Choose the right vehicle for you!

Often, people wander onto the lot with no idea of what they want, just checking out the possibilities and trying to fit one of them to their needs. Car shopping will be much more efficient if you take the time to really consider your needs, what the vehicle will be used for and who will be driving the vehicle before you start shopping. Here are a few key considerations to keep in mind:

What kind of cargo and passengers will you be carrying in your vehicle?

If you have a large family, lots of kids, pets and a trailer to pull, you need to make sure you make accomodations for everyone. Passengers are easy - make sure the number of passengers is equal to the number of seats in your prospective vehicle, and, if you have small children, that the vehicle can accomodate car seats safely.

If  your pets travel in carriers, be sure they will fit in the area behind the seats, or with the seats folded down. If you need to pull a trailer, make sure the vehicle you are

considering has an appropriate towing capacity and is equipped to pull your trailer safely and legally.

Also consider camping gear, sports equipment, or anything else you expect to haul on a regular basis.

 

 

Under what conditions do you expect to be driving?

 

Do you do most of  your driving on the roads? Or must you often

drive onto grass or rougher terrain? Does it snow a lot in your area? These are all considerations in deciding on whether you need a 4 wheel drive or all wheel drive vehicle, or whether a front or rear wheel drive vehicle is sufficient.

Generally speaking, 4 wheel drive and all wheel drive is superior for poor driving conditions such as snow or mud. Front wheel drive does pretty well in snow (because the weight of the engine is usually over the front tires), and rear wheel drive can be challenging in slick conditions, especially when you're driving a RWD pickup truck with no weight in the back.

How much driving do you do?

Do you do a lot of driving, or mostly just a bit of commuting close to home and running errands? How important is fuel economy? Have you considered hybrid or electric vehicles? 
These can be very beneficial under the right conditions, reducing or almost eliminating fuel costs.

What luxuries do you want or "need?"

There are countless options available today, ranging from heated seats and moonroofs to technologies such as navigation and hands-free calling. Some vehicles even offer driver assistance technologies such as park assist, lane change monitoring systems and blind spot alerts.

Do your research and determine which options are must-haves, which are nice-to-have, and which are not necessary.