Finding the best car for you

• What's the primary use? If you're buying a car for commuting, gas mileage and comfort will be major considerations. Sit in a car before you buy and see if it supports your back. Check out the climate-control system. If you live in a cold climate, pick a cold day and drive a car before it's been warmed up. See how long it takes to get warm and how effectively it defrosts the windows.
• City or country car? If you drive a lot in the city you should consider small economy cars and minivans that are easy to maneuver and ideal for traffic and parking.
• How much horsepower do you need? If you love performance driving, or have to accelerate rapidly onto crowded freeways, a four-cylinder car may disappoint you. If not, a four-cylinder car can give reliable performance while cutting fuel, maintenance and insurance costs.
• Is economy important? Economy cars and hatchbacks usually get the best mileage, as do the new hybrid vehicles or one of the Volkswagen turbo diesel engines such as the Jetta or Golf, which get up to 40 miles per gallon.
• Is space important? If you or your children participate in sports or have hobbies that need a lot of cargo space, you're going to need more than a car with a trunk. Look for a minivan, SUV, a wagon or a new crossover vehicle .
• Will it fit in your garage? Some SUVs and vans are either too wide or too high for many garages. Measure before you buy.
• Do you haul or tow equipment? Need a vehicle capable of towing a boat or RV? Many small cars simply don't have the horsepower, transmission or chassis to handle those demands. Even some SUVs are not up to the task, so check on the vehicle's towing capacity.
• Choosy about color? Naturally, you should pick a color you like, but keep in mind some unusual colors, such as yellow, can affect not only the car's resale value but also the cost to insure. "Red generally costs the most because insurers associate red-car owners as being younger and more prone to get into accidents," says Brauer. "White cars cost the least to insure."
• How long will you own it? Look at car guides and check out Internet sites to see which vehicles hold their value. Every car drops in value, but some drop much less than others. The Mercedes Benz CLK class retains 64 percent of its value over a three-year period while a 2003 Chevy Tracker two-wheel drive retained only 17 percent.
• Is the name plate 'dead'? Resale value drops sharply for cars whose brand isn't being made anymore. Oldsmobile, the Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird, for example, are being phased out.

-- Posted: Dec. 9, 2003