Car Shopping Made Easy - Know What You Want And Go For It!
Congratulations, you*re ready to make that big purchase! Still, you feel lost about which car to choose. You need a few more answers to make that leap of faith. You can do! In no time at all, you*ll figure out if you want a new or used vehicle. Perhaps you*ll even decide on a sports car, a big SUV (sports utility vehicle), or a luxurious Sedan.
What*s blocking your decisions? Shopping wisely is often a matter of setting up a clear plan before you even step into a dealership. The confidence you*ll feel once you look closely at what you can afford should help you find the vehicle you long for.
The first area on your list to tackle is budget. A shopping budget helps you know more than what car you can afford in a car but also if you can afford the costs that come along with owning a car. When you decide ahead of time about this car budget, you know where you*re headed. A few *additional* considerations in this area are:
* Monthly payments (if financing the purchase) * Down payment * Insurance * Repairs and maintenance * Gas * Tires * Oil * Parking
The next area - lifestyle choice - is a little bit more fun and preference-oriented. For instance, do you have a family? If so, a sports car looks great but doesn*t hold a lot of occupants. Or, are you an empty nester? In this case, why select a roomy gas-guzzler when you*re not toting around a big party? Another lifestyle choice includes passing up a prestigious SUV since you really don*t 4-wheel or travel on snowy roads.
How will primarily use the car? Once you know when and where the car will be used - such as to commute, carry little ones, attend recreation, or lug heavy equipment - you can decide which car meets those needs. Other related usage issues to consider include:
* Miles per gallon * Roominess * Safety features * Front-wheel drive * 4-wheel drive
Now that you*re getting closer to determining what you expect from your car purchase, you can ask yourself how long you plan to own the vehicle. Will it be for a short time or for the long haul?
Maintenance is a big issue to many car buyers. If you*re quite the mechanic, a used fixer-upper isn*t going to scare you away. However, for most buyers, a solid reliable car from the onset is much more desirable and saves on shelling out big buck on repairs later on.
This process should give you a clearer idea of what you need and which vehicles best match those needs. Once your search is narrowed down to 4 or 5 vehicles, you*re now ready to truly ready to gather ratings from various consumer protection organizations.
About the Author
Giri Ritela is an avid *car guy* and webmaster of Flexe Cars which is a fantastic resource for car information. To find out more, please visit: http://www.flexecars.com
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