What to Consider when Buying a Family Car

If you need a new family car then this is the guide for you. Here you will find out what steps you can take to buy a new car, so you can make sure that you are not only getting the result you want but you can also make sure that you are not going way over budget.

Safety

One of the first things that you should consider is safety. Safety is imperative, especially important when you are driving your kids around. Most modern cars have very good safety specifications, so you shouldn’t have too much of an issue finding one that suits your needs. The best and easiest way for you to find a safe car is for you to check the NCAP rating. In Europe, this is the standard for car safety. The rating you check will, of course, depend on where you live and the type of car you are buying, so make sure that you keep that in mind. For family cars, it’s recommended that you buy a car that has a rating of 5. This means that the car is one of the safest out there, so you don’t have to worry about a thing there.

Budget

You also need to consider the budget. Cars built for families tend to be more expensive when compared to city cars. You do need your budget to stretch as far as possible if you want a car that can tick all of the right boxes. Of course, you can buy an affordable family car but you still need to be savvy with your search. This will allow you to find a car that meets your requirements while also having plenty of space for everyone. Think carefully about how much you can afford before you go ahead and hit the forecourt too. Doing the sums ahead of time will help you to stick to your budget sensibly and it will also help you to avoid getting carried away. It will also make it much easier for you to simplify your search, so you can get what you want overall when looking at different models. If you intend to take out finance for your car then it could be an idea to look into PCP claims, as you may be entitled to get some money back for your last car if you have been misold it.

Functionality

Functionality is also so important. Functionality may come behind things like space and seats but it is still a worthy consideration. Added extras, which can include smartphone integration and infotainment screens are all worth thinking about and they are nice to have as well if you want to keep everyone entertained when on a long journey. Some of them even allow you to set restricted driving modes, if you intend to lend your teenager your car. 

Durability 

With stains, pet hairs, and fingerprints being a major issue, you do need to make sure that you are giving some thought to how durable your car is. Finding a car that has solid build quality will help you out a lot here and it will also help you to make it last for a very long time. Material choice will also be a big consideration here too. Leather seats tend to be way more stain-resistant when compared to cloth upholstery. You should also take note that some plastics are less prone to marks than others. If you can choose things like this then it will help you a lot later down the line.

Seats

The total number of seats that a car has is also a huge consideration, especially when choosing a family car. You need to make sure that you have enough seats to suit your family now, as well as make sure that you have enough to cater for any additional children that you may have later down the line. If you need space for a big family or if you know that you are going to be doing a lot of school runs then give some thought to this. Most SUVs come with folding seats and this is great as you can store them when you don’t need them. As well as seats, you have to consider space. Prams, shopping bags, and pets are all worthy considerations. There may also be a time when you have to fit luggage in your bag if you know that you need to go away. If you can give thought to things like this then it will make your life a lot easier.

Reliability

Reliability is so important too. If you are going to do your weekly shop then the last thing you need is your car breaking down on you. Newer cars will usually give you a very high level of reliability and it will also result in you experiencing less wear and tear when compared to other car models. Nearly new cars are a very good option if you feel as though your budget isn’t quite going to stretch to a higher price car. Fuel economy is also worth thinking about. Tax, insurance and even running costs can all add up and they can chip away at your budget too. If you are going to be nipping across town then you may be suited to a hybrid car or an electric car. You should only think about getting a diesel car if you are going to be doing a lot of driving or if you are going to be doing a lot of driving that is going to impact your budget for fuel.

So as you can see, buying a new family car is always a good idea if you feel as though your current car is not meeting your needs. With that said, you do need to make sure that you aren’t overlooking the tips listed above. If you are then you may end up spending more than you have to, which is the last thing you need when you are on a budget.