Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

Piff, I got'cha, I suspect they've all been replaced by now. When I mentioned rattles I was specifically thinking of control arm bushings. They were the deuce to change.

dbd I prefer the rear wheel drive monsters, but the big GMs are ok :)

Pete

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

Many thanks all for the tips. I've spotted a Nissan Altima which is within my budget. Hopefully I get the job today

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

Good luck with the job and the car.

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

We'll I got the job. I'm being told the winter here is insane and it's not worth dealing in a 2nd hand car..so off to Honda I go to get a leased crv:fingerscrossed:

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

I think you said "here" is Markham and the GTA is in general your travel zone?

The winter, while far from pleasant, is not insane. I drive a perfectly ordinary manual front wheel drive hatchback on all season tyres all year round. I've never had a problem in or around the GTA. Moreover I can't really see the relevance of whether your car is second hand or not.

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

in the dead of winter in Markham & having to travel around the GTA with the wind chill it can feel like minus 30C

After a good snowfall & drifting snow when the snow plow has blocked you in & it takes 20 minutes to clear the snow from your car, de-ice the windshield get stuck in traffic - you'll know you are in Canada.

Then by mid summer when you are doing your rep job in/out of your car the humidity is +38C you'll feel like a wet rag. Then getting stuck in traffic on hwy 404 or 401 in rush hour due to accidents, every driver is peed off, your gas gauge is dropping fast - you'll know you are in Canada.

Your work day including travel will likely be at least 10 hours & you'll be thankful that you are driving a newer vehicle

Congrats on the job

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

Because, Canada.

Welcome. Enjoy your uber expensive motoring experience.

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

Girl in work has one of those protege efforts. Thing is literally turning to dust and it's not more than 8 yrs old by the sound of it.

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

True. But cars don't get windchill.

Also true, but irrelevant.

True again. Equally irrelevant.

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

Not sure whether Ford dealers in ON are offering the same incentives they are here, but we leased a Ford Escape AWD for slightly less than $350 taxes in recently. A CRV would have worked out about $100 more per month. Might be worth checking out.

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

Thanks for the tip

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

How do people manage to get a brand new car on monthly payments when new immigrants though? Surely you need stellar credit rating? and as a newcomer you would not have one?

We will also be in Markham and looking for a car so I've been reading this thread with interest.

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

When I first arrived I picked up a 1996 Plymouth Grand Voyager for $1600.
One owner from new, every receipt including original bill of sale, 200,000km.

I planned to run it for a few months until I was settled, and had it 2 1/2 years until it was involved in an accident. Barely spent a penny on it, and still got $400 for it for spares.

Don't be afraid of an older vehicle if it has been looked after, you can get a mechanic to check it over for you for $100 or less.

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

Congrats on the job!

Pete

Re: $3000-3500 what car?
 

Congrats on the job.

Leasing a CRV (nice as they are if you like the SUV thing) is total overkill IMO. The GTA winter is far from insane, sure its not the UK, but its not Yellowknife either. Roads are cleared pretty swiftly.

After doing the lease thing in the past its a bit of a mugs game to be honest. OK to get more car than you can really afford, but hard to negotiate a good deal, and its a treadmill that its hard to get off as you always have a payment and always need full insurance coverage which will be as much every month as your payment.