6 Tips for Buying the Perfect Family Car
Modern family life is reliant on having access to a car to ferry you and the kids around as needed, from short trips to the store to long distance journeys to vacation destinations.
If you’re not a gear head, it’s easy to get confused by the number of family-focused vehicle options out there. To prevent you from picking the wrong model for your needs, here are some tips on what to keep in mind as a modern motorist.
Tip: Set a budget before you start searching
Everyone needs a budget, and you should certainly consider this prior to picking out a new family car. Once you know what you can afford to spend, you can narrow your search accordingly, and avoid overstretching yourself.
Tip: Consider second hand cars as well as new models
In an age of cheap finance deals, it can be tempting to spring for a car that’s just rolled out of the factory. However, depending on your budget and your circumstances it could make more sense to choose a used equivalent.
Given how quickly new models depreciate, going for a second hand model with a few miles on the clock could save you a bundle, without sacrificing anything in terms of features & tech.
Tip: Get cheap car insurance
It’s not just the sticker price of the car that matters, but also how much it will cost to insure. Engine power and accident stats attached to each make and model make a difference here, but you can still get a good deal so long as you shop around.
For example, using a site like CheapInsurance to get auto insurance quotes will let you play rival providers off against one another, and avoid overpaying for the cover you require.
Family cars have to be safe
Tip: Explore internal space
We can get blinded by the exterior beauty of a car and forget to check whether there’s enough room inside for it to be a practical family vehicle.
Think about how much room there is in the second row of seating, especially if you’ve got older kids that are only going to grow; you don’t want to find that they are squashed in with their knees up against the driver’s seat in a year or two.
Also check the trunk capacity, as this is vital in terms of the versatility of the vehicle. Will there be enough room for all of your luggage when you head out for a family road trip? Is the trunk opening wide enough to fit large items, like strollers? All these questions and more must be on your watchlist.
Tip: Consider safety
Family cars have to be safe because you’ll be carting the most precious cargo of all around with you and you don’t want to take unnecessary risks.
You might even choose to rebalance your budget if safety is especially important to you. For example, choosing a less powerful but more safety-conscious model over one with a bigger engine but more basic safety specs is advised.
Looking out for the latest in autonomous driving tech, such as automatic braking, lane keeping assist adaptive cruise control and so on is worthwhile if you want complete peace of mind behind the wheel.
Tip: Ask for recommendations from friends and family
If you’re still stumped by the question of which family car to buy, and you don’t want to make a decision in a high-pressure sales situation at a dealership, why not speak to other people in your life about their vehicles?
Friends, family, and colleagues probably have good tips, as well as horror stories, about their own ownership experiences, so turn to your social circles to clear this up.
