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Chapter 3: Hit the Books Before the Accelerator
Consider Your Needs and Wants
When you start the car selection
process, simply knowing that you "kind of like little wagons"
or want something with "some zip" is fine. But also ask
yourself, "What will I use the car for?" and, "What
are my priorities?" A small wagon might be a reliable family
car, whereas a two-seat sports car might be the ticket for
weekend cruising. Use our checklist on Page 69 to review your
options.
Ask Around
Whether they're highly
knowledgeable about cars or not, car owners can tell you about
the experiences they've had with their cars. Quiz them to find
out what they like and don't like about their cars. Listen to
their recommendations, but keep in mind that their reasons for
liking a car may differ from yours.
Visit the Library
Comparison shop by learning how
"the experts" rate cars. "Consumer's Digest Annual
Car and Truck Buying Guide" compares models and offers
recommendations. The "Consumer Reports Annual Buying Guide,"
which comes out every April, is also helpful. Other books, such
as Jack Gillis' "New Car Book" and his "Used Car
Book," talk about cars in plain English.
We'd be remiss if we didn't
mention using the Internet for research. If you're familiar with
the workings of the World Wide Web, you may be able to access a
Web page full of information on the vehicle you're considering.
If you don't have Internet access, see if your library does.
Use your resources to narrow your
choices down to three or four models. Different manufacturers
design cars that are very similar, so learn which cars or trucks
are basically the same. Guides often categorize cars in classes
so you can easily comparison shop.
Compare Costs
If you're like most car buyers,
you'll get a loan to pay off a car, so you should determine what
you can spare each month.
To figure your car costs, remember
that the listed car price is only one slice of the financial pie
— and it's usually negotiable. Insurance, depreciation,
license fees, gas and maintenance make up a major part of the
cost, but buyers seldom consider them up front. Adding up all
these pieces will tell you what you'll really spend monthly and
annually over the life of the car. See Chapter 2 for a review of
how to calculate your costs.
Make a Safe Choice
Manufacturers have discovered that
a majority of consumers put safety first. Therefore,
manufacturers are putting considerable effort into designing cars
that can minimize injuries in an accident.
Every year the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issues reports comparing
the occupant protection levels of approximately 90 automobiles.
The test simulates the impact of two cars meeting head on at 35
miles per hour. Crash-test dummies in the cars show the injuries
people would have received if they'd been in the accident. To get
the latest crash test results, call NHTSA's Auto Safety Hotline,
1-800-424-9393. If you prefer, check out their Web site at: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/index.htm.
Don't Hurry Love
The best way to avoid problems
after you buy a car is to know what you need before you buy it
— and not get swept away by love. Here's what happened to a
poor fellow who fell for a car and made a commitment too soon.
The man was enamored with a little
foreign sports car offering a fast ride and some sex appeal. He
put down his money and made a long-term financial promise. This
man lived in the North Woods — 100 miles from the nearest
foreign car dealer. He had failed to realize that every time his
fast and temperamental phenom broke down, he'd have to have it
towed 100 miles!
Frustrated and fed up, he wanted
to return the car, but it was too late. He'd signed the contract
to purchase the car and had to live up to his agreement, for
better or worse.
Go into car-buying with your eyes
open. Before you buy a car, know what car you want. Know its
value. Know if you can afford it. Don't let love turn your head
and empty your wallet.
Safety Equipment
For optimal safety, cars should
not only hold up well in a crash, but should also include safety
equipment. Consider ordering the following for your car if the
following aren't already standard equipment:
• Air bags for the driver
and front passenger seats
Air bags are designed to protect
front-seat passengers in 30-mph frontal collisions. They've
considerably reduced average injury severity in frontal crashes.
A word of caution, however: Wear your seat belt even if you have
air bags. Air bags are not meant to replace seat-belts; instead,
they enhance their effectiveness. Also, according to the National
Highway Safety Administration, children under age 12 should not
sit in the front seat if the car is equipped with air bags. And
rear-facing car seats carrying infants should never be
used in the front seat. For more
about air bags, see Page 23.
• Lap belts in front and
back seats
While some people believe it's
better to be thrown free from the car in an accident and
therefore don't wear their safety belts, the chances of being
killed are 25 times greater if you're ejected from the car. About
60 percent of the deaths and injuries in car crashes could have
been avoided if the occupants had been wearing safety belts. So
buckle up!
• Shoulder belts
Your shoulder belt helps your lap
belt hold you steady during a crash. But avoid shoulder belts
mounted on the door — they won't keep you from flying out if
the car door opens during a crash.
• Anti-lock brake systems
(ABS)
Anti-lock brakes automatically
pump the brakes for you when you slam your foot on them in an
emergency. They may help you avoid an accident by slowing or
stopping your skid while you try to turn. The down side is that
if you try to pump the brakes and end up taking your foot off the
brake pedal, the anti-lock feature won't work as it's designed to.
You must constantly hold your foot on the brake. Learn to use
anti-lock brakes properly if your car has them.
Is Your Car Giving You the Shakes?
If you suspect your car has a
problem beyond normal wear and tear, call the NHTSA Auto Safety
Hotline. The Auto Safety Hotline phone numbers are 1-800-424-9393
and TTY: 1-800-424-9153. (Or visit the NHTSA World Wide Web site
at: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/index.htm.) NHTSA can tell you if
the model has a manufacturing defect. NHTSA tracks the following:
• Recall information. NHTSA
will let you know if your car was recalled for a defect. When you
buy a new or used car, the dealer should check to see if there's
been a recall. Also, remind mechanics to check for recalls
whenever they service your car.
• Early warnings on potential
defects. Since all reported defects are reviewed by NHTSA, you
can find out if NHTSA is investigating a problem with your model
of car. If not, your reporting of a defect may open an
investigation that could lead to a recall.
• Crash test information.
Find out how vehicles fare in annual crash tests.
Once you've done some background work, narrow your choices to
three or four models you'd like to test drive. And choose a
seller as carefully as you choose a car. The next chapter tells
you where to start shopping for one.
The Test Drive
You've done your research. You've
narrowed your choices to a few models. Now it's time to get
behind the wheel and take that all-important test drive.
You may wonder, isn't a test drive
like any other type of drive? Not quite. Keep in mind what you
want to learn. You're about to make a major commitment and you
want to make sure it's to the right vehicle. The following should
be a part of your test drive:
• Take the car on the road
for at least a half hour.
• Drive in city and freeway
traffic. See how the car starts, stops, shifts (if it has a
manual transmission), speeds up on the freeway and takes corners.
• Ask yourself how
comfortable you feel in the driver's seat.
• Let a friend drive so you
can see how the car feels from the passenger's seat. Try out the
back seat, too, if you're buying a sedan or van.
• If it's winter, great! Find
out how the car handles on snow and ice.
• Don't go easy on the car.
Drive like you really plan to drive.
Child Safety Seats
Automobile accidents are the
leading cause of death or serious injury for children, yet nearly
80 percent of children who die in vehicle crashes could have been
saved by proper use of child safety seats or safety belts.
In Minnesota, children ages 4 and
under must ride in federally approved safety seats, as identified
on the seat. Infants under 20 pounds must ride in rear-facing
safety seats, which must be secured with a seat belt, assuming
that the car was originally equipped with seat belts. The fine
for failing to properly restrain children is $50.
When purchasing a child safely
seat consider the following:
• Find out if it's been
recalled for defects. Call the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline. This is
especially important when you buy a used car seat.
• Make sure the seat can be
properly installed in your vehicle.
• For convenience, select a
seat that requires fastening only one strap.
• Make sure a child can move
his or her limbs freely, even in bulky winter clothing. A child
should be able to sleep in the seat and, if older, see out the
window.
• If the seat has been in a
crash, don't use it. Replace it immediately.
Chapter 4: Where to Buy a Car
Once considered rock bottom on consumer lists that rank
trustworthiness, car salespeople have climbed above others in
surveys today. A recent report shows that 82 percent of used-car
salespeople value honesty as an important factor in achieving
success, whereas stockbrokers rated honesty 30 percent lower than
that.
Car salespeople have a twofold job:
selling you a car and selling you a car you want. Seek out a car
dealer who errs on the latter side. Shop for a dealer as
diligently as you are shopping for your car.
Price isn't the only consideration
in selecting a dealer, however. The service you'll receive after
you buy the car is critically important, too.
Ask to speak to the service
manager before you buy a car. Find out when the service
department is open, especially if weekends and weeknights are the
best times for you to bring in the car. Also ask about the
availability and condition of "loaners." Some dealers
loan cars when repairs take a day or more to complete. Others
will rent you a car or provide you with transportation.
Proximity is another important
consideration. Having your dealership close to home saves time
and gas money when servicing the car.
Ask friends to recommend dealers
or seek out customers' opinions. Also, look for customer service
awards proudly displayed on the walls of the dealership.
Manufacturers survey the dealers' customers about the service
they received and recognize top-flight dealerships. You can also
call the Better Business Bureau for more information about a
dealer.
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