The Lifestyle List: How to Know Which Car is Right For You
Life is full of difficult decisions. What to study, which career to choose, where to live? Sometimes even deciding what to eat for dinner can be tough if you’ve had a long day! Making meaningful lifestyle choices can be hard work, and sometimes if you make the wrong choice, it can come back to haunt you. But what about when it comes to choosing a car that suits your lifestyle? This is another big choice, but lucky for you, you’re about to read through the lifestyle list where we’ll explore how to go about making this decision.
Size Matters
The size of your vehicle will depend on your current lifestyle. For example, if you live in the city or suburbs, a small SUV is just the ticket. You get all the power and storage of a larger model, but with the sporty design and tight handling of a smaller car. You’ll usually see an excellent fuel economy with a smaller SUV as well.
Do You Like the Design?
Different makes of cars favor different design elements. Some will gel with your own personal style, and some won’t. Spend a bit of time online looking at the different makes and make a shortlist of which brands you prefer according to style. At the end of the day, you’re going to drive this car day in and day out, so you want something that you like the look of.
Safety Matters
As well as style, another essential thing to consider is the safety rating of the cars on your shortlist. Some cars are safer than others, as ranked by their ANCAP safety stars. A five-star rating is ideal. This is important because although you may be a brilliant driver, you can’t guarantee the behavior of other people on the road. Play it safe and choose a make and model that is equipped with safety features that will allow you to drive with peace of mind.
What’s Your Budget?
There’s no point shortlisting a vast range of cars if you can’t afford some of them. Ideally, before you begin test driving, you should know precisely what you can afford to spend. If you’re financing your purchase with a bank loan, the bank’s website should have a borrowing calculator which will help you to figure out how much you can afford and what your repayments will be. Set your budget and stick to it. You may be tempted to borrow more than you can afford, but you run the risk of defaulting and losing your car this way, so play it smart.
Let the Test Drive Decide
Once you have your shortlist down to a few different models, take them all for test drives. Allow for as long as the dealership will allow you to drive it for. Try it in a few different conditions – heavy traffic and open roads. See how it accelerates, brakes, and turns. Assess the handling, the sound system, and the other features. Finally, pick the favorite of your shortlist, providing it meets all the other criteria listed above.
A New Car Conclusion
The size of the car you choose should reflect your lifestyle. For those in the city and suburbs, a small SUV is best. Make sure you pick a design that matches your personal style. Don’t neglect the safety rating of your shortlist. Narrow down your budget, and don’t borrow more than you can afford to pay off. Finally, take each car on your final shortlist for a test drive and let this be the deciding action. Enjoy your new wheels!
