How to Buy a Safe Car
From LoveToKnow Buy
Safety is without a doubt one of the biggest and most pressing issues to consider when purchasing either a new or used car. How do you know if the vehicle you're purchasing is one that can stand up to the myriad dangers of the open road? The bottom line is that there's really no etched-in-stone way to tell. However, there are a lot of things car shoppers should keep in mind and investigate when shopping for a vehicle that will give them peace of mind on the open road.
Tips for buying a safe car
- The first thing to do even before consulting consumer reports on safe vehicles is talking to friends and family about which cars on the market they feel are the safest, or have heard are the safest. You'll be surprised at just how much these people can tell you. If no one can help you out with good advice, check out the car message boards at Big Boards for discussions on everything pertaining to automobiles.
- Next, begin combing consumer safety reports for information on the particular automobile you're interested in. You'll want to look most closely crash data when doing this research. A good place on the web to check out for doing this research is Consumer Reports Autos .
- Should you decide on a car that will fit your needs (keep in mind the number of passengers on average you'll be transporting, the terrain you'll be moving over, etc), go and check the car out in person. Inspect the car closely and be sure the vehicle has front and side air bags, the most up-to-date seatbelt features, superior traction control, and antilock brakes, to name a few important safety features.
- The weight of the car you are looking at is very important. Heavier vehicles tend to fare better in crash tests than lighter vehicles, as lighter vehicles tend to tip over more easily than heavier vehicles.
- Take the car for a test drive. Focus on how the car handles for you, and how quickly and easily you can accelerate and brake. Test the seat belts to make sure they work properly. If possible, bring someone along with you for a second opinion on handling and braking. This could be the salesperson, your husband or wife, or a friend. Many times people become intensely focused on buying a particular car based solely on it's cosmetic make up. Try to keep in mind that what matters most is how safe your car is, not the look of it. Having someone in the passenger seat when test driving a car you want might help you keep this in mind.
- Finally, the most important thing you can do, regardless of what car you purchase is DRIVE SAFELY!
Where to buy a safe car
Below are some terrific sites and articles to check out for car safety research purposes:
Government Car Safety Website Find information on car safety and equipment, defects and recalls, and five-star crash test and rollover ratings.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Access testing results for a wide variety of cars, plus information regarding regulation and standards and safety problems and issues.
Car-Safety.org Buying guides and articles on vehicle and car seat safety.
CNN Money How to Shop for a Safe Car Read this terrific article on how to properly examine car ratings on vehicle safety
Other Car Articles
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