Buying a New Car Decide What You Can Afford, Want, and Need A car is one of the most important and costly purchases you may make. By preparing yourself before you start shopping for a car, you can make the buying process much easier. Besides helping you decide what is best for you, your research and preparation will help you get the best deal. Some people may have saved enough money to be able to pay cash for a new car. Others must finance the purchase. Take a careful look at your budget to determine how much you can afford to spend as a down payment on a new car and how much you can spend on monthly payments. Once you have decided on your price range, decide what type of car you want and need. When making this decision, consider how many passengers will be riding in the vehicle and the kind of driving you do. While a sports coupe(双座四轮车) might be just what you need to get back and forth to work, a larger vehicle may be in order if you need the car to shuttle children to and from various activities. Information Equals Bargaining Leverage (杠杆) Once you decide on the type of car you need, it is time to do your research to narrow down the choices. A number of publications and other resources can provide comparison information rating the vehicles within specific categories. Compare such areas as safety, reliability, fuel economy, warranties, operating costs, general features, and options when making your decision. Safety Consider the safety features offered in a car. More and more auto makers are offering air bags on the front passenger's side, in addition to the driver's side. Air bags automatically inflate (膨胀) on impact to provide a cushion. Other optional safety features include built-in child safety seats, anti-lock brakes, and traction control. Anti-lock brakes keep the wheels from locking up and skidding out of control when the driver slams on the brakes suddenly, or hits a slick spot in the road. Also, consider whether the car has good outward visibility, and whether or not the gauges on the instrument panel are easy to read. Reliability A number of sources compare maintenance costs on vehicles and have compiled information about repairs that are likely with particular models. Information is also available on the number of complaints filed about particular cars. Fuel Economy Mandated(批准) by federal law, fuel economy has improved over the years. The average fuel economy is now more than 28 miles per gallon. Federal law requires an Environmental Protection Agency label to be placed on the window of every new car, listing average fuel economy for city and highway driving according to EPA tests. The ratings are intended to be a comparison between models. Depending on how and where you drive, your actual mileage may not match the estimates. Warranties Compare each car's warranty coverage, which may vary widely among car manufacturers. Consider the length of the warranty, mileage limits, and deductibles. Some cars have basic warranties, which cover the entire vehicle, while others have limited warranties. Operating Costs A number of publications offer estimates on what it costs to operate a car in a year's time. These costs vary greatly from one model to another, with luxury cars costing more than economy cars. The factors included in operating costs arc fuel, oil, maintenance, and tires. Other costs associated with ownership, which also vary greatly, are insurance, depreciation, taxes, and licensing. General Features Consider your particular needs when analyzing different vehicles, For instance, if you need a lot of trunk space for hauling groceries, baseball equipment, or boxes of supplies for your office, cho