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Q: How much can I afford to spend?

A: Try to keep the monthly payment to about 20 percent of your net income. But before you sign on the dotted line, factor in the total cost of ownership, which includes insurance, maintenance and the price of fuel. Check with your credit union (if you belong to one) or bank for preapproval on a loan before you start shopping. Although dealer financing can be quite competitive, you might get an even better rate if you use your own financing as leverage. Of course, you can't beat the zero or near-zero percent financing or incentives that carmakers may offer on some models.

If you're on a fixed income but still want a bit of luxury, you might look at leasing. You may be able to get into a car you couldn't afford to buy and may even avoid a down payment. You can also get a new car every few years (without haggling). And that arrangement means the car is likely to be under warranty and worry-free when it comes to repairs.

Q: Who -- and what -- do I regularly haul around?

A: If you enjoy estate auctions or home improvement projects, you may want a pickup truck. But ask yourself how often you'll haul large or heavy items. Could you get by with occasionally renting a truck or trailer while owning something more fuel-efficient? Is your load generally less than 1,000 pounds? If so, perhaps an SUV or a car with a towing package would make more sense than a pickup.

If you have kids, you know you're regularly schlepping them, their friends and their equipment to after-school sports. Minivans are certainly a utilitarian option, but they can be light on styling. SUVs are another option. Usually built on a light truck platform, they offer plenty of interior space. The downside is that, like trucks, they may not get the kind of fuel economy you're hoping for. Another choice is the crossover utility vehicle (CUV), which is built on an automobile platform. Once upon a time these were called station wagons; today they combine more interior room than a car and more style than a van.

If you often drive your aging parents around, vans can be the Goldilocks of vehicles -- just right. For most people, stepping into a minivan is almost as easy as sliding into a chair in the living room. You don't have to fold yourself in half to enter a low-riding car or hoist yourself up to climb into an SUV. And that's a feature that will come in equally handy if you're noticing the occasional knee or back problem yourself. And, of course, a minivan may also be a fairy-tale solution if you regularly have your grandkids on board.

Q: How key is four-wheel drive?

A: If you live in the snowbelt, it definitely comes in handy. And if you crave adventure, off-roading in a 4x4 is awesome. However, you'll pay more up front for four-wheel drive and usually get worse fuel economy than with two-wheel drive. What's more, four-wheel-drive systems add complexity to a vehicle and can be costly to repair.

Q: I want something that's fun to drive, but what?

A: Sporty cars come in all price ranges and sizes. They're fun to drive and stand out in a crowd, but they aren't always very practical. That's why sporty vehicles make super second cars. Or you might even consider a motorcycle. They make good commuter vehicles that sip -- not guzzle -- gas. And they're easy to park. Most HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes are open to motorcycles during rush hours.

Q: What options do I need?

A: Comfort and convenience features sure make motoring more pleasurable. The list of options can be long, so it's a good idea to give each one a rank (such as A, B, C) to help cull those you can live without from those you can't forgo. Electric windows and locks may be a given in your book, but do you really need air-conditioned seats?

If you have kids, you know they tend to have a lot of stuff. Seats that fold down so you can carry extra gear make sense. So do seats that fold back to reveal under-floor storage. DVD and audio entertainment systems are better than a babysitter for road trips.

Maps may soon be found only in museums. Global positioning systems (GPS) are on the A-list for anyone who does a lot of traveling or who tends to forget whether to turn right at the gas station or the discount store. Going somewhere you've never been? The GPS is better than any navigator -- or backseat driver, for that matter.

Fortunately, carmakers are grouping many options into prix fixe comfort and convenience packages at a price much lower than if you ordered each individually.

Q: Which vehicles have the least impact on the environment?

A: All motor vehicles have some environmental impact. In general, the lighter the vehicle and the smaller the engine, the less fuel it uses. Use the EPA estimated mileage sticker on the window to make comparisons. By the way, the new EPA figures are closer to real-life results than they used to be.

Hybrids, of course, are hot these days. The technology has been around long enough to have proven itself viable and dependable. Hybrids make a lot of sense for daily commuters and deliver their best fuel economy in stop-and-go situations like city driving. An added benefit is that many hybrids can be driven in the HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes during rush hours in many cities.

Q: Where can I find out how safe a car is?

A: It's smart to review vehicle crash ratings, not only for your personal safety but also because doing so can help save you money on insurance. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests vehicles and gives them a star rating of one to five, with five being the best (safercar.gov). Also check out the ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety; its tests are somewhat more stringent than the Fed's. Get details at iihs.org.

Q: Where can I learn more?

A: Narrow your search from home first. Start at myproductadvisor.com. This website offers an interactive tool to help you narrow down the things that are important to you. It then provides long lists of data such as fuel economy, engine sizes, cargo capacity, towing capacity and Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for all the cars that fit your profile. It doesn't provide subjective reviews, only objective data. For professional reviews check out these sites: consumerguide.com, edmunds.com and cars.com. You can select the vehicles you're interested in to compare side by side.

Bob Weber is a Virginia-based freelance automotive and technical writer. He's an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician and authors a weekly automotive advice column, "Motormouth," for the Chicago Tribune.