How to Buy a Midsize Sedan

Midsize cars are a hotly contested segment of the automobile market. The winner is the consumer; even relatively inexpensive sedans today are safe and quick.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Car Insurance
• Car Loans
• Cars

1. Determine what you want to spend. Midsize sedans start at about $12,000 and can go up to $40,000 or more.
2. Decide what's most important to you: safety, performance, value, handling, comfort, reliability, dealer service, looks, interior room, gas mileage.
3. Make a short list of the makes and models you want to consider. Do some research to determine how they stack up in terms of your priorities. Most cars today excel in most if not all areas. However, some place comfort over handling and performance, or vice versa. Read magazine reviews to get a clearer picture.
4. Review the crash-test data for various cars. Check the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) vehicle ratings (see hwysafety.org).
5. Consider resale value. You may be surprised to find quite a bit of variation here. In general, German and Japanese cars have the highest resale values. Check the Kelley Blue Book values of the various models over time (see kbb.com).
6. Talk to friends who own similar cars. They may have some good advice.
7. Compare insurance premiums for different cars you are considering.
8. Go test-drive the two or three cars on your short list. Don't worry about the dealers now. Focus on the cars. Do you feel comfortable in the car? Does it drive the way you want it to? Don't commit to any car or salesperson yet. Go home and think about it.
9. Rank the cars according to your priorities. Then rank them in price. You should be able to narrow down your choices to one or two cars. If the choice still isn't clear, test-drive the cars again.
10. Collect pricing information about the car you want, decide on colors and option packages, and get your loan together. See the Related eHow "How to Get a Car Loan."
11. Return to the dealer and tell a salesperson what you want. For tips on how to negotiate the sale, see the Related eHow "How to Shop for a New Car."

Tips & Warnings

• Consider a hatchback or a station wagon for more hauling space.
• Most models have two or more engine choices. Consider a four-cylinder for a lower price and better fuel economy, or a six-cylinder for smoothness and power.