Who is your trustworthy mechanic for your cage?

Alvito

Alvito

Well-known member
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I'm asking because I am looking to buy my first car. I just got a new teaching job last week. I'm anxious to get a reliable used vehicle, but I'm not confident to make the purchase alone. I would feel much more at ease if I had an expert take a look with me.
 
I used to take it to the dealership at Maple Mazda but it was becoming way to expensive for my car that was out of warranty.

I now go to M & D Executive Auto in North York. I'm pretty satisfied with their work so far. Went to them on the recommendation of the guys at the torontomazda3
 
Alvito said:
I'm asking because I am looking to buy my first car. I just got a new teaching job last week. I'm anxious to get a reliable used vehicle, but I'm not confident to make the purchase alone. I would feel much more at ease if I had an expert take a look with me.
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I have had many customers that come to purchase vehicles and they insist that to get a second opinion. Which is fine, it makes my job a lot easier. If you're looking to get an inspection to know if the car you're buying is a good one or not, CAA does the most thorough and detailed inspection. They charge a little north of a 100$ (a little less if you're a member) but they inspect almost everything in the car, safety and none safety related. Most new car dealers only do a DOT inspection which you can get done for half the price at an independent mechanic.

One thing I'd like to point out, is that no matter what, no used car will be perfect and you will have to compromise.
No mechanic can tell you how long the car can last or how often it will be in the shop. It is always a gamble, do your homework and take your time looking. NEVER rush into buying a used car.
My 2 cents.
 
Before you go and buy a used car, have a look at your monthly payment. You may find that with all the zero percent financing offers on new vehicles, you can be driving a new car with full warranty for the same monthly payment as buying someone else's headache (ie: used car.) Used car financing will probably cost you between 7% and 10% interest - that is why the payments are so much higher. So, don't reject buying a new car - it might be a lot more affordable than you think.
 
ike said:
Before you go and buy a used car, have a look at your monthly payment. You may find that with all the zero percent financing offers on new vehicles, you can be driving a new car with full warranty for the same monthly payment as buying someone else's headache (ie: used car.) Used car financing will probably cost you between 7% and 10% interest - that is why the payments are so much higher. So, don't reject buying a new car - it might be a lot more affordable than you think.
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Why spend 20K+ and lose so much after a 4 year period? If you buy used ~5000$ after four years how much are you going to lose?... 1000$? 2? 3?... Depreciation on a new car after a four year period is quite the loss. Unless of course you intend to drive the car to the ground.
I agree with your point about financing a used car though, sometimes it's just not worth it.
 
2live&ride said:
Why spend 20K+ and lose so much after a 4 year period? If you buy used ~5000$ after four years how much are you going to lose?... 1000$? 2? 3?... Depreciation on a new car after a four year period is quite the loss. Unless of course you intend to drive the car to the ground.
I agree with your point about financing a used car though, sometimes it's just not worth it.
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Spending the $$ on a new car may seem like quite a bit more money, but when everything is taken into account, the real cost of driving a new car is not that much more than driving a used one - esp. if you are considering a popular vehicle such as the Mazda 3, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Corolla or Nissan Sentra. These cars tend to hold their resale value quite well, so it could be actually more expensive (from a monthly payment perspective) to buy a used one when finance charges and maintenance/repair costs are factored in.

My system is this.... I buy a new car every 24 - 30 months. I buy cars that show high residual values after 3 years (you can get this info from the leasing tables - or the dealer can tell you.) This usually means that I can never buy a Chrysler product, as they seem to devalue by 50% in 2 years, whereas Hondas and the like generally take 4 years to devalue to 50%. I finance at 0% and haggle the dealer down until they get about $500-$1000 in profit. I take the financing for usually 5 years, and when I owe on the loan what the car is worth on a trade, then I trade it (usually 24 - 30 months if I buy right.) I then drive away in a brand new car with full warranty and my monthly payment doesnt increase much (if any.) I budget for my car payment but dont have to budget for that surprise $1000 repair bill, because that is all covered under warranty.

Another inexpensive way to go is Leasebusters, where you take over people's leases for them. You can get some stellar deals as long as the warranty lasts as long as the lease.
 
2live&ride said:
One thing I'd like to point out, is that no matter what, no used car will be perfect and you will have to compromise.
No mechanic can tell you how long the car can last or how often it will be in the shop. It is always a gamble, do your homework and take your time looking. NEVER rush into buying a used car.
My 2 cents.
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A good friend buys new and trades when the package is right. He takes very good care of his stuff.

Last time around a mutual friend spoke up for his trade in and bought it for wholesale plus tax allowance. Six months later the pickup needed major work. The second owner feels he was taken. He wasn't. It was the luck of the draw.
 
rideitlikeyoustoleit said:
OP, are you looking for a mechanic to take with you to inspect the cars you are interested in?
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Yes, I want someone who knows what to look for to come with me. I'm not too comfortable going by myself. I looked at a Sentra GXE today. She said she purchased it in Montreal. From what I know about Quebec, they don't have laws regarding rolling back the odometer. Going to stay away from that one.

2live&ride said:
I have had many customers that come to purchase vehicles and they insist that to get a second opinion. Which is fine, it makes my job a lot easier. If you're looking to get an inspection to know if the car you're buying is a good one or not, CAA does the most thorough and detailed inspection. They charge a little north of a 100$ (a little less if you're a member) but they inspect almost everything in the car, safety and none safety related. Most new car dealers only do a DOT inspection which you can get done for half the price at an independent mechanic.

One thing I'd like to point out, is that no matter what, no used car will be perfect and you will have to compromise.
No mechanic can tell you how long the car can last or how often it will be in the shop. It is always a gamble, do your homework and take your time looking. NEVER rush into buying a used car.
My 2 cents.
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I wanted to buy a car by the end of this week. It looks like I will have to wait until the end of the month. The car would have to be taken to the CAA garage? I have no problem paying $100 to get the car checked out if I'm very serious about getting it.
 
How much are you willing to spend up to?... Cash or finance?...

Honestly, If you're looking for a vehicle in that class, I strongly recommend the Toyota Corolla or a Honda Civic, Sentras are ok but nowhere near as reliable as the former two. Yes, the Civics and Corollas are a little overpriced but really and truly they are very reliable and tend to last a lot longer. They hold a very strong resale value and after you have driven it for a year or two you're not losing an arm and a leg. You will always find a buyer if you keep the vehicle in a relatively good condition...
 
I go to Mtricks downtown off Bloor. Awesome guys, the owners are the ones working on your ride. Plus never had trouble getting in and they are quick to get the work done. Also they know when to tell me work can be done later. For examble I have some bearings that need replaced and they told me to wait till fall when I take my bike off the road.
 
2live&ride said:
NEVER rush into buying a used car.
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This is great advice. I made that mistake a several years ago and ended up with a car that needed endless repairs and deteriorated much much faster then expected. It looked good at first but after a month of ownership it was very apparent that I got the short end of the stick. Lots of coverup work mechnically and cosmetically. Lesson learned.

Nowadays, Im more inclined to search for a lease takeover on leasebusters or something. If you are patient you can find some awesome deals on lease takeovers.
 
For me if I were to get another used car, i would like to see maintenance records. Plus, I would not mind buying a used car from the dealership, yes it might be expensive, but I would save in the long run. Most of the dealerships would not take back poorly maintained cars
 
RockerGuy said:
For me if I were to get another used car, i would like to see maintenance records. Plus, I would not mind buying a used car from the dealership, yes it might be expensive, but I would save in the long run. Most of the dealerships would not take back poorly maintained cars
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Careful with dealerships.... the biggest lemon I ever had was bought from a dealership…
I suggest still do your research on a vehicle… regardless where you get it. Doesn’t matter where you get it as long as it gets a good look ever and you do your research.
 
Cat13 said:
Careful with dealerships.... the biggest lemon I ever had was bought from a dealership…
I suggest still do your research on a vehicle… regardless where you get it. Doesn’t matter where you get it as long as it gets a good look ever and you do your research.
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I guess it still depends on the manufacturer & dealership. I like to think that Honda and the comprehensive checks/prepping they do on used vehicles is worth something. They certainly think it is as buying a used Honda from a Honda dealership is not cheap.
 
toshison said:
I guess it still depends on the manufacturer & dealership. I like to think that Honda and the comprehensive checks/prepping they do on used vehicles is worth something. They certainly think it is as buying a used Honda from a Honda dealership is not cheap.
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I would say more dealership to dealership... I am just saying don't rely on it. Do your own research.. Its not hard. Find a car you like and google it. Look at what comes up for issues current owners are having, known issues and any recalls. Had a guy try to sell me a range rover... told me the engine had been redone and some other items as if it were a huge plus... little research and I learn it was all standard recall items, AND that it was known to happen again. Im not saying anything against the guys you use... just thinking we shouldnt be cursing someone else later for stuff we could have avoided by doing a little work on our end. Its too much money to spend to just run on someone elses word unless its a friend you trust highly.
 
No matter what, every car has it's issues, so relying on google is not always a good thing. Yes, it's good to see what others have to say about the vehicle, but keep in mind that every vehicle is different and you should judge the vehicle by what you see cosmetically/mechanically.
It's not a dealer's intention to sell you a lemon, they wouldn't last very long if they did so purposely. It is however a part of the business and that's the risk you take buying a used vehicle. S*** happens!

What makes the difference is how far a dealer is willing to go to help you address those issues.
 
Buy used and cheap and learn to fix it yourself. You can get a decent used car for under $3k. Just be prepared to change out anything rubber if high mileage (rubber suspension components, engine mounts).

If you buy something common and reliable (ie Honda or Toyota) they will break less and parts are cheap as hell and easy to find. Rarer European cars are harder to find parts for.

You will probably not have working AC at the price I mentioned, though.
 
2live&ride said:
No matter what, every car has it's issues, so relying on google is not always a good thing. Yes, it's good to see what others have to say about the vehicle, but keep in mind that every vehicle is different and you should judge the vehicle by what you see cosmetically/mechanically.
It's not a dealer's intention to sell you a lemon, they wouldn't last very long if they did so purposely. It is however a part of the business and that's the risk you take buying a used vehicle. S*** happens!

What makes the difference is how far a dealer is willing to go to help you address those issues.
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Ok perhaps I should have been clearer... I was using google as an example though I have found it helpful... I know for example my car is notorious for electrical issues... low and behold I get random internal lights flickering...

I am mearly saying to not rely on just someone elses word but also know more about what it is you are buying. Its like a bike... make sure it suits your needs, make sure it has no recalls or if it does have they been done or is it something you can bring in yourself. (btw that lemon I had... had the worst recall.... brake failure... guess how I found out....also the recall had a deadline on it... which was before I bought it, $1800 later, stupid me should have done my research)

Its a lot of money to just toss in and end up a couple months later cursing your choice.

My research for example is to
A: look up on google... get a basic list of a couple cars I am looking for...
B: compare gas milage, parts and potiential repair costs - is it gonna cost $1000 for new tires for example
C: Look for known issues, recalls etc. Potential issues. Are they issues I can deal with?
D: Talk to car fanatic friends, if I can a couple people who deal/work with cars
E: Talk to my mechanic
F: (used) Look at the car, take it for a drive that includes highway, look for signs of abuse and also ask for any maintance records

If its down to a couple choices on a lot... I skip part A and run thru the rest.
 
Always a gamble in my opinion. You can do all the homework and you still get the short end of the stick.
Can't go wrong with a Corolla, even the odd Civic has a transmission issue.
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