I'm a car salesmen, Go ahead and ask me anything

[Got Miikka?]

Well, this I guess I is sorta an open question but I figured rather than make a new thread.

I'm looking to increase my ecological footprint or whatever so for the first time I am going to buy a car.

My question is, which kind of car should I buy? I'm looking for something small-ish that is fuel-efficient and won't need a ton of maintenance. I'm not above driving something that isn't entirely glamorous, but obviously the sexier, the better.

Here's the catch: my budget is in the $5000-$6000 range.

Recommendations? I've been looking at Hondas and VWs but I'm just not sure...

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

Well they are going through the Auctions in the 8 - 10k range so i would offer them something in the 11 -12 range and see where you get. generally dealers keep cars for 90 days then wholesale them.. If they send it to the auction that is all they are going to get out of it.

I landed a 2004 Kia Sedona at a Toyota dealer with only 40,000 km for $12,000. Thanks for your advice, it really helped!

Dan

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Got Miikka?

Well, this I guess I is sorta an open question but I figured rather than make a new thread.

I'm looking to increase my ecological footprint or whatever so for the first time I am going to buy a car.

My question is, which kind of car should I buy? I'm looking for something small-ish that is fuel-efficient and won't need a ton of maintenance. I'm not above driving something that isn't entirely glamorous, but obviously the sexier, the better.

Here's the catch: my budget is in the $5000-$6000 range.

Recommendations? I've been looking at Hondas and VWs but I'm just not sure...

I might suggest a hummer with a leak in the gas line.

Sorry couldn't resist. for what its worth aged Honda's are much more reliable than an aged VW

[Fozzie_DeBear]

I have a question about what happens if you make money on the sale of a car. Say I buy an Audi in the States for X, import it, drive it, then sell it for X+$7000. Should I count the $7000 as income, a capital gain or what?

[burn_this_city]

^^ capital gain if Im not mistaken..

[Fozzie_DeBear]

That would make sense, I suspect that in most cases people don't report it at all...

[picard]

Tim, What do you make of Subaru Tribeca's? Do you know where they are manufactured? I've looked on Google but can't seem to find out. Subaru's position on import/export from the US seems much more amiable than Toyota so I'm looking to see whether they'd be made in NA to avoid duty.
Cheers

[TimSJ]

I am not sure where the Tribeca is made.. Subaru does build legacys in the US i know so perhaps the Tribeca comes off of the same lime... I don know that a ton of Subaru's have been imported and that the tribeca has been a popular import.. big diff in the prices US vs Canada... As for Subaru overall a great car in my opinion..

[TimSJ]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

I have a question about what happens if you make money on the sale of a car. Say I buy an Audi in the States for X, import it, drive it, then sell it for X+$7000. Should I count the $7000 as income, a capital gain or what?

I would guess you could report it as a capital gain. but as you said i can't think of a single person that has ever done that.

[Johnny 99]

Originally Posted by Got Miikka?

Well, this I guess I is sorta an open question but I figured rather than make a new thread.

I'm looking to increase my ecological footprint or whatever so for the first time I am going to buy a car.

My question is, which kind of car should I buy? I'm looking for something small-ish that is fuel-efficient and won't need a ton of maintenance. I'm not above driving something that isn't entirely glamorous, but obviously the sexier, the better.

Here's the catch: my budget is in the $5000-$6000 range.

Recommendations? I've been looking at Hondas and VWs but I'm just not sure...

I'm in a similar situation and I'd love to hear an answer. Would I be best off trying to buy an older used car via a private sale? I'm thinking something along the lines of a 1997 Neon in the 3k range. Is this viable?

[TimSJ]

It is a hard reccommendation to make. My best advice i guess would be to buy the best car you can for the money you have. Hard to go wrong with Honda/Toyota.. VW's can be unreliable in my experience.

[DESS]

An Acura EL is a good car for that price range - it's basically a Civic with nicer details, richer appointments and improved safety features. Not as boring as the Toyotas you'd find in that price range and are certainly better than any VW (unreliable and expensive to repair).

[MJK]

I have a question:

I have a '97 Honda Civic sitting back home while I am in Nunavut teaching. It has 160,000KM's. It has some rust, some dings...stuff like that.

Is it worth my while selling it or should I just keep it? I know I can only get like $4000 for it if that.

Advice would be great...keep the car and use it in the summer or just sell it and explore other options.

Thanks Tim!

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Hey Tim , if I were able to pickup a V70R in the US for ~$21 with 40000 miles on it, do you think that once I ship it ($2500) add duty ($2700) and other costs bringing total costs to ~$28,000 that I could flip it in a reasonable amount of time for $30k + ?

[Got Miikka?]

Yah I have pretty much decided it will be a Honda. Whose Honda - still working on that.

[TimSJ]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Hey Tim , if I were able to pickup a V70R in the US for ~$21 with 40000 miles on it, do you think that once I ship it ($2500) add duty ($2700) and other costs bringing total costs to ~$28,000 that I could flip it in a reasonable amount of time for $30k + ?

What year?

[TimSJ]

Originally Posted by MJK

I have a question:

I have a '97 Honda Civic sitting back home while I am in Nunavut teaching. It has 160,000KM's. It has some rust, some dings...stuff like that.

Is it worth my while selling it or should I just keep it? I know I can only get like $4000 for it if that.

Advice would be great...keep the car and use it in the summer or just sell it and explore other options.

Thanks Tim!

I guess the question you need to ask yourself is am i going to miss having the car when i am home. or is the $4k more important to me.

Or if you sell the car now for $4k and you get home this summer and decide you need a car again are you going to replace it for the same amount of maney?

[Cheese]

so Timbo...I have a chance to buy either a Pinto or an AMC Gremlin? I wuz wondering...which one would look better with furry dice hanging off the rear view mirror?

[TimSJ]

Cheese,

I could hook you up with this fine vehicle... Your dice would look sweet hanging from the mirror of this thing. I will even throw in the custom wheels.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Tim:

Where did Chrysler get the rich Corinthian leather for their Cordobas and is there such a critter as a Corinthian?