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Automakers have provided consumers with
a mind boggling array of new cars to choose from. It is a difficult and often confusing
process deciding which car is right for your life-style, what you can afford and then
comparing all the similar products the manufacturers make. The next piece of the Car
Buying Puzzle is to make the determination of which car or kind of car is appropriate for
your life-style.
To put this myriad of cars into perspective, we've developed a comprehensive list of
" Vehicles and Their
Categories " for you to view. This will help you to know what cars are available
in which category and will give you an idea how they compete with one another in the
marketplace. The purpose of the list is to give you options. If you know what you can
spend, but don't know what kinds of cars to consider or conversely you know the kind or
even the specific car you want but need to compare it to other models for price or
reliability, this list
will show you the way. For example, if you have your heart set on a Toyota Camry, but
can't afford one, an Oldsmobile Cutlass might be a good option. Both are mid-sized cars
with comparable qualities, but the Camry is on the "Over $22,000" list and the
Cutlass is listed with those cars priced "Under $22,000."
What Kind Of Car-Person Are You?
When addressing the female market, automakers are beginning to admit that
"women" are not a single, homogeneous market. Until just a few years ago, all
women were categorized as "mothers." Now they are seen as generation X-ers,
college students, sports car intenders, 8-5ers, baby boomers, mothers with children,
construction worker/load haulers, busy executives, retirees, seniors and other groupings.
Much of the current auto marketing thrust reflects this revelation. What this means to new
car buyers is that because we are being targeted by more model designs and advertising we
will be aware of a wider array of vehicle options. We'll have more "types" of
cars to wade through during the shopping process. This is a good thing. But it also means
we'll have more research to do.
It makes sense, then, that to intelligently determine which new car model is right for
you, the first step is to define exactly "who" you are. But it is not as simple
as saying, "I'm retired," "I'm a soccer mom," "I'm a CFO."
The smart way to approach your new car decision is to first make a list of the things a
car must do for you (i.e. carry camping gear 6 times a year, carry 3 executives daily).
Then identify a vehicle that accurately suits your life-style. A retired women might see
herself as a "fun-loving single" and want to consider a roadster or sport coupe
- that's a fine choice at first glance, but will it also handle your golf bag and
gardening supplies? The mother of an active family may initially opt for a minivan to get
the kids to soccer, but on further review, decide that a station wagon could carry the
kids just fine while giving her a sedan-like vehicle that better suits the rest of her
life. A minivan, sport utility vehicle or station wagon will undoubtedly be on her list of
considerations. Your life-style should have more to do with what you do daily and
determining who you are with respect to the type of vehicle you buy than a generic
description like "mother," "business owner" or "volunteer
worker." A new vehicle costs major dollars these days and is one of the biggest
purchases you will ever make, except, of course, for a house, yacht or business.
And remember, this automobile could be serving your vehicular needs for many years, so do
an analysis of anticipated life-style changes too. If you're planning to start a family
soon, for example, opt for four doors on your vehicle. If you're moving to the desert,
mountains or an area with severe winters and want off-road capabilities, be sure the
vehicle you choose has four-wheel-drive. On the other hand, if your life-style calls for a
sport utility vehicle (SUV), and even your long-term plans do not include taking it any
further off pavement than the grass at the ball park, you can save several thousand
dollars by choosing an SUV with only two-wheel-drive. For help with the critical
assignment of matching life-style to vehicle type, surf over to " Vehicles and Their Categories
." The 200+ vehicle list offers a full view of what's out there and gives you an
exhaustive list of opportunities to consider.
Deciding Which Car Is Appropriate For You
If you want outside help, you can contact any number of companies that will query you
about your car use habits and provide you with a list of makes and models that match your
needs. Auto Advisor, 1-800-326-1976, for example, will analyze your needs for $60. When
you call Auto Advisor, you talk to a real human being, over the phone, one-on-one, who
fills out a form used to determine your specific needs. After the conversation, you
receive a list of car options based on your own personal habits. And there is no
obligation to buy anything.
An alternative source for making an intelligent vehicle choice is the J.D. Power and
Associates' " J.D. Power Guide to
Automobiles " CD. The CD, which costs $18.95, operates as a "choice
machine." The CD poses questions about your car needs and provides you with a list of
applicable car options based on your answers. The CD can be purchased online directly from
the J.D. Power Web Site.
Performance And Other Considerations
Once you've settled on the type of vehicle that best suits your personal requirements,
you'll need to make several additional decisions in order to accurately define "your
car." One decision has to do with performance. The term "performance" has
several different meanings. How the vehicle "performs" during the test drive is one
definition. Motorheads discussing the latest Shelby car are usually talking about another
kind of performance.
A sports car with awesome horsepower
is sometimes called a "performance car." One of the more popular new car
categories for 1997 is the "performance sedan."
Generally, this definition refers to a vehicle being marketed as a "driver's
car" for the family person with seating for five, and four doors to accommodate them.
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