Adapted from "Drive the Best..." © 2003 by Kyle Busch www.drivethebestbook.com

What enables people to get a great view of the road ahead? What machine do many people get to know as if it were almost a member of the family? What enables drivers to pull a boat, plow through deep snow or just venture where other vehicles won't? Of course, what else but a sport-utility vehicle.

More and more people are realizing that the cost of new sport-utility vehicles can really throw a budget into reverse. In many instances, today's new sport-utility vehicle prices compare to the cost of a new home just a generation ago. What is the driver who needs to go off-road to do? Well, a two to four-year old used SUV can be purchased at a savings of 25 to 50 percent as compared to its cost when new. Additionally, the number of well-built, dependable SUVs have increased during the past decade. When well maintained, these vehicles can be driven for many miles, and they are now available at substantial savings.

The purchase of a dependable, reasonably priced used SUV is not a matter of chance or luck, but rather, it is a matter of knowledge and understanding. Doing some investigative research is one of the most important factors in successfully purchasing a dependable used SUV at the best price.

Gathering Information: Variety is the spice of life. Certainly, the number of sport-utility vehicles has increased during the last five years. Since the bottom line for buying a used SUV is to save money, realize that information and knowledge translate into purchasing power. Therefore, it is worthwhile to gather information.

In order to get the best sport-utility for the driving at hand, consider the following questions:

- How many people will be transported in the vehicle?

- What type of objects and cargo will be transported in the vehicle (size considerations)?

- Will driving be conducted in poor whether conditions and/or off-road (shift on the fly, continuous four-wheel drive, heavy duty low-end transfer case)?

- Is there a preference for an American or a foreign vehicle?

- Is a unit-body type frame suitable for intended general highway driving, or is a more rugged full box type frame needed for off-road driving?

- What towing capacity should the vehicle have?

- How much will insurance cost to protect the driver and the vehicle (consider obtaining an insurance quote before buying a vehicle)?

- What is the approximate amount of money to be spent on a sport-utility vehicle?

If you are not familiar with all of the SUVs that are available, consider visiting a public library to consult the yearly publication or the April magazine issue of Consumer Reports. This source provides technical specifications for SUVs including the size, weight, engine horsepower, optional equipment, and miles per gallon of fuel. Finally, take a look at Consumer Reports' frequency-of-repair information to help determine which vehicles that will likely need fewer future repairs.

In addition to becoming informed about the strengths of specific sport-utility vehicles, it is worthwhile to learn the approximate prices for vehicles of interest. To obtain a general idea of SUV prices, consult the current monthly edition of the N.A.D.A. price guide at a public library, bank, or a truck dealership. Sport-utility vehicle price information can also be obtained by consulting the SUV and truck classified sections of major newspapers at a public library. This is a way to get a read on future prices, because vehicle price trends usually begin in major cities and then progress to other areas of the country.

The bottom line on becoming informed about SUVs and their prices is to obtain a used vehicle that is in excellent condition, that can tackle the job at hand, and at a substantial savings.

For More Information: Kyle Busch is the author of "Drive the Best for the Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-Utility Vehicle, or Minivan and Save Money." Learn more about the author and the book at: www.drivethebestbook.com. The web site accepts all transportation questions.

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