Did you know that there are over 47 vehicle manufacturers in the United States alone? That doesn't include any motorcycle only manfacturers, ATV's or Scooters. So why are there so many people out there driving cars they don't really like? This section is the basic steps on how to pick out the car that YOU should be driving.
The first peice of advice that I like to give everyone, before they purchase anything, is buy a car that you like, emotionally. That ranges anywhere from looks to the seats. That way, when it breaks down on you, and it will, they all do, otherwise people like me wouldn't be needed, you wont be mad at it, and will trust it, after it's been repaired.
Do your research and know what is out there. Start planning to buy a car a year or more in advance. Pick a size car and look at EVERY car on the market that size. Then look at at size bigger and a size smaller. Look at all of the options that all of those cars can give you. Maybe it's REALLY important to you that you have iPod integration. Or maybe you have to have lighted mirrors. There is a reason that there are so many kinds of cars out there. Everyone wants and needs something different. What works for your neighbor probably wont work for you. Narrow it down to about 5 cars from that point and then go onto the next step.
Now go test drive! Those 5 cars that you have on your list all need to be test drove. Drive them in all engine sizes, with different transmission styles (if you can), and drive them with different options. With the way that cars are made now a days, there's no reason, other than people getting tired of it, or wrecking it, that you cant have a car for 10+ years and over 200,000+ miles. Take someone with you and ask them to take notes for you as you're driving. That way, when you're narrowing down your options, you can make a good pro's and con's list. This process of driving all of your different cars can take a long time. Don't try to get it all done at once or even in a short period of time.
One of the biggest things that I have to remind people, is to have an open mind! American cars are not the oil dripping, gas guzzling monsters anymore, and foriegn cars are not the be all and end all. There's no reason that you should be limiting yourself to one of the other or to one specific brand. There have been some american cars that I'd rather drive than a BMW, depending on the application and what I'm driving them for. And there have been times where all I wanted was a BMW for what I was doing. It all depends on the person and their needs.
Remember, as a general rule that the more expensive the car, the most maintence and repairs are going to be. Make sure that it is something in your budget when you're purchasing the car. I'll talk about this later, and more in depth, but you can't over maitence a car. Its something that is very important if you want your vehicle to last.
