What To Look For When Buying A Car

Buying a car is a big investment. That’s why it’s important for you to think ahead about what your wants and needs are when it comes to your next vehicle. Before you walk into the dealership to start looking at vehicles, be prepared with a checklist of what you want in your next car.

Here are some tips on what you should consider when buying your next vehicle.

What Kind Of Car Do You Need?

The type of car that best meets your needs depends on a lot of factors and personal preferences. For instance, do you travel mostly by yourself or with your kids and family? Do you primarily drive to and from work or do you use your car to take frequent long-distance trips with your family? How important is fuel economy? Do you live in a climate where getting around safely in snow and ice is an issue?

Do you have a place to park your car, like your own garage? Or do you live in a city where you have to park on the street and parking a truck may be problematic? What type of features are important to you? Is jamming to music while driving important? If so, getting a car with an impressive stereo system is going to be a priority. Do you make a lot of calls from your car? Then a car that offers hands-free phone calls as a feature might be something that you may require.

Every little detail – right down to heated seats and the number of cup holders – should be considered before you decide to purchase your next vehicle. Start making a list of what features you’d like to see in your next car.

What Type Of Vehicle Do You Want?

One of the first things you need to think about is what type of vehicle you want. Will you be hauling a boat or trailer frequently? If so, you’ll need a vehicle that can pull a heavy load. If you’re looking to help save the planet, a hybrid vehicle might be the one for you. Do you want to look cool and stylish as you drive? Then a sports car will be on your wish list. Are you a family man? An SUV, crossover or minivan will fit your needs to get your family around.

Here are some types of vehicles for you to consider:

• Sports Cars
• Sedans
• Coupes
• Hatchbacks
• Crossovers
• SUVs
• Minivans
• Hybrids
• Trucks

What Safety Features Are Important To You?

As a driver, safety is a big factor when selecting a car. Luckily, car manufacturers are making safety a big priority, too. Many new vehicles come equipped with crash avoidance features like:

• Antilock brakes
• Traction control
• Alertness monitoring
• Collision warnings
• Lane departure warnings
• Rearview cameras
• Electronic stability control (required in all new vehicles)
• Blind spot warnings
• Adaptive cruise control
• Adaptive headlights
• And others

Depending on the makes and models you are considering, some of these safety features may be available with upgraded packages. Look at the vehicles you are thinking about purchasing, do your research and decide what safety features are a priority for you.

What Technology Are You Looking For?

Many cars have incredible technology available in them. Everything from entertainment systems to Bluetooth connectivity, the technology options seem endless in new vehicles. Think about how you and your family use your technology devices and how you will be using your new car.

If you have children and will be going on long road trips, entertaining your kids with a DVD player and screens is an option you should consider. Being able to connect your smartphones and other devices so you can listen to your own music playlists may also be a priority to you and your family. Do you hate listening to FM radio and their commercials? Then buying a car with SiriusXM® may be an important factor.

Having a built-in GPS system also comes in handy when you’re driving around town or when you’re going across the country on your annual family vacation. Is that a requirement in your next vehicle?

How Much Storage and Trunk Space Do You Need?

Depending on your personal needs, you may be one of those people that haul larger items, lots of groceries, sporting items or lots of backpacks when you drive around. If you have pets – like a large furry friend – is there room for his crate to be tied down securely in the back area of your next car? How important is a large trunk or storage space to you? Trunk or storage space in your next vehicle is a big consideration depending on what you’ll be hauling around.

Consider The Future Resale Value Of Your Next Car

One thing many people don’t consider is how much value your new car will hold over the time you own the car. How your vehicle retains its value is a very important factor when purchasing a car. For instance, if you get into an accident and your car is totaled, your insurance company will give you a check for the value of the car at the time of the accident (and in some cases you may owe more than the car is worth!) When you go to sell the car in the future, what will the resale value of the car be?

Resale values of vehicles vary among makes and models. According to KBB, midsize pickup trucks and midsize and large SUVs hold their value best. Sleek “performance” vehicles are the next best at holding their value. Electric vehicles, subcompact and luxury cars depreciate the fastest.

KBB and Edmunds.com have “cost to own” tools that let you enter in a make and model so you can calculate additional costs of owning a vehicle – including depreciation – over five years. The higher the depreciation number, the more value it will lose over time.

When purchasing a new car, there are many things to consider. Start making a list of the things you definitely want/need in your next car, the features you’d like to have and ones that are optional but you could live without. Be sure to bring that list with you to the dealership so you have it handy as you go for your test drives!

Now that you have some info on what you should consider when selecting your next new car, we’d love for you to bring your new car wish list to Neil Huffman Honda of Franfort so we can help you pick out your next new vehicle!

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