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Canadian Car Buying (for Canadian Consumers)

118 messages,  Last post on Aug 13, 2008 at 6:43 PM

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What is this discussion about? Car Buying

Messages Page 8 of 12

#69 of 118 Cars from Quebec by mack20

Oct 26, 2000 (12:50 am)

Replying to: kelf (Mar 15, 2001 4:11 pm)
I live in Toronto Canada. However I just visited a couple of used cars dealers that are unrelated.


I got the VIN's of a couple of cars that I was intersted in. Using CARFAX, the regisration for all three was Quebec. Furthermore there were two-three registration changes. The cars were Accords, 93, 94 with 70000km, 99000km and 140000km.


The prices on these cars are pretty good. Cheaper than I have seen around.


Has anyone heard anything about cars from Quebec? I though I heard that odometer rollback was quite popular there....


just though I would check.

#70 of 118 Used Car Dealers by mack20

Oct 26, 2000 (1:04 am)

Replying to: kelf (Mar 15, 2001 4:11 pm)
I need some Used Car Dealer Recommendations for the Toronto, Canada area....


Looking for a sedan...probably Japanese...probably Honda!


I've been around for the last week or two. Its really hard work!!

#71 of 118 Canadian Dealer Invoice Prices by bcbob

Nov 05, 2000 (9:46 am)

Replying to: kelf (Mar 15, 2001 4:11 pm)
Just did a factory order here in BC. Had dealer invoice info from APA and carcostcanada.com. Also had the dealer cost formula from canadiandriver.com/articles/990219.htm, which came in within a couple hundred dollars of the other two.


Here's what my shopping experience tells:
#1. Having the dealer cost info did for me what it does for our neighbours to the south - enabled me to start negotiations from invoice up instead of MSRP down. No anxiety wondering what to offer the dealer, no fear over the negotiation process. In fact, as soon as the dealers heard that I had been researching via the internet they didn't fool around with any of the usual pricing games, most just gave me their bottom line and let me decide whether I wanted to buy or not. Price was negotiated in a matter of minutes, no stress, no hassle. Just pleasant shopping.


#2. The dealer invoice price seems to be the actual dealer cost. No holdback beyond dealer invoice as there is in the US. Dealer invoice, plus ~9.25% mark-up, 3% holdback, 2% advertising, destination charge, and minus any factory invoice credits (the Canadian Driver formula), pretty much totals up to the MSRP. So buying at or below invoice like in the US doesn't seem to be realistic; these guys have to eat too.


#3. You can't simply convert $USD prices to $CAD
prices. Canadian prices are generally lower. GM acknowledged this when it raised 2001 prices to bring the profitablity of Canadian sold cars more in line with US sold cars. So unless the ratios are the same, we can't use the the pricing info available on the internet. Unfortunate, I really envy the Americans for having things like Edmund's TMV. Hope they realize how good they have it.


#4. While having the dealer invoice info greatly improved that end of the buying process, the hassle at the business office end is still there. And I haven't even experienced the high pressure sales for extended warranty, paint protection, fabric protection, etc, yet. Thank you Edmund's, Lemonaid, and all the other folks who educate consumers on this stuff, I'm prepared to say no to paint and fabric protection, and to negotiate for the extended warranty. Wonder how much cheaper and more pleasant buying a car would be if the number of unnecessary dealership people a buyer had to pass through were reduced?


#5. Canadian dealers like to run the documentation fee scam too. For some reason they don't seem to think that filling out the tax and registration forms, typing up the sales contract, etc., is part of the cost of doing business. Many are proud that theirs is only $95, and spring it on you as an added cost, well after you've negotiated your price. My dealer backed off when I refused to pay it but they weren't too pleasant about it. I seriously considered walking out and, looking back, maybe I should have. We'll see what transpires when the car actually arrives from the factory.


#6. Compared to Americans, Canadian buyers are really disadvantaged when it comes to 3rd party extended warranties. There are a lot of them available on the internet but not too many sell to Canadians. And those that do are US based, which raises the complications of paying $USD premiums and deductables, and I don't even want to think about consumer protection rights in the event there's a dispute. Canadian-based extended warranties seem to only be available through dealers, so you know that unless you can find a couple dealers willing to compete with each other, they've got us over a barrel. Carcostcanada told me they hope to make an extended warranty available sometime in the future, hope it's soon. I'd love to hear about other Canadian's experiences with extended warranties, both factory and 3rd party. Maybe we should start a topic on it in the Finance & Warranty section?


Can't wait to see what happens when the car arrives. In shopping I chose dealer quality over lowest price. Hope I didn't choose wrong.

#72 of 118 . by jb47

Dec 03, 2000 (7:26 pm)

Replying to: kelf (Mar 15, 2001 4:11 pm)
I'm trying to buy a 2001 Honda Civic DXG-4AT and the first dealer I contacted quoted me a price of $21900, he eventually came down to $21880 after another dealer quoted $200 less. I then contacted yet another dealer and told him I was looking for $20,850 on the road. He has indicated that he will honor such a price. Can anyone tell me if this sounds like a good deal.
This is just the basic model with the air conditioning, radio, cd, audio anti-theft and power locks group option.

#73 of 118 Canadian auto web sites by ejonavin

Dec 12, 2000 (1:47 am)

Replying to: kelf (Mar 15, 2001 4:11 pm)
It helps to look at some websites that gives Canadian auto info and MRSP, and most of them will hook you up with a local dealer that will give you a decent quote.


Some sites to try:
AutoByTel.CA
Chariots.COM
CarPoint.CA
Cars4u.COM


All these sites will let you do comparisons on Canadian models, which is not always the same or available in the US (e.g. Civic Si-R, and Acura EL). Like they say "knowledge is power."


There are probably others, but these are the ones I look at most. My friend saved a couple of thousands (compared to the best dealer price he could've gotten on his own) on his Accord by going through AutoByTel. I am waiting for delivery of my 2001 Acura EL. I will probably write an article about my experience once the deal is complete.


Still waiting for the EDMUNDS.CA website

#74 of 118 Does it Pay? by 98monte_ls

Mar 20, 2001 (6:53 pm)

Replying to: kelf (Mar 15, 2001 4:11 pm)
Is it cheaper to buy in Canada? Also, will I still get any rebates offered? Also, I am eligible for the GM Supplier Discount. Will this apply as well? (4% over dealer cost)
 
I looked up the prices of the car I want on the GMCanada website. Then I converted the cost into USD for the MSRP cost. Can You believe that on a Chevy Camaro V6 the Canadian MSRP converted into USD is $2000 cheaper than buying the car here in the US? is this true?
 
Are there any other kinds of fees involved in buying and importing into the U.S.? Taxes?
 
I'd appreciate any info anyone can give!!!
Thanks
 
Bruce

#75 of 118 Hey Fletcherdodds by lookintobuy

Apr 24, 2001 (5:31 pm)

Replying to: kelf (Mar 15, 2001 4:11 pm)
If you happen to see this - which dealer did you get your Acura TL from as per your post last October? U can email meCamfella4aol.com. My search hasn't been as,um, successful as yours.
Thanks in advance.

#76 of 118 Any statesiders buy a VW from Canada? by tajcat

May 11, 2001 (9:11 am)

Replying to: kelf (Mar 15, 2001 4:11 pm)
I'm wanting to find a VW Canadian dealership that will play ball with a statesider - preferably 1 close to the border. Also trying to confirm that the 24/24 warranty will be honored in the US, and that I'll still get the free maintenance...
 
Any leads are appreciated - I'd like to contact any1 who's bought Canadian recently for help. Thanks!

#77 of 118 TAJCAT - HERE'S WHAT YOU DO..... by lookintobuy

May 19, 2001 (4:27 am)

Replying to: kelf (Mar 15, 2001 4:11 pm)
FIRST...call VW of America at 800 822 8987 and ask if they cover cars from Canada in the US. My understanding is all manufacturers EXCEPT Honda and Acura will honor the warranty in the US. Then ask if they will provide a letter necessary for you to bring the car into the US. (It's called a safety and emissions letter - it states that the car meets US regs.) If they do not, don't worry.
Then get a list of all VW dealers in your target area - I'm sure VW Canada has a website with this info. You said "near the border" - the border is 3000 miles long LOL!(Vancouver and Toronto/lower Ontario are generally the most competitive.)Contact some of them to verify how much you'll save by buying there - in other words, negotiate. You needn't say where you're from. Try a fax-attack or email. See other Edmunds boards on how to fax-attack. Carcostcanada.com will provide facts and figures.
Then email me about the actual buying process.
With a little ingenuity it can be done.

#78 of 118 Thanks Looking Into Buy! by tajcat

May 25, 2001 (12:23 pm)

Replying to: kelf (Mar 15, 2001 4:11 pm)
Yes, I called VW of America - they needed a VIN before confirming that they would cover the car. The USA powertrain warranty is 10yrs/100k - and only 1/2 that in Canada - I think the warranty for me would be halved.
 
I have faxed / called dealers - and they don't seem to think cross-border buying of a new car is condoned - located 1 possible way - but it's kinda back doorish- and am considering the risks and hassles of it.
 
These VW TDi engines get close to 50mpg on diesel - and they are pretty peppy w/ torque. May just get another color closer to home - thanks for the reply and congrats on your good deal!

Messages Page 8 of 12

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