the complete guide to buying a car
SALE !
Drivetrain 101
When choosing which wheel drive you need ( a . k . a . the drivetrain ), consider the style of driving you ’ ll do most : highway , mountains and backcountry , or city
Front-Wheel Drive often the best choice if you ’ ve got good winter tires during the cold season and do a lot of city driving . Front wheels pull you through snow and over ice — the weight of the engine is over the driving wheels , which adds bite to the tires . It ’ s usually less expensive to purchase and repair bills will be cheaper too . used car : gary davIdson buying a useD car
Going down the pre-owned road ? Here ’ s some fuel for thought
a useD car Will be less expensive than an equivalent new car , but you ’ ll need to do a bit more research , as you likely don ’ t know its full history . There ’ s also more variety in price , so it ’ s easy to overpay . But don ’ t worry — AMA is on your side !
Start by finding out about a vehicle ’ s history with an Alberta Motor Vehicle Information Report , available at AMA centres . It shows the odometer reading , when it was registered in Alberta , and if there ’ s any money owed on it .
Next , get a CarFax report — you can order it through AMA . The report will tell you if a vehicle has been reported stolen , rebuilt or salvaged in Canada or the U . S . It ’ ll also show title information , odometer readings , accident indicators and reported service and repair info . ( You may also want to consider a Carproof report , which is even more comprehensive as it includes insurance claims and other details .)
You should also find out about a vehicle ’ s service history . If it ’ s been properly maintained , the seller should be happy to provide a record , showing regular maintenance and any repairs — whether under warranty or not .
Finally , make sure there are no surprises by having a qualified technician inspect the vehicle . The Alberta Vehicle Inspection program allows licensed shops to check the vehicle and provide a full report on its condition and safety , as well as make any repairs necessary , if requested . If the car for sale is registered outside Alberta , it must be given an “ out-of-province vehicle inspection ” by a licensed station before it can be plated . AMA members can visit select AARS shops to get preferred vehicle inspection rates : ama . ab . ca / AARS .
If you ’ re satisfied you ’ ve found a car in good condition that ’ s legally clear to buy , check the recommended purchase price through the Black Book service available to AMA members . It tells you suggested prices for specific makes and models up to 14 years old . This will also help if you ’ re selling a car , so you know what price to expect from the purchaser : ama . ab . ca / auto-anddriving / buying-and-selling-cars . rear-Wheel Drive a good choice for a performance car : The rear wheels push the car forward instead of pulling it , which changes the “ feel ” of driving the vehicle . It ’ s a good choice for light-duty trucks : stability and traction controls keep the front wheels pointed confidently in the right direction by braking them individually , as needed .
Four-Wheel Drive power is available to all four wheels , but in normal conditions it ’ s only sent to one pair of wheels , usually the back . This saves fuel . When the going gets slippery , through snow , mud or wet roads , the driver can send power to all four wheels . It ’ s best in extreme conditions and generally found in off-roading vehicles .
all-Wheel Drive all four wheels are always available to drive the vehicle , though the ratio varies between front and back . In slippery conditions , power between the four wheels is automatically adjusted by the vehicle ’ s computer to find the best traction . When equipped with winter tires , it provides good grip in snow and on ice , but it ’ s heavier , and more costly to buy and repair than two-wheel drive .
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