How to Evaluate and Review Automobiles

November 01, 2016

My husband is a car lover and enjoys the process of looking for cars, whereas I would rather go to the dentist for a root canal.  As we were sharing our differences with a friend of ours, she said that the biggest question she has is just how to get started.  Below is how my husband answered her question:

No matter which category you fall into, one things become very apparent. It takes time and energy. To make the best decision, first consider how you will use the car to narrow down your options.  For instance:

How much driving will you do? The longer your drives, the more gas mileage and wear and tear becomes important. So you may start evaluating cars for gas mileage and the overall cost for wear and tear. Consider using websites like Long-Term Quality Index  and Consumer Reports to evaluate the reliability of the vehicle. These reviews can also help you avoid the most troubling models to increase your likelihood of having a reliable vehicle.

What are your capacity needs? Is it just yourself driving or a bunch of kids? Will you be hauling major items or just groceries? Consider reviewing websites like Edmunds and Car and Driver to get a road test evaluation as to how the vehicle fits into your lifestyle needs

Once you have determined this, evaluate your budget to figure out how much you can either afford to pay with cash or how much of a monthly payment you can make. The general rule of thumb for car payments is the 20/4/10 rule, which is to put 20% down, to have repayments terms of 4 years or less and for the cost of the vehicle (payments, maintenance, insurance, and gas) to be 10% of your monthly gross income or less. Websites like Kelley Blue Book give you an estimate of what cars you can afford in your budget and they can even estimate car payments.

If you are me, the thought of doing is like nails scratching a chalkboard. Trust me though. In the end, you will thank yourself for doing the upfront work now to get a reliable vehicle that you can use for years to come.