Introduction
You have just graduated from college and have landed that
“big” job. As a graduation present, your grandparents and
parents wish to provide you with the down payment on
your first new, not used, car. Their gift to you is $3,000.
As a savvy consumer, you have read the advertisements in
newspapers and magazines. However, you have decided to use the Web to assist your purchasing
decision. Your graduation gift is burning a hole in your pocket, and you have solicited the help
of several friends who will assist you in searching the web regarding car manufacturers, safety,
insurance, and financing. With your current salary and budget, you have limited yourself to a
maximum budget of $400 (loan payment and insurance).
You and your parents have decided that your car will be given to your younger sister. Thus, you
will not have a car for trade-in.
In the following WebQuest, you will use your team of friends and the resources on the Web to
learn about buying a new car. Each one of your friends will research a designated area and share
the information. So start your search to move from “clunker to classic!”
Task
Tasks
• Work with three to four classmates. Your team may assist each other.
• Select three to four vehicles to compare and contrast.
• Prepare an Excel spreadsheet calculating your loan payment, total amount paid, and
interest paid for the vehicles. Use the PMT function. All team members will be asked to
explain the PMT function. Insurance cost should be displayed in a cell.
• Prepare an Excel spreadsheet or Word table highlighting the advantages and
disadvantages of each car. (include specifications, gas mileage, insurance, etc).
• All sheets should be integrated into a Word file (traditional memo format) with key
points about financing a vehicle. Address the memo to your instructor.
• Presentation to the class of the vehicle selected and why
Process
In this WebQuest, you will be working with three to four classmates. Each group will answer the
above tasks. As a member of the team, you will explore selected automobile Web sites.
You will start with your team members and yourself with some general background information
before dividing into “expert” roles.
Part 1—Background information for you and your friends.
Workings with your team and using the selected web sites below, select at least two or three cars
you may want to purchase. Select ones that appeal to you. Team members should all be informed
of the automobiles everyone will be researching.
http://www.autovantage.com/ (Under Car Buying Services, Select a Report, Select New Cars.
Click on View Specs)
http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/doitusef/howtobuy.html (updated Edmunds guide)
http://www.smartcarguide.com/process/Page1.htm (steps 1-3)
Part 2—“Expert” Roles
Your graduation gift is burning a hole in your pocket and you have asked your friends (team
members) to each research specifications about your purchasing decision. You and your friends
will select one of the roles and research the requested information.
Read through the web sites appropriate for your position. If you print the page(s), underline the
key points. You may copy sections you feel are important to an Excel or Word file.
Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of your web site for documentation.
Be prepared to focus what you have learned to share with your other team members to assist in
your group project.
Insurance Researcher
Insurance will be a contributing factor in the car purchase. Research the cost to insure each of the
vehicles that may be purchased using the selected web sites. Your friend, the graduate, has a
good driving record, a non-smoker, and has not taken any defensive driving courses. Include the
findings in an Excel spreadsheet.
http://insurance.yahoo.com/a1.html
http://www.4autoquotes.com/cgi-bin/quote.cgi
Financial Researcher
Read and summarize the key points when financing an automobile. Include this in your written report.
Find out the average interest rate for purchasing a new car. Use the PMT function (use the Help
Menu) in Excel to calculate the monthly cost of each vehicle. Include in your spreadsheet, the
loan amount and total amount and interest paid for the duration of the loan. Remember you have
$3,000 for a down payment and nothing to trade.
http://www.bankrate.com/brm/green/auto/1a.asp
http://www.quicken.com/banking_and_credit/bankrate/newauto.dcg
Safety Researcher
Your new position may require travel in heavy congested areas. Like most people, safety ranks
high among your purchase considerations. Using the selected web sites, research the safety
ratings for each of the potential vehicles.
http://www.crashtest.com/default.htm
http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ratings.htm
Evaluation
Rubrics will be used for evaluating the project. A spreadsheet rubric (page 72) and group
cooperation rubric (page 95) from the Assessment Chapter of the Nebraska Frameworks will be
utilized. (http://www.nde.state.ne.us/BUSED/PDF/assessment.pdf)
Conclusion
Research has been collected about the different aspects of purchasing a new vehicle. You and
your friends are now “experts.” Come together as a group and share your information. Assemble
the information collected in a group Excel spreadsheet. Integrate your sheet(s) into a Word file.
Present to the class your findings and vehicle selection. Each person should speak on the topic
for which they did research
Credits
Teacher Page
As you finished the task, I know you have learned and having some fun while doing it. Throughout the activity I hope you gained knowledge that you will be interested in the world of science. Simple activity makes you a great student. Keep moving and learning!