Moving to canada. Does shedding work?

Moving to canada. Does shedding work?

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matthias73

Original Poster:

2,883 posts

151 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
quotequote all
Hey guys! Im in the fortunate position to be moving to canada for a ski season, and possibly for up to two years if I feel like it.

Whilst I wont be in dire need of a car per se, I wouldnt mind having one.

Now, in the UK you can buy a top shed for a thousand pounds, due to low used car residuals. Whats the deal in canada? Can you buy decent cars for relatively little money like you can here? I quite fancy the idea of knocking about in a cheap old truck.

Also, would insurance be crippling for a twenty year old with a british lisence?


GavinPearson

5,715 posts

252 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
quotequote all
I think you'll be horrified by just how pricey vehicles are in the US & Canada.

The best way to gauge this is to log onto craigslist.com & look at the city / area you'll be based at and that will tell you what you can get for your money.

Failing that try kijiji.com or ebay.

Insurance is pretty expensive. Another potential issue might be your lack of Canadian driving licence.

thegreenhell

15,407 posts

220 months

Saturday 29th September 2012
quotequote all
Cars and car insurance are generally more expensive here, especially for anything imported. You may well get an old truck for not too much, but beware that there is no such thing as a compulsory MOT check here, and people tend to run vehicles into the ground. You may be horrified at some of the 'sheds' you see driving around legally.

Also, if you want to buy a car you will almost certainly need to obtain a Canadian driver's licence. You can exchange your UK licence without having to take a test, other than possibly an eyesight test, but you will have to surrender your UK licence for this. If you have any proof of UK NCB then some brokers will apply that to your Canadian insurance.

Take a look at kijiji.ca and autotrader.ca for examples of cars for sale, and kanetix.ca to get an idea of insurance premiums.

matthias73

Original Poster:

2,883 posts

151 months

Sunday 30th September 2012
quotequote all
Good god. I might stick to renting a ford mustang when then need arises instead!

Carfiend

3,186 posts

210 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
Yeah shedding doesn't work in North America at all. I am moving out to Boston a week Saturday and will be hiring a car until I get an expat lease sorted out.

Guess it is a passable excuse to get a new car.

thegreenhell

15,407 posts

220 months

Monday 1st October 2012
quotequote all
matthias73 said:
Also, would insurance be crippling for a twenty year old with a british lisence?
matthias73 said:
Good god. I might stick to renting a ford mustang when then need arises instead!
And you might find there are age restrictions for renting anything interesting, usually over 25.

matthias73

Original Poster:

2,883 posts

151 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
I've managed to hire a mustang twice before, I'm sure I can manage!

If not, I'l be riding a bear around town.

Carfiend

3,186 posts

210 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all


Not sure how this will help.

croyde

22,973 posts

231 months

Tuesday 2nd October 2012
quotequote all
I have been idly looking at early 2000s Crown Vics here in the UK and a quick look on the US eBay site shows loads for very little money. I always thought that secondhand and new cars are loads cheaper in the States.

GavinPearson

5,715 posts

252 months

Wednesday 3rd October 2012
quotequote all
In general, US secondhand car prices are very high. The Crown Vic tends to be an exception primarily because the bulk of the vehicles are Police specification - vinyl seats, rubber floor covering, numerous holes drilled for aerials and other Police equipment. The majority of US taxis seem to be ex-Police Crown Vics and Impalas.

Famous Graham

26,553 posts

226 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
GavinPearson said:
In general, US secondhand car prices are very high. The Crown Vic tends to be an exception primarily because the bulk of the vehicles are Police specification - vinyl seats, rubber floor covering, numerous holes drilled for aerials and other Police equipment. The majority of US taxis seem to be ex-Police Crown Vics and Impalas.
And some other holes not quite so deliberately made biggrin

GavinPearson

5,715 posts

252 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Famous Graham said:
GavinPearson said:
In general, US secondhand car prices are very high. The Crown Vic tends to be an exception primarily because the bulk of the vehicles are Police specification - vinyl seats, rubber floor covering, numerous holes drilled for aerials and other Police equipment. The majority of US taxis seem to be ex-Police Crown Vics and Impalas.
And some other holes not quite so deliberately made biggrin
Good job that many Police depts order the ballistic protection package.

matthias73

Original Poster:

2,883 posts

151 months

Friday 5th October 2012
quotequote all
Found some reasonably priced stuff in vancouver, where I'm going. Might look into it further. If I plan on staying a bit longer, I will buy an old volvo turbo. If not, my uncle has all sorts I can borrow should I want to go on a roadtrip.

matthias73

Original Poster:

2,883 posts

151 months

GavinPearson

5,715 posts

252 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
CDN $1500 for a 1991 Volvo 940 with 288,000 kms. If I was based in a ski resort with the usual walkability and good public transport there then quite honestly I'd pass.

sawman

4,920 posts

231 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
matthias73 said:
I think I would do without, tbh, have you looked at the cost of insurance yet?

You would be better renting when you need to go anywhere that you cant get to on the bus

matthias73

Original Poster:

2,883 posts

151 months

Saturday 6th October 2012
quotequote all
Point taken. Not going to get a car.

I've spoken to my uncle and he still has his old volvo I can borrow whenever I'm visiting them, which is nice. He also has an F250, which he is fine with me using should I be in a fix.

I know I'm going to miss my 3 series though frown

OLDS

143 posts

153 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Isn't there such thing as an international license?

RDMcG

19,189 posts

208 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
OLDS said:
Isn't there such thing as an international license?
Its a supplementary licence that requires you to have your domestic licence but does not replace it. Would nto wok for the purpose stated by the OP.


downthepub

1,373 posts

207 months

Sunday 7th October 2012
quotequote all
Can dependent on province, but you are supposed to have an international license as a foreign national if you are in Canada for any length of time. However, I was in Alberta for a year just on my standard UK license, all rental companies and cops (my wife was rear-ended 7 months in, damage was bad enough that a police report was needed) were happy with that.