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APA’s Lemon-Aid Car Show airs Tuesdays at 9PM on Rogers TV: In Toronto, watch on channel 10, 510 in HD, or tune in to channel 63 in Scarborough.


Buying a Car?
APA’s new car buying is designed to save you time and money. We are more than just a car cost service. You will get fast information and professional advice to help you with every step so you can buy with confidence. Read more »


Lemon Aid Buyer's Guide
The Lemon-Aid Magazine is a unique summary of the APA's road tests, and information from consumers like you and the association's network of mechanics and body repair specialists.  Read more»


Investigations
Vehicle Defects, New Vehicle Dealer Ratings, Class Actions, Auto Repair Investigation and Used Vehicle Dealer Ratings. Read more »


Recently Driven 

2012 Volkswagen Passat
APA drives and reviews Volkswagen's Passat V6.

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
Based on the i30 model Hyundai sells in Europe, the Elantra GT replaces the Elantra Touring in the Canadian market.

Recently Driven Archive


APA in the NEWS 

The Globe and Mail
January 24, 2013: How to buy a used, not abused, car

The most important pre-purchase step you can take is to have the vehicle inspected. “Not just a safety inspection, but the complete vehicle,” says George Iny... Read More »

Toronto Star, Wheels.ca
January 17, 2013: A lemon? Here's who you should call
CAMVAP is a very good place to get a refund for the car repairs your manufacturer should have paid,” says Iny. “It’s not nearly as effective for getting rid of a bad vehicle... Read More »

The Globe and Mail
January 8, 2013: Should I follow my car's service schedule?

The Automobile Protection Association (APA) says engine oil is supposed to last a long time, normally... The problem is that few consumer vehicles are operated under normal service in Canada during the winter. Read More »

Sympatico.ca
January 2, 2013: Warranty repairs: What if the dealer can't fix your car?
by Jil McIntosh
“There is quite a lot of variability between the service operations of different dealers,” says George Iny, Director of the Automobile Protection Association... "People think they’ll call the manufacturer for help, but consumers have a misconception about the level of authority and support they’ll get.” Read More »

CTV On Your Side
November 22, 2012: Fuel efficiency ratings are not accurate

Fuel efficiency is a major selling point in many car ads, so consumers noticed when Hyundai and Kia were caught overstating their mileage. Read More »

Toronto Star, Wheels.ca
November 15, 2012: No free ride when financing a new vehicle
A zero-interest loan sounds like a no-brainer, but George Iny, president of the Automobile Protection Association, cautions there’s no such thing as a free ride. “Zero-per-cent financing is a subsidy from the carmaker..."
Read More»

Toronto Star
October 2, 2012: Car buyers pushed into deals as sales lag

Unscrupulous salespeople often make up reasons why they need a signature. Don’t sign or leave a deposit, unless you want to kiss your money goodbye. Read More»

CBC News
September 8, 2012: Court grants class-action suit expansion for gas price hike

Gas stations could pay up... if the court rules in the plaintiffs' favour in a class-action lawsuit expansion over alleged gasoline price-fixing... in Quebec, said George Iny, head of the Automobile Protection Association, who filed the lawsuit. Read More»

 

WHAT'S NEW

April 2013: APA at the New York International Auto Show
We're pleased to bring you this report from APA Staff Writer Ron Corbett who attended the New York International Auto Show. The Show provided a first-look at several significant models. | Read the full report

March 2013: CTV W5: APA's Annual Investigation of the Used Car industry
The Automobile Protection Association released the results of its latest undercover investigation of used car retailing today. Posing as ordinary consumers, APA mystery shoppers visited 18 used car dealers and two curbsiders in the Greater Vancouver area to look for used vehicles. Visits were recorded by W-5’s hidden cameras...
Read the full report | See APA's investigation overview | View the CTV W5 website

March 2013: APA's 2013 New Car Ratings now online
The Automobile Protection Association released its Lemon-Aid 2013 new car ratings today. The APA’s reviews feature Canada's most complete information on reliability, automaker incentives, options, financing versus leasing, and safety features. Read More | Read the reviews

February 2013: the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto
The Canadian Internaitonal Auto Show is expected to welcome over 300,000 visitors; it runs until February 24, 2013. The show is the largest one in Canada, with several unveilings of upcoming models and concept cars | Read the full report

November 2012: Hyundai & Kia restate fuel consumption on 2011-13 models and compensate owners
Hyundai and Kia Canada will be compensating owners of several 2011-2013 models that were advertised with overstated fuel economy ratings. Hyundai/Kia also revised the published fuel consumption for these models to reflect an increase from the figures originally provided. | Read More

November 2012: Update in APA’s Class Actions over price fixing in the retail sale of gasoline
In September 2012, Justice Dominique Bélanger of the Superior Court of Quebec authorized a new class action to cover price fixing in the sale of gasoline in Quebec. The decision significantly expands the existing case filed in 2008... The new class action covers extensive areas in Eastern Quebec including Quebec City and the Lower Saint Lawrence. The overcharges cover four years during which price fixing is alleged to have occurred. If the case is successful, this would be the largest class action in APA’s history. | Read More

November 2012: APA's recommendations before you buy a new Suzuki vehicle in Canada
American Suzuki Motor Corporation announced that it has filed for bankruptcy and will stop selling cars in the United States. The company intends to continue selling motorcycles, ATVs and marine outboard engines, as a new and smaller company. Suzuki Canada issued a release stating that it's "business as usual" in Canada. Earlier in the year, the APA downgraded its recommendation of Suzuki vehicles because of uncertainty surrounding the automaker's future in Canada. | Read More

November 2012: OMVIC Bulletin - Beware of Flood Damaged U.S. Vehicles
The Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) issued a warning about flood-damaged U.S. vehicles entering the Canadian market. The registration systems in a few U.S. states are inadequate, and it is possible for a flood write-off to transit through that state and have its title "washed". It can then be exported from that state, possibly to Canada as an ordinary used vehicle. | Read More

October 2012: APA Review of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
After spending time behind the wheel of various battery powered and hybrid vehicles, including the Volt and Leaf, the APA has come to realize that battery range is not the major limitation. By way of example, motorcycles typically will not travel more than 200 km on a tank of fuel -- that range is not much farther than the better EVs -- but motorcycle riders can fill up in a few minutes and be on their way. An EV driver is faced with multi-hour charge times before continuing their journey, so it's recharging time, rather than battery range that is the major obstacle. | Read More

September 2012: APA Previews the 2013 Lemon Aid New Car Buyer's Guide
The 2013 model year has arrived; here's a first look at some of the most significant new vehicles on sale now or about to launch over the next few months. New 2013 vehicles available include the Cadillac ATS and XTS, the Chevrolet Spark, Dodge Dart, Ford Escape, Hyundai Elantra GT,  the Mazda CX-5, Nissan Altima and the FR-S (Scion) and BRZ (Subaru) twin sports cars. Vehicles scheduled for a fall 2012 or early 2013 release include the Chevrolet Impala and Malibu, Ford Fusion,  Mercedes-Benz B250 and the Toyota Avalon. | See the Preview

April 14, 2012:  APA Investigation of Used Car Dealing in the Toronto market
The Automobile Protection Association released the results of its latest undercover investigation of used car retailing today. Posing as ordinary consumers, APA mystery shoppers and an expert mechanic visited 13 used car dealers and seven curbsiders in the Toronto market to look for a used vehicle. Visits were recorded by W5’s hidden cameras, and a video report on the investigation can be viewed on the W5 website. Although the majority of dealers received failing grades, the APA found some signs of improvement in the Toronto marketplace... | Read More | Watch the Video

November 28, 2011: It's time for Canada to revise its vehicle fuel consumption ratings
Identical vehicles sold in Canada and the U.S. have government approved fuel consumption ratings that are 15-20 percent apart. The Canadian figures consistently promise better mileage than the vehicle is able to deliver in real-world driving. For example, Toyota's smallest car, the Yaris hatchback, is rated at 5.5 L/100 km Highway in Canada, but a significantly higher (22% percent) 6.7 L/100 km in the United States. That works out to about seven miles per Canadian gallon less using the the U.S. rating, which is much closer to what Yaris owners report their vehicles actually consume. | Read More | Video

April 2011: Majority of shops unable to pass a simple test in the latest APA auto repair investigation
Thirty percent: that’s the percentage of repair shops that passed a simple test submitted by the APA in its latest auto repair investigation. Using three specially prepared vehicles and hidden cameras, the APA visited 31 repair shops in Toronto and Calgary for the correction of a simple problem. | Read More

Avoid Lease Return Anxiety
No charge consultation and appraisal service for APA members returning leased vehicles | Read more
 

Independent Trade-In Appraisal Service for New Car Purchases | Details
APA expands used car buying service. One month money back guarantee on locate orders. | Details
Free car lease and finance calculators | Lease Calculator | Finance Calculator
Get a Free Auto or Home Insurance quote at APA Group Rates Details | Details
Compare cheapest Auto or Home Insurance quotes instantly | Kanetix

Vehicle Inspection Service
Having the vehicle inspected prior to the sale is the most effective way of making sure you won't get stuck with a lemon or pay too much for a vehicle that needs a lot of maintenance. A proper vehicle inspection includes a road test and a superficial inspection to spot collision damage. The facilities that follow have been chosen from the list of shops provided to APA members, and have performed well in the past. >> VIEW THE FACILITIES

IMPORTING A NEW CAR FROM THE U.S.??

Canadian Warranty information on new cars bought in the U.S.