Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

One advantage of a manual transmission in Canada is in winter.

If you happen to get stuck in snow it's easier to "rock" the car back and forth with a manual.;)

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

I'm not just judging by appearance, I have experienced many cars in Canada even though I don't live there permanently at the moment :rolleyes:

Also, it's not just about where the car is made but also about the stringency of the quality controls in place and the materials used.

But I do agree with you that it is unlikely that you will find a lemon in Canada regardless of the brand. I'm not saying European/Japanese cars good, American cars bad! I'm just saying that my preference would be a European/Japanese brand for reasons I mentioned previously!

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

No, not really, as Autos dominate the market here, a manual will be a lot harder to sell in the used market here, most NAmericans are scared of driving them having never been taught. Far fewer twisty fun roads means less of a call to heel and toe down into third and gun it out of the curve too.. long straight roads where an auto and cruise control are a good fit are the norm across much of the country.

The fact they there are so many autoboxes here means its not nearly as expensive to get them fixed when they break... its not cheap, but no kidneys need to be sold. It getting to the point here where other than replacing a clutch, any major work on a manual box will be prohibitively expensive to get done:(

Ive got one manual car and one Auto.. for long trips we take the Auto.

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

True, but most autos come with some form of traction control now anyway.

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

Just out of curiosity - what sort of markups ?

I'm really not looking forward to haggling with a dealer over the price. Some people enjoy it tremendously but for me it's a chore...

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

Check prices on trader.ca and compare to the black book value...


Negotiation is all part of the game, although some of the larger used car places are now moving to WYSIWYG... the sticker price is the price, take it or leave it.

One local to me is http://www.bayviewauto.ca/

Will give an idea of the "real" prices, but remember there is 13% sales tax to add to the "price", although if I recall correctly the monthly payments shown factor it in already...

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

Which is horrible when you're stuck in snow so you have to switch it off.

Most auto's have the "manual" option anyway so you can knock it up a few gears to help in those situations if needed.

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

Wow someone is getting pretty touchy :frown:

That was a joke.

Obviously there are slight differences as said, autos are the standard in north american markets and I've heard it can actually be cheaper to buy an auto rather than a manual for some cars (not sure if this is true or over exaggeration of the prevalence of autos).

At the end of the day you have to decide what you prefer and what type of driving you intend to do. If mainly city commutes then you may prefer an auto in traffic rather than using troublesome clutch control. If you drive mainly clear, winding country roads then you may want the fun of a manual.

Also bear in mind, if you're looking second hand, there'll probably be more autos available than manuals. ;)

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

That can be a disadvantage.

My Toyota has traction control and if the wheels slip it just shuts things down and you go no-where, to make matters worse they didn't give the driver any option of turning it off.

There is a way to temporarily turn it off but it's not generally known and it's a little complicated, I found out about it in a Camry Hybrid forum. A simple switch as is the case in other vehicles would have been nice.

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

:oIgnorance on my part is bliss... my auto is a Subaru, so getting stuck has never yet been a practical problem for me...

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

Depends on the model. My particular Golf originates from Wolfsburg. My Mercedes comes from Tuscaloosa. A Mazda 3 I previously owned was built in Hofu, Japan. The Forester and Impreza's I owned came from Japan, rather than Ohio like Iain's models.

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

I would say a focus estate would suit your needs, plenty of space for the dog and those impulse furniture buys :D

2.0 is good on fuel and the reliability is good - also you need to factor in cost of servicing and parts - this is where the N American brands win vs Japan/Euros esp BMW and Audi. (one day i will have my Audi Quatro :( )

Also worth looking at what dealers are in the local area cos if and when it needs something manufacturer specific it could be a headache if the nearest one is some distance away.

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

It's not a lot less money so my thought is "why not get the factory warranty and have nothing to worry about?". In a new country there'll be much else to panic over.

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

Just out of curiosity, have you considered maybe a compact suv or crossover?

The only reason I ask is that driving in Canada is massively different from the UK what with the weather and size of the roads.

Whereas in the UK you maybe a hatchback person and a hatchback makes more sense, in Canada you may prefer to drive something bigger.

For example in the uk I drive a smart car because it's fuel efficient (fuel prices extortionate) cost effective (low insurance, no car tax) automatic so I don't get frustrated in traffic, small enough to negotiate our ridiculously small roads and to get into really tight parking spots.

However, in Canada the roads are bigger, fuel is cheaper, parking spaces are in abundance and huge, journeys are longer and the weather is snowier. I would feel much safer and better having a bigger car with 4 wheel drive and auto rather than a small FWD with manual. ;)

Re: Car brands/models in Canada ?
 

Also you will get a couple more years out of it before it rusts through, and although you get the full hit of the depreciation its offset to some extent by a potentially much better finance interest rate (OK, credit may not be applicable to a new arrival), and some serious discounting from manufacturers anxious to shift product from the forecourt.