ALT-3 How to tell which Car is right for you
Nowadays, with the information age driving along in top gear, most everyone has the tools at their disposal to thoroughly research which car most ideally suits their needs, desires and, of course, budgets.
Basics first. To narrow down the possible candidates, the first thing to consider is what you need the car for. Minivans or station wagons are ideal for 'round the town driving with the kids. SUVs and pickups are great for those who like to get off the road occasionally, whether it's to camp, hunt, fish, etc. For those of us who care a lot about the driving rather than just the getting there, sports cars or luxury cars may be the way to go. You get the idea, narrow the basic type down to fit your basic lifestyle needs first, and then don't let yourself get tempted by anything else. Some guys need a minivan and end up impulsively getting a sports car, then regret it because they're making payments on something they still can't take the kids to the park with.
So you know basically what kind of car you need. Time to do some research. A good place to start is with car review magazines and maybe their websites, but be aware that some, if not all, car magazines are brand biased and will sometimes distort the facts. Most cars have tradeoffs, i.e. economy vs. performance, cost vs. luxury, etc. If you don't already know the basic tradeoffs for the type of vehicle you need, then take note of them as you do your research. Many car review magazines archive their performance and stats data in the back of each issue. Figure out the strengths and weaknesses of each model that interests you and decide what you are willing to compromise on. This is the hardest part of choosing a car. Take your time and base your decisions on common sense. If you don't have any, then get some advice from someone who does.
By now you should have it narrowed down to a couple or three models. Now you should try to find some owners to talk to about their cars or go to some online forums and browse. Have some specific questions ready about your concerns. Then get out and take some test drives of those models. Pay attention to details here. If you frequent McDonalds or Starbucks you should know if your cupholder can hold a stupid-huge size soft drink or coffee.
If you're not down to one model yet, you have two choices: research more or flip a coin. Sometimes it come down to a gut feeling. At this point, it's wise to do the last little bit of research to make sure your car won't explode if it gets hit by a shopping cart and to check out the options available. Model specific forums are an excellent source for this type of information and just about every model has a club or fansite devoted to it. Once you're satisfied, price it out, pick it up and (hopefully) you'll enjoy your new car as long as you own it.
