Just the facts, please
There are thousands of vehicles to choose from - so how do you create a shortlist of just three or four top candidates? The answer is research, research and more research. Here we'll take you through the various reputable sources available to you.
Your local newspapers, Consumer Reports and automotive magazines carry regular reviews and comparative material. They provide facts and figures, as well as expert commentary based on test drive experiences. Popular publications include: Carguide, Car and Driver, World of Wheels and Road & Track.
Web Sites
Automotive Web sites generally break down into three categories: government, manufacturers and third-party sites.
- Government Sites - Transport Canada's Road Safety site offers great resource material while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration site, an American source, includes a wealth of car safety, test result and recall information.
- Manufacturers' Sites - These sites allow you to see detailed specifications on individual cars, warranties, special offers and incentive programs. For example, on gm.ca you can view several vehicles at once in the Vehicle Showroom and at any time you can delve further into each model for more information.
- Third-party Sites - More popular than ever, these sites promise objective, unbiased reviews and comparisons of vehicles. However, this may not always be the case. Be sure to check where the information is coming from. Here are a few sites we found to be useful: canadiandriver.ca, wheels.ca and thecarmagazine.com.
Automobile Associations
The Canadian Automobile Association offers members a range of products and services, including its annual car-buying publication, Autopinion. The Automobile Protection Association is a non-profit auto industry watchdog. Their objectives are to work for improved legislation, industry sales practices and automobile safety. They also provide a variety of services for members.
Auto Shows
Besides the glitz, glamour and giveaways; nothing beats an auto show for seeing all your options under one roof. It's a great way to see the vehicles up close when you're not yet ready to see a dealer.
To help you start comparing some of the vehicles you're interested in, download our New Car Comparison PDF. Just print it out and carry it with you while you research and compare individual vehicles. If you're interested in seeing several GM vehicles side-by-side, visit our GM Vehicle Comparison Tool.
