If
everyone liked the same car, there wouldn't be so many options. You should
look carefully for the best vehicle to fit your needs.
Ask yourself the following
questions:
- Who is driving?
If you are buying a car for your teenager, you should
look for safety first. That
eliminates most sports
cars and SUVs. Remember being a teenage driver? Teens drive differently
when there are a lot of people in the car. They try to impress their
friends.
Young working adults are usually on
a budget, so they should consider efficient, economic vehicles. Older
adults should look to easily maneuverable, smaller vehicles.
- How old are the
passengers?
Will you need a car seat? Minivans
are great for small children because sliding doors make it easy to get
toddler into car seats. Look for vehicles that are not too high and not
too low if you will be traveling with the very young or elderly. Nice
sized, medium height vehicles make it easy for people to get in and
out.
- How many passengers are
there?
If you have two children and a car
seat, then you probably need a SUV or a minivan with third row seating. If
you buy a vehicle that seats five, you won't have any room for company.
- How will you use the
car?
If you have to commute, a car with
good gas mileage and comfort is important. Sit in the car before you buy
it and see what back support it offers. Check out all the controls to see
if they are easily reached and operated. If you live in a cold area, test
drive the car on a cold day without warming it up. See how well it
defrosts the windows and how long it takes to get warm.
- City or country
car?
If you drive in the city, a small vehicle is easier
to park and for driving in traffic. Country drives may want to look into
four-
wheel drive vehicles.
- How much power do you
need?
A four-cylinder car can save you
money in fuel costs, maintenance and insurance costs. But if you need to
accelerate rapidly onto crowded expressways, a four-cylinder may
disappoint you. Consider how much of a performance driver you
are.
- Does economy
matter?
Economy cars will get the best fuel
mileage, as do hybrid vehicles or turbo diesel engines. This can save you
a lot of money in the long run.
- How much space do you
need?
If you camp or your children
participate in sports, you may need a lot of cargo space. You may need to
look at minivans, SUVs, wagons or crossover vehicles.
- How big is your
garage?
Measure your garage if you are looking to buy a SUV or
a van. Many are too wide or too high for a standard garage.
- What do you tow?
If you tow a boat or an RV, you need
a vehicle with the horsepower, transmission and chassis to handle the
demand. Don't just assume that an SUV can get the job done, check the
vehicle's towing capacity before purchasing.
- Do you care about
color?
Pick a color you like, but keep in mind that unusual
colors are often difficult to sell. Red vehicles cost more to insure.
White
cars are the least expensive to insure and often
have a higher resale value.
- How long before a new
one?
How long you plan to own a vehicle
can affect which one you purchase. Look at car guides to see which
vehicles hold their value. While all vehicles depreciate, some loose value
much slower than others.
Once you know what you want, you can
look for vehicles that fit your guidelines. Look at several different
vehicles to compare options, features, insurance rates and operating
costs. With a little shopping around, you can find the best car for
you.
