How big is big enough?
One of your first and most important decisions is: What size vehicle do you need? Your range of choices is impressive. Can you get by with a fuel-efficient subcompact vehicle, or do you need a van, a pickup truck or maybe even one of the popular sport utility vehicles?
It’s always a good idea to avoid buying a bigger vehicle than you need because larger vehicles tend to be heavier and have more powerful engines. That combination results in increased fuel consumption and operating costs. As a rule, bigger vehicles are also more expensive to buy, so you get hit twice as hard in the pocketbook.
Begin by asking yourself how much space you normally need. Consider all your needs, including passengers, luggage, tools and sports equipment. If you regularly carry three passengers or more, a four-door mid-size sedan makes sense. If you usually travel alone, a two-door subcompact car can fit the bill and is more economical. The same holds true for luggage, work supplies, groceries and so on. Do you really need the cargo space of a minivan or pickup truck, or would a hatchback or small station wagon do the job?
Buying a big vehicle to accommodate extra passengers or a heavy, bulky load once or twice a year could be an enormous waste of money. Why not install a trailer hitch instead, or rent a bigger vehicle on the few occasions that you need one? The money you will save by driving a smaller vehicle the rest of the year could more than pay for the cost of the rental. And you’ll be saving wear and tear on your own vehicle at the same time. Do you really need a van or sport utility vehicle for daily commuting? Don’t buy a gas-guzzler just because other people do. Generally speaking, the smaller and lighter the vehicle, the more fuel efficient it will be.