What's a new ride worth to the average Canadian? Nearly 20 per cent of take-home pay.
For the average Canadian financing a new vehicle, nearly one in five after-tax dollars goes to the monthly payment. Follow along as we break down the numbers.
Statistics Canada says that as of the end of last year, the average Canadian earned $943 a week, or about $49,000 a year. Now subtract income tax, Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance and that worker brings home $37,604 a year, or $3,134 a month.
The latest data from the Power Information Network (PIN) pegs the average current monthly payment on a new vehicle at $570 a month for a loan, $490 for a lease. That $570 a month loan payment represents 18 per cent of the average Canadian's take-home pay. If you lease, it's 15.6 per cent of take-home.
So, what can you get for $570 a month or thereabouts on a loan payment, or $490 on a lease? Quite a variety of vehicles, actually.
If it's a premium sedan you want, Kia and its dealers will combine for about $5,000 in discounts that can be combined with 0.99 per cent financing over 84 months – for a monthly payment of $483, according to figures supplied by Unhaggle.com. About $3,500 in combined discounts on a lease at zero per cent for 48 months brings the monthly payment to $507.
If you pay cash, however, Kia has a $6,000 factory offer here and the dealer discount comes to nearly $2,000 on top of that. Combined, you are looking at nearly $8,000 in discounts on a $35,000 sedan.
But Nissan will do better on a $49,000 Titan pickup. There, combined discounts of about $7,000 can be stacked with zero per cent financing for 84 months, bringing the monthly outlay to $594. Take the 5.99 per cent lease rate for 60 months and the combined discounts come to just over $15,000, for a monthly payment of $562.
Or pay cash for your Titan, and bargain for combined discounts of nearly $17,000. Just remember that Nissan is launching an all-new Titan this year, so if you buy now, you're getting the outgoing model.
With Unhaggle's help, we also looked at deals and payments for a five-door Chevrolet Sonic compact car and a Hyundai Santa Fe Sport crossover.
If you finance a $21,695 Sonic, you won't get the factory money a cash buyer sees on offer - $1,500 – but you should get about $1,000 in a dealer discount. Take it and zero per cent financing for 84 months and the monthly payment is $302, or about half the average finance payment in Canada.
The Santa Fe? Factory and dealer discounts worth nearly $3,800 are available for those who finance or lease. Grab the sales sweeteners and combine them with zero per cent financing for 60 months and the monthly outlay comes to $628. With a lease rate of 1.99 per cent for 48 months, the payment comes in at $465, which is below the average in Canada.
Canadians are devoting a substantial chunk of the incomes to vehicle payments, but at least they're getting lots of choice for the money.
Deals of the Week consulted with www.unhaggle.com, Car Help Canada, www.carcostcanada.com, and other sources on these offers. As usual, pricing information here is subject to change and dealer discounts vary, so consult your dealer for all the final details, including expiry dates for all offers.
2015 Kia Cadenza 2WD Sedan
- MSRP: $37,995
- Freight, dealer prep, air conditioning tax: $1,670
- Dealer discount (estimated): $1,959
- Factory discount: $6,000 (manufacturer incentive)
- Taxable subtotal: $31,706
- Total price with 13 per cent HST: $35,827.78
- A $3,000 factory discount can be combined with zero per cent financing for 48 or 60 months, or a zero per cent lease rate for 48 months, 1.9 per cent for 60 months.
2015 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ 5-Door
- MSRP: $21,695
- Freight, dealer prep, fees and air conditioning tax: $1,735
- Dealer discount (estimated): $1,005
- Factory discount: $1,500 (manufacturer incentive)
- Taxable subtotal: $20,925
- Total price with 13 per cent HST: $23,645.25
- The manufacturer incentive cannot be combined with zero per cent financing for 48, 60 or 84 months. A $1,000 factory discount can be combined with a zero per cent lease rate for 48 months, or a 1.5 per cent lease rate for 60 months.
2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport Luxury 2.4 V4 4WD
- MSRP: $35,199
- Freight, dealer prep, AC tax: $1,930
- Dealer discount (estimated): $1,589
- Factory discount: $2,176 (manufacturer incentive)
- Taxable subtotal: $33,364
- Total price with 13 per cent HST: $37,701.32
- All incentives can be combined with zero per cent financing for 48, 60 or 84 months, or a 1.99 per cent lease rate for 48 or 60 months.
2015 Nissan Titan PRO-4X 4x4 SWB Crew Cab
- MSRP: $49,348
- Freight, PDI, AC tax: $1,865
- Dealer discount (estimated): $2,787
- Factory discount: $14,000 (manufacturer incentive)
- Taxable subtotal: $34,426
- Total price with 13 per cent HST: $38,901.38
- A $4,250 factory incentive and any dealer incentives can be combined with zero per cent financing for 48, 60 or 84 months, or a $12,250 factory incentive can be combined with a 5.59 per cent lease rate for 48 or 60 months.
and
. Calculations based on Ontario customers. Please note that while the information above is accurate at the time of publication, incentives are given at the discretion of individual dealers, and may be changed or discontinued at any time. Where noted, "dealer discounts" are negotiated with the customer on a case-by-case basis. Unhaggle Savings are actual discounts received by Unhaggle customers.
Like us on Facebook
Add us to your circles
Sign up for our weekly newsletter.