Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/299622
S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 | g o i n g p l a c e s 53 Do a curbsiDe check. Particularly for used vehicles: look for rust and signs of excess wear – plus any signs that undisclosed repairs have been made (mismatched paint, slamming doors, gaps in metal seams). Request the maintenance records and look for evidence of past collisions or damage. run a vehicle information check. Manitoba Public Insurance, Carfax and CarProof reports will turn up liens, past insurance claims and accident history. You'll need the VIN number, found in the vehicle registration papers. take a test Drive. Get a feel for how the car performs in as many different driving scenarios as possible – from parallel parking to highway motoring. The drive should last between 30 and 45 minutes, and emulate the type of driving you plan to do. Feel for any pulling to one side, which might indicate misaligned wheels – and look for warning lights on the dashboard. Afterward, examine the exterior for signs of leaking and listen for strange sounds while the engine is still running. scrutinize the contract. If you're buying from a dealer, make certain that everything you negotiated with the sales- person is in writing – and double-check any extra costs, such as taxes and freight charges. Don't leave sections blank, and ensure that any changes are refl ected on all copies of the agreement. Remember, a signed sales off er is a legal commitment to buy, so don't put pen to paper unless you're ready to drive those wheels off the lot. Don't be afraiD to walk away. If you think the seller is employing high- pressure or underhanded tactics – excessive stalling, outlandish promises, refusing to allow a test drive or inspection – take the high road out of there. You'll fi nd the right set of wheels somewhere else. GP caamanitoba.com: A comprehensive resource for buying, registering, driving and maintaining a vehicle. caamanitoba.com/automotive_ buy_or_sell_your_car Driving.ca: A fountain of information on new- and used-vehicle reliability, as well as pricing. autos.ca: A Canadian vehicle data source that features reviews, reliability ratings, test drives, news, pricing and specifi cations. consumer Guide road tests: The place to gather full details of a vehicle model's safety, reliability, pricing and more, and compare it against other vehicles in the same class. consumerguide.com caa Driving costs calculator: A tool to compare fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions of various vehicle models. caa.ca/car_costs iihs crash-test ratings: The U.S.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety maintains detailed crash-test information on a wide variety of vehicle models. iihs.org/ratings consumer reports: Use this magazine's online car-buying calculators and worksheets to fi gure out what your lease or fi nance payments might be, then download the test-drive checklist to put a vehicle through its paces before you buy. consumerreports.org transport canada: Visit this government website's Road Safety Recalls Database to ensure your would-be vehicle hasn't been fl agged in any product recalls. tc.gc.ca canadian black book and Gold book: These services will give you a sense of the price you should be paying for used cars of all makes and models. vehicle information reports: Manitoba Public Insurance, Carfax and CarProof reports will give you the low-down on any set of wheels, detailing things like past insurance claims, accident history and actual mileage (in case the odometer's been rolled back); just jot down the VIN number (you'll fi nd it in the vehicle registration papers). unhaggle.com: Here's where you can fi nd out what the dealer paid for a vehicle, and how much of that sticker price is markup. car-shopping resources New driver in the household? Make sure they're covered with a CAA associate membership. They'll get the same great benefi ts at a discounted rate. p52-53AnalyzeThis.indd 53 14-04-10 2:29 PM