Well I have just recently joined the world of motorists... in style! (a quick apology to Mother Earth, I am sorry, but I regret nothing!)
I had a great experience buying my car, and driving my car is a wonderful experience but the one thing I lacked, ironically, was experience in buying a car (wow quite a mix of verb tenses there!).
So 5 months ago, sometime before the Xmas holidays, I decided to that I was going to fulfill my childhood dream to own my very own Bavarian Motor Werks vehicle... so I took my single-minded nature (thank you Babca for that!), put my down and started learning everything about how to buy a used car, and everything I could about the brand and model of the used car of my affection.
Here is what I learned and what I think you should know when buying a car: TREAT IT AS THOUGH YOU WERE BUYING A HOUSE
You have to know going in that the perfect car or house speaks first to your heart, but sooner or later it has to satisfy your head!
Here is a list of things I did when buying my car:
1. Visit: www.edmunds.com and www.usedcartips.org
2. Read everything there!
2.1 Definitely read: Confessions of a Car Salesman (http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/page003.html)
3. The 2 best car search web sites (in my opinion):
www.auto123.com
www.kijiji.com
www.lespac.com
4. Search often to get an idea of what you're looking for is going for.
5. DO YOUR MATH!! It's amazing how often you see a weekly or monthly payment option and you end up paying way too much!!
6. Talk to your bank and one other about loans
7. Talk to at least 2 or 3 insurance companys
8. If at all possible, when you finally decide to test drive a car, bring someone with you... I was amazed at how un-level-headed I got once I got behind the wheel...
9. Get any car you are very interested in Inspected (in Quebec Canada visit: http://www.caaquebec.com/Automobile/InspectionEvaluationVehicules/Centre-Verification-Technique.htm?lang=en)
Trust me, even if the car is tip top (like mine was) it is worth the peace of mind, and trust me, you will be able to use the results to negotiate a couple of hundred bucks off, not to mention when you take it to the garage you know exactly what needs to worked on (if you decide to buy it, of course).
10. Knowing the history of the car is the basis of trust... if you doubt what the person selling you car is telling you, walk away.
Well, I guess that's it. Nearly six months of work summed up in a few short paragraphs...
Here are some other sites you might find useful:
GD Auto - Marc Marc Beaudoin perhaps the most trustworthy used car salesman on the planet: www.autogd.ca
Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels: www.tirerack.com
CARFAX Record Check: www.carfax.com
Car Financing Tips, How to Avoid Being Ripped-Off
Cost of the Registration for the Current Year | Vehicle Registration | SAAQ:
Finding a great Garage is sooooo hard... not anymore, I found it and here it is:
Adriatique Auto
3300 Jean Talon Ouest
Montreal, Quebec
(514) 278-9129
www.adriatique.com
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Accountability
You know it's funny, the bottom line to business comes down to accounting, but rarely accountability. As an artist, I had a stereotypical distrust of large institutions... anything that treated you more like a number than a human being.
Large, faceless and uncaring is a pretty scary combination. Perhaps the greatest difference between a human being and a corporate entity (of any kind) is that we are all held accountable for our actions (by our friends, family, employers, and those large insitutions... you name it!).
Being human is all about fucking up (boy howdy), learning from your mistakes and trying not to make them again (a quick note on pride, which I have been trying to eliminate from my life: pride gets in the way of accepting your fuck ups, and is great at helping you perpetuate them)... or at least making each instance a little less intense until one day they are no longer part of your repertoire.
The thing with AIG and the bailout bonuses I find disturbing isn't so much that they used bailout money to pay out bonuses... but that a company that so mismanaged its business that it required government help to stay afloat, feels that bonuses, of any kind, are in order.
It reminds me of my University Days (which were some of the greatest days in my little life) where I was introduced to the concept of tenure. I had some great teachers, but they were so rarely tenured. The University would ask us to evaluate our teachers, (uh sorry, professors), but it was generally accepted that nothing would ever be done if they were tenured... an exercise in futility that was further propagated by the fact you could never choose your professor, only your course and time slot... no chance his or her reputation would affect his or her having a class to teach.
There is an art to business and to everything, and there are many wonderful corporations out there, some very incredible teachers and civil servants... and they all have one great thing in common... they care enough to be accountable.
It's OK to mess up, you are not alone... in fact, once you admit your messes you'll find others who will joyfully help you clean them up!
Large, faceless and uncaring is a pretty scary combination. Perhaps the greatest difference between a human being and a corporate entity (of any kind) is that we are all held accountable for our actions (by our friends, family, employers, and those large insitutions... you name it!).
Being human is all about fucking up (boy howdy), learning from your mistakes and trying not to make them again (a quick note on pride, which I have been trying to eliminate from my life: pride gets in the way of accepting your fuck ups, and is great at helping you perpetuate them)... or at least making each instance a little less intense until one day they are no longer part of your repertoire.
The thing with AIG and the bailout bonuses I find disturbing isn't so much that they used bailout money to pay out bonuses... but that a company that so mismanaged its business that it required government help to stay afloat, feels that bonuses, of any kind, are in order.
It reminds me of my University Days (which were some of the greatest days in my little life) where I was introduced to the concept of tenure. I had some great teachers, but they were so rarely tenured. The University would ask us to evaluate our teachers, (uh sorry, professors), but it was generally accepted that nothing would ever be done if they were tenured... an exercise in futility that was further propagated by the fact you could never choose your professor, only your course and time slot... no chance his or her reputation would affect his or her having a class to teach.
There is an art to business and to everything, and there are many wonderful corporations out there, some very incredible teachers and civil servants... and they all have one great thing in common... they care enough to be accountable.
It's OK to mess up, you are not alone... in fact, once you admit your messes you'll find others who will joyfully help you clean them up!
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