my little renault clio used to do 10 miles/litre and I am heavy on the pedals. thats around 40 miles/gallon i think.

I've heard a few people talk about paying for incoming calls on cellphones. Surely this depends on who you use. I can't imagine this is the norm...my girlfriend who is Canadian does not pay for incoming calls on her cellphone. I agree with you about car insurance.....Ouchhh.

I've found the cost of living here to be either the same as the UK and some things are a lot more expensvie. Food is expensive here……..canada may look a lot cheaper if your still in UK and converting from pounds into $$$ but the reality is when you start making a CDN salary its levels out.

Well, enough with the Honda. Since we're about to move I've been looking at the average bills for a small three bedroom detached house in Toronto. Some average month bills (obviously your mileage may vary):

property tax $400
house insurance $100
electricity $140
water $100
internet $37
gas (heat and cooking) $160
TV $45
car insurance $170/car
transit pass $100/person
phones $500
life and disabilty insurance on one person $450

when we move we'll eliminate the TV bill as the programming is awful so we never watch it, we rent videos instead even if the videos contain TV shows; who needs the Sopranos in four minute chunks interrupted by adverts extolling the grippiness of toilet paper brands?

Yes agreed with the NA brands but BMW VW Audi Infiniti Acura Nissan Toyota all on par with Euro and if not a far better spec, fully kitted and blinged out, well equipped for Canadian winters, better value for the $ IMHO.

Even some of the NA brands like Jeep have far better spec than Euro in comparison for model and $.

Rich.

Oh, I most strongly disagree. The Honda is shocking badly designed and built compared to the American Fords I usually drive. A real step down. It's much more softly sprung, it has vague steering and pieces fall off, I can't imagine they could peddle it in Europe.

How are any of these vehicles equipped for Canadian winters? What equipment would one want for a Canadian winter anyway?

For food shopping, i cant give an accurate picture fo the two of us are we are still stoking up with staples etc. but when we live with friends for 4 of us we budgeted $180 a week for food, cleaning stuff, cat food and chocolate. We lived will on that shopping in IGA and the butcher and pet shop of course. Gin was extra!

Car insurance costs loads, house insurance is less, life insurance more.

Well your beloved Element has to be a flawed example, the runt of the Honda litter ? I'm sure they're as lightweight in the Autonomous Eurozone as they are here. I'm sure I saw a few back in thr UK way back.

Regards the others.... Auto & cruise for the long highway driving, lil things like trip computers, arm rests, better spec generally. Bigger engines as standard + 6 cyclinder adds a touch of luxury (traded against consumption, natch).

For winter, bigger rims/tyres, all seasons. No skinny lil rag tag tyres and yes, things have moved on since a rusty 1999 Neon with 14" rims and skinny summer tyres.

SUV's have far more standard pieces of kit and lil bitty extras come as standard compared to the AEZ. Then there's the greater likelihood of one buying truck/SUV in Canada which is about more accessible pricing for the amsses and thus people's ability to [generally] cope better in winter despite their atrocious driving skills and lack of spectacles.

Rich.

<shh......>

block heaters

</shh......>

Er, OK. Obviously, having driven through umpteen winters here using a RWD convertible on all season tyres I don't see any of the above as being necessary. I don't live up a mountain though.

At the risk of seeming unmanly I confess that I don't know if any of the vehicles I've had have been so equipped. I've never looked.

I have thought of something for winter though, a big squirter fluid tank, the Explorer one was tiny so we had to stop to fill it as often as we have to stop the Honda for petrol.

Ahh. ON winters. I'm a BC dude, dude. The Big Country big hills, big trucks, big people, the big life. Sorry forgot this is Canada, there are numerous different worlds under one banner. Must unthink my one-dimensionalism.

NB forgot heated mirrors and heated screen washers, essential for winter survival.

Rich.

Here's ours for the last eleven months averaged monthly.

property tax $170
house insurance $45
electricity $45
water/sewer $50
TV/internet $100
gas (heat and cooking) $125
car insurance $185/2 cars
transit pass $75/person
phone $40 Land line only including long distance (we don't make a lot of calls). No cell phones.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dbd33

property tax $400
house insurance $100
electricity $140
water $100
internet $37
gas (heat and cooking) $160
TV $45
car insurance $170/car
transit pass $100/person
phones $500
life and disabilty insurance on one person $450


Here's ours for the last eleven months averaged monthly.

property tax $170
house insurance $45
electricity $45
water/sewer $50
TV/internet $100
gas (heat and cooking) $125
car insurance $185/2 cars
transit pass $75/person
phone $40 Land line only including long distance (we don't make a lot of calls). No cell phones.
__________________
Perfect, this is what I was after, thx guys
$500 for phones dbd

Residents of Ontario may not have big lives but the Honda is on Colorado plates and the LC is on Utah ones so we can pose like we're out west. We just don't need armrests and trip computers to do it.

Never tried them.