Things to Consider When Choosing a New Car

Posted: Jul 20, 2009 |Comments: 0 |

Things to Consider When Choosing a New Car

Choosing the car that best fits your needs and budget can seem like a daunting task. One chose a car for its design, others its badge and still others based on the image it portrays. Any car says a little about its owner and it's possible that this is related to their lifestyle which that car would have to cater for. If you take the time to do some research and put down on paper exactly what you are looking for in a new car; you will have a better understanding of the type of vehicle that will best fit your needs.

Size and Space Needed

One of the first things that you need to consider is what your current or future circumstances are as far as people in your immediate family. The people who will be driving or being transported in the new vehicle you choose. For example, are you single, married, have children or expecting a child in the near future. Your answers to the above questions will help determine the size of car you should be looking for.

Luckily, today there is large selection of compact and fuel efficient cars that are geared towards families. The cars are made to be more compact but still give you interior space for you and your passengers. Things to take into consideration include; if the family pet travels with you often or how convenient the car will be to get a car seat in and out. Your age may play an important role here! Pensioners may well like the sliding doors on models such as the Peugeot 106 while the Station Wagon or Estate cars and 4WD's have excellent room in the back for owners of big dogs and families who vacation a lot will need either a bigger car or a more powerful engine to tow a caravan for example! A 1.2 Nissan Micra or Mini First which has a 1.4 liter engine would certainly not be the car for you if that was the case. You also have to consider what type of cargo space you will want or need. Here is a little tip for the fisherman; the Toyota Estima is a great vehicle for fitting you fishing rods into and a comfy retreat when it all gets a bit much when the weather is bad as you have the space to move around and wait it out.

A Huge Variety Of Body Types To Pick From

There are a variety of types of cars to choose from and there is a type for everyone's lifestyle.  A supermini is usually easy to drive and has smaller engine sizes. These are ideal cars for a small family, new drivers or someone on a tight budget. They usually have good fuel economy and the tax is lower. However, the size and performance levels are also lower.

The hatchback is one of the most popular types of cars on the road today. They have two rows of seats and cargo space behind the rear seats. These are reliable and make good family cars. In most of the models the rear seats fold down to give you even more boot space.

The MPV, which stands for Multi-purpose Vehicle, is a good choice for a large family or if you often have a lot of passengers. These types of vehicles have plenty of seats and a large boot area. They are a bigger size car and are less fuel efficient than a compact car.

A sports car is a high performance machine that usually only has two seats and most are rear wheel drive. They are not an inexpensive vehicle and are more costly to run and insure. The fuel economy usually is on the low side but they do offer power and maneuverability.

An estate car is a passenger car that has a longer body style than most hatchbacks and less room than an MPV. If you are looking for a luxury family car or an executive vehicle this might be the choice for you.

A SUV, which stands for Sports Utility Vehicle, can be used as an off road vehicle and has good towing capabilities. Nissan produce some great 4WD vehicles while the ever popular Hummer and Land Rover are still the firm favorites for larger families. They are usually equipped with strong engines and have about the same interior space as an estate. These are reliable vehicles but fuel efficiently is usually very low.

Engine and Performance

How well a vehicle will perform is a major factor to consider when choosing a car. If you use the motorways often you will want to check out the acceleration time from 0 to 60. You also want to make sure you have enough horse power for your needs. The size of the engine is also something to consider. One thing to keep in mind is the higher the performance the higher your insurance cost may be.

Cost

Once you have narrowed down your choices and have a specific model you're interested in; now it is time to do some research. The internet is a great place to find detailed specifications and information on not only the cost of the vehicle but the actual selling price of the car you are leaning towards buying. Only then are you truly more informed when you are at a car dealership. Other products such as gap insurance, comprehensive car insurance, car warranty information and car depreciation levels and car finance calculators are extremely well documented on the internet and not only indicate the true running costs of your chosen vehicle, but together with the cost of any aftermarket accessories you may want to add to your new car provide you with a global overview of the true price you will be paying. Many of these aftermarket products are also sold direct to you online again saving car buyers from paying out any extra when the dealers offers them the same products at higher prices. A small amount of research could easily save a car buyer hundreds of pounds on insurance and car tax, not to mention thousands on maintenance and new car depreciation.

Fuel Economy and Environmental Concerns

As far as fuel is concerned the most common fuel types are petrol and diesel. Petrol fuel runs well, is currently cheaper at the pumps in the UK that is but is managed by a less efficient fueling system, meaning more fuel is wasted on a trip. On the other hand, diesel has lower CO2 emissions, tends to get more miles per dollar or pound and is used more efficiently. You should keep in mind that the higher the CO2 emissions the higher the car tax will be. You want to make sure that you look closely at how many miles per gallon the car you're considering buying averages. There are other eco-friendly options available which include, electric and hybrid vehicles. There are also some vehicles being manufactured today that run on bio ethanol which is eco-friendly. Governments around the world are incentivizing car makers to produce more efficient vehicles and manufacturers realize that very soon emission restrictions will be so strict that consumers will be insisting on ultra efficient vehicles and duel fuel cars are one very buoyant market in trying time s we live in. As an ever growing environmentally conscious society consumers no longer accept second rate offers from the automotive industry and this spells a brighter future for our children!

Safety

To most people the vehicles safety is the single most important factor when choosing a new car. This is especially important if you have a young family, 3 or more kids or you simply have a lot of passengers that are relying on you to keep them safe on the road. When looking at vehicles always look at the safety features for example ask your dealer how many airbags it has, what the Euro NCAP rating for that particular model is, does Bluetooth come as an option with the radio and how many miles you should expect to get from a set of tires. Not so strange a question when you realize that every car has different rates at which they wear down their tires! An example would be the lovely Fiat Stilo which won't do more than 8 months of town driving on a set of new tires due to the way the front suspension works and the ASR setting affects the inside tire wear! But most of all please don't forget to ask about the Euro NCAP's star ratings for the car before you buy.

Purchasing a new vehicle is something that you want to take your time doing and shop around to decide which car will best fit your needs. A new car is a major investment and you want something that will be reliable and last a long time. If you consider your options wisely you will find a vehicle that will fit you and your lifestyle.

Questions and Answers

Ask
200 Characters left
Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    Print
    Re-Publish
    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/cars-articles/things-to-consider-when-choosing-a-new-car-1052907.html

    Article Tags:

    car warranty

    ,

    new car warranty

    ,

    warranties

    R Govindan

    The Indian Automobile Industry is going through a golden phase with entry of new cars hitting the market. They include Maruti Kezashi, Maruti Cervo, SUV Hyundai Santa Fe, SUV Skoda Yeti, Tata Aria and many more. All these cars would spring in the market with latest features and latest generation technologies.

    By: R Govindanl Automotive> Carsl Nov 15, 2010

    Buy new car is very good option for purchasing car. You can purchase car with some new and additional feature. You can also take enjoy of new car drive and in between driving new car automatically you would like to go for long drive.

    By: Denny Sandlerl Automotive> Carsl Dec 22, 2011

    Buying anything for the initial time without really knowing the value of it might cause you to pay excess than the actual price. The same goes when buying a first car. It is secondary whether you by a new car or a used car both carry some conditions that a car buyer need to understand such as his/her needs, preference, whim and budget.

    By: Sarah Johnsl Automotive> Trucksl May 31, 2008

    Thinking of a Used Car? You should be. There are heaps of reasons to go down the used car path.

    By: Ashley Lennonl Automotive> Carsl Feb 07, 2011
    Car leasing

    The debate as to whether one should buy a new or a used car is an age-long one that can never really be concluded. An individual who buys a new car can give you loads of sensible reasons why he or she decided to go for a new car at the same time someone who goes for a used car can probably give an equal number of good reasons.

    By: Car leasingl Automotive> Carsl Dec 02, 2011 lViews: 173

    The ford dealer Hamilton is the supreme one offering ford dealership vehicles also provides an extended warranty and an easy insurance and registration process.

    By: Ted Turnerl Automotivel Sep 18, 2007 lViews: 121

    Bentley has proven to be the extravagant vehicle for giving the classy touch. And these cars are used for family day out or for business purpose also, means multipurpose.

    By: kudoscarsl Automotive> Carsl May 31, 2012

    Many people in San Diego, California are very particular when it comes to their vehicles. They fuss about the way these look, what kind of model and type, or how fast these are.

    By: Rita McCalll Automotive> Carsl May 30, 2012

    Windshield wiper blades are essential parts of safety. They give the driver a clear and unobstructed view of the street especially during winter and rainy season. Whenever small droplets of water or snow get on accumulated on the windshield, the wiper blades wipe the windshield and keep it clean. Different kinds of windshield wipers are available in places like Riverside windshield replacement.

    By: Melisa Sosinskil Automotive> Carsl May 30, 2012

    Windshield wiper blades are very important since they ensure safety of the vehicle, the driver and the people inside the vehicle. They protect you from rid of snow, rain, dirt and dust from the windshield of your vehicle. They are made of flexible and thin rubber material. It is always essential to get the best type of wiper for your windshield from windshield repair Sacramento firms.

    By: Melisa Sosinskil Automotive> Carsl May 30, 2012
    Larry Vonn Curtis

    You will find a lot of benefits of purchasing a second-hand car. Probably the most essential benefit is that you may save a very good amount of cash. Yet you have to be cautious whilst buying a second-hand car, and have to bear in mind numerous aspects throughout the buying activity.

    By: Larry Vonn Curtisl Automotive> Carsl May 28, 2012

    In the last decade hybrid cars have gone from being a technology that was curious and easy to ridicule to a status symbol, thanks in part to the rise in fuel prices and numerous celebrity hybrid car owners.

    By: Stephanie Andrewl Automotive> Carsl May 23, 2012

    For many of us the thought of seeing a dentist fills us with dread. We worry about needing injections, fillings and other treatments that are required when we have poor dental health.

    By: Stephanie Andrewl Health> Dental Carel Apr 03, 2012

    When we think of dentists we generally think of the traditional six monthly visits to get our teeth checked to ensure they are healthy. But not all dentists work in this way. Others work in cosmetic dentistry, which is less about regular checkups and more about making your teeth look as good as they possibly can.

    By: Stephanie Andrewl Health> Dental Carel Apr 03, 2012

    Car restoration can be a real labour of love. It takes real skill and vision to turn what appears to be a complete wreck into something approximating its original status.

    By: Stephanie Andrewl Automotive> Carsl Apr 03, 2012

    It's a saying we're all becoming more familiar with. The term "pimp my ride" basically means to change and improve the look and feel of your vehicle so it is different from the basic model. There are various ways to do this, and in doing so you could end up with a car that looks slick and attention seeking.

    By: Stephanie Andrewl Automotive> Carsl Apr 03, 2012

    Discuss this Article

    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    Quantcast