What did you base the purchase of your first vehicle on? Was your first car a very costly, ultra-luxury sports model or something much simpler? For most of us, purchasing our first set of wheels wasn't based on the type of car, the color of the car, or on the super cool add-ons incorporated with the motorcar. No, we most likely made the purchase mostly dependent on the price of the vehicle. Many people purchased our first motors when we were fresh out of school and on our way to technicon or varsity. Regardless of the model and color of the motor vehicle, as long as it had 4 tires and a steering wheel, we were so proud of this very important buy!
As the years accumulate, specific factors will influence our car purchases. People who have active outdoor lifestyles may need to invest in something more sensible like a 4-wheel drive or other utility car. A sporty two-door coupe might have to make way for a four-door sedan or similar family vehicle. And the prosperous businessman who spends hours on the road weekly will be better off with a luxury vehicle with power-steering, air-conditioning, and cruise-control. A sedan is the most popular family car. This type of car can be split into three separate spaces - the engine, the passenger compartment, and the cargo area. The passenger compartment will contain at least two rows of car seats which can accommodate no less than 4 people. If people hear the word family car, they assume that the vehicle involved has 4 doors and a cargo area at the back. This might be the most widely used sedan configuration, but these vehicles are also available in two-door models, and a number of sedans even have the cargo area in the front and the engine to the rear of the car! There are actually so many different sorts of sedans out there that it can be divided into the following classes: notchback sedans, fastback sedans, two-door sedans (also referred to as a coupe), hardtop sedans, and hatchback sedans. Last but not least would be the chauffeured sedans, also known as limousines. Limousines can cater to up to 20 passengers, depending on the size and configuration of the vehicle. These vehicles are of course not bought for their huge cargo areas, but instead for the luxury of being able to transport a group of people to a wedding party or other important function. Nevertheless, the standard sedan configuration still applies: engine, passenger, and cargo.
There are different stories and theories on where the expression "sedan" arises from. Some think it’s from a southern Italian dialect from the term "sedia," meaning chair. Others believe the term sedan is based on the root "sed" from the Latin word "sella," which means a carried chair. Regardless of where the term comes from, sedans are extremely popular cars and highly functional—especially for families with kids who need enough chairs and the benefit of a big enough cargo area!
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