How To Choose a New Car

Ingredients

• Time
• Patience
• A clear idea of what you want
• Test drives

Steps

1. Set a budget - Set a budget. If you’re going to get financing, figure out exactly how much you can afford to pay per month. (19 sec. )
2. Don’t forget the costs of owning the car, like insurance, gas, parking and storage, and maintenance, which will depend on the model you choose. (26 sec. )
3. Decide the basics - Decide the basics. Do you want a small, fuel-efficient car, or a larger car that can haul a lot of passengers and cargo from place to place? A two-door or four-door? Four cylinders or a more powerful six? (35 sec. )
4. If you purchase a hybrid vehicle, you can receive incentives on your income taxes. (47 sec. )
5. Find models - Now that you have a basic idea of the kind of car you want, find models that fit your criteria. (52 sec. )
6. Compare models - Nowadays, comparing models head-to-head in categories like safety, fuel economy, and reliability is as easy as hitting a few keys. Just go online and find one of the many web sites that provide this information. (60 sec. )
7. Schedule test drives - Once you’ve winnowed the possibilities down to a dozen or so cars, set aside a weekend to test-drive them. (73 sec. )
8. Test-drive as many cars as you can on the same day to make comparisons easier. (81 sec. )
9. Time to negotiate - Now that you’ve settled on a car, it’s time to negotiate with the dealer. (86 sec. )
10. The average buyer keeps a new car for five and a half years. (91 sec. )