How to Choose the Right Vehicle
Do you need some new car buying advice on how to choose the right vehicle type for your needs? Begin by asking yourself these 5 basic questions:
1. How many seats do you need?
Most vehicles can carry up to five people comfortably. If you want to carry more, you should buy a car with a third row seat. This includes minivans, some SUVs, and a few wagons. Depending on the design, these vehicles can carry up to eight people. A few vehicles achieve a six passenger capacity by using a three person front-bench seat.
2. How much room do you need?
Most cars have a trunk that can accommodate luggage. For carrying more items, many vehicles also have a rear seat that folds down. Some sedans have a front passenger seat that can fold flat to make it easier to carry extra-long items. If you carry large items regularly, you may find that a minivan, SUV, or wagon is better suited to your needs. These have a sizable cargo area that can be enlarged by folding down or removing the rear seats. A pickup is useful if you often carry loads that would dirty the interior or are taller than other types of vehicles can accommodate. If you prefer a smaller car with maximized cargo carrying ability, a hatchback is a good option.
3. Is performance or fuel economy more important?
Many automakers offer several engine choices for each model, but what is best for you depends on your priorities. Do you prefer a high performance vehicle or one that is more economical? Smaller vehicles and many midsized models provide four-cylinder engines, which typically provide the best fuel economy but may lack the power or smoothness of a V6. You should first decide which type of vehicle is right for you and then look for one that gets good fuel economy for its class.
4. Which transmission do you want?
Most models are available with an automatic transmission . Many automatics now provide a manual-shift mode that works much like a manual transmission but without a clutch. This can make a car more fun to drive, and it is handy when driving in hilly or mountainous areas because it provides more control. A few automatics have a winter mode, where the transmission starts in second gear to improve traction on slippery surfaces. Another type of automatic is a continuously variable transmission . It doesn't have a set number of gear ratios, but can constantly vary between the highest and lowest gears for optimal fuel economy and performance. Manual transmissions provide better performance and fuel economy.
5. 2WD, AWD, or 4WD?
Most vehicles use two-wheel drive, where engine power is sent to the front or rear wheels. Front-wheel drive is used in most cars, wagons, minivans, and the two-wheel-drive versions of car-based SUVs because it's space efficient. It allows the car to have a smaller engine compartment, leaving more room for passengers and cargo.
- Rear-wheel drive places less demand on the front wheels, allowing them to be used mainly for steering. It's commonly used on pickups and traditional truck-based SUVs that are designed to handle heavy duty chores.
- All-wheel drive feeds power to all four wheels. It provides maximum forward traction and is especially helpful in slippery conditions and when driving on off-roadterrain. AWD is also helpful in rapidly changing conditions or when driving on a road with snow and ice.
- The major difference between four-wheel drive and AWD is that 4WD incorporates low-range gearing, which helps in more challenging off-road conditions, such as traversing rocks or in deep water.
Published on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 - Email to a friend
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