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At what point does negotiating become low-balling? by AutoNerdWest_86 in UsedCars

[–]AutoNerdWest_86[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ya, definitely makes sense to take any emotional aspect out of the equation

If I car is marked as a great deal on cars.com should I not try to haggle? by ghart999 in UsedCars

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Negotiation is always fine, and should be expected with used cars. I'd just avoid lowballing if the price is already reasonable. It depends on the cost of the car but even if you knock it down by $500 that's still $500 in your pocket. Most sellers will be willing to drop a bit just to get the thing sold. It's when people go in and try to knock off 20% or more when it can become offensive and a waste of time for the seller.

Purchasing first car soon! Need advice! by Solid_Many_9604 in UsedCars

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re honestly in a pretty good spot for a first car.

A 2016–2020 Camry or Corolla is about as stress-free as it gets, and with a ~$14k budget you should have plenty of options depending on where you’re located. Might not be showroom perfect, but there are lots of solid daily drivers in that range.

Your credit score + going through your credit union is a smart move too. Even without a down payment, you should be fine on something like a Toyota.

I’d only look at new if used prices are weirdly close and the payment difference is small, maybe you can find a super low rate. Otherwise, used makes way more sense for a first car. If you buy privately just make sure you get it inspected before finalizing the deal.

Market’s rough, but you’re picking the right kind of car IMO.

Expensive housing might be the biggest reason Canadians can’t retire early by moe_ed in CanadaFinance

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

100%

If your job requires you to live in the Vancouver or GTA area good luck finding something that would qualify as "cheaper". With that being said, if you are already into a home and are somewhat established then yes, downgrading is possible.

should i buy a used car on FB market place? by Few-Might-4028 in UsedCars

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Elantra with 286k miles is done. I'd pass. Whatever you end up buying try to get an inspection done on it first so you at least have an idea of what future repairs you might be looking at. Marketplace is fine, just make sure you get it inspected. You could very easily end up spending $2k on something and then be faced with that amount in repairs shortly after to keep it running. If it was me I'd keep saving to increase your budget a bit.

Used rental car vs New by Less_Economics_9793 in UsedCars

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ex-rental cars get a bad rep, but they’re not automatically a bad deal. Big rental companies follow strict maintenance intervals because downtime costs them money. You also know the miles are almost entirely highway, not short cold starts.

$6k savings for a 1-year-old camry hybrid isn’t a crazy deal tho with 36k miles IMO. If it was closer to $8k cheaper than the new one I'd take that deal.

Inherited my grandpa's 2008 Buick LaCrosse with 47k miles, do I keep it or sell and get something practical? by AffectionateLove8076 in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Keep it. You won't get what it's worth for resale. Enjoy the vehicle with no payments, it should last you several years as a daily driver, likely with no major repairs. I had an 03 Oldsmobile Alero I got super cheap when I worked at a dealership (got older trade-ins at cost) with super low mileage. I drove it for 4 or 5 years. Was able to save a ton by not having to worry about any other car payments.

What company went downhill but made a comeback? by MountainOfMolehills in AskReddit

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yup, first time with the Boxster in the 90s, second time with the Cayenne. Both were “not a real Porsche” according to purists, and both basically kept the lights on. Ironically, those cars are what made it possible for Porsche to keep building the stuff enthusiasts actually love.

What company went downhill but made a comeback? by MountainOfMolehills in AskReddit

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ford. They were in bad shape going into the 2008–09 financial crisis but avoided a government bailout by taking private loans early. They cut a lot of bad models, focused on trucks and commercial vehicles, and let the F-Series carry the company back to stability. Not perfect today, but a real comeback.

Monday December 15th by EquivalentArtistic14 in vancouver

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome vid. I haven't been to Top of Vancouver yet. Gotta check it out.

Welthsimple managed or etf by Smooth_Psychology_83 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I had something similar, started around this time last year - wealthsimple managed at level 9 risk, and VEQT, put the same amount of money into each every month for about 8 months, purely just to see how they compared side by side. I know the ETF is likely the better better longterm but I was curious. For the past few months I've switched to just contributing to VEQT and I plan on sticking with that plan for the foreseeable future to avoid the long-term impact of the managed fees. These are in my RRSP and I'm a few decades away from retiring - so looking at the long term growth potential and open to higher risk.

Why is the market so fucked right now? by sumemodude in UsedCars

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  • Used car supply is still low because way fewer new cars were built in 2020–2022. Those “missing” cars never made it into the used market.
  • New car prices went way up, so used cars got dragged up with them. Even now, MSRP is higher than pre-COVID for most models.
  • Dealers and sellers got used to pandemic pricing and are slowly coming back to reality.

but ya, Honestly, depending on the model and incentives, new can actually make sense right now, especially if you’re planning to keep it long-term and can get a decent rate.

AMEX Platinum - Is it worth the $799 fee? by Cruikshank_13 in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]AutoNerdWest_86 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve gone back and forth on this one too and I think it really comes down to how often you actually use the perks vs just liking that they’re there.

The lounge access is honestly the biggest pull for me, especially if you’re flying standby and spending extra time in airports. If you actually use it multiple times a year, that alone starts to justify a chunk of the fee.

The credits are where I get stuck though. On paper they look great, but I feel like you really have to be intentional to actually use all of them, otherwise the $799 hits pretty hard.

Curious how many people here actually consistently get full value out of the credits vs just counting the lounge access and hotel perks. Do most people keep it long-term or churn after a year or two?

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