in the house. You can designate one as the primary driver.
10. What do we mean by etest and certification of used cars? How do we get this done? What are its benefits? Should this be done by us or by the seller?
etest is required, certification is required before registration. Either the seller does it or you do it. If the car does not pass etest/safety then you will have to fix it before you can get a plate.
Be patient, and be clear on what you want and be ready to walk out of any deal if it does not meet minimum condition which could be service history or ownership....
Good Luck !
Hi Teddi,
I have sent you a PM.
Please check.
Regards,
AAA
