Finding the best car for you

If everyone liked the same car, there wouldn't be so many options. You should look carefully for the best vehicle to fit your needs.

Ask yourself the following questions:

- Who is driving?

If you are buying a car for your teenager, you should look for safety first. That 
eliminates most sports cars and SUVs. Remember being a teenage driver? Teens drive differently when there are a lot of people in the car. They try to impress their friends.

Young working adults are usually on a budget, so they should consider efficient, economic vehicles. Older adults should look to easily maneuverable, smaller vehicles.

- How old are the passengers?

Will you need a car seat? Minivans are great for small children because sliding doors make it easy to get toddler into car seats. Look for vehicles that are not too high and not too low if you will be traveling with the very young or elderly. Nice sized, medium height vehicles make it easy for people to get in and out.

- How many passengers are there?

If you have two children and a car seat, then you probably need a SUV or a minivan with third row seating. If you buy a vehicle that seats five, you won't have any room for company.

- How will you use the car?

If you have to commute, a car with good gas mileage and comfort is important. Sit in the car before you buy it and see what back support it offers. Check out all the controls to see if they are easily reached and operated. If you live in a cold area, test drive the car on a cold day without warming it up. See how well it defrosts the windows and how long it takes to get warm.

- City or country car?

If you drive in the city, a small vehicle is easier to park and for driving in traffic. Country drives may want to look into four- wheel drive vehicles.

- How much power do you need?

A four-cylinder car can save you money in fuel costs, maintenance and insurance costs. But if you need to accelerate rapidly onto crowded expressways, a four-cylinder may disappoint you. Consider how much of a performance driver you are.

- Does economy matter?

Economy cars will get the best fuel mileage, as do hybrid vehicles or turbo diesel engines. This can save you a lot of money in the long run.

- How much space do you need?

If you camp or your children participate in sports, you may need a lot of cargo space. You may need to look at minivans, SUVs, wagons or crossover vehicles.

- How big is your garage?

Measure your garage if you are looking to buy a SUV or a van. Many are too wide or too high for a standard garage.

- What do you tow?

If you tow a boat or an RV, you need a vehicle with the horsepower, transmission and chassis to handle the demand. Don't just assume that an SUV can get the job done, check the vehicle's towing capacity before purchasing.

- Do you care about color?

Pick a color you like, but keep in mind that unusual colors are often difficult to sell. Red vehicles cost more to insure. White cars are the least expensive to insure and often have a higher resale value.

- How long before a new one?

How long you plan to own a vehicle can affect which one you purchase. Look at car guides to see which vehicles hold their value. While all vehicles depreciate, some loose value much slower than others.