It’s difficult to narrow down the best vehicle for you and your family. After all, the options out there are practically endless. There are many factors to consider when purchasing a vehicle from personal to financial to logistical demands. If you’re in the market for a new ride and you’re feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone. We’ve come up with some helpful tips to get you on the right path and narrow down the many options.

1. Finances – Budget is probably the first item of business, but also consider the financial expectations of the future. How stable is your income? Will the payment today be problematic a year from now? What other factors go into the cost of the car, such as gas and maintenance needs? Once you get a budget down for the purchase, continue the financial discussion by estimating some future expenses as well.
2. Driving Habits – Your driving habits are important when it comes to the vehicle you buy. Do you commute to work every day? How far do you travel each month/year? What is the terrain like that you’re typically on? Do you road trip or have a large family and need extra space for seating and luggage or strollers? Being comfortable in your road tripper may be more important to you than fuel economy for a daily driver, but this is a personal consideration only you can decide.
3. Comfort and Security – Regardless of driving habits, you must feel at ease in the vehicle. Most vehicles today come with a lot of bells and whistles, and if you get into something that feels overwhelming and frustrating, it won’t matter that it has all the latest tech. Adjust the seats, take a tour through the control panels and infotainment screens, and see if you can get in and out of the vehicle comfortably before getting deeper into the process. And take it for a spin to ensure you feel in control behind the wheel.
4. Wants vs. Needs – Make a list of what you’re looking for in a vehicle, then decide which of those items are wants and which are needs. This is another very personal one, and you’ll want to be honest with yourself. For some, heated seats and steering wheels seem like an unnecessary luxury, but for others it may be crucial to their comfort.
5. Research – If you’ve narrowed down to a few desirable models, do some research on the pros and cons and read reviews. You may also want to discuss your concerns with a mechanic to get an idea of what they’ve seen in their shop. Sometimes there are certain models that just seem to need a lot of repairs, and you’ll want to avoid that even if you think the vehicle looks and sounds amazing. If you’re buying a used car, get a vehicle history report and find out if the title is clean. You can also request a pre-purchase inspection to see if there are any current issues.

Whatever vehicle you end up purchasing, trust Transmission City & Automotive Specialists to take care of it for you.