How To Buy A New Car or Truck

This webquest was prepared so that you might explore a number of different sources of information related to purchasing a new vehicle so that you wi ll be a more informed consumer of such goods allowing you to get a better deal. In the process of selecting a model to purchase you will locate, evaluate, and analyze a number of documents enabling you to develop a comparison summary chart, create a spreadsheet for the purpose of calculating monthly costs, and present your findings/rationale to the class at the end of the week with regard to the specific model that you have chosen. This assignment has been divided into four sections each with its own web pa ge.

The Task

You will be asked to compare and contrast two or three different vehicles based on the factors outlined below. You will be expected to complete the following:

A summary chart using presentation software outlining:
- overall specifications
- results of test drives
- fuel economy
- safety report s
- warranties
A cost analysis detailing the following:
- sticker price
- dealer invoice
- dealer incentives/rebates
- option packages
- sales tax
- insurance estimates
A spreadsheet calculating the monthly payment based on:
- down payment or used car trade-in value
- bank/dealership loan rates
- loan repayment period
Seven to ten minute in class presention your findings/rationale include:
- illustration (downloaded) of the critiqued models
- transparency of summary chart
- transparency of cost analysis
- transparency of spreadsheet

Resources

A number of very comprehensive sites are available for this webquest. including Autosite, Edmunds' Automobile Buyer's Guide, and Autovantage. You will be directed in the pages that follow to other sites which include new car summaries, profiles and/or reviews, crash test results, safety information, new car pricing and online calculators to help you figure out your monthly costs. If you are trying to determine if leasing is right for you a number of sites included here will help you sort out the facts. You will even be able to get an idea about insurance costs. Vehicle manufacturers have developed online showrooms you may visit where you can do everything but kick the tires!

Print resources available in the library include Consumer Digest, Road & Track, Car and Driver, Car and Travel and Popular Mechanics magazines as well as the very popular April issue of Consumer Reports.

The Process

Learning Advice

Keep all the materials you print from the four webquest pages in the pocke t folders provided. Label pocket one - Narrowing Your Search; pocket two - Is It Safe?; pocket three - Zeroing In On the Price, and pocket four - Finanacing Your Vehicle.

Gather all your information, then book some lab time in order to create the summary chart, cost analysis, and spreadsheet. You will print a hard copy of these items as well as a transparency for your presentation. Samples of these documents have been included in your folders. Look these over in order to zero in on the specific information you will need in order to complete the assignment.

In your search for the right vehicle you will want to focus on two or three models relatively quickly. You can easily lose a whole period going from showroom to showroom!

Conclusion

Having done some in-depth research prior to making a decision with regard to one of the largest purchas es you will make in the near future makes you a smarter consumer allowing you to get a better deal on items you wish to purchase. Conducting a comparison of similarly priced models enabled you to consider a number of factors prior to the purchase of an automobile.

Do you believe that this experience would encourage you to utilize such resources prior to purchasing similar large ticket items in the future? What kinds of things would you be willing to do this kind of research on before purchase? Would you recommend this kind of "homework" to your friends?

This page written by Sally-Ann Colarusso (Sshore476@aol.com)
Updated 12-5-96.