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Step 5: Do Your Car
Research Online |
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Think about different factors, such as:
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How many passengers will be riding in the car with you?
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How much car driving will you be doing?
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What kind of car driving will you be doing?
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How important is fuel mileage to you?
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Car Research |
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When trying to decide what car best suits your needs, fanatical car research is
going to pay off. Next, start your car search online. With the incredible amount of
data available, what specifically should you research? Of course other
important facts to discover include information about safety, quality, and
5-year cost of car ownership. These ratings can help you achieve some needed
peace-of-mind.
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Car Safety |
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There are also safety features you may want to consider. Even though most of
today's cars come standard with airbags, there are other safety features to
consider. There are two general types of safety features: features that protect
the occupants and features that assist in collision avoidance.
• Occupant Protection - Occupant protection features are designed to protect
the driver and passengers in the event of a collision. Such features include
variations in size, shape, frame design and interior devices. A common
misconception is that bigger cars are safer. This isn't always the case.
While generally this may be true, some of the larger cars--including some
newer SUVs-have a tendency to roll when making sharp turns. This heightened
rollover propensity decreases the overall safety of a car. Also, some of
today's SUVs aren't held to as stringent a set of crash test regulations as
other passenger cars. However, many of the smaller compacts on the road offer
little crash resistance. Check out crash test results on the internet for a
more detailed look. Other forms of occupant protection include variations in
design. These are designed specifically for a model to either offer more
strength or to allow for crumple zones. Crumple zones are strategically
designed areas of the body or the frame that buckle under extreme stress,
absorbing more of the impact than other parts of the car. More and more
cars are integrating interior safety features. While the seatbelt has
become standard, airbags are becoming more common as well. Other manufacturers
are also offering such features as collapsible steering columns to minimize
injury risk, side-impact restraints and even extra interior padding.
• Collision Avoidance - Design aspects including the brake system, visibility,
and speed and acceleration capabilities influence crash avoidance. Anti-lock
brakes are a very beneficial feature to have in avoiding a collision, for they
not only allow your car to stop quicker without skidding, but they allow you to
maintain the integrity of your steering while braking. This can be highly
effective in ensuring your safety while driving, especially in wet or slippery
conditions. However, they can also be a hindrance if not used properly.
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Total Cost of Car
Ownership |
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Total Cost of Car Ownership values are based upon a 5-year average. The factors you
may need to consider is depreciation, financing, insurance, registration fees,
repairs, maintenance and other applicable fees to calculate the total cost to
own the car over a 5-year period. Ownership costs can differ greatly.
The cost to own and operate two different carss with equal purchase prices
can differ by thousands. Of course when evaluating ownership cost for used cars
and trucks, a car's condition and mileage will greatly impact ownership
costs, therefore it's important to compare similar cars in similar
condition for an accurate picture.
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Car Expert Opinions |
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Another way to gain confidence in
your purchase is to spend some time reading what the experts have to say about
your new car. Reading the opinion of experts before the
test drive serves many purposes; you can discover the strengths of the car's
performance; see how the car compares in its class; and discover things
like how the car does on longer trips and more. |
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Car Owner Opinions |
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The opinion of owners is also a
valuable resource. With this tool you can discover how recent new car owners
rate their new cars. A short visit to the owner review section
of AutoIndia.com will give you access to a searchable database with personal
ratings and comments. After you purchase your car, you can submit a review of
your own car to help others make an informed decision. |
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Side-By-Side
Car Comparisons |
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Finally, don't forget to run a side-by-side comparison of the
cars you are considering and you will get another level of insight you may
have otherwise missed. Seeing horsepower, mileage, seating capacity, headroom,
legroom and other specs side-by-side helps you quickly identify which cars
meet your specific needs.
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