the complete guide to
Buying a Car
drivetrain 101
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When choosing which wheel
drive you need—a.k.a. the
drivetrain—consider the
style of driving you’ll do
most: highway, country
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.
rear-Wheel drive
A used car will be less expensive than an equivalent new car, but
there’s more research involved because you likely don’t know the
history with its previous owner. There’s also more variety in price,
so it’s easy to overpay. But don’t worry—CAA is on your side!
F
out if
there are any liens against the
vehicle. In Manitoba, call the
Personal Property Registry
(204-945-3123) and give them the
VIN to ensure the vehicle is in the clear
financially.
Next, get a Carfax report—you can
order it through CAA ($31.49 USD).
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 ($51.45 plus tax,
carproof.com), which is even more
comprehensive as it includes insurance
claims and other details.
And you should find out about a
vehicle’s service history. If it’s been
properly maintained, the seller should
be happy to provide a record, showing
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Fall 2017
CAA MaNITOBa
regular maintenance and any repairs
whether under warranty or not.
Finally, get an inspection by a
qualified technician. Provincial
programs allow licensed shops to go
over the vehicle and provide a full
report on its condition and safety.
For insurance purposes, Manitoba
requires a Certificate of Inspection
(COI) to certify the car is roadworthy.
A COI is the responsibility of the
insurer, not the seller. Visit an AARS
shop to get vehicle inspections:
caamanitoba.com/aars
If you’re satisfied you’ve found a
car in good condition that’s legally
clear for you to buy, check the recom-
mended purchase price through the
Black Book. This service tells you sug-
gested prices for specific makes and
models up to 14 years old. This will also
help you if you’re selling a car, so you
know what kind of price to ask for:
caamanitoba.com/black_book
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-road 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. »
Buying a used Car
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.