What Makes a Good Family Car?
There are lots of things to think about when buying a family car, and it can be hard to know which one is right for you...
Whilst many of us might have dreamed of driving around in a sporty little red number at one time or another, the majority of us often find that we need to pick a family car. As our families begin to grow, we not only need a vehicle that can accommodate more people, but one that meets a number of very different needs.
There are lots of things to think about when buying a family car, and it can be hard to know which one is right for you. That is why in this article the team here at Car Mats UK have put together some important points to consider that will help you narrow down the search for the perfect family car.
How many seats?
The first thing that you need to think about is how many people you are likely to be transporting on a regular basis. Most cars will accommodate two children and their car seats, but it can become more complicated than this if there are more people to take into consideration. If you have more than two children, and a number of car seats, you need to test whether they will all fit comfortably in the back seat. Many models will make this a tight squeeze, so it might be worth looking for something that offers more than the standard five seats to not only accommodate small children, but also growing youngsters that will soon become long legged teenagers.
Budget
Ultimately, most decisions are dictated by budget. It is important that you work out how much you can afford to spend and where that money will come from before you start shopping. You might want to lease a car so that you only need to worry about the monthly expenditure or pay cash for something to get a better deal. You might also be considering borrowing money or taking out car finance, so you will need to factor interest costs into your overall spend.
Once you know what your budget stretches to, you can refine your search.
Maintenance
Maintaining a car can also be expensive, especially on tight family budgets. It is important to look at how fuel efficient each model is and how this will work in your monthly household expenditure. It is also important to look at common repairs that are needed for your preferred model to ensure that you will be able to get it back on the road if something goes wrong.
Storage
Most families want a car with good boot space, but you need to think about what you really need. A car that can accommodate a child’s buggy and the weekly shop will be very different to something that you pack a full set of camping gear into on a regular basis. You might want a car that can carry bikes, or little more than a few pairs of wellies. It is also worth checking whether your car is suitable for fitting a bike rack or a tow bar if you want to take the family on a caravan holiday.
A standard boot will hold in the region of 300 litres, however, if you need more than this, an SUV could offer as much as 900 litres.
Find the right dealership
To be confident in buying a good family car, you need to think carefully about where you get it from. Buying it privately can get you a better deal, but it also leaves you with very little protection if something goes wrong. When buying from a dealership, look around at what they offer, including warranties and checks, to see where you stand if you find a problem with the car. In addition to this, it is also worth reading any reviews about the dealership to ensure that they are trustworthy and have a good reputation.
Safety
Your children will be the most precious cargo that your car is ever likely to carry, so you will want to make sure that it is safe. You can find out how each model was ranked in the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP), which tests all new cars and awards up to five stars depending on their performance. You might also want to look for added safety features such as blind spot camera, parking sensors and automatic emergency brakes, that can all help to keep your family even safer.
When looking at a family car, it is important to check that all of the seat restraints are working properly. It is also worth checking whether the car has ever been involved in an accident, and whether the repairs have been carried out properly.
Extra features
These days there are a lot of extra features that families are likely to want in their cars, so have a look at whether there are phone charging facilities, USB points and smartphone integrations to help keep the kids amused on long journeys or even just the school run.
Cleaning
No matter how hard you try, there are bound to be some interesting messes to deal with when you have kids in the car. From spilt drinks to sticky fingers and few little accidents, your car is likely to be put through a lot, so a nice white leather interiors might not be the most practical choice. Try looking for cars that have easy to clean interiors or invest in things such as seat covers and car mats to give it that extra level of protection. These can be easily removed and washed and can enhance the longevity of your vehicle.
A family car will need to be a practical option, but it can still be stylish too. When buying it, you need to think for the long term, and try and imagine how it will be used in a few years as well as the more immediate future. This will help you narrow down the features that are most important to you, and can ensure that you pick a car that grows with your family and can take you on safe and reliable adventures.
About the Creator
CarMats UK
CarMats UK is a leading car accessories manufacturer, with a factory that is based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. All of our products are made in Britain by our amazing team of skilled workers.
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