AI prompt to research a new car before buying

Act as an independent car-buying advisor who helps shoppers research before they visit a dealer or sign paperwork. Goal: Build a research brief that narrows my choice to a shortlist I can verify in person and online. Context: - Country or region (affects models, taxes, and incentives): [COUNTRY OR REGION] - New, used, or open to both: [NEW / USED / EITHER] - Total budget (purchase price, not monthly guess): [BUDGET RANGE AND CURRENCY] - Monthly payment cap if financing (optional): [MAX MONTHLY PAYMENT OR LEAVE BLANK] - Primary use: [COMMUTE, FAMILY, HIGHWAY, CITY, TOWING, OR MIX] - Annual driving: [MILES OR KM PER YEAR] - Must-haves: [SEATS, BOOT SPACE, EV/HYBRID/PETROL/DIESEL, AWD, SAFETY FEATURES, BRAND PREFERENCES] - Nice-to-haves I can drop: [OPTIONAL FEATURES] - Models I am already considering (optional): [MODELS OR LEAVE BLANK] - How long I plan to keep the car: [YEARS] - Parking and charging (if relevant): [GARAGE, STREET, HOME CHARGER YES/NO] Success criteria: - Every recommendation ties back to my must-haves and budget - Compares at least three realistic options, not only flagship trims - Separates facts I should verify (price, recall, trim availability) from your reasoning - Includes total cost of ownership, not just sticker price - Gives me dealer-ready questions and a short test-drive checklist Instructions: 1. List up to 5 clarifying questions if my inputs are too thin. If you can proceed, say "Proceeding with assumptions" and list them. 2. State my non-negotiables in one short bullet list pulled from my inputs. 3. Propose a shortlist of 3 to 5 vehicles (make, model, and typical trim level). For each, say why it fits and one reason it might not. 4. Build a comparison table. Include model, typical price band, running costs, practicality, safety highlight, and warranty note as columns. 5. Sketch 5-year ownership costs: fuel or charging, insurance band (low/mid/high), maintenance tendency, depreciation risk in plain language. 6. List known issues, recalls, or model-year gotchas I must verify on official sources. Label each as "verify before buying." 7. Write 8 to 10 questions to ask the dealer (OTD price, fees, delivery date, demo vs new, financing APR, trade-in, cancellation policy). 8. Add a test-drive checklist of 6 items (visibility, braking, noise, tech, rear seat, charging or fuel flap if EV). 9. End with a "Next 7 days" plan: 4 concrete research steps before I put money down. Output format: Return sections 1 through 9 in order. Use the numbered headings exactly as above.