SUVs
SUVs are all the rage! They are spacious and rugged, providing the room and
manageability many busy families on the go require and want. And for lovers of
cars, they are truly impressive machines. When setting out to buy an SUV,
however, it is important to keep a number of problems in mind so that you can
purchase the very best SUV for you and your family.
SUV CONCERNS
The most obvious concern about buying a SUV is fuel economy. The average SUV is
33 per cent less fuel efficient that the average passenger car; with rising fuel
prices, that can translate into an expensive drive. For instance, if you drive
15,000 miles a year with gas prices at $1.15 a gallon, you will end up spending
an extra $420 a year on gas.
From a safety viewpoint, SUVs have a nasty habit of rolling over, which may be
leading to higher levels of fatalities among SUV owners. SUVs are prone to
rolling over because they are so much heavier than normal care and ride higher –
on average, 8 inches higher than passenger cars. A study by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration found that rollovers accounted for 37 per cent of
all fatal SUV crashes, as compared to only 15 per cent for passenger cars.
Due to the increased safety risk, increased maintenance costs, and the overall
popularity of SUVs, you will also likely face a higher insurance bill. On survey
showed that SUV owners would pay between 5 and 19 per cent more for their car
insurance because they own a SUV.
PICKING THE BEST SUV
There are over 80 different SUV models available for sale in the United States,
from small to full-sized, from basic models to luxury models. Finding the
perfect SUV is as much about finding a vehicle your pocket book is comfortable
with as it is finding a vehicle that you are comfortable driving.
The key to buying an SUV, as with buying any type of car, is research. Do not
show up at the car lot unprepared or on a whim – the salespersons will latch on
to you and try to sell you something that you do not need. When you get your
research done before you start looking at cars, you will be able to figure out
what bells and whistles you actually need. So, read consumer magazines, look
through message boards by current drivers, ask friends and family. Once you have
done your research and have a general idea what you are looking for, you can
start looking at cars.
Before you purchase any SUV, be sure to take it for a spin. If you plan to take
the SUV off-road (as it was meant to be used!), ask the salesperson where you
can go to test this ability out. If you are buying the SUV to make the bumpy
trip down your cottage laneway, you are not going to fully experience what that
drive will be like by taking a smooth and straight drive down the freeway.
The most important thing when buying an SUV is to make sure you are absolutely
comfortable with the SUV – there are a lot of models available for you as a
consumer, you do not have to content yourself with an uncomfortable car. Ask a
lot of questions about its safety features and fuel economy. If the salesperson
does not have the answers you like or need, go somewhere else.
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