In order to end up with the new car best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of new cars are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a new car.
Research the market: New Car essentials
Automobiles come in different sizes, body shapes, engine sizes, fuel types, transmission options, trim materials and colours. As if that's not enough, matters are further complicated by the vast array of built-in or optional accessories, music systems, gadgets and options that are available.
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the new car market. The range of options can seem daunting, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Type: Two seater sports, compact sedan or hatchback, family sedan or saloon, luxury sedan, station wagon or estate car, 4 wheel drive or Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), Multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) or people carrier? Some cars lend themselves to a variety of uses and can be cleverly adapted to accommodate more luggage or more passengers but others are pretty well fixed in their configuration.
Engine: Most cars are provided with a range of engine sizes to match insurance, taxation and environmental constraints. Engines are also available to match a chosen fuel type. Petrol or gas fuelled engines are still in the majority. Diesel engines can be more efficient and generally have a longer life but tend to be less environmentally friendly. Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), electric and hybrid vehicles are also an option but are only available in certain makes and models.
Transmission: Although there seem to be a number of transmission options available they are all versions of a stick shift (manual gearbox) and an automatic gearbox. If you have only ever driven with an automatic shift you may find a stick shift difficult to operate and, in some countries, you are required to resit your driving test to be qualified to drive a car with a manual gearbox.
Cost: The cheapest budget compact car is about half the cost of a family sedan. However, if money is no object, highly specified performance cars can cost five or ten times as much as a family saloon.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a new car. For example, will you use the new car only for those special occasions or will it be your everyday vehicle?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| Have I bought a new car before? |
| | Work out what you did or didn't like about the new car and the buying process. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found you did not like. |
| What do I want a new car for? |
| | You may want a replacement for your existing car or have a growing family. Is the car your mobile office or is it just a status symbol? |
| Where will I be driving most of the time? |
| | Look at whether you spend most of your driving time on the highway covering long distances or only commute to and from work with an occasional long vacation trip. Maybe you only use a car at weekends. |
| How rugged does the car have to be? |
| | If you have small children and pets, they have an incredible talent for dismantling, chewing, soiling and generally “trashing” a car that is not designed for such “abuse”. |
| How many people should the car transport in comfort? |
| | Consider the maximum number of adults and children that need to be carried in safety on a regular basis. |
| How much stowage and carrying space do I need? |
| | Consider every aspect of your life that the car will be part of. How much paraphernalia do you carry in addition to your human payload? |
| How much do I want to spend and how will I pay for the car? |
| | Don't just think about the cash in the bank. What financing arrangements are you prepared to consider? |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of new cars and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
Video Links
Buyz123.com Research Links:Automatic TransmissionHow automatic transmissions workDiesel EngineHow diesel engines workHybridThe hybrid engineLiquid Petroleum GasExplaining LPG carsNew Car OverviewTips for those in the market for a new carBuying a new carShopping for a new car