There are more types of new and used cars out there than there are homes on the Edmonton real estate listings. So how does anyone ever make a decision as to which make and model to buy? Some people have extensive knowledge of cars, read car magazines, and study the inner workings of cars, but most people don't. Most people rely on the opinions and assessments of experts like those at Consumer Reports, Canadian Driver, and Edmunds. But even a lot of the parts of these reviews are incomprehensible to normal people. We can teach you to zero in on the important parts.
Reliability
Most people, when they're looking for a car, are looking for one that will get them back and forth to their Toronto accounting office with a minimum of hassle. They don't want to have to take their cars in every month or pay for expensive imported parts. That's what we mean by reliability. To judge a car's reliability, look for the cost of ownership statistics and the brand's reputation. The higher a car ranks on the list of most commonly bought cars, the easier it will be to get parts.
Efficiency
Fuel efficiency is a huge concern for most car buyers these days, what with fuel prices rising, atmospheric carbon dioxide rising, and world stores of oil running out. Look for the miles per gallon or kilometers per litre rating to see how often you will have to fill up going between your Toronto condo and work. You'll also want to have a look at the car's ranking on the list of most fuel efficient cars on the market as well as within its own class (vans, for instance, cannot compare to compact sedans).
Cost
Here's the kicker, the factor that will make or break a car decision. Between expenses for hand notchers for work, clothes for the kids, and home insurance, will you have enough left over to afford your monthly payments? Car reviewers usually give the outright base model price, which is useful considering that most car dealerships these days will list the price only as a bi-weekly financed payment. You can use both to consider your financing options and decide whether you can afford the car.
Features
And finally, you'll want to compare features between the cars on your short list. Some might come with pre-installed GPS to help you find your Toronto real estate brokers office. Some might have fold-away seating in the middle. Others might have sun roofs or high clearance for off roading. Decide which features are important to you and consult the specifications section of the review to see whether these features are standard or optional on the models you're considering.
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