Choosing the Right Family Car for Your Situation
One of the most useful things you can invest in for your family is a car. Whether you’re expecting a child soon and need a family car or if your old car has finally broken down and given in, getting a new vehicle is a great decision that will ultimately empower your lifestyle and open more transportation options. It also helps to pave the way for your children to drive in the future. You can give them the family car to practice with, or hand it down to them to save money when they decide to start driving.
But if you’re not particularly savvy with cars, then it can be difficult trying to pick one that fits your current situation. So in order to give you a hand, here’s a handy little guide to help you pick the right family car.
What’s your budget?
First, establish how much money you’re willing to spend on your new family car. This will help you determine if you’re going to buy a second-hand vehicle or something fresh from the manufacturer. While buying pre-owned is always cheaper, buying new from the factory can also be a good choice if there are new safety features or additions that you want. Some newer vehicles like the 2017 Mazda 3 SP25 have fantastic fuel efficiency, meaning they’re brilliant if you want to save money on fuel costs. It’s also an extremely popular car, meaning repairs and insurance costs are also fairly low.
How large is your family?
Next, you need to ask yourself how big your family is going to be, or how many kids you plan to have. If you count you and your partner, then you only have space for three children in the back if you plan to buy a five door car. If you want to have more children or need more space, then you’ll need a larger vehicle such as an MPV or SUV. The Citroen Grand C4 Picasso is a fantastic vehicle for larger families. It has seven seats, ample storage space, and offers families a lot of convenience for the cost. Large cars typically take more to run, but they’re also well worth the additional money you pay if you plan to have a lot of children.
What will you use it for?
If you only plan to use your car for a few things like grocery shopping or travelling around town with one or two kids, then you only need a three-door car. However, if you plan to go on long car journeys with your children, then you might need something a little more comfortable so your kids can stretch their legs and not feel like they’re crammed into the back when they grow older. If you plan to drive shorter distances, an electric car could give you huge savings because you could run it purely on electricity as opposed to fuel. If you’ll be moving around heavy objects, such as moving home often or buying lots of large furniture, then a pickup truck or an SUV with ample storage room might be the better option.