Cars and trucks are a big deal, a really big deal! Just ask any new driver how important their car is and you’ll see by the reaction on their face. I was talking to a friend this week about his truck and it hit home. I commented on how clean his truck stayed all the time (always immaculate). His answer: “My work truck represents me, people get a sense of my character by what I drive and how well I keep it. I love my truck, a work week doesn’t pass by without getting a compliment on it.” Sounds like a pretty good plan 🙂
We stepped on the gas peddle over a hundred years ago and never looked back. You probably have saddle sores from all the time you spend in the driver’s seat! We will actually cover enough distance in our lifetime to go to the moon and back 3 times! Great reasons why your rocket needs all the comforts of home and specific features to fit your needs. The great thing is, our cars are getting more equipped for our everyday lives and now they’ll even drive for us! Sometimes it seems like we’re in our cars more than we are our homes so finding the right fit is a priority.
There’s practically a car for every person’s taste and task today. Manufactures build to suit our every whim and virtually any available option can be added or removed from the list for the right price. With all these choices it’s getting hard to know where to draw the line! Sure, if money was no option then our perfect car would be on the design table of our favorite manufacturer right now, but let’s get serious; we need the most car for our hard earned dollar. Rest assured, it’s out there, and with the right checklist you’ll find it. Think of your car as you would your home and you’ll be more likely to make practical choices where needed and still have some room for the fun stuff. This simple checklist will get you started prioritizing from the top and then on to the details. Making an educated purchase will pay off huge down the road believe me, I’ve heard some nightmare stories from people that jumped on a “so called deal” without considering if it was what they needed or even wanted!
When shopping for the right car or truck for your lifestyle and budget, use a priority list something like the one below. Price is last on the list for a reason, start with what you want most first. When you find it, negotiate 🙂
- Family
- Safety
- 4WD, All-Wheel Drive, 2WD
- Wheel Base (a.k.a. leg room)
- Travel
- Luxury/Comfort
- Performance/Sporty
- Towing Capacity
- Going Green (Hybrids)
- Fuel Economy
- Reliability
- Maintenance Costs
- Color
- Price
Just like your home, you’re most likely to have a payment on your car. You’re also going to use it daily and keep it for a while… if you choose wisely. Price can be negotiated most times but the other items on your list can’t. Be honest about your needs and wants and the price will almost always reflect your choices. If it’s too high, take another look at those wants before sacrificing a need. Oh, and remember if you plan to keep your next car, get the one you want. It’s easy to keep the things we love. Need options? Call 757-560-4252 and ask for Mike Love, I’ll be happy to answer your questions and guide you through the TM Auto inventory for your next car purchase.
