| There is no argument that housing prices have | | | | |
| continued to rise over the last couple of | | | | Deciding on a color may seem easy right now |
| years making it the largest single purchase | | | | but if you change your cars every couple of |
| most people will make in their lifetime. | | | | years then you have to keep resale value in |
| However with the prices of the average new | | | | mind. Although many will say color is a |
| car now nearing $30,000 they are definitely | | | | matter of personal preference there are a few |
| the second largest purchase many of us will | | | | guidelines you should follow for particular |
| make by far. By keeping this in mind you can | | | | types of vehicles if you are concerned about |
| help ensure that this important decision | | | | resale value. Regardless what type of vehicle |
| should be made carefully and not in a hurried | | | | you purchase stay away from "out of the norm" |
| or rushed, knee jerk decision that many car | | | | colors like purple or yellow unless you plan |
| dealerships seem to bully most of their | | | | to keep the vehicle forever. Another color |
| customers into. | | | | that has been proven to be "cold" for resale |
| | | | in light blue or "ice blue" as it is known in |
| To make sure that you don't make a mistake | | | | the industry. If you plan to trade every 2-4 |
| and that you buy the best possible vehicle | | | | years you are far better off choosing a |
| for you and that it will accomplish all that | | | | normal color like white, silver, beige, etc. |
| you need it to you should do a little | | | | If you are planning to buy a sports car you |
| research and some soul searching as well. | | | | will definitely want to stay with white, red, |
| | | | or black. |
| To start, consider your present situation of | | | | |
| whether you are single or have a family. If | | | | For your interior choices you may have the |
| you have a family and this will be the | | | | choice of leather, vinyl or cloth. Although |
| primary mode of transportation to shuttle | | | | leather is really nice and smells great to |
| everyone out and around then you may want to | | | | most, you must be the type of person who will |
| consider a minivan. For those soccer moms and | | | | take the time necessary to maintain leather, |
| hockey dads out there the new dual sliding | | | | also keep in mind that leather can be |
| door or even the single sliding door minivans | | | | unbearably hot in the summer and unless the |
| offer serious convenience, plenty of room and | | | | seats are heated, they are very cold in the |
| decent fuel economy considering the load you | | | | winter. If you do plan on getting into a |
| can handle with it. | | | | sports utility or something similar then |
| | | | check out the vinyl, it's cheaper than |
| If you, like many others can't quite see | | | | leather but is really durable and you don't |
| yourself in a minivan you may want to | | | | fell you're going to rip the seat every time |
| consider a sport utility which are really | | | | you get in the car or truck. |
| growing in popularity. The great thing about | | | | |
| these vehicles is that they are available in | | | | You will also want to take insurance cost |
| all makes and in several price ranges to | | | | into consideration when choosing a car, |
| cater to everybody's budget. You can choose | | | | especially if buying for a teenager. Overall, |
| between a smaller, cheaper sport utility like | | | | sports cars and 4-wheel drives are more |
| the Ford Explorer, or get into a larger | | | | expensive to insure, not too mention a lot |
| vehicle like the Chevy Suburban or maybe a | | | | more to fix if you run into any repair |
| Ford Expedition. Either way you get some of | | | | issues. |
| the convenience features of the minivan with | | | | |
| that rugged jeep type of look. | | | | Another good move before you head to the car |
| | | | dealership is to consult a local mechanic and |
| If you are an outdoors mountain junky that | | | | ask them what cars they have the most |
| enjoys going camping and hanging out with | | | | problems with. They can tell you which cars |
| friends in the woods or going on weekend surf | | | | they see with the most problems and what the |
| trips you may want to consider the sporty new | | | | common problems are. Not only will you get an |
| Nissan Pathfinder or another 4x4 vehicle that | | | | idea of what cars are good but more |
| can get you to where you need to go without | | | | importantly, which cars to steer clear of! |
| the worry of how you're getting back out. The | | | | (Excuse the pun) |
| Pathfinder is designed with the outdoor lover | | | | |
| in mind with built in roof racks and storage | | | | So as you can see, walking into a dealer and |
| standard. However with any vehicle that you | | | | buying the first thing they push on you can |
| may be considering don't be talked into | | | | be a bad move unless you have money to burn. |
| 4-wheel drive unless you really need it and | | | | Take the time to think it over and come up |
| intend to use it regularly. There are some | | | | with some guidelines of your own that cover |
| big things to consider with a 4-wheel drive | | | | your present situation so that your new car |
| like, 4-wheel drive transmissions add | | | | purchase will be a pleasant one and not the |
| thousands to the price, is much heavier, and | | | | car buying nightmare you hear about more |
| will also cost you more money for insurance | | | | often than not. |
| and gasoline due to decreased gas mileage. | | | | |