Unit 4: Car Buying & Maintenance

- The Total Cost of Ownership: Understanding that a car costs more than just the loan; it includes the "Big Three" of gas, insurance, and registration.
- Credit & Interest Impact: How a credit score changes the APR (Annual Percentage Rate), making the same car more expensive for someone with "bad" credit.
- Maintenance vs. Repair: The difference between "Predictable" costs (oil changes/tires) and "Emergency" costs (blown engine/accident).

- Calculate Sales Tax & Fees: Use the CT tax rate (6.35%) and DMV fee schedules to find the "Out-the-Door" price of a used car.
- Navigate Loan Tables: Use a monthly payment calculator to compare 48-month vs. 72-month loans and see how much total interest is paid.
- Map a "Fuel Budget": Calculate weekly gas costs based on a commute from Meriden to common work hubs (Hartford, New Haven) using current MPG and gas prices.

- The "Car Buyer's Portfolio": A final project where students select a real used car from a local Meriden dealership, calculate the tax/title/reg, and find an insurance quote.

-The "Sinking Fund" Simulation: Students create a maintenance schedule and calculate how much they need to save each month to afford a new set of tires by the end of the year.

- The "Emergency" Response: A situational assessment where students are "hit" with a surprise repair bill and must adjust their monthly budget to cover the cost without losing their car.