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» Motormouth: Car Buying Guide for Auto Buyers
Please select chapter titles below to see what's in there!
Chapter Description:   I am a car buff, and always have been from a very early age. As I write this book, out of the corner of my eye I can see a model car my father gave me in 1974 sitting on my desk. In fact, I still have all of the toy cars he gave me over the years, dating back to the 1960s. My early passion for cars has never faded; it grew into a career as an auto reviewer on television, on radio and in newspapers. For a car guy, this is not a job, it's a wonderful pastime. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to drive almost every modern car on the road and I've also had the pleasure to own some very special vehicles. In fact, my very first car was called a Special. Do you remember the movie Rain Man with Dustin Hoffman? Well, the car featured in that movie was a 1949 Buick Roadmaster convertible and my very first car was a 1949 Buick Special, the sedan version of that car. Once again my father was involved. I was 17 and we purchased the car together as part of a restoration project. The grand plan was to bring the big green beast back to its glory. Well, we had the Special for more than 20 years and I can fondly remember driving it to high school and picking up my friends along the way, it was so big. We never did restore the car, but it is still running today and in the hands of an owner who loves it as much as we did. Along the way I have had so many cars. I have bought, sold and leased cars of all shapes and sizes, and often the hunt for my next prized possession began as soon as I signed the paperwork for my current vehicle. It is a bit of a sickness, being so car crazy, but it has also given me plenty of knowledge that I hope to pass on to you. Choosing the right vehicle for your needs can be a tough and sometimes very frustrating decision. For example, cars offer better handling and performance than a sport utility vehicle (SUV), but they don't provide the same high seating position that so many drivers like. An SUV has plenty of space inside for a family, towing capacity and large powerful engines but they can be hard on fuel. A crossover tries to give the best of both worlds. But does it do either very well? Buying a vehicle is always a compromise. There is no perfect vehicle out there for every person and situation; all you can do is decide which one is the best possible fit-including your budget-at the time you go car shopping. For every single attribute you add, you can take another away. For example, to get power and performance, you may sacrifice fuel economy and cost savings. To get the best gas mileage, you will have to go with a 4-cylinder engine and sacrifice the power of a V6 or V8. To acquire space and functionality, you will need a taller and longer vehicle, in which case you may lose a degree of handling. To get an inexpensive car, you have to give up the kinds of appointments that luxury vehicles offer-leather, heated seats and so on. It is very much a yin and yang situation-you need to find the right balance. There is a lot to think about before going shopping and spending tens of thousands of dollars, so let's look at the different types of vehicles available in the market today. Hopefully, it will help narrow the kind of car you're looking for.
Chapter Description: I'm sure many drivers can remember, as a child, driving in the family car with no child safety seats, and the kids standing up in the back seat or riding in the front seat without a seatbelt. I can remember the thinking of the day: if children were in the back seat, they were okay. Little did our parents or we know the huge risks. When you are shopping for a new or used car, it is always a good idea to consider crash worthiness and the added safety features available in today's vehicles. What safety features should you consider essential? Here is an explanation of many of the elements that go into making a vehicle safe and the cutting-edge advancements that might soon be available in all cars.
Chapter Description: Hopefully you've been able to make a list of those items and features you'd like to have in your next vehicle, and narrowed down the choice of models. You might have been able to decide if a regular gasoline, diesel or hybrid is in your future and which safety features you desire. The next step is to figure out which of the latest cool options you want and which ones you can go without. Many potential buyers are misled when they go shopping for a vehicle, because the prices advertised are typically for a base model, and to get the vehicle just the way they like is much more expensive. Features such as alloy wheels, metallic paint, leather seats and upgraded engine choices are all factors to take into consideration, but the latest creature comforts and electronics are what really drive up the price. I can remember a friend looking to buy a car and she turned a $16,000 compact into a $23,000 model just by adding more and more features. The number of available options and the brand factor into the price, too. Some import manufacturers charge much more for similar features offered by domestic automakers only because their brand is more prestigious. (''More prestigious'' must be code for ''charge more for the same thing.'') So here are some of the latest and most popular ''cool'' features that might be tempting to include in your next vehicle and my thoughts on whether they are worth the added expense.
Chapter Description: For quite some time we had a minivan to use as a production vehicle; it hauled camera gear and transported our technical staff. It ran flawlessly. The problem wasn't the way it drove or any mechanical defect-it was the driver's armrest. Every time our director got into the van he had to lift the armrest to access the seatbelt buckle, but in doing so placed the armrest in a position that wasn't comfortable. To return the armrest to the proper position, he had to raise it fully and then adjust it accordingly. I know what you are thinking . . . so what? This might not seem like a big deal if you only have to do it once, but repeating the same thing every single time became a nuisance. When something about a vehicle bothers you, it won't go away.In fact, I have found the opposite. The position of the armrest, the angle of the seat or the reach to change the radio dial are all things that will annoy you, not only initially, but over time, and might even cause you to rethink your purchase. The time you spend shopping for a new vehicle will help eliminate many of these frustrations down the road. By being diligent in not only driving but also evaluating the vehicle, just like an auto reviewer, you will weed out vehicles that don't meet your needs, and you'll also be able to pinpoint items that could frustrate you over years of ownership. Not only do you have to review each vehicle for problems the driver might face, but for passengers as well. For example, if you yourself are older or are regularly transporting an elderly person on a regular basis, then buying a vehicle that is easy to get in and out of is paramount. You wouldn't want Grandma to have to clamber into a big truck; she needs to be able to get in easily and be comfortable. Take into consideration the application of the vehicle. As I mentioned in the beginning of chapter 1, buying a vehicle is a compromise, so look for one that can offer the best appointments and the least sacrifices. My father has had bouts with back pain for as long as I can remember, and on one visit he was having a particularly difficult time. The car I was reviewing that week was a very fancy but lowriding Porsche 911 Turbo. I decided to take my dad out for dinner but the thought of his getting into the low-slung Porsche was daunting. Luckily, the car was also a convertible, so with the roof down, my dad was able to open the door, walk into the car and slide down into the seat. Without being able to take off the roof, we would have had to come up with another plan, probably a taxi. If I was responsible for my father's transportation needs, a Porsche would be out of the question. Something more sensible and with easy access in and out would be on the list. A test drive should help you ascertain whether a potential vehicle passes the test. Don't get caught up in the shiny paintwork and new car smell. Get down to work and check to see if a vehicle meets your requirements. Be critical: this is your hard-earned money at stake, and not spending it wisely might lead to buyer's remorse after the initial buzz of owning a new car wears off.
Chapter Description: When the time comes to head out and actively shop for a vehicle, the choices of financing often come down to a standard term loan or leasing for a set period of time. Let's look at the way a lease is different from a loan and the significant changes that have taken place in the wake of the recent financial crisis.
Chapter Description: Hopefully, after reading the first several chapters of this book you have begun to make a short list of vehicles you'd like to take for a test drive. But before you finish, there is still some more homework to do. I know, I know, homework is no fun, but if you take the time to do a little more research, you'll be much more satisfied with your purchase. The reason I want you to look a little deeper is that there might be a vehicle out there that you haven't considered or even thought of. After all, we all have our preferences and prejudices when it comes to our purchases. Maybe the type of car your parents drove when you were a child has influenced what you're considering now. Perhaps the stories you heard from friends and family about their vehicles have swayed you one way or another. Like it or not, we all have preconceived ideas about what certain vehicles are like before we even try them. During the recent financial crisis when Ford, Chrysler and General Motors were in Washington DC looking for financial assistance, there were some serious misrepresentations made about these companies. The mainstream media, which is not involved in the auto industry on a regular basis, and the public, who might not have driven cars from Detroit in the last several decades, were quick to jump all over the Detroit Three as poor-quality car makers. Sure, in the past, Ford, Chrysler and GM built cars and trucks that disappointed many buyers, but the truth is today many of the vehicles they build are as good as-if not better than-some of the import manufacturers. As a person who gets to test drive all the new vehicles available in the marketplace, year after year, I have a pretty good understanding of what is out there and how things have changed. All of the automakers have improved the quality, performance, safety, finish, drivability and available features. Ford, Chrysler and General Motors needed to improve not only their financial business model but also their products, and over the last several years I have noticed a distinct upgrading in what they deliver to market. In fact, they don't just compete-some of the most impressive products I've driven are from Detroit. JD Power and Associates conducts several manufacturing quality studies each year, and one of the most important is its initial quality study, which follows vehicles over the first 90 days of ownership to see how many times a vehicle is returned to the dealership for repair. For decades the top performers in this study have been import manufacturers like Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Mercedes, Lexus, Porsche and others. What has happened in the last several years is that other brands, not known for their quality (or that have been perceived as poor quality), are surging to the top of the pack. In the most recent study Honda, Toyota and Lexus were awarded top spot in many categories but so too were vehicles from GM, Ford and Hyundai. In fact Ford, Lincoln and Hyundai outperformed the industry average in terms of initial quality. For the last few years, Ford, Hyundai and GM have won the North American International Auto Show car of the year for the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Hyundai Genesis, Chevy Malibu, and the Saturn Aura (no longer available). If you only read the mainstream media and listen to what people's biases are toward North American and Korean cars, you might never buy one. In reality, such results show these vehicles deserve consideration. The reason I bring this up is because I want you to consider all the options that are available on the market today. Don't discount any vehicle just because of its brand; there are many wonderful models from every corner of the world and the quality is as good as it's ever been. You still have to do your due diligence, research and good old test drives to determine what is right for you.
Chapter Description: One of the most important factors in getting a good deal on a car is deciding when to purchase. If there is a sleek new model that catches the public's interest, it will command a higher or a more consistent price than a vehicle that has been around for a long time. The same is true for other items we buy. We've all been to a clothing store and seen the ''sale'' rack, typically filled with items from the end of season. For example, stores will want to get rid of heavy coats and sweaters at the beginning of spring. The opposite is also true: when you go into a store at the beginning of a season and find that one item you really want-it's rarely on sale. Our economy and what we pay for goods is based on supply and demand. Keep that ''sale'' rack in your mind when you think about vehicles. There have been some extreme examples of vehicles being released into the market with such hype that they actually sell for more than the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Do you remember in the early 90s when the Mazda Miata was first introduced? That car single-handedly brought back the roadster to the marketplace, and the interest in it was so high that some dealers actually charged more than the vehicle was supposed to be sold for. After a while, as people became accustomed to seeing it on the road and the initial honeymoon passed, prices returned to normal levels. Another example is the hot Nissan GT-R, released in 2008. The GT-R is a Japanese super car that was introduced in Canada in limited numbers. Those who wanted one had to pay more than the suggested selling price. I heard stories of dealerships asking $40,000 more than the sticker price and people actually forked it over to get one. Buying a car in such an environment is never going to get you a good deal. But waiting for the vehicle to become more common will reduce the demand and price. You have to ask yourself if owning the newest, latest and greatest model is what you need, or more a question of what you want. Most vehicle purchases are not just about your needs, they're also about fashion and the statement the vehicle makes about your personality. For some, driving in the latest car with all the leading-edge technology is what makes them who they are. For others, they're not bothered about being seen in a vehicle that is sexy or flashy; they might be more excited about getting a good deal. These buyers typically buy cars that are more sensible and cost less, and they tend to keep them longer. You have to decide what type of person you are and how much you're willing to pay to be in the latest and greatest vehicle. You don't have to buy a boring, basic and out-of-date car to get a good deal. Sometimes, waiting for the right time to purchase can get you the vehicle that you aspire to own at a price that is easier to live with. It often comes down to timing. Just as a clothing store wants to sell off their winter clothes before spring, car companies and dealerships want to sell an outgoing model before the new one arrives. When dealerships are motivated to move their product, they have to make it attractive to buyers. They can do this in a number of ways, such as reducing price, offering incentives or reducing the amount it costs you to borrow money. If you can get all three, that's like the Triple Crown in horse racing. Giddy up!
Chapter Description: Have you ever stood at the grocery checkout line and noticed a magazine, pack of gum, candy bar or horoscope book that you didn't plan to buy but purchased anyway? These are called impulse buys. You had no intention of buying these items, but the fact they were placed in front of you somehow worked. You couldn't resist them because they were easy to purchase. Going shopping for a car is no different; sure, it's more expensive but many times the vehicle is showcased on its own little platform-that flashy new vehicle the dealer wants you to purchase. They make it easy for you! Car buyers do fall victim to impulse purchases. Since you're reading this book, I gather you are a very sensible, practical shopper who would never fall prey to impulse buying. Right? I'm sure, just like me, you have friends who are not as prudent and have gone shopping for a vehicle and bought one on the spot. Maybe that intoxicating new-car smell overcomes their senses and they are bedazzled by the shiny paint, concert-class stereo system or persuasive (and pervasive) salespeople helping them part with their money. Or all of the above. Have you ever heard the term ''buyer's remorse''? This occurs when the excitement of the moment overtakes common sense and a buyer makes a purchase, followed by the realization (usually two or three days later) that they made a rash decision and shouldn't have parted with their cash. Don't fall victim to buyer's remorse! I've had many calls to my radio show from listeners wanting my advice after they have purchased a vehicle. Sometimes callers will mention that the vehicle they purchased has a design issue and they want to know how to fix it. Often, the engine or tire noise is too high, the seats aren't comfortable, the engine isn't efficient and-the biggest concern of all-did they overpay? Many of these issues could have been avoided if the buyers had slowed down the shopping experience and looked at a vehicle critically and actually taken some time to think about what they really want in a car. One caller actually purchased a van, which was totally wrong for his situation; he went into a dealership, he was rushed, he was sold something he didn't need and he overpaid and wanted to know, after the fact, how to get out of it. I explained that he paid full retail for the van and any dealer would only offer him the wholesale price on his trade-in; if he wanted to get another vehicle, he would lose a bunch of money. He decided to keep the van he didn't like, or want, because of a hasty decision! The most important thing on your side when you're shopping is time-time to think, time to shop, time to negotiate, time to change your mind. If you're in a rush and haven't thought everything through, you might come away from a deal regretting it. Don't be like the van man!
Chapter Description: On September 21, 2007, the Canadian dollar hit parity with the U.S. dollar, sending Canadians into fits over what we pay for everything, compared to Americans. There was no more obvious discrepancy in prices than vehicles. Canadians at that time were paying 10% to 30% more for the same vehicle in Canada than our neighbours to the south. The public outcry was so loud that many people took notice, from consumers who felt ripped off, to politicians covering their backsides, to car executives coming up with lame excuses and even to lawyers filing lawsuits that claimed market manipulation. People on all sides were scrambling to either take advantage of cheaper cars in the United States or trying to stop Canadians from doing so. Fortunately, the controversy led politicians to make many needed changes in the way Canadians shopped for cars in the United States, but there are still several drawbacks to doing business south of the border.
Chapter Description: After interviewing prospective dealerships and salespeople and having created a short list of vehicles you're considering purchasing, now the fun begins. Really, it should be fun. When you're out on a test drive, you're doing exactly the same thing I do as an automotive reviewer, but you are not doing it for publication, you're doing it for yourself. Trust me, test driving cars for a living is a lot of fun. So when you're putting a car through its paces, have some fun with it, but also have a critical eye. Remember to include on your short list some vehicles that aren't a second or third choice-maybe a fifth or sixth-or a brand you felt just didn't offer the vehicles you thought would fit your budget or lifestyle. Instead of a compact SUV, give some thought to a small station wagon, or a diesel instead of a traditional gasoline engine. Something might stand out that could change your mind about your purchase direction. In the past, I've suggested certain types of vehicles to friends and family, and initially they turned up their noses at the idea of trying something they hadn't considered. What often happens is after trying something new they have a totally different opinion. When I write a review for Driving Television, I try to have an open mind about the attributes of each vehicle. If I had a closed mind and only focused on the cars that I would like to drive personally, my reviews would be one-dimensional. Looking at a vehicle without prejudice will open your eyes to products that could ultimately lead to better long-term purchasing decisions.
Chapter Description: Without question, this is the one part of buying a vehicle that almost every person dreads. Some people, because of their occupation, negotiate on a regular basis, whether they're in sales or they work on contracts. Unfortunately, most of us don't have the skill set that enables us to get the best price possible. As I mentioned in Chapter 11, there is a new trend of engaging professional negotiators who utilize bulk buying to get the best deal. I encourage you to read that section again to see if you are a candidate for this approach. In essence, we turn to experts all the time when buying items. People often engage a mortgage broker to get the best interest rate on your home. Many more people are using a website like Expedia to get the best price on travel arrangements and the Internet has been invaluable for comparison shopping. If you dread the idea of negotiating and buying a vehicle on your own, then you might want to investigate this idea further. For those who still like the idea of making contact with a salesperson and building a relationship, read on. Being able to negotiate and come to a fair price is something that has to be learned, and hopefully by reading this chapter you will gain the confidence to go in and get a fair deal. The reason I use the word ''fair'' is that dealers are in business to make money, not to give the vehicles away at cost. It might come as a surprise to many people, but new-car dealers don't make a lot of money selling new cars. Canadians love small, inexpensive vehicles and those products have very small profit margins for the businesses selling them. Larger, more expensive luxury models tend to be more profitable, but even these brands can have low profit margins. Dealerships make most of their money on servicing vehicles and selling used cars. As I pointed out earlier, the best deal you will get on any car is with manufacturer incentives and low financing costs. Negotiating the price of a vehicle is common, but the savings that can be gained are often quite low. Brands that are in high demand often don't discount much, if at all. Those that are struggling in sales will often be more open to negotiating a lower price. The Honda Civic is the best-selling car in Canada, and going into a Honda dealer and trying to negotiate thousands of dollars off the price will be almost futile. On the other hand, with so much bad news surrounding some automakers, like Toyota's perceived quality issues or domestic manufacturers, there is a better chance of getting a discount on one of their products. I don't want to suggest that you shouldn't try to negotiate a discount, but you have to be realistic when there isn't a lot of money to be made by the dealership when you buy a car. If you've already decided before you head into a dealership whether you're going to lease, finance or buy your vehicle outright, keep this information to yourself. Why? The simple answer is that you want to negotiate the price before you implement any terms on the agreement. Leasing a vehicle based only on the monthly payment and not on the original purchase price can often lead to spending more money in the long run. The more money you negotiate off the purchase price, the less your monthly payments will be. If you base your decision just on the monthly payments, not knowing the purchase price, you often will end up paying for a longer period of time or the full retail price.
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