The Car Help Podcast

This week we chat with Robert Karbaum from Kijiji Autos about the latest Brand Spark Study. Robert shares the survey results as we discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the car buying behaviour of consumers. We discuss how the pandemic has had an impact on vehicle availability, the way consumers are buying cars, and the timing of when they are buying cars. We also talk about what to watch out for when shopping for a car and how Kijiji Autos has the tools to assist you throughout the process. Finally, we share our thoughts on the new vehicle test drive of the week, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid crossover. 

On this week's car help Q & A we answer various email questions regarding car buying. We talk about the best affordable used cars to consider on a tight budget, whether you can cancel a contract, and we compare some of the best small crossover SUVs. Finally, we share our thoughts on the new vehicle test drive of the week, the 2021 Polestar 1. 

This week we test drive the all-new 2021 Nissan Rogue and speak with Marcel Guay, chief marketing manager for Nissan Canada, about why this is such an important model for the brand. We compare it to popular compact crossover SUVs in the segment and discuss the major highlights. We also talk about a few new models on the horizon and the new Nissan Studio which as a new way to see and explore the model lineup. Finally, we share our thoughts on the new vehicle test drive of the week, the Mini Cooper SE electric. 

This week we have Terry O'Keefe from OMVIC joining us to talk about all-in price advertising. We talk about what all-in price advertising means, what it includes, and why it is so important that dealerships in Ontario honour it when you shop for a car. We tell you what to watch out for during your dealership shopping experience and how to protect yourself from overpaying for your next vehicle. Finally, we share our thoughts on the new vehicle test drive of the week, the all-electric 2020 Mini Cooper SE. 

On this week's car help Q & A we answer various email questions regarding car buying. We talk about how to negotiate a fair deal with a dealership, whether you can cancel a contract, and whether it makes sense to buy a lightly used car versus a new car. Finally, we share our thoughts on the new vehicle test drive of the week, the 2020 Buick Encore GX. 

This week we speak with Farid Kanji about the importance of winter tires. We talk about the safety benefits that winter tires offer and why they are a must for Canadaian winters. We also talk about the differences between winter tires and all weather tires, and why all-wheel drive is not a substitute for having proper winter rubber on your car. Finally, we share our thoughts on the new vehicle test drive of the week, the 2020 Nissan Sentra. 

This week we have Farid Kanji from Farid's Auto Centre joining us to talk about extended warranties. We talk about whether or not you should consider purchasing an extended warranty plan as part of your car purchase. We go through the different type of warranty plans that exist and what to watch out for when evaluating the different options. If you have any uncertainty about extended warranties, this is the epsiode for you. We also share our thoughts on the new vehicle test drive of the week, the 2021 Kia Seltos. 

This week we have Kevin Bavalaar from Auto Showplace joining us to share some valuable car buying tips. We talk about how to select the right car for your needs and what to do when researching your next car purchase. We talk about what to look for in a dealership, how to contact them, and how to close the deal properly to achieve the best deal. Finally, we share our thoughts on the new vehicle test drive of the week, the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

This week we have Kevin Bavelaar from Auto Showplace joining us to talk about dealership myths and facts. We discuss some of the most common misconcenptions and facts about dealerships. Do dealerships make thousands on every sale? Is the end of the month the best time to get a deal? Is cash the best way to get the lowest price? We answer these and many more questions. We also share our thoughts on the new vehicle test drive of the week, the 2020 Porsche Cayenne Coupe. 

On this week's car help Q & A we answer various email questions regarding car buying. We talk about whether you can negotiate the price at a no-haggle dealership, whether you can get a discount on high demand models, whether private sales are a good way to save money when buying used, and when is the best time of the year to shop for a new car. Finally, we compare two hybrid crossover SUVs to see which one is best, the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid.