There are previous posts here that will take you through the steps that can help you find a good quality used car. What I wanted to do was explain the difference between buying from an ABC lot and from a Dealership.

Not all used car dealers are created equal and if you see a car on a lot that is of interest to you, do your homework and make sure you protect yourself. What I mean by that is this:

1. Get a vehicle report on the car – ask to see the UCDA Report or the Car Proof to check and make sure that there are no registered accidents. The report should also tell you if the car was registered in any other Province and if it is a US car. If you get a song and dance that the car is clean but no report is presented … don’t even go any further … just leave. DON’T TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT.

2. Test drive the car – if you get the vehicle report and it looks clean then take the car for a test drive. Check and make sure that everything works; the power windows they all go up and down, locks, keyless entry, air conditioning, heat, power seats, heated seats … you get the picture check it all.

What I have found is when people come into our dealership and it is the middle of winter or summer they fail to check the other things that they will need down the road. In the middle of winter, people forget to check the a/c, sunroof, etc and in the summer they forget to check the heat and heated seats to make sure they work.

3. Have the vehicle mechanically checked – There is nothing wrong with having a mechanic check over a car for you. There have been plenty of times when I have had a customer who has asked me if we can take the car to his mechanic or if the mechanic can come to the dealership to check it out. Typically the mechanic comes to the dealership and the car is put on the hoist. In the case of used car dealers who don’t have the facilities (and a lot of them don’t) then make arrangements with them to have your mechanic check it out.

Not all used car dealers are created equal and you can pick up some good quality used cars, but you need to do your due diligenc.

Have a question … post it and let’s get your an answer!

When you are leasing a car there are general things that you need to figure out before you get to the Dealership. Things like how many kms per year will you drive, are you planning on putting any money down and another is the length or time or the car lease term that is going to work for you.

Typically the car lease terms are 24, 36, 48 and depending on the manufacturer there may be a 60 month option. Sit down with your Lease Manager and go through the various terms with them and they will let you know how the term affects the car lease payment.

Pay attention to the rates and residuals from one term to the next. A shorter term may have high residuals (the higher the residual means, in most cases, a lower payment).

The typical car lease terms are 36 and 48 months. I would not recommend going any longer than the 48 month term. The whole idea behind a lease payment is that it is lower than a finance payment because you are only paying for the amount of the car you are driving for a set period of time. If you go more than the 48 month lease term – to the 60 month term – you have almost paid for the whole car and you still don’t own it. Really think about the term and again, get the Lease Manager to do a compairson for you and to show you the differences so you are better informed and can make a better buying decision!

• BREAKING: Toyota temporarily halts sales of selected models *UPDATED

January 26, 2010

• 2011 Volvo C70 priced from $39,950 with more standard features

January 21, 2010

It Will Hold Everything You Love and Safely Too!

There have been slight changes to the Volvo V70 for 2010. As a FWD only the V70 has two trim levels (V70 3.2 and the V70 3.2 Premium) and an R-Design Package is available. The Volvo V70 is equipped with a 3.2-litre,

Our unique wagon design meets highly-engineered performance!

235-horsepower, in-line six cylinder engine producing 236 lb.-ft. of torque. It comes standard in a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The entry-level V70 3.2 comes standard with: 16″ alloy wheels, dual-zone Electronic Climate Control, Dynamic Stability and Traction Control, Bluetooth, power driver’s seat with memory, heated front seats, T-tec seating surfaces and a 6-speaker audio system.  Stand alone options are: metallic paint and dual-stage integrated booster cushions for the rear seats. (more…)

Luxury Within Reach!

For 2010 the Volvo S40 comes in three trim levels which have changed slightly and an available R-Design Package. The 2.4i and 2.4i Premium are powered by a 2.4-litre, 5-cylinder engine giving you 168 horsepower and

0% Finance up to 48 months + up to $3,500 in Cash Incentives!

170 lb.-ft. of torque. The S40 T5 AWD is powered by a 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder engine producing 227-horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque. Both the 2.4i and 2.4i Premium are front wheel drive with the manual and automatic transmission options available. The Volvo S40 T5 is an all-wheel-drive with manual or automatic transmissions being an available option. (more…)