Steve_P

I believe the excuse for the shorter period between services is supposed to be because of the extremes in weather (Summer/Winter) applies even less on the west coast but they just do a Canadian average I think.

Believe it or not it's actually getting better I can remember 5K recommended service schedules not that long ago.

el_richo

My father in law still sticks to that for some reason

JonboyE

I remember seeing a a vehicle handbook the recommended service intervals: USA every 8,000 miles, Canada every 6,000 kilometers. Obviously someone in North Dakota has a much more vehicle friendly climate than coastal BC.

Someone I know runs an Infinity. He changes the oil every year whether it needs it or not and otherwise only takes it to the garage when something falls off. It is eight year old and will never see 280,000 kms again but seems to work just fine.

xxdb

Just a gentle poke: you see how that proves my point?
Those that have been here a while are set in their ways..
I *specifically* said I spend *more* on groceries and you keep to the opinion that you spend less!!!

You'd get along great with my Uncle!

LOL

MikeUK

Or more interestingly they numerically tend to match the US service intervals which are stated in miles,

here the same 'numbers' but with Kms

Steve_P

Mrs_P's car is a 1999 Toyota Corolla we've owned since new (12.5 years old now) it gets an oil change only once a year it currently has 84,500kms on it.

flashman

Exchange rate comparisons of products is not the most effective. A better method is to compare how long you have to work to buy a specific item.

For instance fom the Big Mac Index at http://www.oanda.com/currency/big-mac-index

A Canadian Big Mac costs C$ 4.17 so in Ontario if you're earning the minumum wage of $10.25 (http://srv116.services.gc.ca/dimt-wi....aspx?lang=eng) you would have to work .4 hrs to buy one

while a British one costs £ 2.29 so the £6.08 minimum wage (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/paye/payroll/day-to-day/nmw.htm) you would have to work .37 hours to buy one.

BristolUK

Every now and then Westjet advertises some great deals. If you can be flexible and book when they're available you can get that (relatively) cheap weekend away.

Oink

Where to?

BristolUK

The major cities were included.

Aviator

Why does you uncle spend less on groceries too?

__TJ__

ok well for a new (hopefully - dont want to count chickens till the ink is on the visa) immigrant, this stuff is important to me. i have been told i will HAVE to get a new telly cos my 50" wont work in canada ( im not rich, just lucky - won it ) our fridge is about 5 years old so not sure its worth shipping, our washer and dryer get heavy daily use so again, not sure they are worth bringing given the cost of replacing motors etc to make them all work.
so the fact that this stuff is gonna cost us a wedge makes important reading to me.
altho its a bit scary and i now realise i wont have nearly enough cash to get it all to start with.

anyone got advice on broadband deals in BC, ( my son has autism so we will NEEED BB asap when we get a place) the equivalent to sky ( im assuming cable?) will have to wait, as long as he can get online we are rocking!

ps the fact that everything is more expensive and we still all want to go there says something eh?

MikeUK

Its a nice idea, but doesn't factor in the social attitude to fast food..

North America its a day to day food for many, a hockey mum evening meal..

Its more of a novelty for most Europeans

JonboyE

TVs seem quite cheap to me unless you insist on one the size of cinema screen. A quick look at the Future Shop website shows a 32" LCD for $300 ($336 with taxes). It may not be the best TV in the world but it is more than enough to get you started.

I wouldn't bother bringing them. Rental homes, and often purchases, come with major appliances in place.

There definitely is a cost to getting yourself setup, a car (and insuring it) being the biggest one, but most of it is discretionary. Utility deposits may be a few hundred dollars. Apart from appliances bring as much as you can from your current home and try to put off buying and replacing as long as possible. At least, until you have found out where to go for value for money.

Choice of cable, phone (DSL) or satellite. You get the best deals by bundling together. A decent phone, TV and internet bundle wil cost around $120 + Tax. Add another $10 for heavy internet use. Stand alone internet will be between $50 and $75 per month depending on the speed and data usage.

When we arrived everything (alcohol and car insurance excepted) seemed cheap. We could buy for a dollar something that cost a pound in the UK. The exchange rate has a lot to answer for.

rivingtonpike

Most houses - especially if renting - come with all the basic major appliances so you shouldn't have to buy them. From my experience, a lot of houses for sale have the major appliances included in the asking price too.

I certainly haven't come across a "good deal" in BC for broadband. I have found that to buy a bundle of services, i.e. TV, phone and broadband, gives you the best purchasing power and you often get an introductory offer for the first few months. We're with Shaw here on the Island; depends where you're going to be based.