Guide to Buying a Car
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Picking the right vehicle to buy or lease is like choosing a partner. Your car should fit your lifestyle and personality. Some features, like safety and engineering dynamics, are an absolute. Others…well, you be the judge. Below, we’ve given you some thought-provoking options.
Size and Style:
Consider what you need size-wise and where you will park your vehicle.- Compact, mid-size or large vehicle? A two-door coupe or a four-door sedan? Do you want a crossover, Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), station wagon or minivan?
- (If it’s a larger vehicle do you want a third row, bucket or bench seating?) Does you car need to fit into a driveway, garage or parking space?
- Do you need a pass thru to the trunk for skis or other stuff; seats that fold, split or fold-flat? Do you want a hatchback or need a large trunk?
- Do you require a vehicle that is handicap accessible?
Interior and Exterior:
Just like the clothes you wear and the house you live in, your car can be a reflection of you.- Color is key; make a choice that you can live with
- Interior options: do you prefer leather, chrome, wood, bright colors or dark colors?
- Do you want 16 way-heated leather seats or cloth seats with lumbar support?
- Do you want a spacious cabin that resembles your living room or a cozy sports-car cockpit?
What’s it for?
Is this your family car, mid-life crisis car, single and sexy wheels or simply a station car?- Is this your primary or secondary vehicle?
- For business travel or daily commute?
- Will you be hauling soccer crews and taking road trips?
- Towing a boat or trailer?
- Do you need to impress clients or colleagues?
Dynamics:
Do you want to go fast… or go green?- Are you looking for a fuel-efficient ride?
- 4, 6, or 8 or more cylinders?
- Alternative fuel (hybrid, electric, ethanol etc.)
- How about diesel?
Weather and road conditions: Are you really going off-road?
- Do you need front-wheel, rear-wheel, four-wheel or all-wheel drive?
Transmission:
Some people like the feel of a manual, others like the ease of automatic. If you want both, options include sports shifters or manual paddles.Safety:
This is a given. Aside from front and side airbags, ABS, fog lights, daytime running lights, 3-point seatbelts and other standard safety needs, here’s some options to consider:- Child proof door locks and automatic sliding doors and windows that are pinch proof
- Night vision system
- Backup warning system: camera or beeper
- Navigation System or OnStar
- Lane Departure Warning System
Comfort:
Indulge yourself. Options like these could make all the difference to your driving experience.- Cruise control
- Power steering
- Power windows, power side mirrors, power sliding doors
- Tinted glass
- Remote entry
- Tilting and telescoping steering wheel
- Adjustable pedals (for people of all sizes)
- Remote trunk release
- Heated or cooled seats
- Keyless entry and push-button start
Special Options:
This list could fill a swimming pool! We picked some of the more obvious ones to think about.- Extended service contract
- Tire/Wheel protection
- Paint sealant
- Sun roof/Moon roof
- Fabric protection
- Rust proofing or undercoating
- Alarm system
- Top of the line sound systems with options including satellite radio, MP3 and Ipod connectivity, extra speakers
- Theft Deterrent System
- Entertainment system with wireless headsets
