Car Jargon 101
Struggling to Understand Car Jargon?
Navigating the automobile industry leaves many women feeling lost, confused, and frustrated. Many women feel like they’ve been taken advantage of because they don’t know much about the details of car engines, car financing, or simply all the abbreviations. Whether you’re a teenager, a mother, or new to the world of auto, you are looking for professionals to understand your needs and communicate the knowledge gaps. Mae serves to shift the auto industry to be inclusive of women, making sure they feel comfortable and confident to make decisions about a vehicle. One of the ways take away the intimidation is to be well- rehearsed on the car jargon you’ll likely hear at dealerships or repair shops.
Car Typology
VIN: Vehicle Identification Number aka your car’s very own serial number.
CPO: A Certified Pre-Owned vehicle is used car that's been inspected, repaired, and certified to a higher standard. Typically include extended warranty, special financing, etc.
FWD/RWD/AWD/4WD: Front Wheel Drive, Rear Wheel Drive, All Wheel Drive, 4 Wheel Drive.
Car Technology
V4/V6/V8/I4/I6: These characters are related to an engine. They describe how the engine cylinders are positioned. "V" means they’re in a V formation and ”I” means they’re all inline with one another. The higher the actual number, the more powerful the engine is.
Drivetrain: This tells you how the engine interacts with the wheels. Aka this refers to whether your car is FWD/RWD/AWD/4WD.
Horsepower (hp): This is how much power the engine produces, aka the speed. If you want to go faster and get up to speed faster, the more "horses" or hp you'll need.
Torque (lb-ft): Refers to how fast the car can accelerate. Torque gives you that “pull” when you step on the accelerator. The higher the number, the faster your car will pick up speed”.
Transmission: You have either manual or automatic transmission. A “6 Speed automatic transmission” means that the car has 6 gears and will switch them automatically, unlike in a manual. The higher the number of gears, the more....
Heads-Up Display (HUD): The HUD is a technology that projects an image onto your vehicle’s windshield or a panel, just below your driving line of sight. Although it’s an information tool, it’s equally a safety feature. It provides information so you don't take their eyes off the road ahead!
Car Financing
APR: Annual Percentage Rate is your annual cost of the loan including interest rate + fees.
Comprehensive Insurance: Covers non-collision damage like theft or damages.
DOC Fee: A ”documentation fee” that dealerships all charge across the board for handling the admin and documentation.
F&I Office: The Finance & Insurance Office (or “business office) is where you will talk about your pricing and lending options. Expect upselling of warranties and extras.
MSRP: Stands for Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price. This price is, in fact, the mandated price of a new vehicle by the manufacturer.
Residual Value: The expected value of a car at the end of a lease when it's time to return it.
Trim Level: You know all the car options and packages? This refers to the tiers of packages that each car offers. Every trim has different # of "standard" features.
Upside Down: Car owners in a "negative equity position" means the amount you owe the bank is higher than the car's actual value.
