Tips to make buying a new car a luxury experience

Purchasing a new car can be both exciting and overwhelming for some people. And it’s no wonder with the array of makes and models on the market today. There are so many things to consider — do you want four-wheel drive, a sedan or a sportier look? Do you want a SUV or a cross-over? While most of these are a personal choice, here are some tips that may help you narrow down the choices.

Size – What size car fits your lifestyle?

If you have a large family, a two seat sports car is obviously not going to work as your main car. Determining the number of people you will need to safely transport will be your first decision. If you are a family of four, you can look at most sedans. While a four-door model is more practical, you may be able to work with a four-seat, twodoor car. If you are a six-member family with dogs, however, that choice will not work. You may want to consider an SUV.

“SUVS can range from the more practical to the most luxurious, like the new Infiniti QX 80, a seven or eight passenger SUV,” says Jonathan Rowsell, sales manager at Infiniti of Newfoundland.

Power – How much power do you need?

While some people love the feel of a high-powered car, it isn’t always necessary. You will need to determine your ‘needs’ versus your ‘wants’ and which is more important to you. If you do mostly city driving, having a car with 400 horsepower will not be as important to someone who does a lot of highway travelling for instance, or someone who transports heavy items. The bigger the engine, the more gas it will typically consume, so you will also need to determine if that is a factor that weighs into your decision.

Four-wheel-drive – What kind of driving do you do?

Newfoundland winters last for six months of the year so all-wheel drive is a must for most people. All-wheel drive can be a safety feature, especially if you do a lot of winter driving. All-wheel drive provides more traction, especially on accelerating. Some vehicles are now also equipped with Intelligent All-wheel Drive.

“By monitoring wheel spin, throttle position and vehicle speed, Infiniti’s Intelligent All-wheel Drive diverts up to 50 per cent of the available power to your front wheels,” says Rowsell, adding that if all-wheel drive with the feel of a rear-wheel-drive car is something you are looking for, Infiniti is a good option.

Bells and whistles – Are extras important?

Do you want heated seats (front and back), a heated steering wheel, leather interior, fog lamps, backup camera or any number of other “upgrades” in most cars? As competition continues to grow in the automotive market, many manufactures are making some of the “extras” standard. So, if you are looking for a car that has all of these things and more, start with a carmaker that includes these in their base models.

“Infiniti, has more standard content than most manufacturers … they continue to listen to what customers want and deliver on that,” says Rowsell.

Service – Is service and customer care a priority?

Buying your car is only the first step in what will become a long-term relationship with the dealer. When choosing a car, you need to also look at the dealership, who owns it, how do they treat their customers? Do they treat them with respect? Do they appreciate their business? This can often be more important to people than many of the other considerations mentioned.

“We believe our customers are like family. When they bring in their car for service, we always return it washed and detailed. And we always provide a loaner car, even if it is just for a short oil change,” says Rowsell. “We understand how busy people are and being without a car, even for a few hours, can be inconvenient,” he adds.

When it comes to buying a new car, don’t be afraid to ask questions Rowsell says. You should find a car that makes you want to drive it, not one you have to drive.

For more information, visit Newfoundland’s only Infiniti dealer at 924 Topsail Rd. in Mount Pearl, or visit their website, www.infinitiofnewfoundland.ca.