How to Differentiate Between Cars as a Senior

As you age, you realize that life has really changed, and so have the cars that people drive. It seems that many cars look alike even though their difference in cost may be staggering. If you'd like to become more knowledegable about the different cars that people drive today, here are a few tips to get started. Before long, it'll seem like you're a veritable encyclopedia of automotive knowledge.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Keep in tune. Read a couple of automobile magazines each morning to stay abreast of the latest cars being introduced to the market. Each year in larger cities, the automobile show comes to town. Make a point of attending and paying close attention to what each manufacturer is featuring. Collect as many brochures as possible. Before long, you'll begin developing a feel for what each manufacturer considers important.
2. Take a crash course (pardon the pun) in automobile history. While most cars on the road are less than 15-years-old, there are many more that have been meticulously restored by their proud owners. If you have the chance to talk with any of them, start the conversation with the question, "Why did you choose this particular car?," then be prepared to learn a lot about that automobile.
3. Keep your eyes peeled as you drive. Unlike stamp collections that are kept in books you must first open, you'll learn more about what people drive simply while you're on the road, yourself. Start by identifying what sets a particular car apart from its competition. Is it the grill, rear light array, shape, overall appearance or some other combination?
4. Ask for test drives. From time to time, go to an automobile showroom and take a car for a spin. Let the salesman explain why his car is better than the competition. After making visits to several different car dealers, you will begin building your knowledge of what is most important to today's drivers.
5. Rent different cars. Most people occasionally must rent an automobile. When you do, make a point of driving a different car each time. A couple of days driving an automobile will tell you more than all the brochures in the world.
6. Specialize. Because there are so many manufacturers and models of automobiles, it behooves you to become an authority on one segment. Choose domestic or foreign, then pick a country where automobiles are made and learn as much as you can about what they produce.