How to Buy an SUV
From LoveToKnow Buy
Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are sporty, roomy "light trucks," which many people enjoy driving. There are many things you should think about before you run out to purchase one though, as SUVs can be pricey - full-size models tend to start at $30,000! Below is a list of items to consider when looking into an SUV purchase.
Purchasing an SUV
- The first step in purchasing an SUV is evaluating your needs for an SUV. Do you have a big family? Do you need a lot of cargo space? Do you do a lot of towing? These are all valid questions to consider when buying an SUV. The average SUV does offer quite a bit of roomy seating and good cargo space, and many can tow more than 2500 pounds. Evaluate whether or not you need a subcompact, compact, midsize, or full-size SUV, check the passenger capacity, and examine cargo capacity with the back seats up and down.
- Do not go for four-wheel drive unless you plan to take your SUV off road. This is important because four-wheel drive costs more and gets lower gas mileage.
- Know your potential buyers! If you are selling a station wagon, chances are people with families (children) are going to be interested, so consider placing an advertisement in a local suburban newspaper. Knowing this will save you a lot of frustration in the long run, for not knowing your market may force you to lower the asking price of your vehicle if you're desperate to unload it and receive very little response to your advertisement!
- Check the horsepower. This is very important to check if you are going to be using your SUV for heavy towing. If you are, consider an SUV with greater horsepower.
- Take a test drive in the SUV you are looking at to examine its handling. Car-based SUVs do generally provide better handling than truck-based SUVs. Do know that safety is a very important and controversial issue in regards to SUVs -drop by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for SUV vehicle ratings.
- Decide on whether or not a used SUV or new SUV fits your budget best. You can find information on used car values and new car pricing by make and model at Kelley Blue Book. If you are looking to purchase a fuel-efficient car, you might not want to purchase an SUV. The average new car gets close to about 28 miles per gallon. With many SUVs, you get less than 20 miles per gallon! However, many compact SUVs get better gas mileage, and SUV hybrids are gaining popularity as a more eco-friendly choice of wheels for driving.
Caution
Much has been written about the safety of SUVs: one thing that is known for sure among those in the know in the automobile industry is that rollovers occur more frequently with SUVs than with other cars. Why is this? Because the wheel tracks are closer together on SUVs, and SUVs have a higher center of gravity due to the fact that they ride so high off the ground. If you do go ahead and purchase an SUV, be careful not to overload it for a journey! Many SUVs are built on car frames though, which make them safer than the average SUV. Do know that many new midsize and full-size SUVs have vastly improved, state-of-the art safety systems complete with rollover protection systems.
Shop for an SUV online
To go shopping for an SUV, check out these online resources--
CarsDirect will provide you with a price quote for most makes and models.
Cars.com serves up a listing of new and used SUVs by make, model, your price range and your zip code.
Edmunds.com helps you buy or sell new and used SUVs.
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