Cars are major investments.
We depend on them to get us to school or work, to the doctor's office or the grocery store, as well as to take us on vacations. There are also small pickup trucks, full-size trucks, vans, minivans, and special purpose vehicles like sport utility vehicles. Generally, larger vehicles use more fuel than smaller ones, but they may be safer in collisions. Think about the size of your family, whether you are likely to carry passengers often, and the age of those passengers. If you are going to be transporting your elderly parents, you do not want to buy a small sports car.