Question about buying/leasing a car!

OK, this is probably not the right place to put this, but I'll go ahead and ask anyways.

So, I'm going to get a car (fuck yeah) - but I'm dumb when it comes to cars.... Now if I was buying a plane, I'd know what to look for, but see, I've never owned a car before, just, uh... "rented" them :P (Long story).

So, here's my position - We are probably in the market for a used car, something that is reliable, and has cargo space, is economical, and just sips gas, definatly something like a toyota matrix/corolla/camry or a civic or something like that.

Right now we live in Toronto, but hopefully within the next week or two we will be moving outside of the city, and most likely, outside of the province. We will probably be staying in Canada (unless I get that job in the maldives, but I doubt it). That's it background wise... We also have about 12,000 to spend.

I have a few questions though - should we buy used (something not too old, not too many km for about 10-12k), or should we lease? Can we even lease? And do you have any advice for checking out used/leased cars?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I made this exact same thread about 6 months ago, right before I chose to lease a 2007 Civic. Personally, I think leasing is a great idea if you don't have any kids to pass the car on to at the moment. You get a brand new car that, while you don't own, you don't pay much for. I'm paying $228 a month for the Civic.

On top of that, service to the car is much cheaper than it would be, since it isn't YOUR car, it's Honda's. Most of the service is covered in the lease, minus a few things here and there.

The only negatives to a lease are the mileage restrictions and the fact that you need to hand the car back in after 3 years. If you can be conservative with your mileage, or just lease the car for more money and get a bigger mileage allowance, you should be fine. My monthly rate covers 12,000 miles a year, or a 36,000 mile lease.

If you go over the mileage, you can get screwed for the cost (20 cents per mile over the limit I believe it is), but if you choose to buy the car out after you lease it (which IS an option), you aren't penalized for it. Buying the car out is a decent option because you'll be getting a 3 year-old car that you've had for a fairly reduced price, and although Honda is the big winner in that scenario, you still aren't paying a whole lot to buy it out. I think I would pay roughly the same amount monthly to buy it out if I go that route.

Anyway, hope that helps.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

One of the questions I had about leasing is that if we lease the car in ontario, is it still OK to move to alberta?

Most amazing jew boots

Should be. Check with Honda or whoever you lease from to find out, but it should be no problem, as long as you can return it to the manufacturer's dealership.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

If you're about to move I'd be more worried about licensing and registration. I know in Australia it's different from state to state and I imagine that the provinces of Canda gaurd their independance moreso. So investigate that, might want to hold off buying until you move.

Also, leasing? Pffffft.
Buy some mid nineties thing with as few kms on the clock as possible. Then you own the car, it's yours and one day you can sell it.

And you know, four doors, four cylinders, Japanese, you can't go wrong.

I was speaking idiomatically.

My major concern is that soon after we get the car, we will probably be making the 3600km journey from Ontario to Alberta... Perhaps stopping along the way in the US to check out ol' faithful, and some of the silo's in montana.... Mmmm, nuclear weapons.

Asides from the travel plans, I was thinking that a used car - although you can get a warrenty from the dealer, it's only at that dealer, but if you lease the car/buy it (on financing) from the manufacturer, you can get it warrenty repaired at any approved facility.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

OK - So it looks like we're going to get a used car now, something that is certified, hopefully something like a 2003-2004 corolla or civic, with lowish KMs.

What I was wondering, is that I'm going to be going to the dealership to test drive the car - what in the way of negotiation should I do? My main concern, is that if the sticker price is 13,000 - how much more am I actually looking at paying? I know taxes will be added on, but are there any other fees?

How ya doing, buddy?

Buy a year or two old, drive it until it dies, repeat. You save a bundle on the initial purchase and it'll last you forever. It's the most cost-effective system. Just remember that you don't need a new one every 4 years.

Also, Locke, you're looking at it from the wrong way. Don't say "how much will they charge me". Decide on an amount you're willing to pay. Make an offer (start too low) and see where it goes. If they're not willing to give you the car at the price you want, just walk out and try another dealership. The world goes on. Negotiate on your terms, not theirs.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Ok, so i've got a test drive booked tomorrow - the only problem is that I probably won't have the cash in my account until fri or mon to actually buy anything. is that a big deal? or does holding on to the car for a few days not make a difference.

Additional Spam:
And an ammendium.. Probably not the best thing to do - but I havn't driven a manual in a couple years - no biggie if I stall it once or twice?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Arainach

Buy a year or two old, drive it until it dies, repeat. You save a bundle on the initial purchase and it'll last you forever. It's the most cost-effective system. Just remember that you don't need a new one every 4 years.

Also, Locke, you're looking at it from the wrong way. Don't say "how much will they charge me". Decide on an amount you're willing to pay. Make an offer (start too low) and see where it goes. If they're not willing to give you the car at the price you want, just walk out and try another dealership. The world goes on. Negotiate on your terms, not theirs.

Some of the best tips I've ever heard, from A to Z.

Set your own price and negotiate. It's a skill that you should practice now, as it will ALWAYS come in useful. Aim your price low, and expect to come out somewhere in the middle, between asking price and your price. DO NOT tell them how much you're looking to spend, and act like everything is expensive - EVEN IF you can afford it.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

And any worries about getting the rust out of my old stick and clutch driving skills? The salesperson isn't going to kill me for a stall or two?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Locke

And any worries about getting the rust out of my old stick and clutch driving skills? The salesperson isn't going to kill me for a stall or two?

It's to be expected. I've stalled a car for sale before while driving stick - you can't be to blame, really. From what I understand, all sticks usually differ in clutch gauge and all. My sister stalled out a brand new Mustang several times before getting how sensitive the clutch was.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

cool cool :P Thanks for the helpful posts everybody, I'll let you know how the dealy goes tomorrow!

Additional Spam:
Oh - I had another question!

It now looks like we're going to get one of these "Certified Used" Toyota Corollas, they're pretty good, shitloads cheaper then a new car, etc... I was wondering though - should we still get it checked out by a third party mechanic? They do a 127 point inspection on the car they say, and warrenty it for 12mo/24,000km (with extensions available).

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Locke

Oh - I had another question!

It now looks like we're going to get one of these "Certified Used" Toyota Corollas, they're pretty good, shitloads cheaper then a new car, etc... I was wondering though - should we still get it checked out by a third party mechanic? They do a 127 point inspection on the car they say, and warrenty it for 12mo/24,000km (with extensions available).

Whenever you buy used, you should probably have it checked by a third party mechanic. Should, of course. Not MUST. That way, if the mechanic finds something wrong, you can have the repair of the problem written into the purchasing contract.

In other words, make the purchase of the vehicles contingent upon the repair of the things the third party mechanic found.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Sooo, after test driving a few cars, we purchased a 2004 Corolla LE!! Woo!!!! We're just waiting for Toyota to complete the inspection to make the deal final, and then we have to decide a date of delivery - we're going to be getting temp plates, which are only good for 10 days, so we have to time it right to pickup the car, and then pretty much begin our drive across Canada! Will post pics when we can.

FELIPE NO

Here are some pics of the car! Woo! (not pics I took, just from their website)











































What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?