How to Choose the Perfect Family Vehicle - AllCarIndex
Usually, our cars rank only second to house purchases when it comes to personal expenses. Most people have cars and are dependent on them on a daily basis, be it to take the kids to school or for the weekly trek to work. As with all things, they inevitably need servicing and repairs and ultimately will have to be replaced.
When one person lives alone or as part of a couple, the car choice may be wide. If there is a growing family, however, the needs become more and more defined. It can be daunting to know what to look for when making a new purchase.
This article will provide a few clues for anyone needing a family vehicle.
The benefits of a van
Let's start with perhaps the ultimate choice. Parents may be tired of dragging trailers and caravans around on holiday, yet they love the autonomy and freedom that these holidays provide. In this scenario, a van may be a good choice. Anyone looking online for vans will need to see the fuel type, transmission, and mileage. People with restricted budgets may still be able to buy a van, provided there are options to pay by installments rather than outright.
As with all family vehicles, the more space there is, the less stressful the journeys will be. Having said that, people opting for the largest models need to consider the issues they could have when parking, moving around, or traversing small country roads.
Hatchbacks and people movers
Small sedans can feel cramped when there are children in the back, and even the front can feel restricted as a result. Hatchbacks provide more options, particularly when there are family dogs and bags to transport around. People movers are perfect when there are older children who need plenty of leg space and headroom. Anyone who still has a young child will need to ensure a booster seat can be fitted ok.
Station wagons and SUVs
Station wagons can meet the needs of a family of four, having the capacity for bikes, prams, and pushchairs. Once again, there is lots of head and leg space. An SUV is an offroad vehicle that people buy when doing lots of outdoor activities and sports. They are resilient and feature great storage space.
Consider what the vehicle will be used for
Some people just need a runaround to go on school journeys within the town. In that case, a medium two-wheel drive will probably be fine. A town car needs less resilience than some others. The other end of the spectrum is people carrying bikes and sports equipment, or those who want to drive across the countryside with its dirt tracks. Anyone who plans to drag a trailer or caravan around will need to check that the tow bar and engine are strong enough for the task. Interestingly, diesel power can be better for those who regularly take long journeys.
The value of indoor space and storage
Anyone taking their kids on a long journey will recognize the need for lots of bag room and storage, including under the seats and even the glove box. Children will be more content if they have a cup holder for their drinks, and a tray table for writing, drawing or playing games. People with a bigger budget who are technologically minded might consider having a DVD player or an Ipad holder.
A test drive is essential
In addition to the technical aspects people check before buying a car, potential buyers should take the whole family on a 30-minute test drive. It will highlight any issues with child seats, space, or getting in and out.
Check for a rear window lock so that the driver has control over anything the kids might do during a journey. Also, practice parking. Reversing cameras are more than a luxury, as they can prevent people from driving into their children when parking in the drive.
People are ultimately driven by their budget. This has implications not just for the purchase price, but also for ongoing maintenance costs and car insurance. The whole family needs to be happy with the purchase. Simple things like having no rear doors can make things hard when installing baby seats or getting children in and out. Make sure any family dog will be transportable in comfort, too.
As we have said, the larger the vehicle, the more options there are for a growing family. There's no point in buying a small car if children are planned any time soon. A final recommendation is to check the safety rating of the vehicle, as the family's lives are more important than anything else. Once a good choice has been made, the stage has been set for many years of happy motoring together with the family.