FlyingDutchman6666

I was looking online for second-hard cars yesterday, and amused to see that I didn't recognise over half the models. Honda Civic doesn't even do hatchbacks in Canada, who'd have thought ??

Is there some sort of a guide where brands/models are assessed for reliability, together with resale prices?? Don't mind paying a token amount to access it.

Any recommendations for a reliable, smallish hatchback? Something along the lines of UK Honda Civic...

Atlantic Xpat

Canadian cars are in effect, American cars as the market place isn't big enough to generally warrant developing unique propositions for this place. (Pontiac Aztek mercifully excepted). North American's don't do hatchbacks, preferring cars with trunks (boots).

Google "lemonaid" guide for used car buying advice. Autrotrader.ca can provide an indication of whats available in the same manner as autotrader uk.

iaink

http://www.autos.ca/

Excellent website with reviews of new and used canadian market cars.

just remember the values that are quoted in the used car reviews were the values when the article was first published.


You can get trade in values here:
http://www.canadianblackbook.com/

Retail prices will have the usual markups.

There is no equivalent of a UK civic hatch, everything here has much larger engines.

Off the top of my head
Mazda3
VW golf/ rabbit/ city golf
Pontiac Wave / Toyota Matrix
Toyota Yaris
Honda Fit
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Elantra Touring
Subaru Imprezza

From that list a 2.0l Mazda 3 hatch is probably the closest thing in spirit.

Any reason it has to be a hatch?

Piff Poff

Ford Fiesta/Focus
PT Cruiser

off the top of my head to add to the list.

4d32ftw

tbh, the civic here is better than the uk version as its basically the japanese version, they didnt like the uk that was being shipped over to japan so made there own version .

most stuff is here except the french and cheaper VAG products, there is less choice on models, but the Golf, Jetta, fiat 500, Focus, Fiesta, Bmw, Audi, jag etc.. are all avaliable. various vauxhalls pop up as saturns, pontiacs or cadilacs over the last few years. and mazda sell very well here. oh and the toyota corolla is a big seller

just here you get to add the badly styled american brands of vehicles into the mix.

Aviator

Don't know, who would?

iaink

Unless, like the OP, you want a hatchback


I drive a 2008 civic. Ive no idea if its better than the UK version or not, but at least its made in Canada so Im supporting the local economy. Its a well made car with among the best fuel economy you can get here to move 4 people around in. Shame the insurance is so much compared to other bread and butter cars here.

Steve_

Subaru Impreza.

Steve_

Hasn't been made in some time. I wouldn't buy one second-hand, bit of a fad that is now over.

Steve_

I wouldn't buy a Saturn, because GM have dropped them and they will not hold their value.

iaink

Thats exactly why they are a good deal... most of the depreciation has happened.

Dont know about elsewhere, but the GM dealers will service them here and honour warrantee claims. Spares shouldnt be an issue because of their international sourcing. Its not like owning a (post GM) Saab is likely to be...

A lot depends on the budget the OP had in mind... if its low a cruiser might work, cheap as chips, not too bad a record for a crysler etc.

The biggest thing to get your head around is the idea that here a 1.8l gas engine is the bottom of the pile, most of those listed so far are 2.4 or 2.5 engines, so not the economy you would expect from a small car maybe.

MikeUK

And throw in an archaic planetary automatic gearbox so even at 2.5L it seems to have less umph than a 1.4l..

Don't expect too much here...

Gremmie

The Fiat 500's are now available in Canada now that Fiat bought out Chrysler

soontobecanadianresident

I've been doing a lot of research on cars in Canada for when I finally move there with my OH.

I'm not sure if you're aware but you also have to pay sales tax on used cars in Canada, daylight robbery I know! and not only that, you will have to pay tax based on it's wholesale value from the Canadian Red Book, regardless if you pay less than that! Don't know about you but I really can't understand how they get away with charging sales tax on a car every time it's sold, daylight robbery if you ask me

Anyway as for hatchbacks, there are loads in Canada that we also have in the UK, you just need to check the manufacturers' websites. Here's a list of a few you could check out:

Mini Cooper
Nissan Versa Hatchback
Mitsubishi Lancer Sportsback
Volvo C30
Mazda 3
Lexus CT200h (nice little hybrid hatch)
Smart
Toyota Yaris hatchback
Volkswagen golf
Audi A3
BMW 1 series
Fiat 500
Ford Fiesta

Just be prepared that in North America in general, the trims are a lot lower quality than the European models due to much higher standards of the European market. For example higher level trims of Nissan in the UK usually come with sat nav standard whereas in North America, sat nav has to be paid for as an extra on top of supposed higher level trims.

Steve_P

Not all parts of Canada.

If purchasing used cars at a dealership you pay GST but if you purchase one privately in Alberta there is no tax.