the complete guide to BUYING A cAR
GET
THE
BEST
DEAL Money
savers
1. A FEW MONTHS
BEFORE BUYING
2. AFTER YOU’VE NARROWED
THE FIELD
Check the resale: Even new cars have
estimated resale prices for a few years
into the future. Two cars that cost the
same now could devalue at very differ-
ent rates, and the overall cost of own-
ership will be greater for one than the
other. Consult the Canadian Black
Book (caamanitoba.com/blackbook)
to check estimated future prices. Go to
ARE YOU
cOVERED
40
Fall 2017
CAA MaNITOBa
?
the dealerships of the cars you like to
take them for a test drive.
Check fuel-consumption
figures, which help you compare
different models. Also, see if your
preferred model requires premium
fuel—are you prepared to pay extra
at the pump?
3. A FEW DAYS BEFORE BUYING
Take a closer look: Go back to the deal-
erships you liked and sit in the cars
again. After a week or two, do you still
like it? Is it comfortable in all seats,
front and back? Do you have enough
headroom and legroom? And make
sure the final price (after all taxes and
extras) is affordable, otherwise you’ll
grow to hate the car.
Leather seats are often more
expensive and need to be heated in
the winter. A navigation system is
useful, but you can probably find
a cheaper plug-in system.
4. THE DAY YOU BUY
Does anything bother you? Anything at
all: Colour? Rims? If so, address it now
before you sign anything. Don’t go over
your budget—ever. If you’re a serious
negotiator, you can sometimes get
the salesperson to drop the price by
two or three percent. Ask for a full tank
of gas thrown into the deal. »
your new wheels may come with an emergency roadside service package—but
it only covers the vehicle and service usually ends when the warranty expires.
on the other hand, caa’s roadside service covers you, no matter what you’re
driving and even if you’re a passenger. Visit caamanitoba.com for complete
details about our roadside service, plus other perks of being a member.
How much can you afford? Decide
on a price and stick to it. A good rule
of thumb is to spend no more than
10 percent of your income on vehicle
expenses, including payments, interest,
insurance and maintenance. Don’t go
over your budget—you’ll only regret it
later. Once you’ve picked a style and
price, go online: Read pro reviews,
owners’ comments and crash-test
ratings. Compare actual prices,
including financing, leasing options
and insurance rates.
Look for vehicles at the end
of their model year. There will be
manufacturer incentives to help
make room for next year’s models.