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Your Next New Car Purchase |
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By: Kyle Busch - Tuesday, October 3, 2006
The number of new cars that are available to satisfy your driving needs has never been greater. The availability of so many vehicle choices can really make your head spin and it is easy to get talked into buying a new car that does not fully meet your driving needs. When it comes to buying a new car, a logical question is: Which vehicle is the right one for you?
The bottom line is that you should get the most satisfaction per mile when you sit behind the wheel.
The following are some things to consider that will help you to better identify (narrow down) potential new cars that fit your driving needs:
- What are your present and future transportation needs?
- How many people will you transport in the vehicle (seating capacity)?
- What type of objects will you transport in the vehicle (cargo space)?
- Will you be driving in bad weather or off-road (rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive)?
- Do you have an overriding need for fuel economy, safety, luxury, etc.?
- Do you drive mostly in the city or on the interstate (automatic, semi-automatic, or manual transmission)?
- Do you have a preference for an American or a foreign vehicle?
- Do you need a vehicle with a full box type frame for off-road use or a lighter unit-body type frame designed to be used on roads and highways?
- How long do you plan on driving the vehicle (warranty and maintenance)?
- What will it cost to insure the vehicle?
- How much can you afford to spend on a vehicle?
If you are not familiar with all the new car offerings, or if you are still uncertain about which cars will really meet your transportation needs, visit your local public library and consult "Consumer Reports." This objective resource provides vehicle information such as the vehicle's size, weight, engine horsepower, optional equipment, fuel economy, etc.
Try to identify two or three cars that meet your driving needs. By identifying two or three vehicles, you will have some latitude and bargaining power when you go to purchase a vehicle. Then, be sure to consult the frequency-of-repair information as provided by "Consumer Reports" to determine which vehicles are dependable. Since you are seeking to purchase a new vehicle, use the frequency-of-repair information from the previous two or three years for a specific vehicle.
Last, but not least, read road tests about vehicles of interest in magazines and/or Internet publications such as "Road & Track," "Car and Driver," "Motor Trend," and "MotorWeek." How will reading the road tests be useful? Lets say that you identify three vehicles in a particular category. It initially appears that all three of the vehicles will meet your driving needs. However, if you have a preference for a vehicle that has a soft ride or one that has certain convenience features, the vehicle road tests will include comments about such information. You can then better determine which new car is your A, B, and C choices.
Kyle Busch is the author of the book “Drive the Best for the Price …,”
and his car has been driven over 437,000 miles. His auto web site:
www.drivethebestbook.com accepts all car questions.
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