My husband and I love picking out new cars together because we both like the same things. For some couples though, selecting a car together may seem like an almost laughable experience. Hubby wants high horsepower and wifey wants great gas mileage. How the hell are you supposed to find something you can both drive? Believe it or not, there are a lot of ways to compromise so that everyone gets a little bit of what he or she wants. You just have to be prepared to let go of one or two wants along the way. Here is a quick guide to help you get the perfect car to drive as a couple.
Think about the Budget
Before you can even begin to think about the car you want to buy, you need to think about how much money you will be able to spend on it. It’s time to put your accounting cap on. Without having a clear view of your family budget, you may end up looking for cars that are way above your means. You either need to think of a cash price that you would be willing to pay on a car or think about the monthly payments you can afford to make. If you have to ask yourself, “what is accounting?” you may want to get someone else to help you figure out what you can logically afford.
Lay out All the Wants
Once you know how much money you have to spend, you need to know what each of you wants in a car. You need to write down a list of what you want in terms of power, amenities, fuel economy, size, and everything else you can think of. Then you can start discussing those wants in detail so you can get an accurate idea of what you want as a couple. It is possible to have the best of both worlds, but you have to know what those worlds are in the first place. By writing down lists of the factors that you want in a car, you can get on the same page from the start.
Research Candidates for Cars
Once you know what you want in a car, you can start trying to find a vehicle that will actually suit those wants and your budget at the same time. My husband and I both like fast cars, but we recently decided that we wanted something that would also hold a family in the near future. That is why we decided to look into luxury sports sedans. We can still get the power we want without having to sacrifice the comfort for our future family. If you are young and you both just want power, you can look for sports cars. If you just want something environmentally friendly, you can research hybrids. Start sifting through different cars until you find something you like.
Find the Best Prices
After you figure out a few different cars you may be interested in, use AutoTrader to find the best price possible on them. You can search for multiple cars in your area that have certain miles or fit within a certain price range. Then you can call about the cars if you have questions. You can usually find the best deals by looking slightly out of your area, depending on where you live. I lie in Texas, and I just bought a car from Tennessee last week. If you find a good deal that you can get financing for, take it up while you can.