Home page

Health

• . A Gaggle of Gargles
• . Why You Should Eat Your Veggies
• . Heal Those Chapped Lips
• . The ABCs of Hand Washing

Food

• . Boons of Beer
• . The Feel-Good Power of Chocolate
• . Figs: Fresh and Fabulous
• . Feed Your Family for Under $10
• . Top Tips for Freezing Fresh Food
• . Fast Food: Eating on the Run

Home & Garden

• . Theft-Proof Your Home
• . 7 Fast Furniture Fixes
• . 6 Ways to Transform a Room with Fabric
• . Are Brand-Name Appliances Good Value?
• . The Rakes and Pains of Gardening
• . On-the-Spot Stain Solutions

Money

• . How to Save for Your Child's Education
• . Best Buys on Everyday Foods
• . Get the Most from Games Consoles
• . An Expert's Top Tips for Scoring Scholarships
• . Bottle Your Own Wine to Save
• . Energy-Saving Home Improvements
• . Building Blocks of Affordable Style
• . Make the Most of Your Wardrobe

BUYING A USED CAR
Learn how to find what you’re looking for.

THE USED-CAR MARKETPLACE
The essential advice for purchasing a used car has always been “Buyer beware.” That advice still holds true, but over the past few years, the prices of new cars and light trucks have outpaced many consumers’ incomes, sending demand for used cars up. While buying a used car is still filled with uncertainty, there are ways to increase your chances of making a satisfactory purchase.

Doug Mayhew, manager of public relations for the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), suggests that would-be buyers consult the CAA’s annual Autopinion magazine. Published each December, and based on members’ appraisals of their own cars, it gives very useful general information and details about problems with specific models, the cost of repairs, and overall satisfaction. Autopinion also contains articles by automotive journalists on subjects ranging from car-buying trends, leasing, and the latest features.

INSPECTING A USED CAR

THE RIGHT WAY It is not easy to determine how much you should pay for a used car. A vehicle’s depreciation, or loss in its original value, depends on many variables, including how old the car is, its current popularity, and whether you are buying from a dealer or directly from the original owner. In general, the value of a three-year-old car can range from half to two-thirds of its original purchase price, and some cars retain even more of their original purchase prices. For example, the popular Ford Explorer retains about 75 percent of its sticker price after three years, while the high-end Lincoln Continental retains only about half of its original cost after the same amount of time. Unfortunately, increased demand has caused used-car prices to rise even faster than new-car prices over the past few years. You need to do your research to get a good deal.

The scariest part of buying a used car is not being completely sure of what condition it’s in. A car that’s been in a major accident is always a bigger risk, but sellers often try to hide this information. Andrew Bleakley, evaluator-inspector, runs a mobile vehicle inspection service in Montreal. For about $80 he will perform a full, unbiased inspection on a used vehicle. In his 10 years as a professional inspector, Bleakley has seen a lot. He warns, “Watch out for dealer demonstration vehicles which are used, not new. They may have been in a collision.” He adds that it is not uncommon in Ontario and Quebec especially for unscrupulous sellers to roll back the odometer or to even disengage it. Bleakley has special tools to check for this.

QUICK TRICKS These signs could be warnings that there’s something seriously wrong with a used car: The seller is vague when you ask to see service records, or there is no copy of the original sales contract. Strange engine sounds. Doug Mayhew of the Canadian Automobile Association says, “A car’s wear and tear should match the odometer reading. If it doesn’t, find out why.

Bleakley always recommends hiring an independent technician to inspect the condition of a used car before you buy it. The problem is finding someone qualified to do the inspection, which he says generally doesn’t mean just any mechanic. A thorough mechanical inspection includes checking the compression, all major systems, including the engine, electrical and charging systems, transmission and drive line, fluids, brakes, suspension, and steering. Essential, too, is an inspection of the car’s body and finally a road test. There are, however, a few things everyone can do before buying a used car:

• MYTH -- When you buy a used car, you never know what you’re getting. FACT -- Some dealers offer used cars with enhanced warranty packages that cover repair costs for a specified period of time.

  Do a visual check of the car. Look at the right rear door hinges. If they are very worn, or the door doesn’t close well, the car may have been used as a taxi. Holes in the roof could mean the car was used for deliveries.
• Check for oil leaks on the pavement. Note that leaks are not necessarily a significant problem -- it depends on the cause.
• Don’t assume that new-looking brake and accelerator pedals mean the car hasn’t been driven much. Resellers know people check these details and can buy new pads for around $6.
• Copy down the vehicle identification number (VIN), a 17-character combination of numbers and letters, from the vehicle’s dashboard. In Ontario, ask the dealer or seller for the Used Vehicle Information Package. This gives details of previous owners, any outstanding liens on the car, and the fair market value of the vehicle.

DETERMINING THE BEST USED CARS

FITTING A CAR TO YOUR NEED People buy used cars because they want to save money, says Matthew Grabowsky, a car-buying consultant from Pennsylvania. So the first thing you should decide is what features matter the most to you. That means determining how much importance you want to give to utility versus image. “For example, the same $3,000 could probably get you an 8-year-old Honda Civic with reasonably low mileage or a 15-year-old BMW with moon roof and loads of miles. You have to know what you want before you start looking.” To help focus the search, Grabowsky has a list of questions he asks his clients to answer before giving them any advice. The answers to these questions can help you determine the kind of car you’re looking for: How much do you want to spend on the vehicle? Factor in the costs of maintenance, repairs, and insurance. How important to you is a car’s appearance versus its reliability? What’s the maximum number of passengers you need to carry, and how frequently will you need to carry that many? If you only need to carry seven people once a year when your family comes to visit, you probably shouldn’t waste money on the high premium of a minivan. How many kilometers do you drive on a weekly basis? What kind of driving do you do (commuting versus recreation, and highway versus local or off-road driving)?

Bob Beattie, executive director of the Ontario Used Car Dealers Association (www.ucda.org), offers his advice for buying a used car:

• Once you have decided on a car, have it checked by your own mechanic. It will be money well spent.
• During negotiations, look closely at any guarantee offered by a dealership. Ask if an extended warranty is available. This could be for a period of three months or up to three years.
• Check the quality of the car, not the odometer. At the end of the day, a guarantee, warranty, and inspection, are more important than other factors such as the odometer reading, or whether a car has had just one owner. How well a car’s been cared for is critical. For example, if one car has low mileage but was not well serviced and another car has higher mileage but was well cared for, the second car may be a better deal.
• If you are buying a used car privately, beware of “curbsiders.” These individuals pass themselves off as private sellers of their own vehicles. In fact, a curbsider is in the business of selling cars. If you are looking for a used car in the classified section of a newspaper, cast your eye down the ads. Does one phone number appear alongside more than one ad? If so, it is probably a curbsider. Beattie says his organization has found that about 20 percent of so-called private sellers in Canada are actually curbsiders. In Ontario, go to the Ministry of Transport, License Office, and ask for a Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP). This gives you vital information and history about a used car.
• Be suspicious of any car that has signs of being freshly painted. This may indicate serious damage from an accident.