|
 |
Which New Car Model is Right for
Me... Page 3
continued
Bigger is definitely better for long road trips. The list of vehicle "specs"
mentioned earlier include the vehicle's weight. If the "curb weight"
specification is 3500 pounds or more, you can be sure it's a big car. (See the "large
car" category in " Vehicles
and Their Categories .") The Cadillac DeVille, for example, weighs 3959 pounds.
For a family excursion, a roomier vehicle like a station wagon, minivan or sport utility
vehicle is probably a better choice. Happy kids are kids with plenty of room. If everybody
can't have a window, maybe they can have their own cupholder, a place to put their stuff,
separate climate controls or their own radio with headphone jacks.
If a large car appears on your vehicle "consideration" list for whatever reason,
be sure the vehicle will fit into your garage. Some people are now choosing a Chevrolet
Tahoe rather than a GMC Suburban because the vehicles are comparable but the Tahoe is
shorter and fits more easily into a garage.
For those climbing the corporate ladder or entrepreneurs needing to impress clients (or
anybody else for that matter), luxury can be a serious criterion. Your posh car can be a
two-door coupe or a four door sedan. It can be a two-seat roadster or a nine-passenger
sport utility vehicle. (See " Vehicles and Their Categories
.") It probably needs power-leather seats, power windows and sun roof, a top-notch
stereo system, a powerful engine and climate controls for the driver and passengers.
Again, your specific requirements need to define the configuration of your luxury vehicle.
A note to couples caught up in roadster-mania: neither babies nor anyone under 4' 7"
should EVER ride in the front seat of a vehicle because rapidly inflating passenger-side
airbags can kill. So if there's a child in your future and you still MUST HAVE a
two-seater, at least consider how the passenger-side airbag can be temporarily shut off.
You don't want it disconnected; airbags DO save adult lives. Some companies like
Mercedes-Benz have developed "smart airbag" systems that shut off while a
specially configured baby seat is in place.
If luxury is important and financial prosperity is still a ways off, you may want to
consider the new "near-luxury" or "entry level luxury" category
developed by makers of luxury automobiles to lure buyers to their brand before they reach
the pinnacle of success. These cars are broken down in the " Vehicles and Their Categories
" list. Most are priced about $30,000. Many automakers consider the woman new car
buyer an excellent target for these automobiles.
Now that you've analyzed your life-style relative to your vehicle needs and wants, it's
time to make that list we've been talking about of all the vehicles suitable to the
individual "you." The long list of " Vehicles and Their Categories
" can serve as your worksheet. (And you are welcome to print it out for your own
use.) For example, if you're a retired, fun-loving single, and have determined that a
sporty two-door coupe is just what you need to enhance your life-style, there are eighteen
cars priced under $25,000 and twenty priced over $25,000 in the "sporty cars"
category. If it's a sport utility vehicle you need, the selection list is broken into
"small-sized," "compact" and "full-sized" SUVs to help you
refine the vehicle best suited to your needs.
Some of the vehicles listed on " Vehicles and Their Categories
" look like they are multiple model listings (Chevrolet Cavalier/Pontiac Sunfire, for
example). The reason for this is that many automotive marketers produce similar models and
sell them under different nameplates. These separate but similar vehicles are called
"siblings." It's all about marketing and not much else. A good example of this
tactic is General Motors's 1997 family of minivans: Chevrolet Venture, Pontiac Trans Sport
and Oldsmobile Silhouette. Chevrolet, Pontiac and Oldsmobile are all divisions of General
Motors and all three minivans have the exact same engine, are approximately the same size
and share a number of features. Among the qualities they don't share is cost. As you might
expect, the Chevrolet Venture carries the lowest cost of the three; the Oldsmobile
Silhouette the highest. What General Motors is really doing here is reacting to brand
loyalty by offering a minivan for the customers of each of these divisions in order to
keep them in the GM family and not force them to go to another automaker if they want a
minivan. So the structure and features are similar and should be compared to one another
for value.
Comfort and luxury are two other factors to consider as you continue to pare down the list
of vehicles that suit your life-style. If you drive long distances to work every day, a
comfortable driver's seat is a must. Look for a multi-adjustable seat. A power seat
adjustment is best because it gives you a better chance of getting the position "just
right." Some even have a memory setting so more than one driver can always find their
"prefect" position instantly. You may also want the driver's seat to include
lumbar support. If a long motor trip is the first item on the agenda for your new vehicle,
it's important that everybody making the journey have a comfortable seat. The lumbar
support for the driver is particularly welcome on road trips. Simply changing the
adjustment slightly can rejuvenate you. It's a little like stretching. If you're making an
"adults only" trip, consider the poor person in the middle of the car's back
seat.
Bigger is definitely better for long road trips. The list of vehicle "specs"
mentioned earlier include the vehicle's weight. If the "curb weight"
specification is 3500 pounds or more, you can be sure it's a big car. (See the "large
car" category in " Vehicles
and Their Categories .") The Cadillac DeVille, for example, weighs 3959 pounds.
For a family excursion, a roomier vehicle like a station wagon, minivan or sport utility
vehicle is probably a better choice. Happy kids are kids with plenty of room. If everybody
can't have a window, maybe they can have their own cupholder, a place to put their stuff,
separate climate controls or their own radio with headphone jacks.
MORE » |
