Fear and loathing in the new car market

Lorraine Sommerfeld

COLUMNIST

I dread buying cars.

Am I allowed to admit that? I find it onerous and overwhelming and hostile. Next to a house, a car is probably the biggest purchase most of us make, and we have to do it over and over. Which is probably why I have leased my last two vehicles – it's the equivalent of renting. It's also expensive and I'm sure my father is spinning in his grave at my reckless waste of money. Sorry, Dad.

I dread car ads. I still convert the temperature to Fahrenheit in my head, by doubling the number and adding 30. I do the same with car prices boasted in ads. When my son tells me he could be driving a new car for $199 a month, I chuckle gently and take him by the hand and lead him to the Forest of Fine Print.

But I've reached a point in my life where purchasing makes more financial sense, so I've had to put serious thought into a decision I will actually have to live with for more than four years. I swore that when the baby was old enough, I was ditching the minivans. The baby will be 16 this summer, which reminds me that I'll have a new configuration – the baby will be driving whatever ends up in the driveway.

It seems like you go from booster seat to G1 licence in a nanosecond.

I want smaller. I also still plan on inviting my sons to the cottage with us – occasionally – and both cats still have a lot of mileage left on them. Their cages must fit. My work commute to the kitchen keeps the mileage down, which is making me lean toward a used car. Why not let someone else take the depreciation hit that I've been taking all these years?

We lucked out two years back with a low-mileage, barely driven, single-owner car. I don't expect lightning to strike twice. While I know dealers make a larger margin on used cars than they do on new, that also means a wider margin to dicker within. I'm leery enough to spot a curbsider, and while I'm not picky about things like colour, I'd never buy a smoker's car. Ever.

There's this belief that automotive journalists have insider knowledge that enables us to buy the absolute best cars. This is not true. We make as many boneheaded mistakes as anyone else. There's also the belief that we get free cars. This is also not true. Being plunked in the seat of a car worth more than I make in a year is a short-lived dream – and like any great dream, you wake up with a fading little smile on your face as you realize the reality is about to shatter when you go out to the driveway.

We acquire cars the same way as anyone else: maybe we buy out a family member's lease; maybe we lose a parent and inherit a car. Whenever you see someone under 45 driving a Buick, you should just say you're sorry for their recent loss. Most of us enter the decision like you do: lots of research, talks with the loan officer at the bank, and not a little trepidation when we finally sign that contract.

I can pore over recall notices and read up on reviews. I can ask friends and family. But I can also ask you. What have you owned for two or three years that you still love? What vehicle has made you glad you purchased it, and what manufacturer has gained your loyalty?

Lorraine Sommerfeld's column appears Saturdays in Wheels and Mondays in the Star's Living section.

www.lorraineonline.ca

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