Buying a new vehicle is very exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. There are so many options for car buyers today that the whirlwind of makes, models, trims, and options(like advanced turbos and superchargers) can be dizzying. Fortunately, taking a few things into consideration can help narrow your choices and help you make the right decision.
The first and most important thing to define is the purpose of your new vehicle. Are you shopping for a vehicle to take your three kids to practice, or just to take you going as fast as possible through dangerous mountain curves? Is it to get you to work every day, or to haul you and your friends to the beach to surf? Carefully thinking and making a decision about this alone will help tremendously in narrowing your choices, and to make you satisfied with your new purchase.
Next is to decide a price range. This should be fairly easy – decide how much of a car payment you can afford each month, then find out the lowest car loan interest rate you qualify for. Your credit score will determine the interest rate and loan amount you are able to take out. Then put the numbers into an online loan calculator to determine a maximum amount you can get a loan for. Now that you know an absolute maximum, it’s always wise to try to find a vehicle under that maximum that still meets your needs.
You should be down to just a few select makes and models. At this point you get to weigh all of the different options available in each model – the fun stuff! Do you want a car with a more luxurious interior, or a vehicle that is more technology-capable? Do you want a modern body-style, or something aggressive? This is where you get to match your car to your personality. Most of us have to drive our cars every day, so it’s best to pick one you’re going to enjoy!
After you’ve indentified your main needs, you can also employ the help of online car matching services. This free one from Edmunds.com can help suggest vehicles that will work for you.
We hope you find just the vehicle you’re looking for. Happy driving!
