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