If you....
- need to choose a Used Car...
- want to minimize the chances of making a mistake....
- need some help organizing your thoughts...
- want to be sure that you make the best choice for your Used Car...
- need to be able to explain your reasons...
Decisions >> Cars & Transportation
Other related decisions where we can help you:
Here are some of the things we'll help you consider:
When making a decision like this many people use the list below. We will use this list to help you make your Decision. You can modify it to fit your needs or situation.
Choose a Used Car to Buy
Is a used car in your future? Use MyDecisionHelper to evaluate the cars you are considering. MyDecisionHelper will guide you through all the critical issues when deciding which used car is best for you!
Other related decisions where we can help you:
- Choose a Used Minivan
- Choose a New Car
- Choose a Used Sports Car
- Choose an Automobile Insurance Policy
- Choose a loan source to use.
- We will guide you through the following steps:
- Step 1: Discover what is important to you.
- Step 2: List your choices.
- Step 3: Evaluate each choice.
- Step 4: Review the results.
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Based on your values and needs, MyDecisionHelper will show you the ranking of each Used Car being considered.
MyDecisionHelper will highlight your best choice and will let you review and tweak every aspect of the Decision process to ensure you make the best decision possible. MyDecisionHelper provides useful charts and reports to help you understand and explain your decision!
Here are some of the things we'll help you consider:
- Accident History
- Fuel Economy
- Leg Room
- Vehicle Condition
When making a decision like this many people use the list below. We will use this list to help you make your Decision. You can modify it to fit your needs or situation.
| Name | Description |
| Mechanical | How would you rate the overall mechanical attributes of the vehicle? |
| Engine size | How well does the engine size meet your needs? |
| Performance | How do you rate the overall performance of the vehicle? |
| Fuel type | How would you rate the fuel type (diesel, gasoline, or ethanol, etc.)? |
| Fuel grade | How well does the cost of recommended fuel grade match your budget? |
| Fuel economy – city | How many miles to the gallon city does this vehicle get for its type? |
| Fuel economy – highway | How many miles to the gallon highway does this vehicle get for its type? |
| Acceleration | Does the car accelerate fast enough for your driving needs? |
| Handling | How well does the vehicle handle? |
| Hybrid | Do you like the “hybrid-ness” of this vehicle? |
| Antilock braking system (ABS) | Is there an antilock braking system (ABS)? |
| Type of transmission | How well does the transmission type meet your needs? (manual, automatic, standard utility, heavy duty) |
| Driveline | Does the type of driveline (Rear wheel drive, front wheel drive, AWD, 4x4) meet your needs? |
| Stability control | Does the vehicle have a stability control system? |
| Engine condition | What is the overall condition the engine? |
| Mechanic’s check | Has a mechanic’s check been performed? |
| Passes emissions testing | Does the vehicle pass emissions testing? |
| Exterior | How well do the overall exterior attributes and equipment meet your preferences? (Consider here a total summary of both the overall exterior style elements of the vehicle as well as the overall exterior functional equipment.) |
| Exterior attributes | How well do the exterior style attributes of the vehicle meet your tastes and needs? (Consider only the overall style elements, like color, trim, rim style, etc., and not the functional exterior equipment, like fog lamps or roof and trunk racks.) |
| Color | How well does the exterior color meet your tastes? |
| Trim | How well do you like the exterior trim package on the vehicle? |
| Styling | How would you rate the overall exterior styling, except wheel rims, of the vehicle? |
| Tire size | How well do you like the size of the tires? |
| Rim style | How well do you like the style of rims on the vehicle? |
| Tinted windows | Are there tinted windows? |
| Protective molding | Is there protective body side molding? |
| Spoiler | Is there a spoiler on the vehicle? |
| Convertible | Is the vehicle a convertible? |
| Exterior noise level | How suitable is the exterior noise level? |
| Exterior equipment | How well does the exterior equipment meet your needs? (Consider here the overall exterior equipment features, like fog lamps, roof or trunk racks, running boards and bed liners, etc. and not overall exterior style elements like wheel rims or body molding.) |
| Keyless entry system | Does the vehicle have a keyless entry system? |
| Fog lamps | Does the vehicle have fog lamps? |
| Roof rack | Is there a roof rack? |
| Trunk rack | Is there a trunk rack? |
| Interior attributes | How well do the overall interior styling, comfort, convenience, entertainment and power accessories meet your tastes and needs? |
| Interior style | How well does the overall interior style of the vehicle meet your tastes? |
| Sun roof or Moon roof | Does the vehicle have a sunroof or a moon roof? |
| Interior color | How well does the interior color meet your tastes? |
| Interior trim | How well do you like the interior trim package on the vehicle? |
| Leather seats | Are the seats leather? |
| Comfort | How do you rate the interior comfort of the vehicle? |
| Head room | How would you rate the headroom in the vehicle? |
| Leg room | How ample is the leg room in the vehicle? |
| Noise level | How suitable is the noise level in the vehicle? |
| Heater/Air conditioner | How ample is the heating & air conditioning system? |
| Tilt steering column | Does the steering column tilt? |
| Automatic climate control | Is there automatic climate control in the vehicle? |
| Rear seat HVAC ducts | Are there rear seat HVAC ducts? |
| Adjustable foot pedals | Are there adjustable foot pedals? |
| Rear leg room | How ample is the rear leg room? |
| Convenience | How well do you like the convenience features of the vehicle? |
| Cruise control | Is the vehicle equipped with cruise control? |
| GPS/Navigation system | Does the vehicle have a GPS/navigation system? |
| Map lamps | Are there map lamps in the vehicle? |
| Auto-sensing windshield wipers | Are there auto-sensing windshield wipers on the vehicle? |
| Auto-dimming rear view mirror | Does the rear view mirror auto dim? |
| Rear window wiper/defogger | Is there a rear window wiper/defroster? |
| Trip computer | Is there a trip computer? |
| Illuminated vanity mirror | Is there an illuminated vanity mirror? |
| OnStar or similar system | Is the vehicle equipped with OnStar or a similar system? |
| Cup holders | Are there cup holders in the vehicle? |
| Clock | Does the vehicle have a clock? |
| Power accessories & entertainment | How well do the power accessories and entertainment systems meet your needs? |
| Entertainment systems | How well do the entertainment options meet your needs? |
| Satellite radio | Does the vehicle have a satellite radio? |
| Audio DVD | Is the vehicle equipped with an audio DVD system? |
| Cassette tape | Is there a cassette tape system? |
| AM/FM radio | Is there an AM/FM radio? |
| CD player | Is there a CD player? |
| Video DVD players | Is there a video DVD player? |
| Power accessories | How well do the power accessories meet your needs? |
| Windows | Are there power windows? |
| Door locks | Are there power door locks? |
| Seats | Are there power seats? |
| Heated seats | Does the vehicle have heated seats? |
| Side mirrors | Are there power side mirrors? |
| DC outlets for portable devices | Does the vehicle have DC outlets for portable devices? |
| Safety | How do you rate the safety features and performance of the vehicle? |
| Backup camera | Is a back-up camera installed on the vehicle? |
| Crash test performance | How did the vehicle perform in crash tests? |
| Visibility | How would you rate the visibility from within the vehicle? |
| Obstruction sensors in bumper | Is the vehicle equipped with obstruction sensors in the bumper(s)? |
| Child safety locks | Is the vehicle equipped with child safety locks? |
| Driver and passenger air bags | Is the vehicle equipped with driver and passenger side air bags? |
| Side impact protection | Does the vehicle have side impact protection? |
| Trunk anti-trap device | Is there a trunk anti-trap device? |
| Roll bar | Is there a roll bar? |
| Capacity and utility | How well do the storage, capacity and utility of this vehicle meet your needs? (Consider here the overall storage and capacity features, like passenger and cargo space, towing capacity, etc. and utility aspects like fold-down seats, power outlets, and cargo tie downs.) |
| Storage and capacity | How well does this vehicle's storage capacity meet your needs? (Consider here only the overall passenger and cargo space, towing capacity, bed size, spare tire type, etc. and not utility issues like fold-down seats, security system, cargo ties downs, etc.) |
| Towing capacity | How well does this vehicle meet your towing requirements? |
| Cargo space | How adequate is the cargo space? |
| Passenger space | How adequate is the passenger space? |
| Full size spare tire with required tools | Is the vehicle equipped with a full size spare tire with required tools? |
| Trunk or rear storage capacity | How suitable is the trunk or rear storage capacity? |
| Utility | How well does the utility of interior features meet your needs? (Consider here features like fold-down seats, security system, power outlets, etc. and not storage and capacity elements like passenger and cargo space, towing and hauling capacity, etc.) |
| Fold-down seats | Do rear seats fold down? |
| Security system | Is the vehicle equipped with a security system? |
| Tachometer | Does the vehicle have a tachometer? |
| Power outlets | Does the vehicle have rear power outlets? |
| Heads up display | Is there a heads up display reflected on the windshield? |
| Cargo area tie downs | Does the cargo area have tie downs? |
| Remote deck lid/tailgate release | Is there a remote deck lid/tailgate release? |
| Condition and history | What is the overall condition and history of the vehicle? |
| Exterior condition | What is the overall condition of exterior vehicle components? |
| Tires | What is the overall condition of the tires, including the spare? |
| Bumpers | What is the condition of the bumpers? |
| Body | What is the condition of the body? |
| Paint | What is the condition of the paint? |
| Mechanical/Electrical | What is the overall condition of the mechanical and electrical systems? |
| Suspension | How strong is the suspension? |
| Braking system | In what shape is the braking system? |
| Lighting system | What is the condition of the lighting system? |
| Horn | What is the condition of the horn? |
| Traction control system | What is the condition of the traction control system? |
| Transmission | What is the condition of the transmission? |
| Steering system | What is the condition of the steering system? |
| Cooling and heating system | What is the condition of the cooling and heating system? |
| Serviceability | What is the overall serviceability of the vehicle? |
| Interior condition | What is the overall condition of interior of the vehicle? |
| Upholstery | What is the condition of the upholstery? |
| Carpet & floor mats | What is the condition of the carpet and floor mats? |
| Dashboard | What is the condition of the dashboard and its components? |
| Door panels | What is the condition of the door panels? |
| Headliner | What is the condition of the headliner? |
| Steering wheel | What is the condition of the steering wheel? |
| Vehicle history | How good is the documented history of the vehicle? |
| Vehicle accident history | Is a vehicle accident report available? |
| Maintenance/service records | Are maintenance/service records available? |
| Lemon check | Does the vehicle pass a lemon check? |
| Reputation | How do you rate the overall reputation associated with this buying experience? (Consider make, model, dealership, etc.) |
| Manufacturer reputation | How do you rate the manufacturer’s overall product reputation? |
| Model reputation | How do you rate the reputation of this specific model? |
| Prestige of ownership | How would you rate the level of prestige associated with owning this vehicle? |
| Theft frequency | What is the frequency of theft of this vehicle? |
| Other owners’ reviews | How do other owners of this model rate their vehicles? |
| Seller reputation | What is the overall reputation of the seller? |
| Seller add-ons | How do you rate the seller add-ons? |
| Financial and contractual | How well does the total purchase commitment meet your financial needs? |
| Insurance costs | How would you rate your insurance costs for this vehicle? |
| Financing term | How well does the term of your loan or lease (if any) meet your needs? |
| Financing rate | How would you judge your financing rate? |
| Price with rebates | How good is your price including all rebates? |
| Expected depreciation | How well does the expected depreciation meet your financial needs? |
| Lease options | How suitable are the lease options? |
| Seller warranty | Is a seller warranty available? |
This site is intended as an informational tool only and should be used in consultation with appropriate professional advisors.
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