How To Buy a Car

For most people, a car is the second most expensive purchase they will make after a home. That's why unless you are very wealthy, this should not be an impulsive decision. When buying a car, you need to determine what you will be using it for, and how important performance, fuel efficiency, durability, features and style are to you.

The most important thing to consider is what you will use your car for. Say you work in construction or play in a band and need to haul a lot of materials and equipment. Then you should opt for a truck or a van of some sort. You'll probably want something fairly rugged and durable that can take some wear and tear, especially on the shocks.

If you have a large family, do large car pools, or for any reason need to transport more than 4 people on a regular basis, then you'll likely want a minivan, SUV, station wagon, or family sedan. Of course, you are buying more car, and this will cost you a lot more not only for the car, but in terms of fuel efficiency. If you are transporting a lot of children, some vehicles now come with built in televisions and dvd players to keep them happy.

If you do a lot of driving on dirt roads or rough terrain, you'll probably want 4 wheel drive, and an SUV. You'll need something that is rugged and tough that can withstand the beating your vehicle will take when offroading.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are very small cars that seat only 2 people. These are known as smart cars. One of the main reasons people buy these cars is that they are very fuel efficient. Since oil prices seem to be trending higher over the long term, this can save people a lot of money, especially if they do a lot of driving. However, recent safety tests indicate these cars leave you more vulnerable in the event of an accident.

Another trend when it comes to saving on gas, and reducing environmental harm is hybrid vehicles. These vehicles use a combination of electricity and gas, enabling you to reduce consumption of gas. Unfortunately, these cars are currently very expensive, so many consumers are not interested in them. Watch for prices to come down gradually, and in the future, watch for fully electric vehicles.

If you want something that has great overall performance in terms of handling, power steering, and acceleration, you may want a sports car, or a high end luxury car. These cars often come in convertible form, so you can feel the wind rush through your hair as you drive through the scenic winding roads such as route 1.

For some people, a car is a status symbol, and they will want to make a statement with it. You want to choose a style and color that match the image you want to project. This is a completely personal choice, but just remember not to choose style over quality, since you want your car to last for a while, and don't want huge repair bills.

In terms of features, you'll want to consider everything from the airbags, to the stereo, the size of the trunk and glove compartment, leg room, etc. Just make sure that the car has all of the features that are important to you and your passengers. If you do a lot of driving in unfamiliar areas, then a good built in GPS system may be of interest for you.

Safety should also always be an important consideration, and you can find out how cars did in safety tests. Even something as small as auto windows that detect an impediment is important since children have been killed by auto windows. You should read reviews online to find out what the safest vehicles are.

Another important consideration is vehicle theft. Some cars have very good alarm systems. Other cars are popular targets for thieves, so if you are nervous about your car getting stolen, then you may want to avoid these cars.

You should also consider if you want to buy a new or used car. You can typically save money by buying used, because most cars lose a lot of their resale price the moment they are driven off the lot. However, you really need to be careful when buying a used car and get someone who knows cars to look at it with you. Otherwise, you may end up buying a lemon.

Leasing is generally not a good idea, since you end up paying a lot more than if you buy the car outright. However, if you know you're not going to want the car for more than a couple of years, leasing may make sense.

If possible, you should buy the car outright, since financing means paying interest, and this can really add up over time. It basically means you typically end up paying a lot more for the car than the sticker price.

The best source of information about cars online is edmunds.com. You should not buy a car without consulting this website first.