← Continued from Page 3 of "Automotive Industry Gotchas. Buying a Good New Car Without Getting Screwed"Turning circle
Some cars need the same space as a 5 meter long SUV to do a U-turn even though they’re only 3.5-4 meter long.
How is this even possible? Well, not all manufacturers care much about these specs and, they hope, neither do buyers. A Fiat Abarth test drive revealed that, even though it’s a pretty small car at only 3.5m in length, it needs more space to turn than a Porsche Cayenne. It was heavily tuned, turned into a sports car and the maker sacrificed the turning circle in order to be able to mount huge wheels and obtain a more aggressive look.
In general, wheels that are exaggeratedly large will drastically increase the turning radius and, obviously, have a negative impact on comfort. Personally, I feel that a smaller turning radius offers greater maneuverability in tight spaces, crowded parking lots and so on.
A good turning radius is one below 33 feet, or at least between 33 and 39 feet. Cars which go over that are harder to steer and can cause problems in certain situations. Therefore, if you’re interested in an easy to handle car, make sure you check the turning radius as well, not just the overall length of the vehicle, and if possible add any available steering assist options. You’ll get a more maneuverable car and a more enjoyable driving experience, especially in the city.
Light emitted by Xenon headlights or, more recently, LEDs is far superior to that coming from older, halogen-based ones. Energy efficiency is improved as well, along with overall visibility, especially at night, leading to an enhanced driving experience.
If you expect to drive a lot during the night, it’s of utmost importance to avoid being stingy when it comes to lighting options. Additionally, daylights are extremely useful and you should definitely get them, if available, as they will make your car more visible to other drivers during the day as well, thus increasing safety.
How is this even possible? Well, not all manufacturers care much about these specs and, they hope, neither do buyers. A Fiat Abarth test drive revealed that, even though it’s a pretty small car at only 3.5m in length, it needs more space to turn than a Porsche Cayenne. It was heavily tuned, turned into a sports car and the maker sacrificed the turning circle in order to be able to mount huge wheels and obtain a more aggressive look.
In general, wheels that are exaggeratedly large will drastically increase the turning radius and, obviously, have a negative impact on comfort. Personally, I feel that a smaller turning radius offers greater maneuverability in tight spaces, crowded parking lots and so on.
A good turning radius is one below 33 feet, or at least between 33 and 39 feet. Cars which go over that are harder to steer and can cause problems in certain situations. Therefore, if you’re interested in an easy to handle car, make sure you check the turning radius as well, not just the overall length of the vehicle, and if possible add any available steering assist options. You’ll get a more maneuverable car and a more enjoyable driving experience, especially in the city.
Xenon, LED, Daylights?
Another thing that’s often overlooked by too many potential clients. Ideally, your car should be fitted with this kind of equipment if you care for better driving safety conditions.Light emitted by Xenon headlights or, more recently, LEDs is far superior to that coming from older, halogen-based ones. Energy efficiency is improved as well, along with overall visibility, especially at night, leading to an enhanced driving experience.
If you expect to drive a lot during the night, it’s of utmost importance to avoid being stingy when it comes to lighting options. Additionally, daylights are extremely useful and you should definitely get them, if available, as they will make your car more visible to other drivers during the day as well, thus increasing safety.
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