By Monico D. Mekaniko
Purchasing your first car can be a turning point in a person’s life especially if you’re buying it with your very own hard-earned money.
This can place a lot of pressure on you since you need a vehicle that will last at least until you can afford to get yourself a newer one. And so the million-peso question is: How do I determine which car to buy? Going through the basics might help.
Where do you intend to use it? This is perhaps the first factor you must consider to narrow down your pick. There’s city driving, or for those going around the metro for work and errands.
Rural driving are for those who travel out of town or outside city limits, while freeway/highway driving are often for long-haul trips across one province to another.
What kind of car suits you? If your idea of use or location is mostly generic or universal, you could go for the car that complements your daily lifestyle.
Economy cars are a common trend in the market today for their low price and maintenance cost, particularly with the endless surge in oil prices.
Sedans are often bigger in form and with much powerful engines, making them ideal for rural driving and for those with small families.
Vans, of course, are for larger groups whether traveling within the confines of the city or out of town.
Sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are the car of choice if your activities often involve the outdoors or heavy-duty driving. Crossovers, on the other hand, are a more compact version of SUVs but with the same engine capacity and with some of the features of a sedan.
Whichever you choose, remember two basic considerations: The bigger the engine, the bigger the fuel consumption; the heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it will use.
How much can you afford? Owning a car today is considered much easier for the consuming public made possible by various modes of payment you can choose from—cash, all-in promos and bank financing or auto loans.
However, it also pays to consider the additional expenses that may come with your car of choice in the long run. There’s the upward trend of oil prices, regular oil change and other upkeeps to must-have accessories like anti-theft alarm and car tint.
Think well and think smart about the car you want to own. Do some research, get second opinions and do the math before heading to your auto dealer. Keep in mind that the more confident you are about your car, the more conditioned a driver you become.
Till next time, this is Monico D. Mekaniko, Va-va-vroom!
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