Congratulations, you're ready to make that big purchase!
Still, you feel lost about which car to choose.  You need a
few more answers to make that leap of faith.  You can do!
In no time at all, you'll figure out if you want a new or
used vehicle.  Perhaps you'll even decide on a sports car, 
a big SUV (sports utility vehicle), or a luxurious Sedan.

What's blocking your decisions?  Shopping wisely is often a
matter of setting up a clear plan before you even step into
a dealership.  The confidence you'll feel once you look
closely at what you can afford should help you find the
vehicle you long for.

The first area on your list to tackle is budget.  A shopping
budget helps you know more than what car you can afford in 
a car but also if you can afford the costs that come along
with owning a car.  When you decide ahead of time about this
car budget, you know where you're headed.  A few
"additional" considerations in this area are:

 * Monthly payments (if financing the purchase)
 * Down payment
 * Insurance
 * Repairs and maintenance
 * Gas
 * Tires
 * Oil
 * Parking


The next area - lifestyle choice - is a little bit more fun
and preference-oriented.  For instance, do you have a
family?  If so, a sports car looks great but doesn't hold 
a lot of occupants.  Or, are you an empty nester?  In this
case, why select a roomy gas-guzzler when you're not toting
around a big party?  Another lifestyle choice includes
passing up a prestigious SUV since you really don't 4-wheel
or travel on snowy roads.

How will primarily use the car?  Once you know when and
where the car will be used - such as to commute, carry
little ones, attend recreation, or lug heavy equipment - you
can decide which car meets those needs.  Other related usage
issues to consider include:

 * Miles per gallon
 * Roominess
 * Safety features
 * Front-wheel drive
 * 4-wheel drive


Now that you're getting closer to determining what you
expect from your car purchase, you can ask yourself how long
you plan to own the vehicle.  Will it be for a short time or
for the long haul?

Maintenance is a big issue to many car buyers.  If you're
quite the mechanic, a used fixer-upper isn't going to scare
you away.  However, for most buyers, a solid reliable car
from the onset is much more desirable and saves on shelling
out big buck on repairs later on.

This process should give you a clearer idea of what you need
and which vehicles best match those needs.  Once your search
is narrowed down to 4 or 5 vehicles, you're now ready to
truly ready to gather ratings from various consumer
protection organizations. 

Giri Ritela is an avid "car guy" and webmaster of
Flexe Cars which is a fantastic resource for car 
information.  To find out more, please visit: 
http://www.flexecars.com