Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Everything I have read is that the Japanese automakers will be trying to move Canadian and Mexican manufacturing to the USA which is the exact opposite of pulling out of the USA.

There's a story this morning that Honda is moving it's Civic manufacturing from Mexico to Indiana, and that makes sense with these tariffs. It also just underscores the importance for Canadians to look a little deeper than just the brand if you're looking to boycott US products.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Acey

I was in the market for a C43 and similar for a while so I did a lot of research, can't really go wrong with that one based on what I've read.

The coupes are beautiful.

What other cars did you look at? I'm pretty sure I want to get another car with AWD. Doesn't have to be a coupe, a nice sedan is fine too. My neighbour just got an S5 so that's out

It's on my list to try out the Genesis G70, BMW 240i and 440i, Audi S3, Lexus IS/RC350. I glanced at the Charger/Challenger but just not my style.

[Nufy]

Isn't there a Canadian law that auto manufacturers have to make as many cars in Canada as they import ?

Was there ever?

[WideReceiver]

Pulled the trigger yesterday on a new Toyota RAV4 Limited hybrid. We’ve been putting it off for a year. How can I determine the value of our current car(s)? We have a 2001 Honda Civic and a 2009 RAV so obviously I haven’t sold a car for a long time.

[Ironhorse]

Are you looking to sell the Civic? If so I would be interested.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

Pulled the trigger yesterday on a new Toyota RAV4 Limited hybrid. We’ve been putting it off for a year. How can I determine the value of our current car(s)? We have a 2001 Honda Civic and a 2009 RAV so obviously I haven’t sold a car for a long time.

I like the new Rav4. but it feels like it waw maybe meant for a specific height or something of drivers. There’s a lot of visibility issues for some controls and buttons. Gas tank opener, heated steering wheel button, vent selection.

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Are you looking to sell the Civic? If so I would be interested.

Don’t know. Very low mileage. If you guessed the mileage you’d probably be off by 200-300K. It’s terrific second car. My wife has suggested replacing it but if I was looking for a second car well maintained and low mileage this would be the perfect find. If I found this in someone’s garage I’d be delighted. Maybe PM me.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by WideReceiver

Pulled the trigger yesterday on a new Toyota RAV4 Limited hybrid. We’ve been putting it off for a year. How can I determine the value of our current car(s)? We have a 2001 Honda Civic and a 2009 RAV so obviously I haven’t sold a car for a long time.

Assess the condition (honestly) of your cars and get the odometer reading.

Put those into a spreadsheet.

Now go through AutoTrader and search your year, make, and model, and find cars that are similar to the condition, mileage, and specification (trim level) of yours. Make note of the details and put all that in the spreadsheet. You can repeat this with Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji if you want. Omit any outliers (if the seller mentions rebuilt title, or there is clearly visible damage, or mismatching paint on body panels, etc.).

Then figure out where abouts yours falls relative to the others on offer in terms of age, condition, and mileage. Price depends if you want a faster sale or more value, but unless you've got something properly special and rare, you should never be the highest priced, and you should only be the lowest priced if you value your time more than the car (or it's a real turd and you just want it gone).

Faster sale = price at / around the lower median. Extract better value = price at / around the upper median. For cars of that age, I don't differentiate between private sales and used car lot sales listings.

Median = Highest priced comparable + lowest priced comparable / 2
Lower median = Lowest price + median / 2
Upper median = Highest price + median / 2


You can play around with the numbers but that's at least an informed starting point.

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Assess the condition (honestly) of your cars and get the odometer reading.

Put those into a spreadsheet.

Now go through AutoTrader and search your year, make, and model, and find cars that are similar to the condition, mileage, and specification (trim level) of yours. Make note of the details and put all that in the spreadsheet. You can repeat this with Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji if you want. Omit any outliers (if the seller mentions rebuilt title, or there is clearly visible damage, or mismatching paint on body panels, etc.).

Then figure out where abouts yours falls relative to the others on offer in terms of age, condition, and mileage. Price depends if you want a faster sale or more value, but unless you've got something properly special and rare, you should never be the highest priced, and you should only be the lowest priced if you value your time more than the car (or it's a real turd and you just want it gone).

Faster sale = price at / around the lower median. Extract better value = price at / around the upper median. For cars of that age, I don't differentiate between private sales and used car lot sales listings.

Median = Highest priced comparable + lowest priced comparable / 2
Lower median = Lowest price + median / 2
Upper median = Highest price + median / 2


You can play around with the numbers but that's at least an informed starting point.

Good advice, thank you. I have a second car. The dealership should be able to give me a month’s notice. Not being in a rush with another car will benefit me.

[Acey]

Originally Posted by photon

What other cars did you look at? I'm pretty sure I want to get another car with AWD. Doesn't have to be a coupe, a nice sedan is fine too. My neighbour just got an S5 so that's out

It's on my list to try out the Genesis G70, BMW 240i and 440i, Audi S3, Lexus IS/RC350. I glanced at the Charger/Challenger but just not my style.

I was pretty set on a somewhat newer AWD coupe, didn't really leave a ton of options.

C300/C43, A5/S5/TTS, 230/240/430/440i... Lexus RC350 wasn't even in the conversation.

Ended up snagging a 2018 S5 with only 39,000 km.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by photon

What other cars did you look at? I'm pretty sure I want to get another car with AWD. Doesn't have to be a coupe, a nice sedan is fine too. My neighbour just got an S5 so that's out

It's on my list to try out the Genesis G70, BMW 240i and 440i, Audi S3, Lexus IS/RC350. I glanced at the Charger/Challenger but just not my style.

I liked the S3. Test drove it three times...I was really close to buying it. I think the interior is really cool in those - waaaaay better than the Golf.

A bit of lag off the line until the turbo kicks in if you aren't using launch control, but still is a fast car.

Of all things, lack of cooled seats nuked it for me. I use that feature all spring, summer, fall and half of winter. Just can't go without at this point. Maybe they offer it in 2025s?

[photon]

I sat in a 2 series and they're a bit small for me, so not sure an S3 would be similar.

Couldn't get the attention of anyone at the dealership to look at the 440i so will have to try a different time, but I liked how it looked on the outside for sure.

Yeah my current car has cooled seats and definitely would miss them.

I don't think the C43 I looked at had a heated steering wheel because it has a special AMG one, that shouldn't kill a deal but man I'd miss that

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by photon

I sat in a 2 series and they're a bit small for me, so not sure an S3 would be similar.

Couldn't get the attention of anyone at the dealership to look at the 440i so will have to try a different time, but I liked how it looked on the outside for sure.

Yeah my current car has cooled seats and definitely would miss them.

I don't think the C43 I looked at had a heated steering wheel because it has a special AMG one, that shouldn't kill a deal but man I'd miss that

I didn't fit in a 2-series, either. They're fricken tiny. S3 was huge inside. More room for the driver, actually, than an RS6 Avant, if you can believe it. At least the way my proportions work.

[photon]

Hm ok I'll find one to try out

[DoubleF]

Random question: A high mileage 2015 Evoque requiring a transmission repair/replacement(?) but still drives is still probably worth like $4-5K in parts, right?

Autotrader is estimating it should still be worth in the $6,500-10,500 range if it's fixed up.

I'm thinking to tell my friend to contact Kidney foundation for a donation receipt for that vehicle and ignoring the one crazy stink bid they got on it.

[TorqueDog]

Easily. Do they know what's wrong with it, like has it actually been quoted for repair?

A complete second-hand transmission for the L538 Evoque can be had for anywhere from $800 - $2,500 CAD on eBay depending on whether it's the 6-speed Ford Aisin Warner or the 9-speed ZF 9HP, but if it's something like a valve body or torque converter, those can be had between $400 - $800 CAD.

I don't know the mileage, but assuming it's in otherwise good condition visually and mechanically, I would bet that someone who buys that thing for $5k, throws a $2,500 transmission in it and puts it through a detailing bay, is probably selling it for $12.5k.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Easily. Do they know what's wrong with it, like has it actually been quoted for repair?

A complete second-hand transmission for the L538 Evoque can be had for anywhere from $800 - $2,500 CAD on eBay depending on whether it's the 6-speed Ford Aisin Warner or the 9-speed ZF 9HP, but if it's something like a valve body or torque converter, those can be had between $400 - $800 CAD.

I don't know the mileage, but assuming it's in otherwise good condition visually and mechanically, I would bet that someone who buys that thing for $5k, throws a $2,500 transmission in it and puts it through a detailing bay, is probably selling it for $12.5k.

Apparently there was an opportunity for trade in and the value kept decreasing from like $2.5K until it was like $1,500 or something dumb. I don't know cars that well and I know dealerships need to make money. But the offer for an older Evoque like that seemed ridiculously low that to me, it almost sounded like it was lower than scrap value for a vehicle that was finicky and needed major repairs, but drivable. So they decided to not trade it in and try and sell it themselves. But no interest at all when privately listed for around <$4K/even with subsequent price drops.

This person doesn't know vehicles at all but prattled off a list which was a bunch of cosmetic stuff glass and windows stuff that needed addressing. For sure the biggest issue was that there was a transmission problem and it seems transmission basically need replacement? The mileage being being over 250K probably doesn't help but shouldn't tank the value that badly, should it? I assume it's just reasonings for the crap trade in vs an actual quote for repairs.

Either there's a better way to advertise that thing for sale I should suggest to them or I think they should grab a donation receipt vs revisiting the idea of getting like $1.5-2K for it. I know nothing, but I feel like buying it for $4K and pouring $6K into it (at worst) should yield a vehicle that is better than what could be purchased for $10K on the used market. Am I on the right track? Or are my assumptions way out of whack?

[TorqueDog]

You've got a PM.

[WideReceiver]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

You've got a PM.

Yes, Trudeau. Deal with it! lol

[photon]

If I wanted to get a car from BC would the process be (assuming it's a dealership):

Buy the car (or have it almost ready to go pending final inspection)
Have insurance ready to go after sending them the bill of sale get them to email me a pink card
Get in transit form
Drive home
Out of province inspection and final registration

Is that right?