When the time comes to choose a new car there’s plenty to think about. Most families are highly dependent on their vehicles and so it’s important to find the perfect car for your needs. To help you to find the best car for your family, it’s worth establishing your needs before you start shopping.
1. Upfront or finance
First things first, you’ll need to decide if you want to pay upfront or apply for your car on finance. Paying upfront means no hassle with getting a finance check, or adhering to a set mileage limit. When you pay upfront you’ll immediately own the vehicle, and won’t have to pay any interest. Nevertheless, purchasing a car on finance has many benefits. When you pay on finance you allow yourself an affordable monthly payment that you can monitor with the rest of your bills. Without a lump sum to pay, you can keep your savings intact. With a financing option you might be able to get yourself a luxury car, and make the payments over a long-period of time. If you’re selling your old vehicle first make sure you get a great price on your car!
2 . Splurge or save
Next up, you’ve got to determine your budget. Are you looking to splurge on a fancy new Bentley Continental GT? Or would you prefer to save on a moderately priced used vehicle? Many people prefer a brand new car because they enjoy the luxury factor and want to be the first owner. However, if you’re looking to save money, there are plenty of high quality used vehicles to choose from. With a used car you’ll also get a less expensive insurance deal. Purchasing a used car means you’ll need to check the car’s history to ensure that everything is to your liking. Whether you buy used or new, a thorough test drive is essential.
3. Enough storage
If you have children, you’ll need to consider choosing a vehicle with enough storage. Whether it’s fitting in your kid’s buggies, or a family sized grocery shop, families often need lots of room! It’s also useful to consider the interior design of the car. When you’ve got kids who are prone to making a mess, it’s helpful if your car is easy to clean. (Dark colours for the interior are far better than shades of cream or beige)!
4. Eco-friendly
When you’re choosing your family car, you might want to consider eco-friendly options such as an electric or hybrid vehicle. Hybrid cars have gained much popularity over the last few years. These cars run with both an electric motor and a traditional engine. You’ll find that a hybrid uses up less fuel and produces far less CO2 emissions than a regular vehicle. There are several different types of hybrids such as plug in hybrids or parallel hybrids. One of the best hybrid cars is the range extender, these cars only rely on the traditional engine when charging up the car battery. These are the most earth-friendly hybrids available.