Are you thinking about purchasing a new car sooner rather than later? If you follow me on my Instagram, then you know I recently purchased a new car and went full on electric! So if you’re in the market yourself, then these are some of the factors you might want to consider when choosing your next car.

4 Things To Consider When Choosing Your Next Car

Should You Opt For A Hybrid Or EV?

First, you might want to consider investing in a hybrid or electric vehicle for your next car. The benefit of hybrids and EVs is that they are going to save you money in the long term.

These cars will allow you to cut your vehicle costs down to size and ensure that you don’t have to worry about big fuel bills. So far, I can tell you this: we used to spend up to about $400/month in fuel with our big SUV. Now with our all-electric vehicle, our latest electric bill at the lake house that includes charging our car and with Airbnb guests, is about $130! That’s right!!! $130 for summer season when the A/C is running 24/7!

We couldn’t believe it! It also helps that we charge our car whenever there’s free charging at the grocery parking lot, beach parking lot, shopping area, etc. But when we’re home, you better believe the car is hooked to the electrical outlet!

Another clear benefit is that you will be able to go greener and do your part to help save the planet. According to automotive industry reports, the popularity of hybrids and EVs have increased tremendously over the past few years.

So, it could be the right time to jump on board this trend.

I know a lot of people are still afraid of the risks of this new technology. What if I ran out? What if there’s some electrical malfunction? How long does the battery last?

Isn’t the battery too expensive to replace? That’s why you need to do your research and compare the best EVs out there.

The reason we went with the Audi e-Tron? We got 100k miles warranty. We got 8 years warranty on the battery.

Plus, the Audi e-Tron features faster charging than most EVs currently in the market, among other things. Also, Audi still has the tax credit that will be a nice surprise next tax season!

How About an Autonomous Vehicle? Is it Worth it?

Is it worth investing in an autonomous vehicle right now? What is an autonomous vehicle anyway?

This is just an elaborate term for a car that can essentially drive itself. The main advantage of a car like this is always going to be safety. It’s widely assumed that vehicles with self-driving technology are safer on the roads because they can avoid accidents. However, there are a few things to be aware of.

First, the tech in question is still expensive which means that it makes cars with this tech more difficult to afford outright. And if you’ve heard the recent news, Tesla’s self-driving cars are going to be on a subscription basis that costs $$!

Now the other issue with autonomous vehicles is that it hasn’t quite been perfected. There are three different levels of autonomous vehicles. Currently, most vehicles produced and launched on the market are at level 2.

This is far from vehicles that are able to drive without human input. Instead, it’s best to describe these vehicles as driver-assisted. While still beneficial, it’s not quite the same as the marketing for these cars suggests.

What Brands Are Innovating Right Now?

Next thing you want to consider is choosing the right brand of vehicle that is going to work for you. There are lots of possibilities to explore here, but it could be worth focusing on an innovative brand that is pushing the car industry in exciting new directions.

For instance, Volvo recently mentioned that their goal was to have zero fatalities in their vehicles by 2021. As such, they have a clear focus on ensuring that all their vehicles have the latest and most advanced safety features that are available on the market. Volvo was actually our second option when we were looking at electric vehicles. But eventually, Audi won my heart – from the fast charging capability, safety features, battery range, innovative technology and of course, the looks!

Audi has been a long time dream!

Are There Issues On The Horizon?

Finally, it’s definitely worth thinking about the challenges that could be just over the horizon when you’re buying your next vehicle. An example of this would be increased taxation for cars that are deemed to not be green. Governments are already putting goals in place in relation to more green-friendly roads on the market. And if you’re already thinking about getting an electric vehicle yourself, then also think about the tax credit offer expiration dates too.

There are many other things to consider when buying a new car.

But if an electric vehicle ever crossed your mind, then I hope these four things to consider when you are choosing your next car help you out!

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