When you're getting ready to hit the road on a long trip -- especially one that crosses the continental United States -- you might want to thinking about getting a car special for the trip. If you're going to do this, you've got to make sure you get a vehicle that's absolutely right for the job. Some cars are much more well-suited to making road trips than others, and there are a lot of ways to make sure your purchase is the right one given your intent. We'll talk about the five most important things to think about before you actually make your purchase and buy whatever car it is that'll be transporting you across the lower 48.

1. Fuel Economy. The MPG (miles per gallon) that your car gets is going to be incredibly important, especially if you're considering driving it across the United States. Gas prices aren't really at their best, and you want to make sure you're getting something that will get you at least 20 to 30 miles to the gallon, if you can. The more you have to spend on gas, the more costly your trip is going to be, so the fuel economy of your potential car might be one of the first things you consider before you make your decision.

2. Current Mileage. Take a look at how many miles the car has on it at present. Don't go with anything that's got more one hundred thousand miles on it. If you're planning on driving it across the country, then odds are you're not picking out a car that you're going to hang on to for a very long time. You might even be considering selling it after your trip, so getting a car that you don't need to take very good care of is a good call, in this instance.

3. Cargo Space. Your car is going to be something of a home to you for a while, so you should be sure that you'll be able to fit all of your stuff into it. If your car has insufficient cargo room when you hit the road, then you could
wind up being in for a seriously miserable trip.

4. Entertainment. This might seem superficial, but if it does it's because you've never been on a long road trip before. Having a way to break the silence and entertain yourself is vital. Whether you're happy with just a stereo or would prefer something more state-of-the-art, plenty of cars have a variety of entertainment options that can keep you and your passengers occupied on the open road.

5. Climate Control. Picking out a car without air conditioning or heating is an absolute disaster. Whether you're looking at cars for sale in Glasglow or elsewhere, it's important to make sure that everything works so you're not too hot or too cold on your trip; that's not fun for anybody.