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Before picking a car for your family, there are a few important basics you must carefully consider. This list will help you with some of these basics which should influence your selection process and eventual purchase.
- Budget
You cannot buy a car until you have come up with a realistic budget. Whether you want to buy a new or second-hand car, you need to set this up right and be prepared to wait until you find the right family-oriented vehicle. The best car to buy is the one that you can afford without breaking the bank.
- Space
Not that many cars offer the flexibility of accommodating three child seats, and since children tend to come and grow into different sizes, you will need to think over how many full-sized car seats you will need and for how long you will need them.
- Safety
Everyone wants a car that they feel safe in and family-minded individuals are no different.
- Comfort and Convenience
A smooth ride with comfortable seats will help keep a family happy during a trip no matter the weather. You have to consider the amount of loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car; realize the importance of, say, an automatic sliding door and make a choice.
- Child Seats
Child car safety seats are an essential part of the decision-making especially if you have an infant, toddler or both. You have to see if the space between the front and back seats can comfortably accommodate both the seat and the child. A look at these convertible car seats for tall babies might give you an idea of what to expect.
- Technology
These days, technology plays an enormous role in vehicles. You should be on the lookout for phone call controls and receivers, Bluetooth connectivity, rearview cameras, keyless entry and maybe a push-button start. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alert significantly enhance parking lot navigation.
- Exchange
If you are swapping a car, you need to find out what its trade-in value is against a choice of, maybe, three vehicles. You shouldn’t be disappointed if/when you realize that what you think your car is worth is not what a dealer thinks its worth. In most cases, it could cost a lot more than you expected during a trade-off.
The Do’s and Don’ts to Keep in Mind When Buying a Family Car:
- You should decide what exactly your family needs instead of buying what you think your family wants – unlike certain clothes, one size does not fit all.
- Do well to take your car seats and children along whenever you have to view a car. By putting the car seats and children in the car, you can see how the vehicle fits both. Keep in mind that children grow at a fast rate and your needs can change.
- Take the car for a proper test drive. If possible, ask for a reasonably long test drive – highway and local roads. Also, test it out for parking ease and boot space.
- Check how easy it is to arrange and even re-arrangement seating plan. If seats need to be removed to create extra space, how heavy are they or how easy are they to remove?
- Consider whether you need petrol or diesel – if your annual mileage is less than about 25,000 kilometers, then you are better off with petrol.
- Think about what equipment you will need. Extras such as satellite navigation, cruise control, and family connectivity functions are not just innovations anymore.
- Don’t always believe what car manufacturers say about a car’s fuel consumption. The best thing to do is check the car out online to get the actual fuel consumption – usually through individual reviews or car forums.
- Don’t assume the car has a spare wheel. Many come with tire repair kits, which can present issues when you have a puncture on a night with kids on-board.
- Don’t think all cars are trustworthy. Check out the details of whatever car you are thinking of purchasing online, i.e., through posts, articles, and reviews made by individuals who are using or have already used it.
- Don’t be quick to dip into personal finance plans – for a new or second-hand car – without knowing what the terms will be at the end of the deal. Take your time to find the best car for you and yours.
