Word: drives
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...memories of Thunderbirds and Corvettes as they make their selection. An electric car, if priced well, might seem like a smart choice, especially as the cost of gas rises again. "The Chinese customer is just getting off a bike, so they're not worried about not being able to drive six hours without a recharge," says Philip Gott, a director for automotive consulting at research firm IHS Global Insight. "China has the chance to work out the kinks in its own backyard...
Buying a new vehicle carries several advantages. Beyond the intangibles - billboarding your economic status, that new-car smell - there's always a great selection of vehicles across all price ranges. You can customize features and technologies (Bluetooth phone systems, iPod terminals, etc.). You can drive the vehicle as long and as hard as you like. And you gain equity as you pay down your loan...
...dealer incentives and cash-for-clunkers rebates of up to $4,500 (which end in November), and there are some huge deals out there. The $16,000 list price on a 2009 Nissan Versa at Boulder Nissan in Colorado can be whittled to under $10,000. A buyer could drive off with a new $18,000 Pontiac Vibe from the Bill Rapp Super Store in Syracuse, N.Y., for $10,000 if he or she does the numbers right. And Lakewood Fordland in suburban Denver will conceivably trim up to $17,000 off a loaded 2009 Ford F250 XLT listed...
...Still, a new vehicle loses a chassis-size chunk of its value to depreciation when you drive it home. If that thought makes you carsick, a used car might work. Of course, used cars are less expensive, and insuring them costs less. Sure, a used number carries more risks, but in this certified-preowned-vehicle era, a model that has historically retained its value - say, a Honda Accord EX or a Subaru Outback - can often promise years of strong, relatively maintenance-free driving...
...want to drive some hot number off a dealer's lot this afternoon, perhaps a higher-priced, geeked-out cruiser you might not be able to afford. Despite all the sales rebates, leasing is still a viable alternative. It's not as popular as it was among manufacturers, whose bad arithmetic cost them a fortune a few years back. But if you can find a leasable model you like - GMAC Financial Services and GM are offering packages for the 2009 Cadillac CTS, several new Chevrolet models and the 2010 Buick Enclave and LaCrosse - the numbers might work if you drive...