1. Pick Your Type Of Vehicle
Some people go car shopping because they’re in need of basic transportation to commute and handle errands. Others might need a fully appointed work truck to handle a specialized career or pursue hobbies. Next are a few important categories of factors to consider when car shopping.
Where You Live, Drive And Park
A typical American car dealership has an array of new vehicles – subcompact cars, sedans, crossovers, sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickup trucks, to name a few.
Carefully consider how far, where and why you’ll drive – and even your parking situation. For example, parking a full-sized pickup truck might be challenging if you live in a big city. Meanwhile, if you live in a rural town with bad weather and rough roads, a subcompact car might not be the best option.
Conventional, Hybrid Or Battery-Electric Vehicle
While gas-powered engines are still the norm, many manufacturers are offering more hybrid options. Also, sales figures for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) are at an all-time high in the U.S., with experts projecting up to 1.4 million sold in 2023.
You’ll have to consider the total cost of ownership and how it fits your budget. Buying a gas car or truck is likely to be the cheapest purchase option in any vehicle class. But fuel and maintenance can make the total cost of ownership more expensive than a hybrid or BEV. For example, the total cost of ownership for a $39,999 Tesla Model 3 is similar to that of a $25,000 Toyota Camry with a gas-powered motor. This is mostly because of the savings you’ll enjoy in fuel and maintenance costs with the Tesla.
Incentives such as some of those available through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 can further reduce the cost of owning alternative-fuel vehicles.
The Features You Want Or Need
Consider what you need from your new car, including safety features, fuel economy, all-wheel drive, towing capacity and cargo capacity. Some car shoppers also want state-of-the-art infotainment and navigation systems.
