Choosing a Trim Level for Your Car
♫ Thursday, April 28th, 2011Buying a car is a major decision that should not be taken lightly. Although you probably have a couple of makes and models that you’ve narrowed your choices down to, you will also have to decide which specific trim you want once you’ve decided on the model of car (or SUV, or minivan) that you want to buy.
The trim on the car is simply the range of minor variations within a specific model. These include the differences in powertrains and standard equipment. The base-level trim models feature the bare minimum of features. When a car is advertised as starting at a specific price, this low price is used, and then the dealer often promotes the pgraded trim levels with more advanced features. As an example, a base-level trim might lack power mechanisms in the windows, doors, and seats. The mid-level trim might have power locks and windows but no power seats, and the upper-level trim would feature power seats and other power mechanisms throughout the vehicle. For the most part, customers tend to go with the mid-level model, as they have everything that they want but nothing that they don’t need (i.e., sound system upgrades or keyless entry).
Depending on the manufacturer, trim levels can have an extremely wide range, often exceeding £10,000 between the base level and the top level. The advantage to the top trim levels, though, is the availability of advanced safety features. Government regulations mandate specific safety standards for automobiles, so of course the base-level trim will feature all of those. However, if you are looking for additional features such as side and curtain airbags, you might have to upgrade the trim level. To attract more customers, though, many manufacturers are upgrading the safety features even in their base models to further combine safety and affordability.
A final consideration when choosing trim level is the resale value when you decide to sell your car. Typically, the top trim models will experience a higher percentage of depreciation than other trim levels; however, a base model might be more difficult to sell because it only has the bare minimum of features.
Choosing the right trim level is entirely your decision. Each one has its own pros and cons, and it is ultimately your choice how many add-ons are worth paying for. And thanks to the internet its now easier than ever to find used cars for sale of all trim levels.
