Choice of models: where to look, how to compare

Start your research

In this section, you’ll find ways to learn more about the vehicles that interest you. We’ve organized this process into three steps.

Start gathering information

• Talk to family and friends: their experiences, good or bad, can help.

• Have a look at magazines that specialize in cars or consumer needs (e.g., Consumer Reports, Protégez-Vous).

• Read up on car guides written by authors who are well versed in the Quebec automobile market.

  A few well-known examples:

  • L’Annuel de l’automobile

  • L’Annuel de l’auto d’occasion

  • Le Guide de l’auto

Check car sales websites to get an idea of prices.

Remember that everything is relative

Guides, websites and advertisements will give you a good idea of the value of any given model. In the case of a used car, however, many criteria can have an influence on this value, from the odometer reading to the mechanical and body condition.

Get the most out of CAA-Quebec resources

To get to know certain cars better, make your way through our road tests. Our experts keep an eye out for new models, and test dozens of them very year. Chances are the ones you’re interested in have been test-driven by us!

As a CAA-Quebec member, you have free unlimited access to our Mobility Advisory Services. Consult them at any point during your new car search, for objective advice. Our experts can provide answers to all of your questions plus a wealth of advice like the market value of a used car—practical information to know whether one you’ve got your eye on is priced right.

Read specialized reference material

The automotive world offers plenty of specialized information sources to establish used car prices. In Canada, the most popular are the following:

Compare models

You’ve done your preliminary research, so you have a few models in mind. Compare them, using the criteria below, to find your ideal car. There are lots of criteria: fuel economy, handling, reliability, safety, what kind of tires it uses, the options, warranties offered, etc.

Run through these criteria with us to rule out the models that aren’t right for you… and zero in the best choice.

Handling

Based on the articles or test-drive reports that you’ve read, which of the models you’re interested in handles best?

By handling, we mean acceleration, braking, steering, ride quality, road hugging ability, road noise—even off-road handling (if you’re buying a vehicle designed for that).

You can test-drive a car yourself to assess most of these aspects, but specialist test-drive reports already provide plenty of information up front. For example, a Jeep Wrangler is known for being noisy and uncomfortable, but off-road, it is king. If an in-town car is what you want, though, it’s best to look elsewhere.

Reliability and durability

Reliability and durability—it comes to the same thing, right? Not exactly.

• Some brands are known for their reliability over the short term, exhibiting no mechanical problems. Give them a few years, though, and they’re done for….

• Others are durable, sometimes invincible—but because their reliability varies, a stricter maintenance regimen may be required.

This kind of difference should have an influence on your choice. Do you want to keep your next car as long as you can?

Maintenance costs on the horizon

Certain high-end models (often European) will cost more to maintain. Their main components are rarely at fault, but electronic and mechanical problems can be an issue: parts can be hard to find, and so can repair shops able to install them.

Free but invaluable advice

Talk to specialists about the vehicles you’re interested in (you don’t have to look far: CAA-Quebec’s Automotive Advisory Services are there for you). A trusted mechanic is another good choice: they know the pros and cons of various models, and can certainly tell you a few things about a car you’re thinking of buying.

Safety-related aspects

The level of safety can vary quite a bit from one car to another! All vehicles sold in this country, though, must conform to Transport Canada standards.

Automobile safety depends, among other things, on how much visibility is offered. There are also a wide range of safety devices that may or may not be found on certain models. Let’s have a look at some of them here:

Size matters, as well! Tire dimensions tell you the diameter of the tire, the width of the tread and the height of the sidewall.

Most “base-trim” (entry-level) cars are equipped with 16-inch tires, with 17- or 18-inch tires available as options. But on some popular models like the Ford Edge or the Toyota Venza, among others, 20-inch tires “come standard.” Consider these kinds of details when comparing vehicles—the price of replacement tires can double from one model to another!

Cost of insurance

Before setting your sights on a specific car, check the annual insurance rates: some cars cost more to insure than others.

Several factors can affect your premium:

• distance driven per year;

• whether you buy a new or used car;

• performance level (e.g., sports car vs. sedan), etc.

Victim of its own success

What if a model isn’t just on your wish list, but on car thieves’ as well? Some insurance companies may require you to install a sophisticated anti-theft device, which sometimes carries a monthly subscription fee.

Warranties

There are several kinds of warranties: standard manufacturer’s warranty, dealer warranty, etc. If a model that you’re interested in is previously owned, check to see whether one (or more) of these warranties¹ is still in effect.

For example, new or used cars can be covered by an original manufacturer’s warranty. This kind of protection includes parts and labour.

_{To find out if a used car is covered, check with customer service at a dealership that sells the same make (you’ll need to have the vehicle’s serial number handy): they can tell you which year the car entered service. Using that date, you can easily calculate whether the original manufacturer’s warranty still applies.}

Simple, free and transferable

All manufacturer warranties are 100% transferable between owners. Whether you buy your car from an individual or a dealer, if it is still under warranty, you are still protected.

Generally, major brands offer a 3-year/60,000km “bumper to bumper” warranty—but many warranties run longer.

More specific coverage options (against rust, for example) vary greatly from one make to another, and can last up to 12 years. The details can get confusing. Luckily, CAA-Quebec publishes a yearly study to help consumers make sense of manufacturer warranties.

First off, expect the following standard equipment and accessories found on most models:

• Base audio system;

• Cup holders;

• Keyless entry system;

• Multi-way adjustable seats, etc.

Optional equipment, meanwhile, includes:

• Automatic climate control;

• Backup camera;

• Satellite navigation;

• Leather seats, etc.

With a used car, of course, you have no choice as to options, but if you buy a new one, you have much more freedom to add optional equipment. The dealer will offer you all kinds of bells and whistles—which is great—but do you really need them?

If you only need a few options, choosing them “a la carte” may be the most economical solution. But most manufacturers also offer groups of options: to get a touchscreen audio system with USB ports on a given model, you may have to take a sunroof… In short, evaluate what you’re offered against your actual needs.

Colour

Is a vehicle’s colour important? Of course it is… so take a minute to think about it.

In recent years, the most popular colours in North America have been white, silver and black. Red and various shades of blue are also common.

You may want something a little flashier. But keep in mind that more offbeat colours like turquoise, lemon yellow or fluorescent green are very likely to hinder resale value, especially a few years down the road.