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Trucks are a great option for Saskatchewan drivers. Being one of taller vehicles on the road, trucks are known to have better visibility due to sitting higher up in the vehicle, which can especially help in snowy and blustery weather conditions. It’s weight is also a contributing factor for having more control during winter driving compared to smaller vehicles.

In this article, we will explore trucks for sale in Saskatchewan and point out what we consider to be important factors in any truck purchase.

Things to consider:

• How will you use it? – Trucks are one of the most versatile vehicles on the road. They can be used for work, play, or just as a standard family vehicle due to their spacious cabins. Knowing how you plan to use your new truck will assist our sales team in helping you find the perfect one for your usage.

• How big of a bed? – Truck beds come in several different sizes. If you have specific work you need to do, or a specific item you plan on hauling in your new vehicle, it’s best to make sure that your new vehicle has enough room in the bed to accomplish the task at hand.

• How many passengers? – Most standard trucks will have between two and six seats. If you’re looking for a less expensive purchase, the fewer the seats the cheaper the truck usually. On top of the lower price, these trucks with fewer seats also have lower gas mileage due to the smaller size and lower weight, as well as a shorter frame.
  
• How much power? – Engine sizes on trucks can vary significantly, which heavily affects how much the truck is able to haul. If you plan on towing larger items, you will absolutely want to look for a full-size truck with a large engine to make sure you can do what you want, when you want. If you don’t plan on towing, then you can save money on the initial price of the truck, as well as fuel.

Most Popular truck choices:

Once you know a truck is the right vehicle type for you, it’s time to narrow down the selection to find out what Make and Model will best suit your needs. Here are a few examples of the most popular trucks currently:

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 - Used Chevrolet Silverado 1500 for Sale in Saskatoon | O’Brians Automotive

Ford F-150 - Used Ford F-150 for Sale in Saskatoon | O’Brians Automotive

Ram 1500 - Used RAM for Sale in Saskatoon | O’Brians Automotive

Where to buy your new truck:

One of the great things about O’Brians Automotive being an independent dealer is that we have no inventory restrictions. If you want it, we most likely have it in stock. If we don’t, then we have no issues sourcing a vehicle through our dealer network. With over 200 vehicles in stock at all times, you can rest assured we will have the right truck for your needs. O’Brians Automotive is one of Saskatchewan’s top choices for finding a new truck. Here are a few reasons why:

Convenience – Visit www.obrians.ca/vehicles to view all of our inventory. There you will find the ability to filter the search from make and model all the way down to how many doors and what type of drive train. This enables you to do your own research and come to a well informed decision on what the right truck for you is.

Industry Expertise – O’Brians Automotive is one of Saskatchewan’s oldest independent car dealerships. We have been an industry leader in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and the rest of Saskatchewan since 2008. Our staff are knowledgeable and our Finance team is extremely skilled at securing approvals and overcoming financing issues.

Special Financing – No matter what type of credit you have, O’Brians Automotive will work with you to get you into your new truck. We have more lenders competing for your business than our competitors, meaning the chances of an approval or a better rate are highly likely if you choose O’Brians Automotive.

High Trade Values – O’Brians Automotive recognizes that you take care of your vehicle, and deserve top dollar for it when you trade in. We use several different tools to help us come to the correct value, and offer full transparency on how we come up with that number and include a break down for you to view so you don’t have to worry about whether you got a great price for your vehicle because we’ll show you the proof!

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Shopping for a new vehicle can be a stressful time. Not only do you have to decide from hundreds of different makes and models, but once you do, you then need to go through the purchase process, which can be frustrating.

We will take you through the buying process and give you some tips that will tilt the odds in your favour, hopefully making the entire experience a bit less stressful.

Let’s start with preparation. Preparation is key. Knowing what you need vs. what you want is especially important and can help save you a lot down the road.

When is the best time to buy? When you don’t really need to! Desperation leads to quick decisions you might regret down the road. When you have time to think about the decision, you’re less likely to experience buyer’s remorse. If you put yourself in a situation where you need a car today, you will have a lot less flexibility when it comes to selection and pricing, because you’re forced to take whatever the dealer you choose has that day.

What’s your budget? Determining your budget is essential to making sure you’re comfortable down the road. Are you more concerned about the total amount you’re spending or the monthly payments on your new vehicle? Once you know that, it’s much easier to set realistic expectations for what you might be driving home.

What are your choices? Do you have a family that you’ll be using this vehicle to transport them in? Then a 2-door convertible probably isn’t something you should look at, even though it’s so tempting! Do you travel? Do you have pets? Do you need 4x4/AWD? Is safety a concern? Ask yourself these questions, and it will help you eliminate a lot of vehicles that aren’t really suitable for you:

• What is most important to you? Fuel mileage? Safety? Style? Performance? Size?
• Is it for work or personal?
• What do you like/dislike about your current vehicle?
• Try and narrow it down – Are you looking for a Car/Truck/Van/SUV?
• Is colour important? (Different colours can cost more money)
• Are premium options important? Are they a need or a want? (Navigation/Leather/Moonroof/Power Seats)
• Are you financing or paying cash? (If you are financing, we recommend doing a credit application in order to find out what you can be approved for before having your heart set on something the lenders won’t approve you for.)

New or Used? Buying a brand-new vehicle is a wonderful feeling, but is brand new really worth it? On average, a new vehicle loses 30% of its value when it leaves the lot for the first time, and another 10% before the first year of ownership is complete. They do come standard with manufacturer warranty, and you have the peace of mind knowing no one else has owned it other than you, but is that really worth a difference of several thousand dollars to you? Did you know that a Manufacturer warranty transfers through ownership, and many, many used cars will still have plenty of warranty left on them? Combine that added peace of mind with the huge savings difference, and you might consider that a used vehicle is worth looking at as an option, even if you had been planning to purchase new.

Will a used vehicle be reliable? In Saskatchewan, all vehicles that come from outside of the province need to pass the Saskatchewan Government Safety Inspection, so you can rest assured it will be safe and reliable. Additionally, any trustworthy used car dealerships will include some sort of quality guarantee, whether it be a time frame or a kilometre limit. Make sure you ask about the dealers policy when speaking to them about a possible purchase.

Once you’ve found the vehicle you like, it’s time to go over numbers. Traditionally, the next step would be negotiating on price, however many dealers are steering away from this model now. In the past, the only way to find out how much a car would cost you would be to go into the dealer and negotiate. Nowadays, with the prominence of the internet, dealers are forced to be extremely competitive in their pricing in order to get you to come visit them in person instead of their competitor, meaning that there is little to no “wiggle room” for negotiating. Don’t let this get you down, you’re still getting a great deal, but the market has done the negotiating in advance for you meaning you’re starting your negotiation at a lower price. Some dealers also refuse to haggle at all, so don’t be surprised if you see that “the price is the price”, because that is the way the market is trending.

It’s important to remember that no two vehicles are the same though, and even though two vehicles might look similar in year, kilometres and price, there are many factors which can make one vehicle better than the other such as condition and options.

Once you’ve decided that the vehicle you came to look at is the one for you, and have spoke to the Sales team and came to an agreement on price, the final step is to consider additional protection for your purchase:

Some of the options are:

• Extended Warranty – This will add a time frame and/or kilometre range to your vehicles existing warranty, or will just give you warranty the vehicle didn’t previously have. There are many different types available from very basic to covering every component, as well as different levels of deductible should you need to use it.
• GAP Insurance – This will protect you in the event your vehicle is a total loss. For instance if you have a vehicle that you owe $40000, and your insurance is only willing to pay $30000 due to depreciation on the vehicle, the GAP Insurance will pay off the difference of that $10000, meaning you don’t have to add that amount onto your next loan, keeping your payments low and not having to pay interest on that amount either.
• Disability – In the event you become disabled, these plans can help pay for some or all of your payments for the duration of your loan or your disability.
• Critical Illness – In the event you get a critical illness during the term of your loan, this type of insurance will pay your auto loan while you’re treating your illness, or should you pass away, pay the loan out in full.
• Loss of Job – In the event you become laid off from your work, this coverage will make your payments until you regain your employment.

Remember, you’re not shopping for a deal, you’re shopping for a vehicle. If price is the only thing you’re concerned about, there is a good chance you will end up unhappy because you’ve focused so hard on getting the best price, you’ve neglected to realize the reason this one was the cheapest. Whether it’s due to it being in worse condition, having a less than desirable accident history, a dealer that cuts corners on reconditioning, or many other factors, sometimes cheapest isn’t best, especially when you’re looking at one of the most expensive purchases you’ll ever make.

Slow down, take your time, and remember that dealers are here to work with you, not against you! You’re not going into battle with an adversary, you’re building a new relationship that doesn’t end when you sign the dotted line. You will be returning for maintenance, if you experience any issues, and hopefully a new car down the road if you were treated right, so don’t look at the dealer as your enemy, but a new friend.

Buying a new vehicle is as stressful as you want it to be, but can also be stress-free if you are prepared. It’s entirely up to you!

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