New Year, New Car?

There is nothing more exciting than the New Year; after all, it’s celebrated by dropping a ball in Times Square and setting off fireworks. It doesn’t get much more festive than that. There is the satisfaction of turning the pages of a new calendar and tossing away the old one. There is that promising list of resolutions that you may or may not get to, but at least on January 1^st, they all look possible. Then there is the moment when you take stock of your possessions and decide what to save and what to get rid of. One of the things you might be considering is getting rid of your old car and starting the New Year with a new set of wheels.

How do you know it’s time to buy a new car?

You might be ready for a new car if:

The costs of repairs are more than it’s worth;
It is a money pit that always needs something small fixed;
It no longer works for the size of your family;
The technology and safety equipment is outdated;
Your friends refuse to be seen in it;
Most importantly, you just want a new car

If you ticked off any of these items on the list, then you might be ready to start thinking about a new car.

What type of vehicle should I buy?

All you have to do is spend some time driving on WA-3 to know that there are many different types of vehicles on the road. Automotive designers take a lot of time developing cars and trucks to meet the needs of the owners, so when looking for a new car, think about what type of vehicle will meet your needs.

To help you, here is a breakdown of the types of vehicles and their uses.

Truck – Trucks are designed for work and play, and they come in a variety of cab sizes and bed lengths. No matter what year it is, trucks are the best-selling vehicles across the nation. Trucks have held the top three sales spots for years because they are practical. It doesn’t matter if you want to tow your dirt bikes to Bremerton Raceway for a weekend of camping, racing, and biking, or if you need a way to haul rocks and landscaping materials from a gravel pit, trucks are built to do these jobs for you.

All you have to decide is whether you need a short bed, a long bed, a club cab, a crew cab, or any other cab available. Some of the newer trucks even have split tailgates and step-ups for convenience. Kitsap Auto Outlet has all types of truck makes and models to choose from.

SUV & Crossovers – Families need vacations, sometimes away from each other, but it is always a good idea to have a getaway car. Of course, SUVs and crossovers are more than getaway cars; they make daily life easier, especially if you have kids and pets. The station wagon of the past has morphed into the SUV of today. The smaller liftbacks of the 1980s and 1990s have also gotten bigger as some SUVs still sport the lift gate while others have opted for swing gates or split gates.

No matter which type of gate you like, all of them make it much easier to load up groceries, pets, kids’ sporting equipment, and any other cargo you carry. If you love antiquing in Bremerton, you know you need a bigger vehicle.

The crossover is a car-like SUV, but the terms SUV and crossover are used interchangeably. Crossovers are generally built on a car platform and are lighter weight than an SUV, which uses a truck chassis and is heavier. Both are rugged and roomy, so if you have a big family, think SUV.

Passenger car – The passenger car is still popular even though it seems like every manufacturer has replaced them with SUV-style bodies. Passenger cars come in several body styles that include sedans, coupes, and sports cars.

A sedan is a four-door body with a trunk that is separate from the interior. A coupe is a two-door body with a sloped roof, and a sports car has two doors and is built for speed and maneuverability. If you love to drive, hit those mountain roads in a sports car.

Hybrid – A hybrid is powered by both electric power and a normal combustion engine. They are not plug-in vehicles since the battery recharges itself through regenerative braking. A true electric vehicle is plugged in and does not have a combustion engine. The term coined for the empty engine compartment is “frunk”.

Van –If you have a lot of family members that like to travel or you own your own business, a van offers plenty of space for people and cargo. Mini-vans may be a little smaller, but they still are quite useful when it comes to travel.

All of these vehicles will come in a variety of interior styles and materials. You will find luxurious interiors alongside cloth or vinyl interiors, and the technology varies based on the year of the vehicle you choose.

Updated Technology

Technology may not seem like an important thing when considering your next vehicle, but it’s more than how big is the infotainment screen. There have been many advances made in safety technology that combines radar and cameras to keep you safe. With lane-changing assist and front-end collision sensors, newer cars can help you prevent an accident from happening. When it comes to driving your family, these are important considerations.

Ring in the New Year by trading in your old car. Kitsap Auto Outlet have a large selection of cars and trucks of all types and sizes, so check out our inventory and come in and take a test drive.

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