Buy a new 2021 Chevy in Toronto
May 13, 2022 7:25 AM   Subscribe

My mom asked me to help her buy a new 2021 Chevy in Toronto or GTA, possibly electric. My attempts to locate such a car on the web have failed. How do I find a dealer with a 2021 new car in stock and get it cheap? She would definitely need to test drive the model, to make sure she can steer it (this is the problem with her current car...the steering is so heavy that it aggravates her RA).
posted by If only I had a penguin... to Shopping (9 answers total)
 
Unless a dealer gives you good money on the old car in trade, you won’t get anything cheap. Cars, especially electrics, are in tight supply and selling as fast as they get them.

As for her current car...Have you had the steering system checked? No modern car should have steering that heavy. They’re all power-assisted. You might have a bad power steering pump. If she otherwise likes the car, it might be worthwhile (and much more affordable) to get it looked at.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:10 AM on May 13, 2022 [5 favorites]


Do you mean 2022 or are you hoping to buy last year's model? I've been car shopping online recently and am starting to see 2023 models being advertised, and with the current hot market for cars, I don't imagine there's much if any 2021 stock left out there.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:11 AM on May 13, 2022


Start by finding out which models you want, then get the list of dealers for Toronto - and call them. Don't email, or browse their websites - call them.

As for getting it cheap - you want it new, so... there may be room for negotiation - but it won't be cheap - especially not if someone savvy isn't there in-person to do the negotiating.
posted by rozcakj at 8:12 AM on May 13, 2022 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: As for her current car...Have you had the steering system checked? No modern car should have steering that heavy. They’re all power-assisted. You might have a bad power steering pump. If she otherwise likes the car, it might be worthwhile (and much more affordable) to get it looked at.

She did. They say there's nothing wrong with it.

Do you mean 2022 or are you hoping to buy last year's model? I've been car shopping online recently and am starting to see 2023 models being advertised, and with the current hot market for cars, I don't imagine there's much if any 2021 stock left out there.

Yes, she's hoping to get a 2021 as last year's model.
posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:52 AM on May 13, 2022


Have you considered a steering wheel knob? They give better leverage for folks with stiff hands or weak arms. Cheaper and less hassle than a new car!
posted by olopua at 9:01 AM on May 13, 2022 [1 favorite]


Wheel knobs are often illegal on anything other than farm equipment.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:43 AM on May 13, 2022 [3 favorites]


just to add to the "knobs are illegal" angle: I think if you have a recognized need, you can get approval for one. I can't find a good reference for who-to-ask in Canada, or how to get said approval.

While I'm not helping, I'll add that Autotrader.com in the US is a very helpful way to search a zillion dealers all at once. There is an autotrader.ca as well that looks like it has comparable functionality but I'm not sure it's the same company.
posted by adekllny at 11:52 AM on May 13, 2022


I joined APA just prior to COVID and it worked ok. You need to decide what model and trim level you're after and they'll give you prices to expect and a dealer with it in stock. Some users claim it'll get you past all the haggling but to test drive the actual vehicle you'll still have to suffer all the dealership bullshit around being pushed extended warrantees and rust proofing.

Where the APA did shine was in hooking me up with an insurance broker that saved me $1200 from quotes I was given.
posted by brachiopod at 11:55 AM on May 13, 2022


Cars marketed to old people often have better steering ratios (I had an old Cadillac once which I could steer with my pinky).

You must have heard about the car shortage. It's rare to find any new popular car on the lot, I doubt there is any 2021 anything around.
posted by flimflam at 8:57 AM on May 14, 2022


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