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]]>This is just a note to thank you for your service and for assisting me in the sale of my car. I have never sold a car privately before, and frankly, I did not care to deal with it audio player kostenlos herunterladen.
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]]>What we got was much more than that. In fact the first time I personally saw the vehicle was when you dropped it off at our house. This required some trust on my part, as I am not used to making a major purchase like this without seeing the item first youtube playlist als mp3 herunterladen. Relying on your research and my wife’s keen interest I decided to go ahead with the purchase. The money you saved me in negotiations alone was enough to cover his fee gangstar vegas download kostenlos herunterladen.
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One of the most important steps in buying a used car is determining the type of car to buy. This may seem obvious, but you would be amazed at the number of people that end up buying the first car that comes their way. It is important to ask three very basic questions:
1. What do I need?
As much as you may WANT a sporty convertible, practical is usually the best route to take. Here you should consider things like size, warranty, resale, required options, and how long you plan on keeping the car zoon.
Tip: Most import cars have a 5-year warranty from the original date of purchase that is transferable to the new owner.
2. What can I afford?
If money is no object then you can disregard everything in number 1 and for that matter stop reading right now – this article is not for you! For the rest of us that have a budget – look closely at it. How much money do you have on hand (if any?) as a down payment? Do you want to lease or finance? How much can you afford per month? You should also get pre-approved for a car loan from your friendly local banker.
Tip: Most banks’ car loan interest rate is negotiable within reason – 1% or 2% on a loan this size is significant!
3. What reliable models should I consider?
Now that you have a basic idea of what you need, it’s time for the tough part – RESEARCH faded herunterladen. There, I said it – I know it’s an ugly word but it’s important. There is a wealth of information available now. The Internet may be good depending on how comfortable you are with it. Other publications like Lemon-Aid and Consumer Reports are easy to understand and readily available at the local library or bookstore.
Tip: Avoid personal opinions – chances are friends or relatives have biases based on limited experience. Let the experts recommend cars that are reliable based on proper research and safety tests.
Where do I find a good used car?
Good question – is there such a thing? Believe it or not there is. Here are some options:
1. Local dealers vs. private sales
Dealers are usually a good place to start since they allow you to see a variety of cars within a short period of time. But beware! There are some very good dealers and some very bad ones – this applies to both the bigger “reputable” ones and to the smaller used car dealers whatsapp gif herunterladen. Private sales are often a little less expensive and offer you more flexibility to ask questions and have the car inspected by an unbiased third party. You may also get lucky and find someone who kept all the service records for the car.
Tip: if you buy a car privately you only pay 8% PST vs. 15% PST & GST at the dealer – YOU SAVE 7%
2. Classified ads
Most local ads can be found in: The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun, The Globe and Mail, Buy and Sell, Auto Trader, Auto Mart, Pennysaver, local papers, and various internet sites.
Tip: Most of these resources are available online for FREE and can save you many hours of searching for the specific car that you want. Some good local sites are TheStar.com, Canoe.ca, Autonet.ca, Megawheels.com, Trader.ca and Motomerchant.com.
Phone Calls
You will quickly find out that not all ads are as good as they look Download somewhere over the rainbow for free. Time is very important and this is where you can save a lot of it. Prepare a list of questions before you call and TAKE NOTES. The idea is that you want to find out as much about the car before you waste your timing going to see it. Here are some important questions you should ask:
1. Is this a private sale and are you the owner of the car? If not – can I speak to the owner? They may say they are “selling it for a friend.” It doesn’t matter – RUN! There is a good chance that they are a “curbsider” and you don’t want any part of them or their car. It is possible that one may be legitimate but why take the chance. Tip: For more information on curbsiders visit www.omvic.on.ca. If you detect a curbsider call the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council’s Hotline at 1-888-662-8727.
2. How many owners have there been? Have they purchased the “Used Vehicle Information Package” that confirms the owners as well as if there are any liens against the car listen file to crossword. If there is a lien, then make sure it’s removed before you buy the car! Try to get them to buy the package before you go to look at the car so that you can see it before you make any offers. Tip: Ask if the car was ever registered out of province? If so – also RUN. There is a list of reasons that I won’t go into here but it’s really not worth the potential problems.
3. Is there any warranty left and is it transferable? Is there a cost to transfer it?
4. What about other details? Confirm such information as the make, model, colour, year, options, and mileage (in km).
Tip: Mileage is not always the most important thing to look at on a car. A car with 130,000 km that has been serviced properly may be a better buy than a car that has 60,000 km but needs tires, brakes, exhaust, and a new engine due to the fact that the oil wasn’t changed.
5. Why are they selling it?
6. Has the car ever been in an accident or painted for any reason?
7. Is the car sold “Certified” with “Drive Clean” battlelands herunterladen? Tip: All used cars under 20 years old MUST pass a Drive Clean test in order for the ownership to be transferred. For more information on the Drive Clean program or the Used Vehicle Information Package mentioned above visit www.mto.gov.on.ca .
8. What kind of mechanical repairs have been done recently and do they have the service records to prove it? What repairs need to be done in the near future?
9. Would they mind if an independent mechanic was to take a look at the car? If they say no then they may be trying to hide something.
10. Is the price flexible? I think this is a good time to get a feel for a little negotiating. However, I don’t think the best thing to do is to ask for their “best price” before you’ve even seen what they’re selling.
Tip: If you choose to negotiate once you’ve had a look at the car and like it . . . try to be nice. You can get a lot further if you suggest that it’s a great car but a little outside of your budget as apposed to saying that they are out to lunch on what they are asking vote.
Once you have called all the ads that look interesting, decide which ones you would like to see and arrange a mutually convenient time – preferably in the daylight. If possible try to see the car that appears to be the best deal first. And now that you have narrowed it down here comes the fun part . . .
The Appointment
Although a test drive may be fun, it is also one of the most important steps in ensuring that you end up with a good reliable car (and not someone else’s problems!). There are a number of important things to look at and consider now:
1. Was the car ever painted or in an accident?
Make sure you look at the car in the daylight. This makes it much easier to detect if part or all of the car was ever painted. Probably the easiest thing to look for first is any colour differences between body panels. Check to make sure the entire car is exactly the same colour. Also make sure that the spaces between the panels are even and consistent. Next, look around areas where the paint stops near rubber or chrome, such as around the windshield or other door moldings windows 10 language pack german. If an area has been painted you will usually notice a very fine line where the masking tape has been used to protect the unpainted areas. If the car is clean, run your hand along the body panels and you may feel a very thin layer of paint, called over-spray. Look under the car for any over-spray as well – you would be amazed at the number of painted gas tanks or tail pipes that are out there. Also open the doors, hood, trunk, and fuel door to look for tape-lines or over-spray. If you notice that an area has been painted, ask the seller why and make sure that the answer makes sense – hopefully they can provide a receipt from a reputable body shop that did the repair.
2. Check for odometer tampering!
It is difficult to detect if a car’s odometer was ever tampered with but not impossible. Sometimes it’s even very easy, as when I found the original odometer hidden in the trunk! A more standard method is to check mechanical receipts to confirm that the dates and the mileage coincide with each other music from hearthis. Also see if the seats or the gas/brake pedals are worn excessively; this will usually indicate high mileage.
3. Evaluate the mechanical condition.
You don’t have to be a mechanic to spot some basic things when looking at a car. Keep in mind that mechanical problems can always be fixed but can be expensive. If you are buying the car certified then items such as tires, brakes, exhaust system, suspension, and lights will be checked to make sure they pass minimum industry standards for safety levels. However, you should still inspect them yourself. Check the tread depth over the entire width of the tires – if the alignment is off the tires may wear unevenly on the sides, which may mean a costly repair in the near future. Check where the car is usually parked. Look for any fluid leaks and investigate further if you find some. When inside the car ensure that everything is working brennprogramm windows 7 kostenlos download. This includes the stereo, any powered gadgets like windows and side mirrors, the heating system, windshield wipers, air conditioning, rear defrost, etc. Once you’ve done all of this you can then drive the car. While test-driving, KEEP THE RADIO OFF. Listen for anything that sounds out of the ordinary. Does the engine idle smoothly? Does the car shift properly and how does the clutch feel if it’s a standard transmission? Check if the car steers straight or if it pulls to one side when braking. Is there any noticeable smoke when you accelerate and what colour is it? Also, check the floors and the trunk area, where the spare tire is, for moisture – there may be leaks if the carpets are wet.
If you are concerned about anything you may want to ask the owner some more questions and possibly have the car inspected by a mechanic of your choice. Depending on your time constraints and your budget it is always nice to have another opinion from a professional.
The critical moment is upon you – do you make an offer or move on to the next car on the list? If you have done your homework you should be able to make a good informed decision while looking at the “big picture”. Even if it is the first car you actually drove it may be the right car for you. There may not be a “better deal” out there. A good used car isn’t always the cheapest one.
Hopefully this information has helped you to feel more secure and better equipped to find the right car, in the end saving you time and money. Good Luck!
Mark Derry is an Automotive Advisor that provides people with expert, unbiased advice to assist them with the purchase of both new and used cars. For further information please call (416) 697-8363 or visit us at www.carsense.to.
]]>Automotive adviser and broker Mark Derry stresses that his job involves a lot more than negotiating a low price. “I learned really quickly that people hate car salesmen,” says the Mississauga native who now lives in Bloor West Village herunterladen. He used to sell cars at a Mazda dealership in Rexdale, but today runs CarSense, an auto broker service (http://www.carsense.to). During his five years as a sales rep, Derry, 33, observed all kinds of consumers. While some researched their decision with care, many others seemed to buy on a whim. “I met a lot of people who were lost. People often spend more time shopping for a pair of pants than they do
for a $20,000 or $40,000 vehicle.” Because automotive brokers eat, drink and breathe cars, he contends that they’re better equipped to find the vehicle that fits the client’s needs rollercoaster herunterladen. It’s not that a consumer couldn’t replicate the research; it’s just that few people can devote as much time to the task and so decide to buy his service, according to a focus group he conducted.
“My typical clients are a couple, both working, with young children. They can’t get out to the dealerships often enough,” says Derry, who has been in business for seven years adobe bridge download kostenlos mac. Instead, he will go to their home, often in the evening, and consult with them on their automotive needs. Once the desired make, model and options are determined, he hunts down the best price. The second reason shoppers turn to him is trustworthiness — the perception that Derry is likely to be unbiased and candid about the deal. Saving money is the third reason people hire a broker, an area in which Derry says he shines herunterladen. “I like negotiating. I enjoy beating down the dealer.” Many dealers view brokers as partners, not competitors, he adds. “For the most part, dealers appreciate my business. It’s about the numbers, and I help them move units.” He has built relationships with selected car dealers across the GTA and negotiates directly with senior managers adobe photoshop elements downloaden. “I don’t buy 10 of anything but, over time, they know I will give them enough business to qualify for the same aggressive pricing a fleet buyer would receive. “He recently closed a deal on a new Nissan Titan pickup for $2,300 less than the Automobile ProtectionAssociation’s car-buying service had negotiated for its members, he claims doorlopersen. Derry charges a flat fee of $385 (plus GST) to find a new car for a client. “It’s the same amount of effort whether you’re looking for a Hyundai or a BMW.” His preferred status with certain dealers means buyers can’t choose the store they buy from, but this doesn’t seem to be a problem, says Derry, who holds a BA in economics from the University of Western Ontario. “Dealers are used to servicing cars that were not purchased in their own showroom.”
He will also navigate the treacherous used-vehicle market for clients ps4 spiele gratis downloaden. He estimates that 60 per cent of his used sales are done through reputable dealers, while the rest are private sales he locates in classified ads. “I evaluate the vehicle, take some digital photos, show the car to the client, arrange for a third-party mechanical inspection (if requested) and negotiate the sale price,” he says. Searching for a pre-owned vehicle takes more legwork, so he charges more: $550 to deliver the used car to your door — plated and registered. Because no two used cars are the same, Derry established ground rules to make sure he and his client don’t get burned. He won’t buy a car that has ever been registered outside Ontario (since accident records can’t be traced across provincial borders) and generally won’t shop in the sub-$3,000 price range. He tends to favour imports over domestic products. “The best deal on a used car is not the cheapest price, but one that is a one-owner vehicle with no accidents, original paint and with its service records intact.” Derry favours used imports for his own transportation, currently driving a 1997 Mazda 626 and a ’95 Miata.
If you equate car shopping with wading in shark-invested waters, consider hiring an auto broker to do the job for you. But choose carefully. Talk to previous clients and call the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (http://www.omvic.on.) to see if the broker has voluntarily registered.
___________________________
Apr. 23, 2005
MARK TOLJAGIC
The Toronto Star
]]>Mississauga car broker Mark Derry owns Mark Derry’s CarSense google books download mac. On behalf of his clients, he helps choose the type of vehicle, negotiates the price and delivers it to your door.
Derry has been brokering cars full-time since December of 1997 but he has been in car sales, on and off, since 1991 alle apps kostenlos herunterladen. He was successful, but got tired working so hard to get past customers’ distrust. A 2003 Leger Marketing poll showed only 16 per cent of people in Ontario trusted car salesmen radio tatort for free.
After working for Bell Mobility for two years, he put together a business plan that would let him sell cars on his own terms and CarSense was born engel und teufel kostenlos downloaden.
“I found it frustrating to only be able to sell one kind of car when I knew that a different make and model had a better deal” said Derry. “The process was counter-intuitive download zdf mediathek. I had to get the most money from the client because that was how I made money. Now, with CarSense, I get to go against the dealers to get the best deal for my client.”
Because he charges set fees, the only way negotiating a lower price affects his bottom line is by getting him more referrals chrome nur herunterladen.
Derry estimates that, once consumers decide on the make and model, they spend about 20 hours in four dealerships negotiating for the best deal krita kostenlos downloaden.
“It’s an exhausting process,” said Derry, and at the end of the day, most consumers feel they have been ripped off.”
Because there are so many dealerships competing against each other, Derry can broker a deal with dealership fleet managers that can beat the best price on the sales floor by up to $9,000 update manuell herunterladen windows. Fleet managers deal with him because of the volume of business he brings them and the fact that he does the work. It is an easy sale and keeps their numbers high herunterladen.
For Derry’s client, it means a better price and Derry does the paper work and the negotiating – all of the dirty work.
Mark Horodezny of Mississauga figures Derry saved him between $600-$800 last year when he bought his new Toyota Sienna van and the process was easy and pleasant planetside 2.
“I’m not afraid to haggle, so I went out and negotiated my best price and Mark beat it,” said Horodezny. “That surprised me because it was a popular new model van in high demand and there didn’t seem much room for negotiation. But Mark got me a better price and then arranged the trade-in of my old vehicle. It was great and I’ll definitely use him again.
Derry estimates half his clients come to him for price and half come because they don’t have the time to go through the process themselves.
He brokers deals on new cars that cost $60,000 as well as used cars that go for $10,000. The process is the same. The client gives him a $100 retainer. He finds the deal. Regardless of the cost of the vehicle, he charges $385 for brokering a new car and $550 to broker a used car, because buying used is more work. If you can find a lower price on your own, he refunds the $100 retainer.
As far as Derry knows, he is the only car broker based in Mississauga. He wishes there were a few more to spread the word that such a service exists. He relies on referrals and word-of-mouth for new business.
When he threw a customer appreciation picnic at Wildwood Park in September, 120 satisfied clients showed up.
Business is a bit slower this year, but still busy. During the last week of September he delivered five cars to clients.
Derry admits his business is an odd one, considering he has a degree in economics, but CarSense lets him be his own boss, work with people and buy cars full-time. They’re all activities he loves.
Derry can be reached at 416-697-8363. or at www.carsense.to.
______________________
November 6, 2004
Jan Dean
The Mississauga News
]]>Back then, searching for a used car often meant kicking tires on small lots up and down Danforth Ave. and other Toronto thoroughfares that had been overrun by motley clusters of used-car dealers hawking their wares with grease pencils and sagging balloons.
Nothing says fly-by-night quite like a sales office on wheels.
“We’ve come a long, long way from the Danforth, which was the street that typified the business then,” says Bob Pierce, director of member services for the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario (UCDA) herunterladen.
While small, independent used-car lots may be hanging on, the used-vehicle business has changed dramatically over the past 25 years — and much of it for the better.
LONGER-LASTING VEHICLES
Automobiles are lasting much longer today, a benefit every one of our industry observers mentioned right off the top. A used vehicle can have a lengthy second life and a third one, too.
“Cars have improved dramatically both in terms of corrosion resistance and mechanically,” says George Iny, president of the Automobile Protection Association download adobe acrobat for free.
“Today, a five-year-old used car can offer many years of good service and can easily make it to 12 years and 250,000 kilometres. In the early 1980s, it was likely ready for the scrap heap at 160,000 kilometres, mainly due to corrosion.”
BETTER DISCLOSURE
Mohamed Bouchama, of CarHelpCanada.com and host of CP24’s Auto Shop, says dealers today largely sell decent vehicles because the disclosure rules have shone a bright light on the bad practices of the past.
“It was a jungle back then. Dealers used to sell junk and there was no protection for the consumer,” Bouchama maintains.
He rhymes off a litany of complaints of the time: rolled-back odometers, undeclared vehicle writeoffs, cross-province trade of wrecks, and the usual deceitful tactics, such as plugging leaky radiators with temporary sealant.
“There’s far better consumer protection today with disclosure,” Pierce agrees. “Some 75 per cent of cars at the wholesale auctions come with histories.”
IMPROVED REGULATION
Pierce cites the formation of the self-regulating Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) in 1997 as a key step in the development of a more ethical and transparent dealer industry download google translator agree.
It overhauled the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act, which came into effect in 2010, further strengthening disclosure obligations for both retailers and trade-in customers, as well as improving Compensation Fund claim coverage and specifying stiffer penalties.
Hand in hand with new regulations came mandatory training courses for dealers, says Pierce, partly to inform them of the changes, as well as to impart a more professional code of conduct.
INTERNET CHANGED EVERYTHING
But while the industry had been coerced reluctantly into the light of day, nothing prepared dealers for the advent of the Internet apache openoffice download deutsch kostenlos.
“When I started in the business, I would wait for the new Auto Trader publications on Thursdays and flip through them all, looking for the right used car,” recalls Mark Derry, an automotive adviser and former salesman. “My hands would be black with ink.”
The Internet changed everything.
Not only were dealer inventories displayed online and search functions able to easily pinpoint desirable vehicles, there was also a cornucopia of reliability information as well as ownership experiences posted by consumers.
“Once upon a time, Phil Edmonston, author of the Lemon-Aid guides to new and used vehicles, cornered the market. But today, the Internet has exploded with information,” says Derry bibi und tina geschichte kostenlos.
In addition to good automotive information, new tools started appearing on the web, first in the hands of dealers, then migrating to consumers.
“Web-based history searches — such as CarProof and Carfax — are available to the general public,” says Iny. “Although they’re not perfect, they have contributed significantly to reducing the incidence of odometer fraud and disguised, repaired writeoffs.”
“Twenty-five years ago, even the price to ask or pay for a car was sometimes a mystery. Canadian Black Book would not share its info with consumers, and you had to go to the library for Red Book prices.”
Even the wholesaling side adopted an e-business model using the Internet trello dateien herunterladen. Dealers no longer had to be present at an auction to buy inventory — online photos and detailed records allowed buyers to snap up vehicles remotely, saving time and money.
NEW-CAR DEALERS MOVE IN
New-car dealers couldn’t help but notice the used-car industry was changing — and so were public perceptions — and they were anxious to get in on the action.
“When I started in 1991, profit margins were 10 to 15 per cent on new cars. Today they’re more like 5 to 8 per cent, thanks to unprecedented competition, especially in a big market like the GTA,” says Derry netflix folgen auf macbook downloaden.
With razor-thin margins on new product, many new-car dealers have bolstered their used-car operations, where profits easily could be double on each car sale.
“There’s a real emphasis today on pre-owned, certified vehicles by new-car dealers, whereas 25 years ago, these vehicles were hidden at the back of the lot,” Pierce says.
IMPACT OF LEASING
A big reason for the new focus on used vehicles was the rising popularity of leasing. New-car dealers had the pick of lease returns, as well as trade-ins, and could stock a fetching inventory of late-model used vehicles for discriminating shoppers Download school books for free.
Iny says leasing has presented an embarrassment of riches for new-car dealers, so much so that many lease returns end up going to auction where independent used-car dealers can pick them up for resale.
“Before leasing became popular with consumers, there was a chronic shortage of recent used vehicles, and the good ones were usually snapped up by franchised dealers as trade-ins,” Iny says. “This is not the case anymore.”
Over the past decade, shoppers have enjoyed unprecedented access to a large supply of three- to four-year-old used vehicles on independent lots at competitive prices, says Iny spotify herunterladen mp3 player.
THE RISING DOLLAR
Derry points out the Canadian dollar’s rise to parity with the U.S. greenback sent shock waves through the industry, putting downward pressure on new-car prices, which in turn impacted used-vehicle prices.
“Dealers were losing from $1,000 up to $6,000 on a vehicle overnight,” says Derry, explaining that manufacturers’ sticker-price adjustments caused resale values to ratchet downwards.
Without a substantial price gap between a new and used model, independent dealers risked seeing shoppers walking into a new-car store to buy a factory-fresh vehicle avg for free windows 10.
MANUFACTURERS MOVE IN
Seeing their profit-strapped dealers mining used-car sales for revenue streams, the manufacturers felt compelled to grease the wheels. Derry points out many automakers now offer low-rate factory financing on used models — a subsidy that was unheard of in the 1980s.
Factory-certified remarketing programs that subject used models to an inspection and reconditioning regimen is another innovation that extended the automaker’s brand deeper into the used-car marketplace.
TODAY’S REALITY
The used-car industry has grown and matured over the past quarter-century — but it still has a way to go.
As beneficial as the disclosure rules may be, the information is only as good as the record-keeping. Buyers are still getting partial data — a collision repair paid in cash may not appear on a CarProof report — and even consumers themselves are loath to disclose damage sustained by their trade-in.
“Buyers are liars” is an age-old industry saw that apparently still holds true.
Iny says the much-advertised “certified” reselling programs by manufacturers are not always up to snuff, since dealers have been known to cut corners.
“The carmakers have taken a hands-off approach to consumer complaints about certified vehicles, even when incompletely checked prior to sale,” Iny charges.
The best protection, our experts agree, is the time-honoured practice of getting your prospective used vehicle inspected by a trusted, independent technician.
“Some dealers try to ‘snow’ the consumer into thinking a warranty replaces an inspection,” Iny warns.
Bouchama says one issue that hasn’t been addressed over the past 25 years is the province’s woefully inadequate safety certification process, which inspects a handful of automobile safety systems, such as the brakes and suspension, but leaves newer technologies off the checklist.
“Ontario certification doesn’t mean much,” Bouchama says, drawing on his experience listening to motorists’ complaints. “Consumers still have to be vigilant when they’re shopping for a used vehicle.”
________________
October 2011
MARK TOLJAGIC
The Toronto Star
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