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| When shopping for a new or used car it's easy to get caught up in the hoopla. So many choices... so many features... so many colors!
It's like being a kid in a candy store. Before you go and pick the first automobile that tickles your fancy, take a few minutes and think about how your
new ride will fit into your life. |
| 1. | Size - Conventional wisdom would tell us to purchase only as much
car as we need and no bigger. Smaller cars are usually less expensive, cost less to operate, cost less to maintain and are easier to park and store.
Unless you have a family of 8 there's really no need for an SUV or MiniVan. |
| 2. | Luxury - Luxury cars are nice and comfortable, but do you really need
all of that fluff and 3 tons of weight? Most people drive their cars to and from work everyday with perhaps a trip to the grocery store during the week.
Luxury vehicles with all the bells and whistles may be overkill in this scenario. |
| 3. | Style - Once again, sometimes less is more. You should be selecting
a car based on your needs and not on what your neighbors will think about your new purchase. Automobiles are not an investment! They do not increase in
value over time nor do they pay any dividend. Save your money and buy what you need. |
| 4. | Economy - More than just the gas bill... economy refers to maintenance,
repairs, insurance costs and the full gambit of automobile related expenses. Sometimes it really is better to pay a little more up front for quality than
to get a cheap deal that will cost you a fortune to repair and maintain over the years. |
| Everybody wants to drive a nice automobile. It's our reward for our discipline and sacrifice and a symbol of how successful we
are. Too many times however the cars we choose represent a lack of discipline and sacrifice and are a symbol of how successful we wish we were. In
these cases buying a car is counter-productive to our long term goals. |
| Choose your next car based on your current needs and your future goals. Always remember that this is most likely not the last
car you will ever buy. A car is a tool for you to use to accomplish your goals... not destroy them. Don't break the bank getting something you can't
really afford... or you will never be able to afford something nice in the future. |
