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Guide to Choosing CarsGreen Guide | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| If you’re shopping for a car on a budget, first consider these five financial factors that influence vehicle price:
1) The down payment or upfront cost 2) Monthly payment 3) Sales tax 4) Registration fees and 5) Insurance premiums Next, determine how you would answer the following questions. Then, use the Key Feature filters (defined below) to sort the comparison based on your responses. How much cargo and passenger space do you need? If you have a big family, a mini-van's third passenger row might be necessary. Or, if you have a boat, you’ll need a truck with towing capabilities. (Primary filters: Category, Fuel type) What type of driving experience do you want? Zippy sports cars are often less practical and safe than a sedan. Regardless, you also need to decide if you prefer a stick (clutch) to an automatic transmission. (Primary filters: Drive type, Horsepower, Transmission) Once you’ve used the filters to decide your price range and type of vehicle that best suits you, narrow down your choices to a short list of models that meet these requirements. Finally, do a side-by-side comparison of your vehicle finalists to see how specific models stack up against one another. Once you have a few promising candidates, it’s time for the test drive… Check out our separate Green Guide to Choosing Cars for ways to help the environment and save on gas costs with your new vehicle. Visit our Car Insurance Comparison, if you are in need of car insurance or are thinking about switching to another provider. If your vehicle needs new tires and you're not exactly sure which set to go with, head on over to our Tire Ratings Comparison to find out what matters when it comes to choosing new tires. With 1,332 cars to choose from, we can help you find the best one for your needs. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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What to Avoid in CarsVehicle Price:
When buying a car, it's important to keep in mind the total price. Dealers can use a variety of financing tools to make some of the most expensive vehicles "fit" your monthly budget, but such financing adjustments can add extra cost to the overall price of the vehicle. Additionally, be cautious of hidden, long-term costs associated with your new car. For example, higher priced vehicles cost more to insure and often cost more to maintain (e.g. higher prices for replacement parts). Vehicle Size: Before making a purchase, think about what you actually use your car for. Don't fall for the "bigger is better" trap when searching for the perfect car, unless you require the capabilities of a large engine vehicle for things like towing a boat, driving in the mountains or fitting large families, because it will cost you. Budget conscious people using cars to get to and from work everyday should reconsider a $50,000 luxury SUV that seats seven and tows 9,000 lb. Conversely, if you do require the power and size of a larger engine, look closely at each vehicle's capacity to avoid purchasing an underpowered or undersized engine. Hybrid vs. Gas While hybrids are more environmentally friendly than their gas-powered counterparts (due to low emissions and better fuel economy), they tend to be more expensive. Because hybrids get better gas mileage, they offer large savings at the pump. However, due to their higher initial price, the so-called "break-even" point is far down the road. Also note that, hybrids have smaller engines than similarly priced gas cars, which is one of the main reasons that hybrids get better gas mileage. So, if price is important and you are looking to get the biggest engine for your buck, a hybrid is not the way to go. But, if you have some extra cash to spend upfront, like seeing savings at the pump and want to do your part to help reduce emissions, a hybrid vehicle might be the right choice for you. Cars Recommendations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Expert Ratings Sources: Car and Driver, US News, Motor Trend, The Car Connection, Time, Popular Mechanics, About.com, Kelley Blue Book, IIHS, NHTSA, Yahoo! Autos, alg, greenercars.org, EPA Green Vehicle Guide
NOTE: The features, specifications, and ratings listed are for base models only and do not reflect all available options/option packages.
Images included on certain listings may not always reflect the exact options included with the trim associated with that listing.
Blank fields indicate the information has yet to be released by the manufacturer's official website.
NOTE: The features, specifications, and ratings listed are for base models only and do not reflect all available options/option packages.
Images included on certain listings may not always reflect the exact options included with the trim associated with that listing.
Blank fields indicate the information has yet to be released by the manufacturer's official website.
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