Your vehicle is your second largest investment next to your home. Everyone has fire insurance on their home, and yet the chances of using it are far less (thank goodness) than a warranty for your vehicle.…

There Are Different Types Of Extended Warranty

Your vehicle is your second largest investment next to your home. Everyone has fire insurance on their home, and yet the chances of using it are far less (thank goodness) than a warranty for your vehicle. It is vital to prepare for any emergency.

Extended warranty on your car is important because there are many expensive replaceable items on your vehicle. While the average vehicle has about 30,000 components if you count every nut and bolt, not all of these will be covered. Also, extended warranty will typically not cover wearable items such as brake components, air filters and fluids designed to wear as you use the vehicle and are considered regular vehicle maintenance.

There are different types of extended warranty, one is from the manufacturer of your vehicle that you can purchase from your dealership, the other is warranty from a third-party provider, though I am not as familiar with these options.

Mechanics repairing a car
A mechanic with a clipboard inspecting the suspension

I choose to buy my extended warranty from my dealership at the time of my purchase, although you can buy it any time as long as you are under the manufacturers’ original warranty. 

There is a fee the longer you wait, so it’s best to buy straight away if you want to extend your warranty.

If you choose to sell the vehicle prior to the extended warranty running out, you can in most cases transfer the balance of that extended warranty to a new owner.

Mechanic with a clipboard

So essentially you can sell that insurance with the vehicle and regain back some of your money while still having that full protection.

Today’s vehicles are truly a technological marvel. With the amount of sensors, safety systems and even the media options, the costs of repairs have risen dramatically. Most basic manufacturer warranty will include a longer powertrain, but if you plan to keep the vehicle beyond three years it’s so important to buy extended warranty, particularly just for oxygen sensors, CO2 sensors, the screens that runs your navigation, etc.

Lastly, an extended warranty from your dealership will ensure you get the manufacturer parts back on your vehicle and that it is worked on at the dealership by trained professionals who are skilled on your brand and model.

Important note, doing the regular maintenance on your vehicle outlined by the manufacturer will help keep both the warranty that came with the vehicle and the extended warranty valid. Think about how long you plan to keep the vehicle you buy and decide which extended warranty is right for you.

Until next time, drive safe.

Sincerely, The Car Lady.

Christine Mitchell, owner and principal of The Car Lady,  spent many years in the automotive industry as a technician, service advisor and salesperson. In 2001, she put her knowledge and experience together to start The Car Lady brand. She has driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres to help dealerships across Canada build customer relationships that increase both customer retention and customer satisfaction.

So, you are ready for a new vehicle. Great! But where to start? Here are some questions to consider for a clear understanding of the basics and differences that will help save you both time and money.…

The Right Car For The Right Purpose

So, you are ready for a new vehicle. Great! But where to start?

Here are some questions to consider for a clear understanding of the basics and differences that will help save you both time and money.

The number one thing you must ask yourself when buying a vehicle is “What are you going to use it for?” The second most important question, which many believe should be the first is, “How are you going to pay for it?”

Let’s save that for another time.

What are you going to do long term with that vehicle? Do you have mobility issues? Are you planning to have more children? Do you have a pet as a passenger (dog hair is an ongoing issue in my car)? Is it a passenger vehicle for scooting around town as a grocery getter? Is your daily commute a longer commitment? Do you plan to use the vehicle for long-distance trips during holidays? Do you need more cargo space? Are you going to be towing anything or hauling around gear? My husband’s truck was vital for dump runs during our home renovation.

2025 Honda CR-Vs on the lot

Think about what you are going to use this vehicle for daily and that will help you to determine which features you need inside the vehicle for your comfort.

Someone who drives a car 10-15 minutes each way in the city every day probably doesn’t need as many features compared to someone such as me who drives a lot and often travels long distances.

Volkswagen Tiguan Side Profile

Most vehicles come with a standard suite of safety features. The two safety features that I love the most are lane keep assist and auto high beam headlamps. I love the lane keep assist because it reads the lines of the road and keeps my vehicle stationary within those lines with a camera system. That reduces my arm tension on the steering wheel. I’m a commuter who lives in rural Southwestern Ontario, and the lane keep assist feature reduces the amount of grip strength that I need to use to hold my vehicle on the road for longer periods time. The same with the auto high beam feature. While on my county roads during a commute, it does the work of turning my high beams on and off as other vehicles approach. You normally can’t buy those add-ons, so it’s best to do some homework.

Consider also the trim levels (the equipment or special features for a particular model). For example when I bought a Lexus, I wanted a car that had Navigation built into the car. Ten years ago there was no such as Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Today if you buy a vehicle that does not have Navigation built into it, most people use their smartphone to project the apps of Waze or Google Maps onto their media screen to use for maps and directions. 

You may not need the top tier package because of the advances in technology. You could move into a lower trim level if you are price conscious. 

Most vehicles now have dedicated apps for your smartphone as well, allowing you a free trial for remote start, and many other safety and convenience options.

Different trim levels of the same vehicle will have different options, so it’s best to examine the levels and their costs to determine what you need and what is in your budget.

I always recommend you test drive several brands and styles of vehicle before deciding. I have had a two-door coupe, a minivan, an SUV and a convertible at different times in my life to suit what I needed at the time. 

Until next time, drive safe.

The Car Lady.

Christine Mitchell, owner and principal of The Car Lady,  spent many years in the automotive industry as a technician, service advisor and salesperson. In 2001, she put her knowledge and experience together to start The Car Lady brand. She has driven hundreds of thousands of kilometres to help dealerships across Canada build customer relationships that increase both customer retention and customer satisfaction.

I recently had a chance to attend a car seminar in which Christine Mitchell, The Car Lady, spoke. I have known Christine for several years and have written articles on her for various publications. She…

The Car Lady Knows All About Car Colours

I recently had a chance to attend a car seminar in which Christine Mitchell, The Car Lady, spoke.

I have known Christine for several years and have written articles on her for various publications.

She was speaking at Marinos Fine Cars Subaru in Etobicoke. Because of traffic delays, I arrived shortly after her seminar began and sheepishly found a spot to sit among the crowd of 100 or so in attendance. They were customers invited by the dealership to learn about car features and service, which are Christina’s areas of expertise.

I figured I could videotape what she was saying, but the acoustics weren’t great and I have hearing issues but refuse to wear hearing aids.

Some things she said about car colours really piqued my interest. She was talking about why some colours are more popular than others, both for purchasing and, sadly, for stealing.

She said white cars are the most popular to purchase, something like one out of four. I always figured that because white is a neutral colour, manufacturers would produce them more abundantly.

After Christine finished the second half of her seminar, which dealt with brakes and other elements of service, I asked her if I could do a video strictly about car colours. Being the pro she is, Christina went into great detail, and even finished it with an anecdote about blue cars. I don’t think she knows a drive a blue car.

2025 Honda CR-Vs on the lot at Lakeshore Honda in Toronto Ontario

Rather than give away what she said, I encourage you to look at the video, which Christine did lickety-split in a minute.

Inasmuch as I like to write, I believe sometimes videos are equally, if not more, effective. This is especially true when The Car Lady is in the video. She totally rocks. I plan to do many videos with Christine about car features and service.

By the way, I also did a video with Marino’s Fixed Operations Manager Harry Kohli, who spoke glowingly about Christine. He’d been trying for quite some time to book Christine, and he’s looking to bring her back.

Christine and her associates do seminars throughout Canada. If your dealership has booked her, I highly recommend seeing her. You will be entertained and educated.

The Car Lady Knows All About Car Colours

I plan to do many videos with Christine because she is anything but dull, and hopefully will be on time. Being late is a bad habit, and using traffic is an excuse gets old, even if it is true in the area where I live. It’s become a suburban jungle.

Perry Lefko is the Content Manager of The Car Magazine. He can be reached at [email protected]. Feel free to forward any story suggestions or comments.

Meet Christine Mitchell – also known as The Car Lady. She will be a regular contributor to The Car Magazine with her insights about understanding and operating features of newly purchased automobiles…

Meet The Woman Known As The Car Lady

Meet Christine Mitchell – also known as The Car Lady. She will be a regular contributor to The Car Magazine with her insights about understanding and operating features of newly purchased automobiles and the importance of regularly servicing them. She considers a car purchase the second-largest investment a person will make next to buying a home.

Christine, who resides in Port Elgin, Ontario, and her staff work with dealerships throughout Canada to help their customers learn more about their new car purchases. She said when people buy cars they are attracted to the purchase, but they may not be familiar with the vehicle’s technology and the importance of service.

“Everybody just thinks showroom, showroom, showroom,” Christine said. “I think I’ve certainly influenced a lot of people in the way they’ve felt about their car, their confidence level with their own vehicle and their relationship with their dealership. I’ve certainly educated a lot of people.”

Christine Mitchell new head shot

Christine started her company more than 25 years ago and the Know Your Car Night presentations she and her staff do are popular with dealers across Canada. They hire her to help them retain customers and, in turn, the customers learn more about operating their new vehicles. Her motto is: Give Your Dealers A Second Chance At A First Impression.

Christine Mitchell posing with her 2017 Toyota Highlander

“The bread and butter of The Car Lady has always been the after-sales seminars,” said Christine. “The Car Lady is all built around educating customers about service and the customer retention. My favourite customer on the Know Your Car Night is always the first-time buyer because they are looking at me to make great decisions going forward about their service and to keep that car looking its best and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have taught those people something.”

Christine speaks from her experience and passion for cars. It began at a young age growing up in Peterborough. “I wanted to drive fast, I wanted to look good, I wanted it all,” she said. “I wanted to be like Steve McQueen my entire life.”

As soon as she passed the course to become a licensed driver at age 16, she applied for a job at a major dealership in her hometown.

“I just loved the car business and I never had it in my background,” Christine said.

“I was so enamored by the whole process of working in a dealership and changing people’s lives through transportation. I don’t know why.”

She started out as a receptionist, but wanted to work as a technician so she enrolled in a school to learn how to do it. She was the only woman among 64 who took the course.

“My mother used to call it a target-rich environment because I was the only girl, and I was blonde and I was young,” Christine said. “The Car Lady became a manufacture of that because when I was working in service they trotted me out for every photo opportunity because they wanted some diversity.” She subsequently became a salesperson.

The Car Lady's summer car

She decided to make a career switch after giving birth to her daughter in 1997, giving her more flexibility with her time.

She evaluated her skills and felt she had a great voice, a good presence and knowledge about cars. Applying that all together, she decided to start a business teaching car clinics to women at General Motors dealerships. She began with Women’s Clinics and parlayed that into the Know Your Car Night.

The Car Lady with her Lexus

“Every time I’d go into a dealership, somebody would say, ‘hey, there’s that car lady, there’s that car lady’ and so I said, ‘Okay, I’ll be The Car Lady. I was a mechanic who was a woman who parlayed that into a business. I’ve literally met thousands of people and taught them about their cars.”

Beginning in 2011 when her business started to boom, she hired staff to help with the events. Her recruits were women with experience working in a dealership or had a full-time job and wanted to work part-time at night.

“I know a Car Lady as soon as I meet her,” Christine said. “I don’t care if she doesn’t know anything about cars, I’ll teach her what she needs to know.”

In 2018, Mitchell received a Leadership Award at the Women & Automotive Conference.

“I believe in The Car Lady,” Christine said. “I believe in what we’re doing. People need to be educated on service. Service is essential. I’m the voice of service. I’m your second chance at a first impression.”

Perry Lefko is the Content Manager of The Car Magazine. He can be reached at [email protected]. Feel free to forward any story suggestions or comments.

Harry Kohli, the Fixed Operations Manager at Marino’s Fine Cars, had been trying for some time to book Christine Mitchell to do a presentation at the company’s Subaru store in Etobicoke, Ontario.…

Subaru Fixed Operations Manager Values Christine Mitchell’s Car Knowledge

Harry Kohli, the Fixed Operations Manager at Marino’s Fine Cars, had been trying for some time to book Christine Mitchell to do a presentation at the company’s Subaru store in Etobicoke, Ontario. Well, the wait was worth it. On June 24, Christine spoke to an interested audience of customers who had bought cars from the store. She spoke first about everything to do about car features and safety, and then transitioned to service and car maintenance. 

Some of the topics that really resonated with the crowd were the safekeeping of keys and what different car colours mean in terms of which ones are produced the most by manufacturers, which ones have greater resale value and which ones are more likely to be targeted by thieves. Her presentation on brake pads and rotors also had the crowd fascinated. 

“It was a very successful event, great information about under the car, under the hood, features of the car, roadside assistance, winter tires, all that she talks about,” Harry told me.

Perry Lefko is the Content Manager of The Car Magazine. He can be reached at [email protected]. Feel free to forward any story suggestions or comments.