Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/303828
44 w e s t w o r l d | S U M M E R 2 0 1 4 istock Be practical. Sleek design and a wicked sound system are nice perks, but first figure out what you need – cargo space, all-wheel drive, power versus fuel efficiency and so on. Do this before you start shop- ping, set a budget and stick to it. Be sure to include all costs in your budget, including fuel, insurance, maintenance and repairs. Know your stuff. From Consumer Reports to IIHS crash-test rankings and CAA's Driving Cost calculator, all the info you need to find your ideal car and negotiate a good price is a mouse-click away. (See the Car-Shopping Resources sidebar.) Get an inspection. If you're buying used, this is the best investment you can make. Before you buy, take the vehicle to a CAA Car Care Centre in Regina or Saskatoon, or to a CAA Approved Automotive Repair Service location, for a vehicle inspection – even if the seller has done their own inspection. If the inspection identifies required repairs, automotive caasK.ca: A compre- hensive resource for buying new and pre-owned vehicles, plus repairing and maintaining a vehicle. caask.ca/automotive/ buying-and-selling-car Driving.ca: A fount of information on new- and used-vehicle reliability, as well as pricing. unhaggle.com/ caask: Here's where you can find out what the dealer paid for a vehicle, and how much of that sticker price is markup. autos.ca: A Canadian vehicle data source that features reviews, reliability ratings, test drives, news, pricing and specifications. 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 figure out what your lease or finance 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 to ensure your would-be vehicle hasn't been flagged in any product recalls. tc.gc.ca caa Black Book and Gold Book: These ser- vices will give you a sense of the price you should be pay- ing for used cars of all makes and models. Vehicle information reports: Saskatchewan Government 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 find it in the vehicle registration papers). sgi.sk.ca/online_ services/vin/index.html car-sHoppinG resources A Beginner's Guide to Car-Buying Just got your licence? Parent of a new driver? Read on for tips on how to land the right vehicle for the right price by Matt Currie p44-45_Automotive.indd 52 14-04-14 7:35 AM