best places to get a Civic in Ontario?

[broc]

Me and my GF are lookin to upgrade our 95 Honda Civic (with 260,000 k) to either a brand new one, or slightly used.

Our budget is about $15000 to $16000. Anyone know dealers who have good deals with Civics?

Would it be better to get one directly from a Honda dealer, or would it save us a bit more to just go to a general used car dealer?

We're located in Peterborough Ont.

[MameXP]

If you buy slightly used, search all Honda dealership around you and private sale.

Never go to those general used car dealership. You will get a lemon if you dont have the knowledge.

When buying used from dealerships, make sure you have warranty at any Honda dealership

Sometimes if you're lucky you can get a really good deal thro private sale.

ie. i was searching for my gf's next car. I found a 2004 civic fully loaded for $15000, only 6000Kms. The owner is 78yrs old, shes moving into a nursing home. It was posted literally 2 days and its sold.

[Bullseye]

Buy privately, save on the GST and the price, and buy 1-2 years old, save on the worst effects of depreciation.

Even better, hang on to your current Civic, 260k is not the end of life for one of these cars. Invest the money you would have spent and you'll be better off for it.

[MameXP]

^^ good that you mention the option to keep it.

If the OP want to sell his, i might take it for the right price.

Problem with keeping the old car like that is fixing or replacing old parts will cost too much that isnt wise to keep it anymore. I dont know thats just me, i rather spend time and money on a good new car than keeping an old car that cost literally a few times of my repair bill

[Bullseye]

^^ good that you mention the option to keep it.

If the OP want to sell his, i might take it for the right price.

Problem with keeping the old car like that is fixing or replacing old parts will cost too much that isnt wise to keep it anymore. I dont know thats just me, i rather spend time and money on a good new car than keeping an old car that cost literally a few times of my repair bill

You'd have to spend thousands every year on repairs to have an old car cost more than a new one. Civic's are generally well made vehicles, I doubt many of them would require those kind of repair costs. Depreciation and insurance on a new vehicle can be very expensive.

There are other factors, of course, but it's something to consider.

[MameXP]

True, but i'm still prefering to have less mantainance to none with new car. Not necessary brand new but less than 30k will do

[Narci]

Don't you have to pay GST or PST when you register the car to your name?

[Bullseye]

Don't you have to pay GST or PST when you register the car to your name?

Only PST if you buy privately, both GST and PST if you buy from a dealer. So buying a $20k vehicle privately will save you $1,400 in taxes.

[MameXP]

Not to mention when you buy privately, you can negotiate with the seller for low claimed selling price. Both buyer and seller will save on tax. ( income tax for the seller)

[Bullseye]

Not to mention when you buy privately, you can negotiate with the seller for low claimed selling price. Both buyer and seller will save on tax. ( income tax for the seller)

Most vehicles, in Ontario at least, are taxed according to blue book value, to prevent this. You can get away with it on older vehicles, though.

[MameXP]

Most vehicles, in Ontario at least, are taxed according to blue book value, to prevent this. You can get away with it on older vehicles, though.
Nope not thro blue books for my case. Its the 2004 TSX.

The blue book shows the minimum value which is pretty low. And i got $1000 below than that. In my case, i bought the car and not register for plate right away due to insurance. Then when i registered it i showed them the cheque. They did tax on that.

And what i paid was significanly higher than that. :D So I'm happy. Well atleast for my gf because its her car

[Bullseye]

Nope not thro blue books for my case. Its the 2004 TSX.

The blue book shows the minimum value which is pretty low. And i got 1000k below than that. In my case, i bought the car and not register for plate right away due to insurance. Then when i registered it i showed them the cheque. They do tax on that.

And what i paid was significanly higher than that. :D To I'm happy. Well atleast for my gf because its her car

Not doubting you, but that's not been the case with me, with several car purchases. I've asked them every time to use the lower value, which I have a receipt for, and they refuse.

[wt22]

Do we need to pay tax when you sell a vehicle privately? I thought the buyer is responsible for the PST when they register the vehicle? Also what kind of document do we need to show for tax purposes as a seller?

[konfusion666]

Not doubting you, but that's not been the case with me, with several car purchases. I've asked them every time to use the lower value, which I have a receipt for, and they refuse.

it's actually "Canadian Red Book" value, not blue book. and it even says so on the ministry of transportation's web site. so you're definitely correct, just got the color of the book wrong ;)

(kelley blue book is what they use in the states...)

[Bullseye]

Do we need to pay tax when you sell a vehicle privately? I thought the buyer is responsible for the PST when they register the vehicle? Also what kind of document do we need to show for tax purposes as a seller?

No, the seller pays no tax, we're talking about purchasing a vehicle here. A seller only needs to provide whatever document the buyer asks for, a handwritten receipt is the norm.

Konfusion - thanks for clarifying!

[broc]

I've been thinking of keeping it. In the past 12 months I've put in a new head gasket, rad, tires, R axel, wipers. Get oil done every 5000 k's. All maintenance records everything.

Just that me and my GF go on quite a few driving trips to the USA and whatnot.. so we are just worried about it breaking down a long way from home.

We actually test drove one of the '06 Civics, but the dealer said I could only get about 500 credit for my car. When I told him all the repairs I've put into it the past 12 months and he made a few calls, it went up to 700.

Is that a fair offer for a 95 Civic with 260k's ? For the body, there's a couple small dents/spots on the hood from highway driving chips.. and there is are 2 small patches of rust above the back R + L wheels (seems many older Civics have these same rust spots). Other than that, car is in pretty good shape.

[konfusion666]

$500 credit??? that sounds a little low. because i'm thinking you can probably private-sale it for $1500+ (ballpark figure)

[alanbrenton]

I've been thinking of keeping it. In the past 12 months I've put in a new head gasket, rad, tires, R axel, wipers. Get oil done every 5000 k's. All maintenance records everything.

Just that me and my GF go on quite a few driving trips to the USA and whatnot.. so we are just worried about it breaking down a long way from home.

We actually test drove one of the '06 Civics, but the dealer said I could only get about 500 credit for my car. When I told him all the repairs I've put into it the past 12 months and he made a few calls, it went up to 700.

Is that a fair offer for a 95 Civic with 260k's ? For the body, there's a couple small dents/spots on the hood from highway driving chips.. and there is are 2 small patches of rust above the back R + L wheels (seems many older Civics have these same rust spots). Other than that, car is in pretty good shape.

Don't trade your car in for $700. I have an uncle who bought a CRV a year back and they gave him $500 for his 89 Subaru. I doubt your car is worth less than that.

Maybe you should try and sell it at least on RFD cause the last time I checked autotrader, some people were askin $4k for their 94 civic.

I'm no expert but I doubt anyone here will disagree that $700 is a lowball.

[alanbrenton]

http://gmcanada.com/english/financing/appraise.html

Try this for appraising your car's trade in value. I got this from some rfder's post.

[ericssonboi]

http://gmcanada.com/english/financing/appraise.html

Try this for appraising your car's trade in value. I got this from some rfder's post.

The guide doesn't appraise "higher mileage cars"

For a Civic... i'd think you'd be able to get at least 1,000 for it... and maybe 2K if your lucky. The only benefit of trading it in would be saving the time on a private sale and the tax on the new car.

[belgiangenius]

You'd have to spend thousands every year on repairs to have an old car cost more than a new one. Civic's are generally well made vehicles, I doubt many of them would require those kind of repair costs. Depreciation and insurance on a new vehicle can be very expensive.

There are other factors, of course, but it's something to consider.

I'd agree. The one constant with cars is: if you're buying one (especially new), you're getting raped.

I really don't understand the number of $50,000 vehicles on the road. Stats say they're largely financed and leased, which is assinine.

[TheZodiac]

I assume the Honda Fit will be available soon, right in your price range.