Buying a New Car? Here’s How You Can Make the Right Choice
There’s no vehicle that does everything perfectly, but most do a lot of things well. For example, many cars with good reliability are quiet, comfortable, and fun to drive. But, there might be many trade-offs. You might need to make a choice between sporty handling and a good ride. Or you may wind up sacrificing fuel economy in exchange for cargo space or engine power.
If you’re confused about which vehicle will best fit your needs, start by asking yourself some basic questions. Your aim is to find models that excel in the areas that you’d never want to compromise on.
How Many People Do You Need to Accommodate?
Most vehicles can carry 5 people, even though the center-rear seat may be uncomfortable and might barely qualify as a seat. Consider a three-row SUV or a minivan if you need to carry more people. Keep in mind that cargo space can be eaten up when seats are occupied.
While two-door cars might look sporty, take into consideration how often you’ll need to use the rear seat. To get in, passengers will have to twist and swoop in. folding the front seat to secure a child safety seat back there or load gear gets old fast.
How Much Cargo Do You Need to Carry?
If hauling equipment or outdoor activities are important, your best bet is a wagon, an SUV, or a minivan. A pickup truck is useful if you carry cargo too tall to fit in an enclosed vehicle, material that would dirty up the interior, or heavy loads. While four-door crew-cab pickups are the most widely sold choice, many have a short bed. Consider buying a regular-cab truck with a longer bed if you plan to use your pickup more as a work vehicle than for family duty.
Automatic or Manual Shift: Which One Would You Choose?
While the death of manual transmission may be exaggerated, a huge majority of modern vehicles come only with automatic transmission. Some automatics also provide a manual-shift mode, which works like a manual transmission but with no clutch. This manual-shift mode is handy when driving on mountainous terrain as it provides more control on long descents.
Even though stick shifts may be practical and fun, they can be a chore in traffic. Additionally, today’s six-, seven-, and eight-speed automatics can help cars provide the same fuel economy as a manual car, or even better.