New TO Canada - Advice on Car.

[vikasraj]

Hi Everyone!!

I shall be landing at Canada soon. I was looking into a lot of website with regards to buying a used car or new car. Now this got a little confusing with so many options and flaws with every car fitting my budget.
So i seek help on which car should one buy and how old can a car be, advice on mileage, Which brand would be affordable (CAD 4000) and reliable and easy to maintain.
I have used a Maruti Suzuki in India and these cars are really awesome when it comes to maintenance and resell value.

Kindly provide your inputs.

 

[mrbeachman]

What province?

The price of car is the least you should worry in Canada. Insurance alone in Ontario could cost you $4000 a year....

 

[sharat_joshi77]

Hi Everyone!!

I shall be landing at Canada soon. I was looking into a lot of website with regards to buying a used car or new car. Now this got a little confusing with so many options and flaws with every car fitting my budget.
So i seek help on which car should one buy and how old can a car be, advice on mileage, Which brand would be affordable (CAD 4000) and reliable and easy to maintain.
I have used a Maruti Suzuki in India and these cars are really awesome when it comes to maintenance and resell value.

Kindly provide your inputs.

I have head that to start with Toyota corolla is good bet. It has low maintenance cost. But as mrbeachman said, insurance is something you should worry about. I know that for a new driver in Brampton, ON, the insurance cost for Toyota (~2005 model) will cost almost around 400-500 CAD/ month).
As for mileage, i have seen the usuall mileage is more than 150K for 2005 models. And that is considered good one.
Anything more than 200K should be avoided...(its my personal choice)

 

[Rossei]

Hi Everyone!!

I shall be landing at Canada soon. I was looking into a lot of website with regards to buying a used car or new car. Now this got a little confusing with so many options and flaws with every car fitting my budget.
So i seek help on which car should one buy and how old can a car be, advice on mileage, Which brand would be affordable (CAD 4000) and reliable and easy to maintain.
I have used a Maruti Suzuki in India and these cars are really awesome when it comes to maintenance and resell value.

Kindly provide your inputs.

As others said, Toyota would be your best bet. Go for Camry, if not possible then Corolla. With $4,000, you will probably find a pre-2004 model with 150,000 - 200,000 km. Try Autotrader.ca for a comparison. Before you buy, do a overall check with an independent mechanic. North American cars will be bit cheaper but need regular maintenance. European cars are expensive to buy and maintain. Among the Japanese made, Toyota requires less maintenance; thus reliable. Both European and Japanese cars have higher resell value. In a city like Toronto where there are tons of immigrants, Honda and Toyota are sold like hot cake.

You didn't mention where you will be landing/settling. Car insurance is almost 3 to 4 times higher in Toronto and its surrounding cities.

BTW, I hate Toyota

 

[zardoz]

Watch out for serious corrosion, whatever you buy. Canada's winter roads just eat cars alive.

 

[vikasraj]

What province?

The price of car is the least you should worry in Canada. Insurance alone in Ontario could cost you $4000 a year....

Thanks you for your replies..
I am planing to settle in Calgary.
I am sorry i didn't mention it before.. But that's the place i am planning on.

 

[vikasraj]

I also found a few auction websites for Calgary..
How good are they... Cna someone from Calgary tell me of places where i can hunt - Auto dealers i mean.

Thanks in advance..

 

[buliwyf]

Just go to Kijiji and buy something for around $3,000 with under 160,000 KM.

This is probably a:
1. '98-'00 Toyota Corolla
2. '01-'03 Nissan Sentra

Don't buy older Mazdas. 100% they are rotting with rust.

Use it for 1 year until your 1st insurance policy lapses. Next year your insurance quotes will go down significantly. You can now use the extra money to buy something better (perhaps finance a newer car)

 

[actonis]

Can anybody make comparation as to the cost of insurance in AB opposed to ON.
Everyone are saying that in ON for new driver it might be in the range of 4-5K.
Whats the expectant range in AB?

 

[steaky]

Can anybody make comparation as to the cost of insurance in AB opposed to ON.
Everyone are saying that in ON for new driver it might be in the range of 4-5K.
Whats the expectant range in AB?

Perhaps you can send private message to people such as Bargeld, On-hold and Amikety who lives in Alberta?

 

[Rossei]

Can anybody make comparation as to the cost of insurance in AB opposed to ON.
Everyone are saying that in ON for new driver it might be in the range of 4-5K.
Whats the expectant range in AB?

That's only true when you're living in Toronto or its surrounding cities. Car insurance isn't same all over Ontario as I said earlier. I have been paying around $1500/year for last 5 years in places like Windsor, Sarnia, Toronto & Kingston. I was lukcy that my insurance didn't rise when I moved to Toronto DT for a year.

No idea about AB. But it will be lower when you choose to live in smaller cities as they will have less people, less traffic on road, less crime, less auto theft/break-in, less road accidents etc.

 

[vikasraj]

Thanks for all the suggestion...

It been very helpful..

 

[vikasraj]

What are your thoughts about Dodge Caliber or Chrysler PT Cruiser.

 

[faatir]

What are your thoughts about Dodge Caliber or Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Try this website. They have each and everything one needed to know when buying Used/New vehicle of any price and any type.

edmunds.com/

 

[Rossei]

What are your thoughts about Dodge Caliber or Chrysler PT Cruiser.

When I look at them; I hate them.

In Canada, I think an AWD SUV/CUV is a ride everyone needs, especially if a winter like this one continues. But they are bad on MPG.