The usual sequence is browsing first and rapidely post thinking afterwards. This is the wrong way round and produces predictable outcomes. An attractive listing shapes the requirements rather than meeting them. This explains a great many regretted purchases. A short list of needs, made in advance. The honest account of your driving comes first. The ordinary weekly reality. Most buyers specify for the exceptional case. The daily case should win. Parking matters more than it appears on paper. A car that does not fit the space is a daily irritation. Separate the requirements from the preferences honestly. The genuine musts are a short list. These can be traded. Treating preferences as requirements means nothing qualifies. Running costs belong in the requirements rather than the afterthought. A car affordable to buy and expensive to run is a poor match for a tight budget. The annual number is the useful one. People whose car suits them across its whole ownership separated what they needed from what they wanted.