The Perfect Fit: You and Your Next Car

Photo courtesy of IG: NissanUSA

We all know cars are a tremendous investment—the average SUV/crossover costs about $25,000 these days. Most folks keep their cars for 10 years. Why is it that we’re happy to spend hours finding the perfect fit for our jeans, but we are content with a five-minute test drive for something that we will use daily for a decade or more? Take a bit more time and make sure the car you’re looking at fits you.

by Stewart Campbell

At the Wheel

Spend extra time working with the seat, wheel, pedal, and mirror adjustments to make sure you can get that “just right” feel for yourself.  Then, test drive—and repeat. Stop during the drive and evaluate your comfort.

Don’t forget to check your sightlines. There’s nothing worse than buying a car and discovering a hidden blind spot. Try backing out of angled parking spaces, parallel parking, doing head checks for lane changes. Drive a residential street and pull into a driveway. Back out and check if you can see ok.

Interior environment

Make sure your “stuff” fits!  Is there a good place for your purse?  How about your phone?  Do you commute with a cup of coffee or water bottle?  Are the cupholders in a good spot for you?  How about the power outlets you need? Think about how you use the car every day.

Think about who rides with you. Do you have tall family members?  Is there enough legroom?  Can they get in and out easily? If you have teen kids into sports, is the back roomy enough for them and is there space for their stinky sports bags in the trunk?

Exterior

Try opening the trunk or hatch one-handed. Can you hold something and still open it?  Think about what you frequently take with you, or pick up.  Is there room for it?  Frequent visitor to the dry cleaners?  Is there room to hang your clothes?

Just taking a few extra minutes in the buying process can stave off years of regret and dissatisfaction as you drive and drive your car. 

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Stewart Campbell of the northern suburbs likes to think of himself as the “In-town Tourist.”  Follow him on Twitter @DigiStew  or online at StewsBrew.wordpress.com