Advertisement photo of what would become my new wheels!

Well, I bought my first car yesterday, after weeks of research and phone calls. I learned this week that knowledge truly is power. I went from “being pretty sure I wanted an old Honda Civic” to saying

I’ll take a 2004 or 2005 Civic, or a Toyota Corolla or Hyundai Elantra between 2004-2006. They must have a manual transmission (preference), cruise (needed for Western Canadian highways, trust me), a/c, under 150,000 kms, have never been in any accidents at all and cost less than $12,500.

…and being able to explain why I made these choices.

I learned that the best value in vehicles lies in use between 5 years old and 10 years old. I looked up many makes and models, and for various reasons, the Civic, Corolla and Elantra have the best bang for your buck. In this, I factor in depreciation, maintenance, reliability and initial cost. I learned that AutoTrader was sketchy at best, and that Kijiji was my best friend. I learned to avoid 2006 Civics, because it’s the first model year of the new generation. That means there are still many kinks to work out. Not surprising, there are many 2006 Civics on the market as we speak.

You see, when I’m spending this kind of coin, I don’t screw around. I went from knowing very little about how to purchase a new or used vehicle to being able to kick ass at the dealership. I recognized and discovered so many traps that dealers set in order to take my money. It’s a good thing I was in Punta Cana a few weeks ago – the vendors there hardened me for what was to come.

I narrowed it down to 6 cars on Kijiji between Edmonton and Calgary, plus getting quotes for new cars at dealerships. I personally didn’t want a brand new car, but was somewhat coaxed in taking a look into it, given that 0% financing on a new car is much better than what my bank is killing me with for my current loan. But new cars are way overpriced, plus I had to pay GST at the dealership, as opposed to only PST in a private sale, which happens to be 0% in Alberta.

In the end, I went for my first choice out of the private sellers: a 2006 Corolla S, absolutely loaded, with, get this, only 24,500 km on the odometer. I learned to check the CARFAX of all private sale cars. to make sure nobody wrote it off in the past, or played with the odometer. The CARFAX came out clean. I asked the seller if it was worth my time to go if my bottom line was $1000 less than his asking price. He agreed and we met. I did everything The Internet told me to: how to check the body, signs of covering up damage, asking all the right questions to the seller, gauging their response. Test drove it, actually knowing what I’m looking to feel/see/hear. Took it to Canadian Tire for a pre-purchase inspection, offered $250 less than my stated max. He took it.

Just before I paid for the car, one of the Toyota dealers here gave me a call back. I told him what I was about to buy and what I was going to pay for it, and asked if he could beat it, which I knew he couldn’t. He said he didn’t trust my private sale car, and paid for a CARFAX of his own. He then made me a decent offer, because we learned that the CARFAX check showed my prospect car as having impeccable history. So buddy offers me this: (http://sherwoodparktoyota.com/vehicles/?action=pre) 2007 Corolla. Normally it goes for $18,000, and he offered me to take it for $13,500+tax+fees. Quite the drop, eh? Makes it good to know for the future… Regardless, I went for the private sale for four reasons: 1) it was initially cheaper 2) Even with financing, I’d have wound up paying more because I am first taxed 7% GST at a dealer, and then I’d have been paying 5.75% in financing…I’d have paid interest on tax! 3) there are 50,000 fewer kilometers on my 2006, 4) the  dealer’s car was an automatic.

It was a no-brainer. It also shows that the car I bought could fetch around $18k if a dealer were selling it. All that time I spent learning about Elantras, Civics and Corollas really gave me a boost in confidence in dealing with dealers. I mean, I got a guy to drop his price by $5000 over the phone! Being a specific about what I wanted, I was confident in saying “no” often.

When they didnt have what I wanted on the lot right there, they’d say: “So, would you like to take a walk around to find another vehicle you may like?”

“Nope. not really. You know what I’m looking for. I’m sure you can check your inventory and those of nearby Hyundai dealers. It’s far too cold outside!” Also knowing the fact that I can’t exactly see whats inside the car by looking at it from the outside, other than the color and transmission.

or they’d say something like: “Why would you buy used when you have the assured safety of a warranty with a brand new vehicle? What if the transmission of a used car with no more warranty went out on you?”

“I would HOPE to not need to use that warranty in the first few years of the car’s life. Are you saying that after 5-6 years, the transmission will go out on me if I buy your new car?”

“No! No! Not a Hyundai, but the others!”

“Let me get this straight, you’re telling me that a Honda Civic, or Toyota Corolla has a greater chance than your car at having a faulty transmission? With respect, sir, I don’t believe that.”

I also learned that being vague for budget and payments really worked in my favor. Telling them I could pay cash upfront for any used car, or that I’d choose 0% financing for a brand new car, tipped things my way. Telling them it depended on the year and mileage, my budget was flexible, but that I was only paying what I thought it was worth. It didn’t take me long to get them speaking in “price on the road” instead of “price per month”. Thus avoiding the situation: “In total, you car will be $19,300, which makes your payments at $439.54 per month for 48 months.” (That actually comes to $21,097.92.)

Anyway. I learned that doing my research has probably saved me between $5000 and $8000. Even though I went for a private sale, learning to tame a car dealer is probably what I’m most proud of. It was a fantastic experience and I wish everyone could experience it..

Until I complete my move to the other end of the country, I will not be posting. It has been a stressful past month, and I have been away from my apartment most of the time. I think I’ve slept in my own bed a total of 9 times in the past four weeks. Moving away indefinitely brings a need to check in with every family member on each side of the family. Not to mention that I had to pack up all my stuff, so the movers can make quick work of it all as they lug it all away.

Oh, and I’m going to the Dominican Republic tomorrow. I intend to continue my internet hiatus until that week is over.

PS: A collective “Fuck you” to: CNN, Karl Rove & Rudy Guliani, Fox News, Stephen Harper and the city of Vancouver

I hope everyone had a great holiday, and that tonight brings much mirth and merriment to all. I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and just need to write stuff off. Don’t mind me.

On my mind is my move to Edmonton with Heidi, my family and my father’s deteriorating health. I wonder whether or not I’m going to be happy as an engineer and where I wish to travel. I am starting to think American authorities are absolutely ridiculous in its handling of this recent “terrorist” attack. I think terrorists have essentially won…by facilitating the crippling of our economies and civil rights.

I saw Avatar, and enjoyed the theme of the story, but I’ll let PZ Myers speak of what annoyed me, the predictability and dullness of the plot:

There are good guys and bad guys, and the good guys are really, really good, and the bad guys are really, really bad. Like straight from the associate of arts degree program at the local Cartoon Villain College. When there’s nothing else to do, they blow things up that gain them nothing but universal loathing. They also have standard cartoon villain military tactics, which usually involves sending in swarms of moronic foot soldiers to accompany their high-tech airborne missile platforms and act as targets for the defenders.

That, and making scientists look like social incompetents.

Today was one of my last days of hanging out with my little brother. I’m incredibly glad I signed up for Big Brothers, Big Sisters. There’s no tax deduction, but I think it’s the furthest you can take a donation…one of your personal time.

I get frustrated at the Olympics, I think it’s a waste of money. So do people who believe that climate change is some hoax, and that pharmaceutical companies are injecting nanochips in my blood via the H1N1 vaccine. The latter two I would love to slap across the head very hard.

Now I’m questionning my job as an engineer…building refineries in Northern Alberta…all for the glory that is ca$h.

Be safe tonight, kids. Happy new year!

This man has had an incredible impact on how we view the potential of the human brain. He would read up to 8 books a day, committing every bit of information to memory. He’d read the left page with the left eye, and the right page with the right eye. Not to mention an opening up to the incredibly complex world of autism.

First, we need some context, which is funny:

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For for this to be hilarious, just add Usher.

I can’t stop laughing!

Keep in my mind that unlike Australians, we won’t be sipping white wine in the sun. However it’s easy to overlook this, given the meaning of the song.

Happy and safe holidays, everyone.

I received a phone call earlier this evening pertaining to my job application with Kiewit in Calgary. I received an offer, and I start whenever I want. I get to choose between Calgary and Edmonton with moving expenses paid. For the first time of my life, I’m considering purchasing a vehicle. I’m thinking about finally being able to pay off my debt. How much I’ll miss my family, not to mention pets.

I was told by the recruiter to take a vacation between before I start work. Therefore, I think Heidi and I are going to spend a week somewhere near the equator, and then maybe making a detour to NYC, before I move away in February. She’ll join me about a month or two later. This company has a reputation for being demanding of its employees, and it’ll be a good idea to relax a bit.

Speaking of relaxing…I can’t sleep for the life of me.

My family has pretty much always been in support of Western military. My father’s father served in the end of WWII, my mother’s father was in the army. My father was absolutely fascinated with fighter jets, and regularly took me to airshows. I was dead-set on becoming a fighter pilot until age 14, when I discovered I needed glasses. My dream was, in essense, shot down (pun intended).

I was always told by my father and CNN that Israel always has to defend itself against people who just hated them for no reason. When 9/11 happened, I was pretty sure I was still going to join the Air Force. I got my glider pilot’s license the next summer, and my private pilot’s license the summer before 12th grade. I was not uncommon for my father to have a military themed wallpaper on his office desktop background.

This is a tomahawk cruise missile warhead delivery system being launched from a naval vessel. It can deliver over 1,000 lbs of explosive over 2,500 kilometers. I’d see things like this on Extreme Machines and love it. I can just picture the narrator saying something along the lines of “With technology like this, the bad guy doesn’t even have a chance to fire a single bullet.”.

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Nowaways, my perspective is a little different. I see Israel as a bully, I question our involvement in Afghanistan, supporting a false government, when only about 100 taliban are actually in the country (they’re all in Pakistan now). I can understand if we’re making money off of their drugs, which is what it seems. Funny they don’t tell you that Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, is the brother of a major drug lord. It’s also funny that the Allies only burn southern opium crops, not northern ones.

I see this senseless violence, and greed that is to a level no different than telecommunications companies screwing over the public, or ticketmaster charging you $25 in “convenience fees” per event ticket, and wonder where we’ve gone wrong. We’re all just greedy motherfuckers, it seems.

Now when I look at a photo of a tomahawk cruise missile, I see the real result:

This child was at a distance from the target. I think its safe to guess that whoever was in the blast radius could now only be poured into a vial. This shit happens nearly daily in Iraq. How about if one cruise missile were to hit a rural community in Pennsylvania?  It would be a massive tragedy. Hit a few brown people in the desert? Meh.

Let’s pretend that is a photo of a child in Canada who died at the hands of, say, the Chinese. Would they be winning our hearts & minds, or would we sign up to kill those invaders at any cost?

My point? I do not believe that our tactics are helping us at all in reducing the threat of terrorism.

Science just asks for your eyes.

Watch my girlfriend kill this poor soul with one of her typical volleyball spikes.

…Fear her.