Purchasing a Car.

My research into economics and efficiencies of various cars finally culminated on Aug 15, 2008 and I chose Honda Civic LX Sedan amongst nearly a dozen similar cars. Though it is slightly more expensive than the nearest rival, Toyota Corolla, Civic's more urbane interior more specifically its digital dashboard tilted my decision in going for the Civic. People like me who find it tough to keep an eye on speed will love this feature. Speaking of my speed, incidentally I happened to cruise at 40 mph in a 15 mph school zone in my DMV driving license test. Luckily, I got my license on that day with a minor warning as other aspects of my driving that day were perfect.

Coming back to the dashboard, I love the digital speedometer that helps me keep track of my speed continuously. I strongly recommend a Civic for someone who has a similar problem. Moreover it is highly fuel efficient with 25/36 mpg, a boon in this economy. Another very good feature in Civic is its overall handling. The car is compact yet spacious and easy to drive. Throw in Honda's historical resale value and high security standards and you can get the best bang for your buck. Initially I had concerns over Civic's style but as I saw it as a prospective car of mine and delved a bit further into its details, I started to like the styling. For a comprehensive review (US News) on Honda Civic click here.

Toyota Corolla isn't far behind though. 2009 version is far stylized than its predecessor. In fuel economy it has the best figures in the segment with 26/35 with many consumers reporting 27-28 in city. Corolla doesn't seem to have any significant cons but has most of the features on a basic level. For someone who isn't concerned about styling/handling as much as fuel economy Corolla is apt. Corolla is overshadowed by its sibling Prius, which is way more fuel efficient albeit lacking in power. US News' review on Corolla can be found here.

I also compiled a list of vital stats of compact cars and it can be accessed here. I spent nearly a month in finalizing my choice. Test driving the cars that I short-listed was the crucial factor that enabled me take a decision. My order of factors in determining the car to purchase were suitability (through test driving), price, fuel economy and security. I hope you find this helpful to decide the car of your choice.