Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. I drove up to southern Ontario to visit a friend of mine a few months ago and was pulled aside and had my car searched before they let me go. It didn't take more than 30 minutes, but only because there was no back up at all. Not like I had anything to hide. I do want to go back to visit him again sometime in 2011 but I think when they scan my passport it'll show they sent me to secondary before, so I figure it'll probably happen again.
They probably only did that because you're young. They did the same thing to my brother and I when we crossed into New York state. The American guards were fucking assholes. They detained us for 45 minutes and asked us all kind of questions and practically tore my car apart. On the way back the Canadian guard did it too. He was nice enough to us, but he tore part of my dash board off and broke it. He only kept us 5 minutes.
Being young probably had something to do with it. Though I also went to Toronto when I was a year younger, 19, last January and had no problems, though I took a flight that time.
dont have any drug or political bumper stickers on your car....when i went down with a ton of weed related bumper stickers (and young) i got searched for a few hours as well. after that i went in a new ford escort without any stickers and shaved and have had (relatively) good experiences since, except the one with my wife and no passports. edit: also dont buy anythign expensive with anything but cash. tehy do check credit cards and do check for taxe declaration...my mom went to alaska on anniversary and he bought her a diamond something and got snagged on teh way back, plus a fine....not cheap...
Anyone with drug related bumper stickers is just asking for it, that's just plain stupid period. If you really want to be left alone have a Jesus fish on your car.
This is meant to bump this thread as its useful, and also to add that you can see the border wait times for coming into canada here; http://www.cbsa.gc.ca/bwt-taf/menu-eng.html It's updated hourly.
