#12 Gas Card

With everyone reeling over the high price of gas, a gift card for fuel purchases makes a practical present. Better yet, with a gift card you can spend as little or as much as you want.

#11 GPS

A portable GPS (Global Positioning System) device is great for anyone. Starting at about $175, they’re more affordable than ever, and they don’t require an additional subscription fee. If possible, wait for a sale so that you can get the most features for your money. I’d recommend looking for a model which articulates the specific street name, rather than just instructing the driver to turn in so-many meters.

#10 Cleaning Services

Everyone loves a clean vehicle. So treat them to a gift certificate for a local automotive detailer. Or you may decide to take the vehicle to the cleaner’s yourself. A basic cleaning starts at about $40.

#9 Genuine Accessories

If your intended recipient has a fairly new vehicle, then its likely that accessories should be in good supply from the manufacturer. Accessories are post-purchase add-ons that are installed in/on the vehicle, like a backup camera, shift-knobs and interior accents, DVD players, truck bed covers and liners, cargo containers and exterior racks, various lifestyle-oriented accessories and so on. The array of available accessories is usually catalogued online. But remember that you will need to know the specific make, model, year and often even the trim level of the vehicle to guarantee that accessories will properly fit and coordinate with the vehicle. To be sure your purchase is correct, consult with the parts department at that brand’s local auto dealer. They are in the best position to advise you about your options. Depending on the type of accessory, you may also want to arrange to have it professionally installed. Accessories start at about $30 and can run into the hundreds. But a well-chosen accessory can add so much to a vehicle. Someone gave me a chrome exhaust tip recently and I just love it! It sets off my vehicle beautifully.

#8 Take a Drive Together

It doesn’t have to be extravagant; just share the experience. If the auto enthusiast in your life loves to take a drive, why not choose a destination that is a reasonable drive away, plan a route and hit the road together? Depending on the choices you make, the drive can be exhilarating or calming. You might use the vehicle he loves to drive every day, or rent a vehicle he’d never otherwise get the chance to try.

#7 Wheels & Snow Tires

No matter how great a vehicle is, it’s the tires that actually make the contact with the road. So replacing worn tires with a good quality set is vital to safe driving. Add to it that Canadian drivers also need proper snow tires for wintertime. Tires can start at about $60 per wheel. If the tires will be taken on and off (as in the case of snow tires) it is thoughtful to also buy a set of wheels for the tires to be installed on to make swapping easier. Alternatively, for something less practical, a set of upgraded wheels makes an amazing gift.

#6 Cleaning Kit Gift Basket Bucket

For someone who loves to wash their vehicle, (or who needs a little extra inspiration to do so) a collection of brand new cleaning supplies is economical, practical and fun. Cloths and liquids eventually get exhausted, so new is always welcome. For a basic kit, get a deep bucket, soft microfiber wash mit, a genuine leather chamois, and brand name automotive washing soap; or buy a pre-assembled kit. This should cost about $30-$40. Or, you might also like to keep going and add in a tire brush, rim cleaner and brush, polishes and waxes, cleaning cloths for interior and exterior, and so on. Just fill up the bucket with nicely arranged, high quality products and you’re good to go.

#5 Tickets to a Car Show or Motoring Exhibit

With so many local automotive exhibitions throughout the summertime, the Canadian International AutoShow in the wintertime in Toronto, and other great exhibits and museums, why not treat him to a day of it? Check out what’s going on in your locality right now.

#4 Satellite Radio

Satellite radio receivers are often on sale at electronics stores starting at $60. But remember that the user will have to pay an additional monthly subscription fee to actually receive audio content on the device. You can also get bundles combining the price of the subscription with the hardware. Check out the service providers xmradio.ca or sirius.ca to learn more.

#3 Window Tint Film & Installation

Starting under $200, window tint is stylish and efficient at reducing the sun’s effect on the temperature within the vehicle. New vehicles generally come with tint from the factory, but that is often minimal. So re-tinting even a new vehicle is smart. You’ll want to have the film installed professionally, complying with the installers recommendations for a high-quality product and whatever darkening levels are legal in your province. And no matter what, don’t get coloured or mirrored tint if you want the recipient to stay your friend…

#2 Paint Protection Film & Installation

For a new or recently painted vehicle, protecting the exterior surfaces with paint protection film looks good and makes sense. The self-adhesive sheet of durable, clear urethane film can be installed virtually anywhere on the vehicle and will save on repairs due to normal wear-and-tear and stone chips later on. Lower-quality films, which can yellow or crack after longtime exposure to UV rays, have contributed to a bad reputation for this technology as a whole. So for best results, choose the original 3M brand film (which can easily be identified by the 3M logo on the film’s backer paper) and have it professionally installed. I’ve had my last three vehicles protected and wouldn’t think of taking a new vehicle on the road without it. Standard hood protection starting at about $170 installed.

#1 Auto Maker Themed Gifts and Gear

If your automotive enthusiast is also a brand fanatic, you can likely find from the auto maker’s catalogue a simple and fun present suitable for any age. All the major auto makers have an endless bounty of brand-themed boutique-style gifts. These may be mugs and key chains; hats and clothing; coats and luggage; watches and fragrances; and scale vehicle models.

A Word of Caution

Before you “borrow” someone’s vehicle and start making modifications to it, you must be totally confident that it is all right with him. You should also listen to the professionals to ensure that the products are proper for that vehicle and legal in your area. If you cannot be sure, it’s better to present him with an ‘I owe you a…’ card and get the actual work done after it’s been authorized.

What do you think makes a great gift for auto enthusiasts? Any ideas to share?

First Stop: Pay Your Mechanic a Visit

If you are planning a significant trip, it’s a good idea to take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic for a pre-trip inspection well in advance of your departure date. Some service facilities have pre-trip inspection packages. If so, be sure to ask what is included. Typically, this should encompass checking the vehicle’s fluids, belts, hoses, brakes, lights, wipers and tires. Additionally, if your vehicle is soon due for an oil change, it would be a good idea to have this performed before you start your journey.

If you are suspicious or aware of any problems, be sure to specifically explain these to the mechanic. Remember that compared to you, the mechanic is only exposed to your vehicle for a short time. So, much like you would proactively communicate your personal health concerns to your doctor, informing your mechanic of any vehicle trouble is vital to identifying the problem and obtaining the appropriate help. You’re only hurting yourself if you don’t.

But what tasks might you want to handle yourself?

Before the day of departure, remember to:

• check/top-up windshield washer fluid;
• visually inspect wiper blades and replace if necessary;
• get a friend to help you test all of your lights, including each stage of your headlights, the fog lights, all signal lights (including any that may be located on the side or side mirrors) and brake lights (including the auxiliary light located in the rear window or trunk lid);
• check tire pressure in all four tires and the spare and adjust to meet the suggested optimal pressure (usually listed on a label inside the driver’s door); and
• ensure you have a jack, lug wrench and any other equipment needed to change a tire.

When leaving, ensure you have your:

• driver’s license;
• vehicle ownership/registration;
• insurance slips;
• roadside assistance contact information;
• emergency kit;
• spare set of vehicle keys;
• owner’s manual; and
• HerCar.ca Accident Information Worksheet .

Also, perform a final walk-around of the vehicle, making sure that there are no visible issues and that nothing is hanging from or caught underneath the vehicle.

Now You’re Off!

With good preparation, you are on your way to a “worry-free” trip. Of course, for a truly great adventure you’ll need friendly company, happy driving music and a beautiful route.

Wondering where to go? For travel ideas within Canada, check out the following Web sites by region:
Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Or for something totally unique, make the unforgettable journey to the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Where are you going this spring and summer?

Settle In To the Proper Mind-set

Like in all businesses, there are some dealers that are out to make a quick buck. But keep in mind that a reputable auto dealer wants to earn your long-term business — and that of your workmates, friends, relatives and anyone else with which you happen to discuss your purchasing experience. Getting off the warpath is the first step to becoming objective.

Of course, none of us want to be taken advantage of. But we cannot afford to become paranoid either. No matter how well-skilled you may be at negotiating or generally keeping the upper hand, your domination will not make a crooked salesperson into an open and honest one. Besides, buying a vehicle is complicated enough without trying to force a dealer to conform to what you hope them to be. So if you really feel that a dealership won’t treat you fairly or isn’t the kind of atmosphere that makes you comfortable, you should probably try to locate a different dealer – one more closely aligned with your expectations.

Make a List

You can locate a comprehensive list of automotive retailers in your area via the YellowPages.ca . This directory will provide you with an objective list of everyone in business for miles around – not just the dealers who happen to advertise in your local newspaper or who have paid to be included in association listings. Don’t forget to consider dealers that may be a little further away, in outlying areas or small towns. If you have already decided on a specific brand, all the authorized dealers with their contact information can be found by visiting the manufacturer’s Canadian Web site .

7 Ways to Get the Real Story

Ignore the advertising. When you think of buying a vehicle, the names or radio jingles of some local dealers usually come to mind. But remember that a primary goal of advertising is to turn familiarity into trust. Prolific advertising or a familiar name does not necessarily mean that the dealership offers a higher level of customer satisfaction or even that it is more successful than others. It simply means that they have to or want to spend more promoting themselves. So don’t rely just on your memory when thinking of who to visit or whom to trust.

Ask others about their experiences. Talking to a dealer’s customers is (in my opinion) your best means of getting an accurate assessment. If you notice a vehicle with a dealer’s nameplate on it, ask its owner if he would buy there again. Each person’s impression may vary, so try to ask a variety of people and try to determine an overall consistent response. Since some people gauge the success of a purchase by the price alone, make sure you ask them how well they were treated; how knowledgeable, respectful and upfront the sales representative was; and what their post-purchase experiences have been, such as when obtaining service from that dealer.

Find out who operates the dealership. Some dealerships are owned and operated by families who live in your community. With their name on the line, these individuals have a reputation to maintain locally and are likely to care about your feelings toward them and your experience in their dealership. Others are owned by out-of-town auto groups or investors who may have little direct supervision of or connection to the persons hired locally to operate the dealership. Some dealerships have a vigorous turnover of sales staff. So find out how long the dealer has been in business and who owns and operates the store, and get a general feeling about the long-term stability of that company.

Read Better Business Bureau Reports. The BBB can tell you how long a dealer has been in business, what complaints they may have received and how effectively these were resolved. Considering the amount of customers the average dealer has, it will not be uncommon to see some complaints listed. But if there is a significant list of complaints or these are left unresolved, beware!

Check out the dealer’s reputation online. Entering a dealership’s name in a search engine will return results on blogs, forums, and other user-generated sites where the dealer may be mentioned. (But since many dealers have the same or similar names, be careful to ensure that any search occurrences online actually pertain to the dealer you are looking for.)

Visit the dealer’s individual Web site. Make sure you visit the individual dealer’s Web site too. If you don’t know their Web address, you can usually find it in their advertising, in the YellowPages or using an Internet search engine. While you cannot entirely judge a dealership by its Web site, if you can ignore the glitz and stay objective you will definitely get an idea of what’s happening before you ever set foot on the lot. Through their Web site, you should get a sense of their personality and outlook and their level of customer service. Often you can see photos of their store and staff, check out their inventory and see what Service or Collision facilities they offer.

Compare apples to apples. Remember that unless it’s a specific used vehicle, you can get the same vehicle from a wide variety of dealers. Each dealer offers something different from the next – bargain pricing, hometown values, bring the kids, have a latte, and so on. Each flavour should naturally attract a different kind of customer. So try to find the individual dealership that most closely aligns with your purchasing values and aspirations.

Make Your Visit Effective

Hopefully you will have narrowed the list of dealers down to just a few before visiting the actual stores. So when you arrive, be observant about the dealership itself, not just the vehicles.

• Are the grounds tidy and the building clean, showing a pride in ownership and a respect for the customers?
• Are the vehicles on the lot organized?
• Does someone greet you promptly, without being pushy?
• How respectfully are you treated?
• How are other customers in the dealership being treated? Is anyone disgruntled? If you are able, feel free to sit in the showroom or the service waiting area for a little while and observe what’s going on.
• How knowledgeable is the sales representative about the vehicle? the current programs and incentives? the services the dealership offers?
• How well does he or she listen to your needs and requirements before making a recommendation?
• What happens at the conclusion of your visit? Does anyone try to pressure you to make a decision on the spot?
• How does it compare to other dealerships selling the same brand?

In my opinion, good car dealers are honest, friendly, open, knowledgeable and not pushy and they put forth the effort to hire similarly-minded sales staff to represent them. They remember that the impression made on a customer will endure long after they’ve moved on to another vehicle.

What’s your opinion? What makes a car dealer a good one? What do you think is the best criteria for finding a reliable dealer? Whether you are a customer or a dealer, leave a comment and share your thoughts!

Establish a Budget – and Stick To It

I know that financial folks and auto enthusiasts everywhere will say find the car that’s right for you and then find the money to pay for it later. But realistically, in this age of fixed incomes and growing expenses, I say you should set a budget you know you can live with before anything else. Once that’s done, stick to it. Don’t torment yourself (and waste your time) by looking longingly at what you cannot afford.

When setting your budget, though, you need to consider all the factors involved and be a little flexible with where you put your money. For example, setting a budget does not mean deciding ‘I can afford a Ford Focus and nothing more.’ Rather it means, ‘I know that with my income I can only spend so many dollars per month, all-told’. So sit down and calculate. Once you know that figure, good research will help you see how you might partition those funds to obtain the greatest value for your money later on.

When purchasing or leasing a new or certified pre-owned vehicle, remember that taxes, interest and insurance will have to be factored in as part of your monthly expenses. Granted, you do not know all these costs upfront. But as you start to browse for your next vehicle, keep in mind that only a portion of your budgeted funds will be going towards paying the vehicle’s purchase price. If after some preliminary research you realize that you cannot afford a new(er) vehicle right now, then you can readjust your search criteria before you get overly invested in a specific model.

Consider Your Lifestyle

Ask yourself:

• What is my primary reason for obtaining a vehicle?
• Am I doing a long daily commute or am I running about town?
• What are the driver’s needs when using the vehicle and what features will meet these in the best way possible?
• How many people do I need to transport on a regular basis?
• Do my passengers have special needs? For example, will I have babies or young children, elderly or disabled persons travelling with me? What might their needs be for seating, safely travelling in and entering and exiting the vehicle?
• What about my pets? Where will they and their gear travel, and how much space will this require?
• What sort and what size of a cargo area do I need? Must I allow space to address specific needs, such as a baby stroller, commercial or work-related equipment, a wheelchair, or renovation or hobby projects?
• How important is towing, all wheel drive or off-road capabilities?
• What role will fuel consumption or economy play in my decision?
• Where will I park it? If the vehicle is large, will it fit within that space?

Considering these questions may immediately narrow your choice of vehicle type (or class).

Set Your Priorities

In all decisions, some sacrifices and compromises must be expected. You need to decide how far you will go to get what you really want. So, having considered your lifestyle, ask yourself:

• Which vehicle characteristics are absolutely integral to the satisfaction of my key purpose?
• Where am I willing to be flexible or what might I be willing to totally give up if necessary?

Do Research

Now you are ready to start looking purposefully, with needs in hand and wants in check. Remember that nothing is a substitute for good research. To get you started, I’ve already assembled a list of links to the Web sites for each vehicle brand for sale in Canada. Researching online is (I think) the best way to get a no-obligation feel for what’s realistically out there and roughly how much it costs. Doing so will help you to narrow down your search before talking to a salesperson.

Of course, many more decisions will need to be made before you settle on a specific vehicle. But by establishing a budget, evaluating your needs, setting your priorities and doing research, you can save yourself the hassle of aimlessly test-driving vehicles, or worse, purchasing a vehicle which doesn’t suit your circumstances.

What would you add to this article? What process or criteria have you found effective when searching for a vehicle? What further questions do you have on this subject?

If you are interested in learning more about Danica, you may wish to view MSNBC’s news article and video footage. Her official Web site is www.danicaracing.com

Please comment on what you think of it, if you’re using it and of any additions that I might make.

UPDATE: Please note that this form is two pages.

I found that the provincial government’s, collision association’s and insurance companies’ Web sites all had helpful and fairly consistent information. And so for today, I have bumped the topic I planned to write about to share with you a comprehensive summary of my findings.

STEP 1: Stop

If you are involved, you must stop. If you do not, you will be considered legally negligent and a poor human being in general. Force yourself to stay calm. Don’t make accusations or accept any liability for what happened.

STEP 2: Assess the Damage

After you stop, take a minute to assess injuries for yourself and others travelling in your car. If other vehicles are involved, give attention to the people in the other car and the overall safety of the scene. If anyone requires immediate attention, call 911. No matter the damage to property or how upset you may feel, the well-being of all persons involved must always come first. Do not attempt to move injured persons yourself, as this may aggravate their injuries.

Once everyone has been given the proper attention, you should make a quick assessment of the damage to each vehicle involved.

STEP 3: Call the Police

This is the part some people leave out, but it is important to contact the authorities to inform them of what has happened, regardless of the extent of the damage or the circumstances. Why?

First, it is required of you by law to call police (or 911) so they can attend the scene:

• if anyone is injured;
• if the total damage to all the vehicles involved appears to exceed $1000; or
• if you suspect that any of the other drivers involved are guilty of a Criminal Code offence (such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol). Read original source.

Even if neither of the above criteria suits your situation, it is still advisable to call the police’s non-emergency telephone number and await their instructions for many practical reasons. First, the damage value threshold is meant as a guide, not to force average people to make an accurate collision repair assessment on the spot. Generally, if you have more than paint scratches, you’ve probably exceeded the $1000 threshold anyways. Additionally, even if the accident seems minor, this may not be the case. Certain injuries may become apparent later on, the damage to vehicles and property may be more extensive than it first appears, or who was responsible may eventually be debated. Your contacting the police — even if others who are involved try to pressure you not to — will mean you will have done your part to initiate having the incident properly managed and documented. Indeed, unless you are a fugitive on the run, it would be foolish not to involve the police, since they have the authority and experience to tell you what is best to do next and you are no longer going it alone.

Having received your call, they will determine if it is necessary for them to attend the scene, or if they will instead require you to report to a Collision Reporting Centre within 24 hours. Where I live, once the police have documented a collision, they will apply a sticker to the vehicle to prove that the damage has been properly investigated before it is repaired.

STEP 4: Take Action to Stay Safe

Having just come through a collision, you don’t want to cause or end up in another one. If your vehicle can be driven and if it is safe to do so, move your vehicle out of the way of traffic. If your accident occurs on a multi-lane highway, it is safer for you to stay in the vehicle rather than getting out and walking around. For women travelling alone at night or in isolated or unsafe areas, it may be advisable to stay in the vehicle until authorities arrive.

If your vehicle cannot be driven, turn on your hazard lights and/or use cones or warning triangles to try to alert other drivers to your presence well before they come upon the scene. In such cases, be alert to potential risks. When visibility is poor (such as at night, in bad weather, or when your vehicle is over the crest of a hill) or when it may be difficult for other drivers to go around your vehicle (such as when the road is slippery, very busy, has narrow shoulders or is on a bridge) you may have to use your own judgment to decide if you should leave your vehicle to seek safety. If you choose to do this, make sure you remain alert and move as far away from the vehicle and all oncoming traffic as possible.

STEP 5: Obtain and Exchange Information

You will need to record information about the other persons involved, and also provide them with your information. It is a good idea to carry paper (or an accident worksheet) and pen in your automobile for just such an occasion.

Write down about the other driver(s):

• Name
• Address
• Telephone numbers
• Driver’s License Number

Write down about the other vehicle(s):

• License plate number
• Names of the vehicle’s registered owners
• Addresses of the vehicle’s registered owners
• Insurance company and policy number

Write down about any passengers and witnesses:

• Name
• Address
• Telephone numbers

Also, write down any observations or details about the scene of the accident. If you have a digital camera with you and it is safe and tasteful to do so, you may wish to take photos of the scene. However, remember that the police will conduct the real investigation.

STEP 6: Contact Your Insurance Agent

As soon as possible afterward, report the accident to your insurance broker, agent or company.

When it comes to towing your vehicle, there is something of which you should be aware. You have the right to have your vehicle repaired where you want, no matter where your insurance company may prefer or what may seem convenient at the time. Also, you should know that there are unsavory or unlicensed tow truck operators who may seem to “appear” on the scene, pressuring you to tow your vehicle, insisting on a specific repair facility or demanding immediate payment. If you feel uneasy about what is happening, talk to your insurance agent about it or ask the police for the name of an authorized tow truck operator.

Ideally, you will never have a collision. But in case you do, I hope these steps make a traumatic event a little smoother. I think I should also create an emergency kit list and one of those accident information worksheets for you HerCar.ca readers.

Do you think the steps I’ve outlined here are practical? From your own experience, do you have any accident wisdom or blunders from which others could benefit in the future?

If you want to read in-depth about these or other less-common types, this Wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_classification has some more detailed information.

Cars are available in literally every price range from every manufacturer. Often the same car model is available as a coupe (two door) or sedan (four door). Coupes or sedans may be available in hatchback versions (which feature an integrated cargo area with a lift gate) and are sometimes referred to as three door or five door models. Coupes often are styled to subscribe to a younger, sportier aesthetic, while sedans are usually geared more to families.

Sports cars are also engineered primarily with performance in mind. Being less practical (not usually used as a primary vehicle) and more about grabbing attention, usually they have only two seats and lots of sporty styling choices. The sky is the limit when it comes to price, but there are affordable options out there too.

Full-size vans are usually only used for commercial purposes nowadays. But nothing seems to be able to beat a minivan when it comes to practicality and value. Minivans are very versatile, boasting plenty of cargo room and passenger room and (best of all) the ability to reconfigure how much space you want to allow for each of these as your daily needs change. Minivans may seat seven or eight people, or by removing or collapsing the seats that passenger space can be regained for cargo room. Of late, minivans are not as widely produced as they used to be.

SUVs (Sport Utility Vehicles) seem to have become the “cooler” choice. These vehicles combine the passenger/cargo space with off-road and towing abilities. Large and mid-size SUVs have loads of interior space, offering three rows of seating. But for most people, using a large vehicle to runabout town is overkill and so there’s the compact SUV, which usually has five seats.

Pickup trucks may be two door (with space for two or three passengers) or four door (to seat five). Often pickups are available from the manufacturer with different engines, suspension, axle choices and so on, intended for different practical purposes. Pickups can range from the most basic to totally luxurious, but they always have that one definable feature – the open cargo box on the back.

Crossover vehicles are much talked about but hard to define. Essentially, they are vehicles which combine the elements from two or more vehicle types. The term “crossover” typically refers to a vehicle which grabs the styling and cargo space of an SUV but is based on a car’s proportions, making the vehicle lighter, lower to the ground and more fuel-efficient.

But which one is the best for you ? We’ll talk about that in a future post.

In its most basic sense, from a Canadian perspective, a vehicle is considered an import when its manufacturer’s country of origin is outside of North America. Vehicle manufacturers whose birthplace is North America are considered domestic, such as Chrysler, Ford and General Motors.

Imports have long been perceived as being better designed and built, translating to better performance and reliability, superior styling, greater fuel economy, and overall higher resale value than their domestic competitors. But due to import vehicles and their parts traditionally having been designed, built and shipped from overseas, a downside is that they are generally more expensive to purchase, finance, insure and repair.

Conversely, while domestics have often been seen as less reliable and less refined, they have also proven to be less expensive to acquire and insure. Add to this that when the vehicle must be serviced or repaired, the common availability of trained repair professionals and domestically manufactured parts generally make a domestic vehicle cheaper and faster to fix.

So which is better for you? It depends on your perception, purpose and the current realities of the market.

The perceived superiority of one side or another is usually directly related to a person’s demographic, with younger persons enthusiastically embracing stylish imports and the older generation tenaciously clinging to practical and economical domestics. Realistically, the evolution of the global economy means that the traditional definitions and differences are more subjective than ever. Today, auto makers may share technology so that a domestic may contain components based on an import, and vice versa. Several of the widely available imports now manufacture their vehicles in Canada, the United States or Mexico, and may even provide jobs in your community. Many import brands are now owned by domestics, such as is the case with Mazda, Jaguar and Volvo being owned by the Ford Motor Company. This interchange, coupled with a constant need to keep an edge over the competition, has meant good things for the consumer.

For example, for a long time in North America, rural communities and trades people have relied on hardy domestic trucks to get their work done, while professional urban dwellers have viewed imports as a means of communicating their upwardly moving social and economic success. Today, import brands offer solid alternatives to sectors traditionally dominated by domestic brands, such as pickup trucks. On the other hand, domestic brands have shown they are willing to devote more attention to aesthetics, detail and quality. Both camps offer a wide array of models geared to specific lifestyles and purposes, or to appeal to the environmentally or economically conscious buyer.

It may be argued that import vehicles have long held higher consumer satisfaction ratings than their domestic equivalents. And after all, consumer satisfaction is important since you want to be happy with your purchase down the road. Interestingly, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study for 2007 , times are a changing. They say, “For the first time since 1993, Lexus is not alone as the top-ranked nameplate. This year, Buick ties with Lexus as the most dependable nameplate according to survey respondents. Cadillac, Mercury, and Honda round out the top five rank positions, respectively.”

Really, selecting a vehicle today should be more about finding the specific vehicle that suits your lifestyle and budget than being enslaved to a perception that may not even hold true in your case.

If, for example, you were to find two great vehicles – one domestic and one import – which both equally suit you, then careful mathematics are needed to determine which would be the soundest investment, dollar for dollar.

Financial factors for consideration may be:

• projected depreciation over the intended ownership period, and whether the vehicle is being leased or purchased with resale in mind;
• available financing rate and terms;
• insurance costs;
• and service and repair costs after the warranty has finished.

My advice is to get the vehicle that is actually best for you , not one that impresses your neighbours or pleases your workmates. You are the person who has to live with driving it every day and paying for it for the next x-number of years. Think for yourself. If you were to discount a perfectly sound investment in a vehicle you love simply to align yourself with one side or the other, you could really be selling yourself short.

Then again, that’s just my opinion. This is a topic that is widely and hotly debated. Which do you think is the better buy – import or domestic? I encourage you to make a comment.

Below is an alphabetical, comprehensive list of new vehicle makes being sold through authorized dealers in Canada in 2008, with corresponding links to each official Canadian Web site.

Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Kia, Land Rover, Lamborghini, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pontiac, Porsche, Saab, Saturn, Smart, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volvo, and Volkswagen.

The following list shows luxury auto makers having authorized dealers in Canada, but for whom I was not able to locate an exclusively Canadian Web site at the time of this article’s publication.

Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Lotus, Maserati, and Rolls-Royce.

Have I missed any? Be sure to comment and let me know.