by D. Edward Hughes

Created on: November 23, 2009

If you're considering buying a new car, taking into account the positive aspects of the purchase should be the number one priority of the intent behind your list of reasons to buy. The logic can be illustrated by a single, but subtle, rule. Buying a new car isn't simply an investment of time and money, it's also a commitment. Not just one to yourself, but one that will affect each and every person who takes a seat in your vehicle. If you take a few moments, you can readily see why this would be the case.

So the very first point on your list should be safety, and you should consider it carefully. This point is what could very well determine the difference in life or death for any given person in the vehicle. The following questions are ones you might wish to ask your dealer. And, if they are competent in their business, they should be able to supply the answers.

* What is the breaking distance of the vehicle? This should be known in either wet or dry conditions.

* What is the 0 - 60mph rating? This is of utmost importance when in competing traffic or coming up to speed on any given interstate.

* How many airbags come with the model and what is their safety rating?

* If it is a hardtop model, is it reinforced in the event of a roll over?

* What are the car's crash test ratings?

* Are the driver's side and passenger's side door(s) reinforced in the event of a side collision on either side?

Now that you have an idea from a safety oriented view, your next point of consideration should be the overall economical advantages or disadvantages of the vehicle.

* What is the vehicle's gas mileage advantage, or disadvantage, in city or highway use? This sounds simplistic, but you would be surprised at how often it is overlooked, even with today's gas prices!

* What size is the engine of the vehicle, and what are it's maximum horsepower and torque output ratings?

* How efficiently is power transferred to either the rear axle or transaxle?

* What size are the tires?

* What sort of spare tire does the vehicle use? What is it's speed and mileage rating?

* Does the vehicle have a manual or automatic transmission? This will affect gas mileage under certain circumstances, especially when driving in city traffic.

Next, you need to know precisely what you are looking for when considering the aesthetic characteristics of the vehicle you have chosen.

* Does the vehicle come with a warranty? If so, how long does it last and what exactly does it include in coverage?

* What specific colors is the vehicle made available in? What are the options for a high performance model?

* What is included in the base price?

* What is included in a fully loaded package?

* If the vehicle comes with a stereo, how many watts peak power and how many watts RMS does it output? What about the speakers, what are their ratings?

* What brand of tires are recommended by the dealership and what is their average cost per tire?

* What kind of intake and exhaust system does the vehicle use?

These are some of the factors which should be considered when purchasing a car, especially if is your first purchase. Taking into account and recognizing the importance of these particular points can provide you with extremely valuable information. Information that not only you, but future users of the vehicle, can take comfort in knowing to make the driving experience more safe and enjoyable.

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