PAGE 2, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 1980, NEW CAR STJPLEMENT CONSUMER BEAT ml8lIt alsq have been used as collateral for a loan by the Seller or a previous owner. Aý garage may be holding a lien agalnst the car for un- paid repairs or the seller may flot even be the legal owner. Aiways check for liens or securlty interests on the car beforc buying. To do this, go to the branch registry office of the personal property security registration system nearest you. These are locat- cd in the land registry office of each county or district town.1 Check the system for liens on the vehicl e in the namne of the owner and by the serial number. Also check previous owners; the first given naine and surname are required. Ensure that the car's serial number matches the number on the registra- tion certificate. There is a fee of $2.00 for each check. Few of us te Ontario buy a used car with total certain- ty. It's a farly complex business transaction and one that requires a good deal of mechanical knowledge as well. Buyers of used cars ini private sales must be especial- ly careful, and while no one can turn you into a car ex- pert overnight, there are a few basic guidelines you can follow to ensure that your purchase is a reliable one. Check Mechanical Condition A careful examination of a used car in daylight isaa must. Be sure to check for excessive wear, ruit or body damage. You should also in- sist on a road test that allows dniving at différent speeds on roada of varlous con- ditions. Don't be blinded by the reputation of a particular make or model of car. Even a well-made new car can de- teriorate mechanically over the years because of in- proper' maintenance or downright neglect. Such a car could end' up tumning inta, a serous financial drain if repais are constantly necessary. Check for service stickers on the car to sec that maintenance has been kept p.Also, watch for the fol- lowing symptons - they could mean trouble: e steerinig that, pulls the car to one side (possible alignment pro 'blems); * squealing or grinding brakes under normal opera- tion (excessive wear or im- proper adjustinent); a blue smoke coming from the tail pipe (may mean costly engine repairs are required); I a lack of control during cornering at normal speeds or an excessively bouncy ride (possible steering link- age problems and/or worn- out shock absorbers); * any other obvious de- fects suchas engine knock- ing, lurching or hesitation, vibrating, shimmying or mal- functioning controls, ights and signals. Safety Standards Certificate To help ensure that cer- tain safety and mechanicail problems do not exist, a safe- ty standards.certificate must be given on delivery of every used car in Ontario. The certificate is valld for trans- fer purposes up to 36 days after the inspection, and the vehicle cannot be trans feried into your name without it. The only time a certificate la flot required- is when a used car is sold wthout licence plates. In this case the seller must give you aï, unfit motor vehicle permit at the time of delivery; the- car cannot be driven, nor can licence plates be obtained, until a safety standards certi- ficate has been issued by a licensed motor vehicle. in- spection station. 0f course, the safety standards certificate is not a guarantee that the vehlicle wlll remain fit for any period of time after the inspection. Take Special Precautions Unlike the registered car dealer, a person making a private sale has neither a licence to lose, nor a busi- ne$s reputation to, protect. The vast majority» of pri- vate sale s are of course, carried out honestly. But buyers should be especial- ly careful to avoid the few unscrupulous sellers who may be in the market. Transport Conada's'Fuel Con- sumption Guide 1980' lists 477 cars. Heading the liýt s the Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel with 5-speed manuol transmission. Number 2 on the list is the somne cor with 4-speed transmission. In some cases, private sellers have posed as a "front" for a dealer who doesn't want to be identi- fied with the car. To guard against this, check the auto- mobile's registration- with the Ontario Minîstry of Transportation and Com- mu nications, Vehicle Branch, Fourth Floor, Fergu.n Block, Queen's, Park, Tor- onto M7A 2A2. This will provide the identîty of the previous owner. The fee for this service is $3.00. A phone cail to the previous owner may assist you in .81 The 1981 modela for Volkswagen are to appear on the scene in November and dealers acrosa the coun- try are excited about-what they wWl have te offer at showtlme. The Rabbit which lias been gaining in popularlty over the paat few years will be made in the United States from now on and will include the Custom, the Deluxe, and Diesel and the GTL1. The On-the-Road Convenience There 'are many new ap- pliances that operate from' dashboard cigarette lighters, and they can make travel- ing by car more convenient than ever. Among the ucts available coffeemakers pots. latest prod- are toasters, and heating So, if you're smort about fuel ecoriomy, go ta the heod of the closs. RabbitDisel 0Dorl .fftmss. QWASCQ VOLKSWA6EN LTD. 1425 DUNDAS ST. E.,-WHITBY, ONT. 668-9383 TORONTO UNE 361-1128 assessiiig condition and mile- age. Check for Liens In some cases the private seller may be deliberately - or even unwittingly - selling a car that is subject to a security interest. For ex- ample, the seller may have purchased the car on "time" or a previous owner might have purchased the car on time without the knowiedge of the current seller. The car Rabbit Convertible wil con- tinue te, be manufactured ln Germany, as willl several other modela1. 11,... .. t,. %J' q.- Volkawagen dealers have always been extremely proud of their product and 1961 wlll be no exception.__ WHITBY FREE PRESS Send for Informnationi For additions.l informa- tion on the personal propcrty securlty registration system, pick up a vehicle enqulry guide at any branch office of the PPSR or write "PPSR", P.O. Box 4120, Postal Station "A", Toronto M5W MW. Enclose a self- addressed envelope at leut 10" by 14" and 424 postage. The ministry of consumer and' commercial relations provides a free bookiet on buying a car with tips on rust inhibition, as well as cin The Business Practices Act which covers these trans- actions. For copies, write the Consumer Information Centre, 555 Yonge Street, Toronto M7A 2H6. By combining your own precautions and common sense with the protection offered by the Ontario gov- emnment- you can ensure that your next car purchase la aprofitable and safe one. the officiai announcemnent date for the new modela la 1expected to be made shortly. Watch for it. Fresh Wator CAR WASH Using theo Latest in Car Wash Equipment Wash It Vourseif or Lot Us Do t For You NEVER WAX VOUR CAR AGAIN-LET US USE OUR NEW GLO-SHIELO PERMA GLOSS (ACRYLIC) OR (SILICONE) TREATMENTS FULLV GUARANTEED Dltdblutorset tbqWpR unnlog Secri Sun Vis - Tul~ors Grille arie. -Wloohee Sug Deflectors - Z.Lhw.Lo@&d-DliifP E NTERPR ISES Warehouse and Store, 317 HOPKINS STREET, WH'ITBY, ONT. LUN 2C1 Business Hours Mon. - Tues. - Sat, - 9 - 6 Wed. - Thurs. - Fri. - 9 - 9 .Fiat Bus: 668-8625 Res: 579-5560 Strada You don't really need anything smaller in the city or bigger on the highway. Aýsk about Fiats unique ;ombination of power rain and corrosion )erforation Stanidard features: e front wheel drive a McPherson strut suspension e rack & pînion steering e tinted glass ail around e cloth upholstery " extractable AM FM radio " rear window wîper washer " radial tires . " tive speed transmission " digital cdock Automnatîc transmission available as an option hUR1 Caution Required in Private Used Car Purchases Volkswagens on .disploy November WeaCre lstnd2nd Una class oi 477. State of the Art, Take a test drive now at: MARIAN AUTO LTD. 25 Grenfeil St., Oshawa 728-5179 777-777, - 7ý 1 7,,5ýý.wg. Ilýý k, 7.7 7- -- , '-M7T----ý77- -u- »",ý,ý-ý-- ýý"-lýý,ý- - ý,ýý1.1-ýýý.ý 777- 1 --- 1