Currently accepting new clients · Toronto + Canada-wide Book a free 15-min call →
Independent Car Buying Service · Est. 2026

I'll find, vet, and
negotiate the
right car for you.
Matchmaker style.

Hi, I'm David.I've been in the car industry for 8+ years and since 2020 I've been talking about cars as Carsmenskii. For years I've helped enthusiasts find the right car at a fair price, and in 2026 I turned that into a paid service. It's independent, founder-run, and free of dealer commissions. I work for you, not the dealer.

Book a 15-min call → How it works
100%5-star rating
250,000+Followers on Socials
8 years In the auto world
20+ hoursOf your time, returned
David Kamenskii with his Porsche 911 GT3
Toronto-based · Independent · Enthusiast-run
Services

Three ways
to work together.

From a strategic shortlist to full concierge buying. See the full process →

Tier 01

The Match

For when you need the right answer to "what should I actually buy?"

$249 CAD
  • Lifestyle & budget questionnaire
  • Tailored shortlist of up to 5 cars
  • Written rationale for each pick
  • 20-minute strategy call
See full details
Most popular Tier 02

The Search

You know roughly what you want. I find what's worth buying, and what to avoid.

$599 CAD
  • Everything in The Match
  • Market search with public listings + private network access
  • Curated Shortlist of listings
  • Full Model Deep Dive
  • 30-minute strategy call
See full details
Tier 03

Concierge

I handle the entire purchase. You e-sign the docs and pick up the keys.

$1,099 CAD
  • Everything in The Search
  • Full price negotiation on your behalf
  • Contract review & closing support
  • Delivery + trade-in coordination
See full details
Honest disclosure

Who fits,
and who doesn't.

This service is built for buyers who value their time, want the right answer on the first go, and would rather skip the dealership games. If that's you, let's talk. If not – all good! The free Carsmenskii content is always available.

Right fit

You should hire me if…

  • You're spending $20,000+ and want to get it right the first time.
  • You've already lost a weekend (or three) on Autotrader and the answer isn't getting clearer.
  • You want a car that actually fits your life. Not whatever the dealer's trying to move this quarter.
  • You're buying for the next 2+ years, not flipping in 6 months.
  • You'd rather pay an expert than spend time becoming one.
Not the right fit

You should skip me if…

  • You're certain you want the cheapest possible option, regardless of long-term cost or condition.
  • You actually enjoy the dealership process and negotiating.
  • You need to be in a car within 7 days.
  • You expect a guaranteed below-market price.
  • You want someone to validate a decision you've already made.
What clients say

Early days,
but every one a 5★.

I started taking paying clients earlier this year. Some engagement summaries are below, in their own words.

★★★★★
Thank you for helping me choose the right Audi for me. Almost a year in and it's been going strong no reliability issues. Shoutout to you David! Keep educating folks 👏❤️
K
Karim, Oshawa
★★★★★
David was able to find me a truck for $20k off and negotiated extra $2,100 in accessories I actually needed plus additional $500 to what the dealer was offering on my trade in.
M
Mike, Vaughan
★★★★★
It was my first time using the services of a car matchmaker and what a difference it makes. From saved time to a nice discount – I'll definitely be contacting David again.
B
Barbara, Toronto
Free · 60 seconds

Not ready to book?
Take the quiz first.

6 questions about how you'll actually use the car. You'll get a directional shortlist of three cars that fit + the one most people in your situation regret buying.

What you get: archetype match · 3-car shortlist · "trap to avoid" callout

Black Audi RS6 wagon at dusk, the kind of car the 142-point checklist exists for 142-point checklist
Field tool · $19

The exact checklist
I advise running on every
client car.

Print it, hand it to your mechanic, and ask better questions before signing anything. The same 142-point inspection sheet I use on my cars, covering the body, the powertrain, the suspension, the electronics, and the paperwork.

  • Refined from 8+ years in the industry & my own buying
  • Brand-agnostic, works for any car, any era
  • Instant PDF download · lifetime updates · satisfaction guarantee
Get the checklist, $19 → No account required. One-page summary + full checklist.
Resources

Read & download.

Free guides, field tools, and model deep dives I lean on every week. Browse the full library →

Canadian dealership showroom — OEM incentives live tracker
Live Tracker

OEM incentives in Canada

What's actually on offer this cycle, by manufacturer. Financing rates, lease cash, EV rebates, and the deals worth flagging.

Updated biweekly · Free
Cost of ownership calculator: depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and tax
Free Tool

Total cost of ownership calculator

What that car will actually cost you over the years you'll have it. With HST, luxury tax, and trade-in handled properly.

Interactive · Free
The Negotiation Playbook: scripts that change the conversation
Field Tool

The Negotiation Playbook

Four sentences that change the negotiation + the one that ends it.

PDF download · $19
Deep Dive Reports

Buy once.
Read forever.

Intense model research, organized and distilled. View the full library →

Porsche 911 in profile against a clean backdrop 64 pages

Porsche 911 (996 → 992)

Every generation, every trim, every common failure. The IMS truth, the 991.2 turbo argument, and the year-by-year price floor.

$25Buy now →
The Canadian EV Buyer's Bible — EVs sold in Canada in 2026 82 pages · new

The Canadian EV Buyer's Bible

Every EV worth buying in Canada in 2026. Brand by brand, with battery health, real winter range, charging by province, incentive math.

$25Buy now →
BMW M-car in studio lighting 66 pages

BMW M-Cars Buyer's Bible

From the E36 M3 to the G80. Which generations to chase, which to avoid, and the maintenance bill you should plan for.

$25Buy now →
From the Journal

Latest writing.

Independent essays on the cars, the industry, and the strange business of buying them. Published weekly. Browse the full journal →

Porsche 996 911 Carrera in profile, the under-rated 911
Buyer's Notes

The 996 911 finally makes sense in 2026

For 25 years, the 996 has been the 911 you weren't supposed to want. Most of the reasons are now resolved.

10 min read · April 28
Calculator, financing paperwork, and the math that high rates broke
Industry

How high interest rates broke used-car logic

For the longest time, "buy used and finance" was the obviously-correct play. At 8.5% APR, is it still?

11 min read · April 21
Manual gearbox shift knob — saving the manuals is math, not nostalgia
The Garage

#SAVETHEMANUALS isn't nostalgia, it's actually math

The case for buying a manual in 2026 doesn't feed the stereotype. It could be about appreciation curves and theft rates.

9 min read · April 10
FAQ

Common questions,
up front.

If yours isn't here, email david@carsmenskii.com, I read everything personally and reply within a business day.

Do you make money from the dealer?

No. Carsmenskii services are paid only by clients. I don't accept commissions, kickbacks, or referral fees from dealers, manufacturers, or third-party sellers. That's the entire point of the service: I am exclusively on your side.

Where do you operate?

I'm based in Toronto and work with clients across Canada, though so far the work has been concentrated in Ontario and the GTA. Sourcing cars from the U.S. or overseas (for delivery into Canada) is something I can take on; I'll quote it honestly based on the specific car and timeline.

How long does the whole process take?

It depends on the car. Common, in-stock vehicles can close within a week or two of my first call. Rare or imported cars can take longer. I'll give you a realistic timeline before you commit, and I'll tell you up front if the timeline isn't realistic.

What if my chosen car needs to be imported?

I can handle imports, JDM wagons, European-spec rarities, US-only trims. I haven't done dozens of these; I have done enough to know what's involved (paperwork, RIV, compliance work) and to know when to bring in a specialist broker. Concierge engagements include the coordination and review.

Can you negotiate on my behalf at the dealership?

Yes, that's the Concierge tier. I negotiate by phone, email, and in person if needed. The goal is always to save you more than the cost of the engagement on the price alone; whether that always works depends on the car, the dealer, and the market.

Do you work with leases as well as purchases?

Yes. The lease-vs-buy math is its own conversation; I'll walk you through which makes more sense for your situation, then negotiate the lease terms (capitalized cost, money factor, residual) on your behalf if leasing wins.

What happens if I don't like the cars on the shortlist?

I iterate. The Match includes one shortlist; The Search and Concierge include up to three rounds. I'd rather take an extra round to find the right car than push you into something close-enough.

Is there a satisfaction guarantee?

Absolutely. If I deliver the shortlwist and you don't see a fit within the first round, I'll do a second round at no additional cost. I can't guarantee a specific car at a specific price as that depends on the market, but I guarantee the work.

The Carsmenskii Brief

One newsletter.
Every Friday morning.

short letter on what's actually happening in the car market, three listings worth a second look, and the reading I'd send a friend.

Useful, actionable, private. No ads, no spam.

Book a call

Pick your time.

A free 15-min call to talk through what you're looking for, your timeline, and which tier (if any) makes sense. No pressure, no pitch deck.

All-in-one · 58 pages Carsmenskii · 2026

The DIY
Buyer's
Manual.

Eight chapters. Budget through sale. Same framework I use with matchmaking clients.

PDF · 58 pages · $49
Or do it yourself · $49

Same framework,
in a manual you can keep.

If matchmaking isn't the right fit — your timeline is patient, your budget is tight, or you genuinely enjoy the search — the Manual is the same process I run for clients, written down and handed to you. Eight chapters from setting your real budget to selling well years later, with the Negotiation Playbook folded in as a full chapter.

  • The complete framework, the matchmaking process distilled
  • Includes the $19 Negotiation Playbook as Chapter 5
  • Instant PDF · lifetime updates · 7-day refund
Get the Manual, $49 → Or have me run the whole thing from $249.
David Kamenskii, founder of Carsmenskii
About

A note from David.

I started Carsmenskii in 2020, building the content I wanted to see as an enthusiast: a corner of the internet that talked about cars without the corporate filter. I'd just come out of three years at BMW Group Canada, so I knew enough about how the business actually works to be useful, and not enough to be cynical about it.

"You shouldn't need a friend in the car business to get a fair deal. I am that friend, for hire."

Over the years, friends and followers started asking if they should buy this car or that one, what to look for, how to negotiate. I started doing it for free, then for a small fee. In 2026, I formalized it as a service.

The client list is small and intentional. Every car I've matched has saved my client real money, and tons of time. If that's the kind of help you're looking for, let's talk.

BMW Group CanadaAftersales
RCLUBMemberships
CarsmenskiiEditorial
B.CommUniversity of Toronto