What features D.E.W. you look for in a car?

I believe in American made too.
I thought the Crown vic info was great to know
but the heated seats.......... now that sounds wonderful!

Yeah, I realize that and that is the very reason I do my homework. If you look at the three cars I mentioned, they are all made with a very high percentage of American content. But you are correct, looks can be deceiving! Originally Posted by bigtex

one part mismanagement
one part plunder from American tax payers
one part parasitic unions
one part anti-free market protectionism
one part planned obsolescence

BOT, no one has mentioned the most important feature...

CUP HOLDERS!

If two people drive the car, it is nice if it has "memory" settings ... seat position, mirror position, radio station, ...

Pushing one button is a whole lot easier than fiddling with a lot of things.

According to most rating agencies Fords have the highest new car quality and fewest need for repairs, and I've found this extends well into their high-milage years also.

It's not unusual for Crown Vics to last to over 300,000 miles or more. What's surprising is how tight and responsive they are even when they have 150,000 or more miles.

What's the most surprising though is the really good fuel economy. For a 4.6 Liter V-8 [the venerable old 289 block] with ample power and speed, I get a lot of miles out of any fill-up.

It has far fewer computerized features that the GM cars have, which will break down. It's a simple car, and anyone car repair it.

Remember to tint the windows dark, and thieves and other crooks will steer away from you too...

ok so here is my original list
#1 gas tank fill up on driver side..... I'm inflexable on this one.
#2 cup holders back and front (Ok didn't get the ones in back, darn it)
around the trunk somewhere flat to set my drink to get stuff out of trunk.
the cruise control doesn't go off if you use the blinker (one car did this)
lights on driver mirror, pass. mirror
does gas door lock
where is the oil dipstick (or as the blonds say the 710 cap) handy to check.
is the level of driver window comfy when open and arm in window (had one that about gave me a dislocated shoulder)
is the back seat comfy to lay down in? (boy can THIS MAKE a difference on a long road trip)

and thanks to ya'll I have many other good things to check for the next new car.

For some, safety is paramount. Airbags and crumple zones. Does the car/truck have potential to rollover? How did it rate for head-on and offset head-on collisions?

Since you're in Texas, make sure the AC cools you off to your comfort levels.
A few buddies bought 07 models of F-150 and complained that it took a long time to cool (both had extended cab). On the other hand, my buddy's early 90's F-150 blows super cold air.

If you road trip a lot, cruise control is a nice creature comfort.

Automatic windows can be a must for some folks who don't like to crank up/down windows. Some track fanatics love to save weight so manual windows is a preference for them. I like the convenience in my daily drivers of automatic windows.

Driver seat is high priority. That's where you'll spend most of your time in your car. Seating position is important and making sure you're comfortable. I like nice lumbar support and non-slippery seats so I don't slide around on J turns. Just kidding. But I do like to stay planted in my seat.

Automatic light cut-off is also a nice feature in case you're forgetful. I helped give battery jumps to quite a few people in my college days who forgot to turn off their headlamps. I'd imagine most modern day cars have this feature.

Trunk space for clothes, shoes, and sex toys.

Decent gas mileage.... No frame damage... responsive brakes... and a lot of what the others have mentioned about maintenance history. Carfax can be a helpful indicator of car history.

Color? Black requires the most care since everything seems to show up on black. White and Silver are pretty good for letting fingerprints and dust go.

Leather seats in the summer is real fun with shorts, but I guess you could always buy a car seat cover. I prefer leather since it's easier to clean, but need to condition it if you plan to keep the car/truck for long term.

Good luck and have fun your hunt for a new ride!

6-71 blower and nitro.

Oh, wait, street car. Love my Fit. Mostly because of the paddles. (Shifter, you dirt bags). But I need to drive my car. First automatic I've ever owned. In 36 years. Including a Nova with 3 in the tree and a Cosworth Vega.

But, if you must, the Ford Fusion looks very nice. You might look at a 3-5 year old Merc for "nice" + "affordable". I've driven an IS250 if you want to go that way. Very nice all around, including the requisite manumatic.

I have a line on a Testarossa, if you have $55K to spend. 11K miles.

I agree with the heated seats... gotta have it.

LF