DURING my automotive journalism years, I’ve praised, pummeled and puzzled over some 700 vehicles, but the last time I bought one was a quarter-century ago. Between my ancient Miata and a test car most weeks, why bother?

And yet, I just bought a car.

This has put the phrase “physician heal thyself” into sharp focus. In short, anyone buying a vehicle has my deepest sympathy. The world of researching, selecting, haggling, financing and, in my case, arranging transport is a bucket of ice water to the head.

My advice for choosing a vehicle has three parts: test drive, test, drive, test drive (that’s one); be willing to walk away during negotiations; and buy the car you love. That last one could mean saving longer or buying fewer lattes a week, but you’ll enjoy the car more, maintain it better and keep it longer.

I live in Seattle, which has cheap and green electricity (largely hydro and wind power). Plugging into the electric car lifestyle and perhaps saving a polar bear or two seemed right.