Patriot CDJR of Tulsa Research Page

What are your needs?

Vehicles are designed for different purposes, and finding out why you want to buy a vehicle is the best place to start.

Think about the intended primary usage of your vehicle. What type of roads will you be driving on, and for how long?

For example, if you plan to drive around town with your family, a sedan like the Chrysler 300 would be a great choice. But a sedan won’t cut it if you also plan to use your vehicle for occasional off-roading or on longer road trips with rough terrain. In this case, you want an SUV that can handle wear and tear like a champ—something like the Jeep Compass.

Similarly, if you plan to haul goods or any type of equipment during your workdays, a truck from the Ram 1500 line-up would be more appropriate.

What is your budget?

Many people buy their desired vehicle right away if it falls within their budget, without sparing a thought for the additional future expenses tied to it.

Big mistake.

You are getting a new vehicle to make your life easier. And stretching your monthly expenditure or exerting undue strain on your finances is the last thing your vehicle should do.

So, when you sit down and consider your budget, look beyond the MSRP of your shortlisted vehicles. Think about how it would affect your monthly budget. Factor into your consideration aspects like maintenance, insurance, gas expenses, and—in case you have opted for finance—your monthly repayments.

You should ideally aim at keeping your car expenses 20% below your monthly take-home income. This should point you toward the real cost of owning the vehicle and give you a better understanding of your real budget.

Which brand will be right for you?

Several drivers consider their cars an extension of their personalities.

Where Chrysler cars are a statement of sophistication and refinement, Dodge sedans and SUVs are geared more towards thrill seekers and adrenalin-rush chasers. Jeep does that same thing but with distinctively ‘elegant-rugged’ designs, whereas Ram makes powerful workhorses excellent for recreational activities and adventure.

If you are outdoorsy, a Chrysler and you may not be a good fit. If you are an office-dweller on the side of the spectrum, then shuttling yourself to and from your office in a Ram every day may make your truck seem out of place.

Which features do you want in your vehicle?

Different vehicles and models bundle different sets of features. Consider what features you deem crucial and the ones that you look at as optional.

For example, some trims prioritize luxury features like leather seats, heated steering wheels, temperature control zones, etc., while others bill you for extra safety features such as lane switch assistance, adaptive cruise control, and collision alerts.

We recommend making a list of all essential features and seeing what you can fit into your budget, then selecting the model and the trim that come close to your desired features.

Which size will be right for you?

In the context of driving a vehicle, size does matter. Getting a smaller vehicle that can make you feel cramped for space is just as bad as getting an oversized car that is challenging to maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To zero in on the right size, consider the number of members in your family or the size of the cargo you would need to haul, and the size of your parking space.

Also, see if you can bundle your entire family into your desired care. We always recommend our customers bring their entire family along with them to our Tulsa dealership showroom. This way, they can tinker with different seat configurations to understand if the size of their desired vehicle is right for them.

Which is more important: performance vs. fuel efficiency?

While some models and trims manage to straddle that thin line between performance and fuel efficiency, there are always a few trade-offs involved. So be very clear about what matters most to you: horsepower or good gas mileage.

If it's horsepower that you value the most, you will find the Dodge Challenger SRT and the Jeep Grand Cherokee to be very powerful beasts. But all that power comes at the cost of fuel efficiency.

Similarly, if you are a big city dweller, you may afford to sacrifice a little bit of horsepower to enjoy better gas mileage. However, if you live in a less densely populated area and your monthly budget allows it, you can prioritize performance over fuel efficiency.

Answering the above questions should leave you with a pretty good idea about your ideal vehicle.