My attention is rapt. We get 14mpg (US) on a long run.

Most people used to European handling and suspension will probably find North American vehicles a bit 'disconnected' from the road until they get used to it. Different, rather than 'scary', I'd say, especially if you're coming from a saloon car to a van.

Although what you said about the Caravan is quite true, it's not a problem at all in Alberta where all the roads are straight anyway! Two million 'soccer moms' manage just fine!

The Honda Odyssey is obviously a far more technologically advanced vehicle, but you'd be struggling to get a decent one for $12k which is what the OP wants. But 35mpg is fantastic.

I'd happily spend the extra $3.5K on something like this :-

http://www.stricklandautosales.com/detail.php?id=80989

It's the wife that needs convincing, to her a car is a car and a $15K one is just as likely to fail as the $12K one, so might as well get the $12K one.....

Also, there's tax to consider on top of a used car too isn't there? What's the rate for that, is it PST AND GST on top of the price you paid?

Here in NB it is 13% AND if they say the car is valued at more than you paid, you pay tax on their price! That was a nice surprise.

That's a bit rude!

In Ontario private sales accrue provincial PST (8%) based on the higher of the appraised book wholesale value or the actual retail price on the receipt when you go to register it.

Dealer sales attract GST and PST (13% total) on the agreed price....Private sale is the way to go, if you can live with the risk of a non waranteed break down, especially if you can agree a cash price and get a receipt made up close to the appraised wholesale value, which is given in the "sellers package"

Private sale will of course be cheaper than buying from a dealer, but its caveat emptor as there will be no warranty with it, unlike from a dealer...you pays your money and takes your chances..for me the cost saving of lower prices and no GST would sway me towards taking a chance on something allegedly reliable like a Honda.

Are dealers warranty's worth the paper they are written on there? They certainly aren't here..... they find 1001 ways to try and worm out of any claims!

Was worth it on my subaru, as the head gaskets needed replacing soon after I got it, and then later on the shortblock was replaced, which in turn led to some valve problems when the belt tensioner failed (long story)....but that was through the main line subaru dealership. They stuck by the car even though it was technically over the warranty milage.


I think most second and third level dealers just purchase some sort of warranty insurance, and thats when you start to get into problems getting them to pay out...through the insurance clauses rather than because the dealer is a shyster.

Exactly what happens here....