Block heaters are all well and good, but I've yet to park anywhere (other than our garage) which has a socket to plug it in!

There are loads of parking lots that have them - when to plug them in is a whole 'nother thread

When we got here we went to the Tower Garage on Mcloud Trail which sells Chrysler, Jeep & Dodge. We test drove about 10 cars up and down before we fell in love with our Pacifica. I would still make the same decision now after being here 3 years. If you want the name of the guy who we dealt with PM me as he was great and did not pressure sell to us like most garages do. He is used to selling to Brits and does not try to sell you something you dont want or need. -

Trust me on this ANY car is fine in Calgary. You can get winter tires to make things safer over winter, but there's not any need for 4WD or an SUV.

We bought a Ford Escape 4WD when we got here in the summer thinking winter driving was going to be terrible, but now wished we'd just got a 'regular' car. We've also run a Smart car with winter tires on it through three winters here without a sniff of a problem and use this more than the Escape. Driving into the mountains is pretty much all highway too with the odd gravel road if you're feeling adventurous. The SUV comes in handy for the space, but it's not an essential in Calgary by any means.

and most vans have more space than SUVs anyway...

but minivans are transportation of the devil

Well, the devils kids anyway

Which car: one you can afford while you're starting your new life.

I drove honda civics, a nissan sentra and a saturn for years in Calgary. I did get snow tires - which - to me - made a big difference. Have also driven a toyota Camry and now a Jag xj8!

Get a second hand car if you want to save bucks.

You can check www.kijiji.ca for 2nd hand cars and trucks.

A second hand Toyata Matrix 4x4 would be a great find.
All the toyotas do well in Calgary.

Trucks are good if you are in a trade and need to haul or tow. But they are huge "gas" guzzlers and no better than cars really in city/suburban winter driving conditions.

Many many scams on Kijiji too though, so engage brain if it looks too good to be true.


www.trader.ca gives good idea of the used market.

Actually I'd use kijiji to check on big name dealers second hand stock.

So Advantage Ford, Tower Chrysler, Kramer Mazda etc also advertise on kijiji.

On toyota.ca there's an appraisal tool (The "Black Book" price)so you can check what a dealer would buy the car for. Kijiji gives an idea of what people are selling for.

Looked up kijiji for calgary and for a toyota. First car up today

then I checked heritage auto sales with better business bureau.

http://calgary.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Repor...017&firm=33262

They get an "A" rating.

then to toyota.ca to price it:

http://www.toyota.ca/NWS/english/con...n_vehicle.html

Comes in at

Low: $12,700.00 High: $14,360.00

I'd have no problem looking at that car and taking it for a test drive. I'd also check other camrys for sale, point this out to the salesman and see how low he could go.

You could have this Camry http://www.okcarsales.ca/toyota-camr...nder-gas-saver

Only 18,000 miles 40mpg as new no accidents for $18,000

Sorry for the commercial but if any one wants a vehicle I am running a special next two months Auction Prices Canada or USA plus 5%

Your ad is a little misleading 6.5 litres/100km 43mpg is a highway only figure.

You conveniently leave out the 9.8 litres/100km 28.82mpg city figure.

Still not bad though I have just brought up a class A motor home all the way from Denver averaged 7mpg