|
|
The Right FitJun 10 '02 (Updated Jun 17 '02) Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Cars
The Bottom Line You must decide what type of car suits your needs when purchasing a car. This is epinion is designed to help you decide what style car works best for you.
When you are setting out to make that crucial and exciting decision on your next pair of wheels, there are many things to take into consideration. And it is such an important decision, that you want to get it right. The following list is a set of guidlines that I feel are very important in considering a car purchase. They are designed to help you decide what type of car would actually fit your needs and wishes best, by comparing the pros and cons that different genres of automobiles have to offer. 1. Make - do you want a foreign make or a domestic? This is a simple enough question, but will significantly impact your decision. This is because automakers have different focuses. American- American automakers offer a wide range of models. You will find ample choices in all categories of automobiles. American automakers have the distinction of embracing many of the very popular sport utility models and this continues to be one of their central focuses. They are also one of the few places to go for those seeking pickup trucks. (Includes Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Lincoln, Mercury, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn) German- The German automaker's US offerings are tailored to a much more select group - though this is becoming less and less so. Those seeking luxury sedans, excellent performance cars, and luxury SUVs will find the most here. The focus on more luxury models means that many German cars are more expensive. (Includes Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Volkswagen) Japanese- Japanese cars have garnered huge marketshares and these automakers have now diversified their offering significantly from what was offered back in the '80s. Here you will find economy cars, luxury sedans, SUVs, some sporty models, and a few pickups. They have traditionally been the most reliable. (Includes Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru) Swedish- The Swedish are noted for their intense focus on safety features. They are primarily recognized for producing sedans and hatchbacks. (Includes Saab, Volvo) Korean- Many of the newest brands in the US are Korean and these makers are in the process of expanding their offerings. But you will not find a car/SUV for more than $25,000 in this group. They are the makers of the most budget-oriented automobiles traditionally, but in recent years their quality and offerings have both increased significantly. You can now find sedans, SUVs, and minivans here. (Includes Daewoo, Hyundai, Kia) 2. How much do you care about performance? Almost any model nowadays will have sufficient performance, but performance still varies a great deal. SUVs will generally have much slower acceleration times than cars, especially big models like the Suburban, Navigator, and Excursion. They often come with huge V-8s of about 5.0-6.0L. But the large displacement and cylinder number may be deceiving, for the colassol weights of these vehicles will take a toll, increasing 0-60 acceleration times to between 9-10 sec. Midsize SUVs like the Explorer and Trailblazer are typically equipped with large V-6s or small V-8s and will get 0-60 times between 8-9 sec. Smaller SUVs like the Toyatoa RAV4, Ford Escape, and Honda CR-V will come with standard 4-cylinder engines and some have optional small V-6s. But 0-60 acceleration times are not a hot spot at between 8.5-9.5 sec in general. Minivans will also tend to disappoint here, in many cases worse than the SUVs because the minivan market does not attract many with performance as a top priority. Most minivans have only 4 cylinder engines and a few have small V-6s. Do not expect 0-60 acceleration times of faster than 9.5-11.5 sec. Economy cars are fitted with acceptable, but not usally exceptional power trains, all being 4 cylinder models, many with very small displacements in the neighborhood of 1.5-1.8L. Subcompacts will get about 95-110 hp and 0-60 times of 10-13 sec. Compacts, like the Toyota Corolla or Ford Focus will get 115-130hp and times around 8-11 sec. Meanwhile, flagship luxury sedans, like the Infiniti Q45 and BMW 7 Series can come with horsepower in the 300+ range. V-8s are the standard here and you will find some V-10s,12s too. Expect 0-60 accelerations of 5-7.5 sec. Sporty models, like the Toyota Celica and Acura RSX generally come with a variety of 4 cylinder turbos and rarely a V-6. They will be peppy, and reasonably priced but are not a true sports car. But the price differences here are staggering. Expect 0-60 acceleration times between 6.5-7.5 sec. Mid-priced sedans tend to compromise in this area, playing to the general public'c wishes. Most models are offered in standard 4 cylinder and optional smaller 6 cylinder packages. Expect these models to take about 7-9 sec to reach 60mph. Upscale models cater more towards performance with standard V-6s. These cars cost a few thousand more than a Camry, but will get you to 60mph in about 6.5-8.5 sec. 3. Fuel Economy- SUVs are not highly desireable in this category either. They lay claim to some very atrocious mileage standards. Car based smaller models, like the Honda CR-V and Toyota Rav4 will not be too bad, but models like the Cadillac Escalade and Ford Expedition will burn lots of gas. This is because their heavey weights demand big engines, and big engines use much more gas. You may find EPA mileage rates as low as 13/20. Minivans perform much more admirably in this area, since they are using the smaller 4-cylinder and V-6 engines. They will typically be just slightly worse the mid-priced sedans. Economy cars focus on delivering efficiency and there are some wonderful choices here. In particular new hybrid vehicles will sacrifice some performance for exceptional mileage readings in 50mpg area. This could amount to a huge fuel savings. Expect about 25-30 city/35-40 highway in general. Luxury Sedans tend to do mediocre in this area, as they are using big engines, but that is usually not a major concern of luxury car buyers. Mid-priced models will do quite well, and should get you almost 30-35mpg highway. Sporty models will do very well, too because they often use smaller turbo engines and are lighter, but true sports cars will burn up fuel very quickly. 4. Safety- This may or may not be a high priority for you. Many feel content with government regulated standards that are on every automobile, while others realize safety equipment could save their lives. Regardless you should be aware that there are many newer safety features many cars lack, such as side airbags, weight sensitive airbags, and new stability systems. SUVs are now coming equipped with better suspensions and traction control systems, but they are historically more prone to rollovers. They may fare better in collisions, though. Minivans are typically very safe choices because they are built lower and have a family focus. Economy cars, sporty cars, and midpriced sedans don't tend to differ too much in what is offered on the base models, but you may find economy cars lack the option to purchase the more sophisticated safety gear. Luxury sedans typically have the best and newest safety gear. Be aware that safety gear on mid-priced cars may be tied to other expensive options like moonroofs that can push the price up by thousands. 5. Versatility- Finally we have reached the category where the SUVs can really shine. SUVs have unmatched ground clearance, especially truck-based models like the Ford Explorer. Car-based models like the Toyota Rav 4 offer much less ground clearance. Added ground clearance is crucial for off-roading and may be a big help in snowy areas, as SUVs are equipped with 4 wheel drive systems. All SUVs offer good cargo space, with larger models offering exceptional amounts of space. Many may have third row seating. Minivans all offer third row seating. Seats should be able to fold to provide large cargo beds for family trips. Their higher driving position and slightly higher ground clearance can help you out some. Economy cars in the hatchback(3 door) configuration will help the most here. Small sedans may offer very meager trunk space and almost all will lack sophisticated stability systems. Taking Economy cars, sproty cars, and mid-priced sedans off-road is out of the question. They will not do as well in snow. But a few AWD models (Subaru and Audi) will offer much more versatility in the snow, though at higher prices. 6. Insurance Rates- Insurance companies will nail owners of Sports cars and even sporty models much harder than others. This could make a big difference in your bills, so don't forget about it. It is also important to keep in mind insurance rates fluctuate significantly with age and location. 7. Handling- The large SUVs will be most cumbersome, though some luxury models are starting to offer sensors to ease manuevering. But be aware parking may be a chore, especially for those travelling the city frequently. SUVs are also harder to corner at higher speeds. Minivans drive more like cars, so they are not as bad handling on the road. But parking may be tougher. I have heard that many minivans have squishy and disappointing braking systems. Check for this if you are getting a minivan. Economy cars will be very easy to maneuver because of their small size. But their cheap price means that they do not have any special stability systems. Mid-priced models should be easy to park and offer a good view for the driver. They should be relatively easy to corner and feel in command of - though they may not feel exceptional. Braking should be good. Sporty cars and Sports cars are built to handle great. Here you will find cars that love to hug corners and should be equipped with excellent braking systems so that you can stop on a dime. Luxury cars will also have great breaking systems. Some will handle superbly, others are more designed for plushness than tight cornering, so it is tough to generalize. But the German makes should be the more stunning in handling. **The Verdict ** This is by no means a complete list, but I hope it has helped you zero in on some of the most important points to consider in selecting the type of car that you want. From this point you can use the internet to compare different models in the type of vehicle you have chosen. Keep in mind, there is no "right" answer. It is all dependent on what your needs and priorities are. My personal suggestion is that for families, a mid-priced sedan is the best choice. They provide sufficient acceleration, good manueverability, moderate space, and an easily accessible rear. For those who feel slightly more desiring of performance I recommend upscale models like the new Infiniti G35 or Acura TL and young couples without kids are likely to be very pleased with sporty coupes like the Mitsuibishi Eclipse or Toyota Celica, which combine good acceleration with great gas mileage. Those hauling a large family should not shy away from minivans or wagons as their advantages may very well outweight their cons. I recommend that those interested in SUVs take a close look, because the SUV market has grown huge and there will be huge differences between small, car-based models and goliath SUVs. You may want to seriously consider looking at the used car market, if owning a brand new car is not extremely important to you. You may be surprised to see how much a car coming of a 2-4 year lease has depreciated. Furthermore, todays automobiles are built much more reliably and the disparity in brands continues to narrow. Feel free to refer to my own epinion on the 10 best cars for under $10,000 in the car advice section if you are interested. Thank you for reading.  |
| Write the first comment on this review! |
