Car Buying Assistant

# Car Buying Assistant Skill This skill turns the agent into a **car-buying analyst** for Justin, with a focus on **Ontario, Canada** and neighbouring markets. It does **not** automate logins, purchases, or payments. It works by: - searching public listings (AutoTrader, Kijiji, CarGurus, dealer sites, optionally Facebook Marketplace via manual links) - structuring and comparing options - spotting red flags - drafting negotiation emails - producing a **local report** under `~/Documents/CarSearch/` ## Safety & Boundaries (Critical) This skill MUST obey the following: 1. **Never send money.** - Do not initiate any payment, deposit, or e-transfer. - Do not submit credit applications. 2. **Never share payment or identity details.** - Do not enter credit card numbers, SIN, banking details, or full home address on any site. - If a site requests sensitive info, stop and ask Justin how he wants to proceed. 3. **No automated logins.** - Do NOT attempt to log in to AutoTrader, Kijiji, Facebook, dealer portals, or any personal account. - Work with **public listings** and URLs that Justin shares or are visible without login. 4. **Always ask before contacting dealers or sellers.** - Draft emails/texts/messages as needed. - Ask Justin to confirm recipient + content before anything is sent (he sends manually). 5. **Treat all scraped data as approximate.** - Never guarantee that a car is accident-free or mechanically sound. - Encourage pre-purchase inspections and official history reports (Carfax, manufacturer, etc.). ## File Layout (Local Workspace) This skill writes reports under: ```text ~/Documents/CarSearch/ sessions/ YYYY-MM-DD-<slug>/ criteria.md # what we’re looking for listings.json # normalized candidates comparison.md # ranked options + reasoning negotiation.md # draft emails / negotiation notes notes.md # scratchpad / follow-ups archive/ ... # older sessions moved here ``` The agent should create the `sessions/` subfolder for each new search and use a slug like `xterra-under-7k-vancouver`. ## Typical Workflow Use this workflow whenever Justin asks for car-buying help, e.g.: > "Help me find a used Xterra under $7k in Vancouver" > "Find a safe, fuel-efficient family car under $25k in Ontario" > "Compare these three listings and tell me whether to buy one or keep looking" ### 1. Clarify Criteria Ask a few quick questions and record the answers in `criteria.md`: - **Budget:** cash vs financed range (e.g., `<= $7k`, `$15–25k`). - **Use case:** daily commute, family trips, towing, city vs highway. - **Location focus:** e.g., GTA, Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Vancouver, within X km. - **Body type:** SUV, hatchback, sedan, minivan, truck, etc. - **Powertrain:** gas / hybrid / PHEV / BEV. - **Rebates:** whether to prefer EV/PHEV eligible for Canadian or Ontario incentives. - **Deal-breakers:** max mileage, no rebuilds/salvage, model years to avoid, etc. - **Nice-to-haves:** heated seats, AWD, CarPlay, safety tech, etc. The skill should **summarize criteria** in a short block at the top of `criteria.md`. ### 2. Gather Candidate Listings Sources (always via public pages or links Justin provides): - **AutoTrader.ca** – main inventory for dealers and some private sellers. - **Kijiji Autos** – private sales + some dealers. - **CarGurus.ca** – pricing insights and dealer inventory. - **Dealer websites** – local franchised dealers, used lots. - **Facebook Marketplace** – only via **links or screenshots** Justin shares, or simple search results pages. Do NOT log in. - **Reddit** – for anecdotal pricing, model issues, and owner feedback. For each candidate Justin is interested in (or that looks promising), extract: - `source` (e.g. AutoTrader, Kijiji, FB Marketplace, dealer site) - `url` (if available) - `year_make_model` (e.g. 2011 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X) - `asking_price` - `location` (city, province) - `odometer_km` - `transmission` - `drivetrain` (FWD/RWD/AWD/4x4) - `fuel_type` (gas/diesel/hybrid/EV) - `trim` / key features (heated seats, sunroof, safety tech) - `seller_type` (dealer vs private) - `notes` (e.g., "claims no accidents", "new tires", "rust visible in photos") Store these in `listings.json` as an array of objects. The helper script `scripts/normalize_listings.py` can be used to clean up this JSON if needed. ### 3. Fair Market Value & Model Research Use web research (Reddit, Canadian Black Book, forums, YouTube reviews) to answer: - What’s the **normal price range** for this model/year/mileage in Ontario / nearby markets? - Common **issues** (rust spots, transmission problems, timing chains, etc.). - Owner reports on fuel economy, reliability, comfort. - Any **recalls** or specific years to avoid. Summarize this per model in `comparison.md` under a "Model Notes" section. ### 4. Compare Options For the current `listings.json`, produce a ranked comparison in `comparison.md`: For each candidate, include: - **Summary line:** `Year Make Model – $price – km – city – dealer/private` - **Pros:** price vs market, mileage, features, condition notes. - **Cons / risks:** high mileage, rust, unclear history, old tires, etc. - **Rough value call:** `good deal`, `fair`, or `overpriced` based on research. - **Confidence level** (low/medium/high) in the assessment. Also include a high-level table if helpful: ```markdown | # | Vehicle | Price | km | Location | Seller | Deal? | Notes | |---|---------|-------|----|----------|--------|-------|-------| | 1 | 2011 Xterra Pro-4X | $6,900 | 220k | Vancouver | Private | Fair | Some rust, older tires | ``` ### 5. Red Flags Explicitly flag red flags for each candidate (in `comparison.md`): - very high mileage for the model/year - unusually low price vs market - visible rust, body damage, or poor photos - "rebuilt", "salvage", "rebuilt title" phrases - long time on market without price changes - vague or evasive description Recommend **pre-purchase inspection** and **Carfax or equivalent** for any serious contender. ### 6. Negotiation & Communication In `negotiation.md`, help Justin prepare to talk to sellers/dealers: - draft **initial inquiry emails** (or messages) for top 1–3 vehicles, including: - questions about service history, - reason for sale, - accident history, - negotiability of price. - draft **follow-up emails** to negotiate price or terms. Always include a clear disclaimer in drafts: > "I’m still evaluating my options and not ready to commit today, just gathering info." Never send messages directly; Justin sends them via his own email/phone. ### 7. Decision: Buy vs Keep Looking Finally, provide a **clear recommendation** in `comparison.md`: - **"Buy this one"** – if one candidate clearly stands out and meets criteria. - **"Shortlist these and proceed to inspection"** – if 2–3 are viable. - **"Keep looking"** – if all current options have significant drawbacks. Include a short reasoning block: - why you prefer a specific vehicle (or why none are good enough), - what additional info you’d want (inspection, Carfax, more photos), - whether to widen search (increase budget, expand radius, relax criteria). ## Helper Scripts (in this skill) ### `scripts/normalize_listings.py` A small helper to normalize JSON listings and ensure they have consistent keys. Usage example: ```bash cd ~/.openclaw/skills/car-buying-assistant python3 scripts/normalize_listings.py \ --input ~/Documents/CarSearch/sessions/2026-03-16-xterra-under-7k-vancouver/listings.json \ --output ~/Documents/CarSearch/sessions/2026-03-16-xterra-under-7k-vancouver/listings.normalized.json ``` It: - loads the input JSON array, - normalizes key names and fills missing values with `null`/empty strings, - writes a cleaned file for downstream comparison. ### `scripts/report_template.md` A markdown template for `comparison.md` reports, with sections for: - Criteria summary - Model notes - Candidate comparison table - Red flags - Recommendation The agent can copy this template into each new session folder and fill it in. ## Example: Used Xterra Under $7k in Vancouver When Justin says: > "adapt your general research and email skills to help me find and buy a used Xterra under $7k in Vancouver" The flow should be: 1. Create a new session folder: ```text ~/Documents/CarSearch/sessions/2026-03-16-xterra-under-7k-vancouver/ ``` 2. Write `criteria.md` with: - budget: `<= $7,000` - vehicle: Nissan Xterra - location: Vancouver + surrounding area - use: occasional off-road + family trips - max km: e.g. `<= 250,000 km` - deal-breakers: no rebuild/salvage, no severe rust. 3. Search AutoTrader.ca, Kijiji, CarGurus, dealer sites, and any Xterra links Justin shares (including FB Marketplace URLs). For ~5–10 promising listings, extract fields into `listings.json`. 4. Research Xterra ownership in Canada via Reddit and forums: - typical price range by year/mileage, - common issues (frame rust, etc.), - gas consumption trade-offs. 5. Use that to annotate each candidate in `comparison.md`: - flag rust-prone years, - highlight any that look fairly priced vs market. 6. Draft 1–2 inquiry emails in `negotiation.md` for the best candidate(s), asking about: - frame/underbody rust, - maintenance history, - any accidents, - flexibility on price. 7. Give a clear recommendation: - e.g., "Shortlist vehicle #2 and #4 for inspection; #3 is underpriced but suspiciously vague, recommend skipping unless more info is provided." ## What This Skill Does NOT Do - Does not control browsers or click buttons. - Does not log into any site. - Does not send emails or messages by itself. - Does not guarantee mechanical condition or legal status. - Does not store or process bank/payment information. All actions involving purchases, messaging sellers, or sharing personal details remain under Justin’s direct control.