Car Buying Guide

Need A Car, But Have No Clue Where To Start?

Overwhelmed, Unsure How To Move Forward? Let’s Gain Clarity Together

You see, I am right there with you. Stuck. Lost.What price can I justify? What features should be my first priority? What size do I NEED?

This article will be part journal entry and tips for organizing your search. I am hoping by getting this down on paper, I will gain clarity myself and in turn help others.

Every so often, the need for a car moves up the priority list. For some reason, I really struggle to determine what type of vehicle I need. I have revisited this process about 5 times over the past decade with breaks in between. Luckily, I have family that passed older cars to us in the interim. Now, during that time, I went from someone planning to have a family, to a person lugging stuff around to festivals for business, to a child almost out of a booster seat and no business.

Here are the questions I might ask someone first if they mention they need a car?

• What is your budget?
• Are you okay with a used car?
• How many people are in your household?
• Do you have to carry equipment for work, sports, kids, etc?
• Do you take overnight road trips?
• Do you commute?
• Would you prefer gas, hybrid, or electric vehicles?

Now, in reality, we may not have clear answers to the questions above. I sure don’t.

Narrow Your Scope

As a Professional Organizer, I taught clients to ask the question Keep, Sell, Toss, or Donate as they sorted through their belongings. Overwhelmed at the start, I showed them how to tackle the challenge.

It begins with Toss. Quickly move through and get rid of all the trash.

The pile in front of you is smaller!

Now, split what is left into two piles Keep or Get Rid Of. If you aren’t sure, don’t mull over it. Set it aside and move to the next item. The smaller the pile gets, the more clarity we have for decisions. Next, revisit the challenging items. Later, differentiate between sell or toss if you haven’t already.

Why Am I Sharing My Organizing Technique With You In The Middle Of An Article About Car Buying? Good Question

It is time for me to apply this to my Car Decision.

Which answers are clear for you?

For example, if you have a family of 6 a sedan won’t work for you.

Look at the questions above and right down the ones for which you have a definitive answer.

For me, it looks like this…

Pass 1: Eliminate The Easy Stuff

What do you know for sure that you can eliminate from your search?

Toss Out → New cars that are 50K+, Used Cars that are 30K+, Two-seaters, Trucks

If you already are focused on a particular manufacturer, GREAT! If not, eliminate the obvious ones.

Pass 2: Features

Now, which features fall under either of these two categories…

Must Have → The features the car MUST HAVE (comfortable seating and reach for my size, safety features, good acceleration, well thought out storage space

Preference → The features you would really like to have if it fits within the budget. (trunk capacity — height /depth, quieter and less bumpy ride, hybrid/good gas mileage)

For some of you, adequate space for car seats is of upmost importance and for others, ease of entry for senior citizens may be more critical.

Note: Later the trick becomes figuring out whether those added features are available on the cars in your budget.

Pass 3: Read Reviews And/Or Test Drive Cars To Eliminate More Cars From The List

Ask Your Friends

I asked my Facebook Hive about their recent car purchases. This step not only helps me narrow my scope, but also gives me insider knowledge of issues they may be having.

Car Shopping Question:

If you bought a 2017–2020 vehicle, what have you discovered you don’t like about the vehicle and which year, make, and model is it? Since it isn’t so easy right now to test drive the cars, I am reaching out for some insider knowledge. Thank you!

Test Drive

Test Drive Outing 1: I visited two companies that I wasn’t as familiar with but had heard good things from friends.

Test driving the newest models? Be sure to ask what differs from previous model years.

Test drive the model level that has the features that were MUST HAVE’S for you. (LX, EX, Touring, etc)

Outing 1: Mazda (CX-5, CX-9) and Subaru (Forester, Outback, Legacy).

Outing 2: Toyota (Prius, Camry, Rav4)

Exhausted, still confused about size, but I was able to eliminate a few models.

While my husband and I both have very different builds, we both noticed our discomfort while driving (center console under elbow was too high and too wide causing shoulders to lift, seats were too firm and sometimes to narrow or raised on the edge).

Next Outing: Honda

I have mixed feelings with Honda. I had a wonderful experience with my ’99 Accord EX-V6. I had it for 17 years, 185K, and little to breakdowns. Over the past decade, with the introduction of Hybrids, the storage capacity really shrunk and it turned me off. Curious, I visited our local dealership a few months ago and was treated so poorly that I was determined to give the other manufacturers a look. I will be test driving at a different location!

Reviews (Written and Videos)

I really like the reviews that compare the models I am curious about.

Pass 4: Fine Tuning The Search

We all process information differently. It is time to clearly delineate which model years/level and features fall within your budget.

For Subaru, the safety features come standard in the 2020 models. Only the lowest level model would be within my budget. My only alternative would be finding used cars that happen to have the upgraded features.

Create A Spreadsheet

I find that I remember details for one vehicle and then as I investigate others the details about the first get blurred. Record how you feel in the cars as well.

Locate Resources Online To Figure Out Pricing

Can you find the model level you like and features you need within your budget?

For new cars, the information is typically available on the manufacturers website.

For used cars, check websites like Edmunds and KBB.

Locating Your Ideal Car

Sometimes your local dealership isn’t the best place to go. Do some research to determine dealerships with a good reputation and where you might get the best deals. To see what a particular location has in stock, you can check the manufacturers website or contact the dealership directly. It is best to stay in state so the car is ready for your state’s emissions standards. If the sales tax is really high where you live, consider going to a neighboring region with lower rates.

Selecting A Dealership

What incentives are they offering?

Ask about the warranty?

Do they offer any long-term service with the purchase of the car?

Ask about the financing. During Covid-19, many manufacturers offered no interest for 5 Years.

Writing has helped me clearly articulate the process and express my Must-Haves. I hope my approach helps you gain clarity too. I still desire a clearer picture of which year, make, and model combination will provide those features within my budget. Do you have a favorite website that would help me figure it out? Share it in the comments!

Car Buying: Unique factors play into our decision. Remember to test drive the car and experience it for yourself.