I've narrowed down my choice of car to buy when I come over in a few weeks but my last concern is the depreciation rates on some of my potential choices. Do Canadian car magazines have depreciation rates in the back like Top Gear/Auto Car/etc etc do over here or do they have a specific little book?

Just thought I could get a copy when I arrive at the airport whilst I wait for my flight to Med Hat.

Cheers in advance.

Jim

I don't think there are published tables but you can get a good idea by looking at the lease rate vs. the purchase price. Leases are based on the anticipated depreciation over the term of the lease so cars that hold their value are cheaper to lease than those that don't.

Hi Jim

I have spent a while searching for car info on www.autotrader.ca and www.canadiandriver.com where you will find used car reports and values here too! Quite useful info and they also list factory recall info - useful.

Good luck.
Robin.

I believe there is the Canadian Red Book.

http://www.canadianredbook.com/default2.asp

If its domestic, expect terrible depreciation. The more expensive a domestic, the faster it depreciates.

BMWs and VW TDis are at the other end of the spectrum.

Right now I'm torn between a VW Jetta TDi and a Civic Hybrid.

Jettas are massively popular where I live now, I assume that's because lots of people commute long distances. I would think that the sensible choice due to the proven technology.

the up side is you can get a 2nd Hand domestic a few years old for just few thousand $$$

Plus manauls lose value even faster than autos

so a manual approx 3yrs old with low mileage can be around 50% or less of the original price

I was thinking that, plus the interior was designed by an adult, and the rear seats fold down if necessary.

on the other hand its more expensive and you dont often get the chance to take $4k from the various governments. The Jetta is only worth $1500 in rebates, as the province doesnt seem to recognise the benefits.

I dont commute long distances, but I see diesel stable at 93c/l and watch gas prices yoyo all over the place, and I think of the 177ft lb of torque and that fancy DSG transmission and the frugal engineer in me starts to take over the decision making process. Something like a Yaris at half the price probably makes just as much sense.

We have just bought a PT Cruiser and because it was a manual the dealer pricing guidlines values it at $800 less than an auto, if it was to go on a forecourt that is.

On the other side our Expedition cost us less than $10,000, it's an '98 Eddie Bauer (auto) and it hasn't been any trouble at all (she says touching all the fake wood she can find). Hubbies reasoning is that he would rather spend his money on an older top of the range model than a brand new basic model, as the better the model the better the toys.