Here are some practical tips that can help you when looking for a family car.
A car is a big investment for many Filipinos, which is why it’s only
reasonable to take some time to really think things through before making a
purchase. This is even more true if you’re looking for a family vehicle
because you’ll have different priorities. For one, the car’s appearance will
matter less as practical features take center stage (though this doesn’t
mean that family cars have to be boring).
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| Photo by JAGMEET SiNGH from Pexels |
7 Important Considerations When Looking For A Family Car
Of course, you also have to think about your budget. The bigger the family,
the bigger the car you’re going to need so you also have to be prepared for
bigger costs. Fortunately, banks in the Philippines offer
car loans
at reasonable rates. As long as you meet the requirements and have a good
credit standing, you have a high chance of getting approved.
That said, here are other important considerations when you’re looking for the
perfect car for your family:
Size, Space, and Accessibility
As mentioned earlier, if you have a big family then you need a big car.
There are plenty of options to choose from, but the most popular ones are SUVs
due to their versatility. However, do note that SUVs have a higher ground
clearance so younger children may have difficulty in getting in and out of the
vehicle. Consider adding step bars for easier access.
You also need to consider future-proofing the size of your family vehicle. A
hatchback might seem enough if you only have one child, but what if you’re
planning to have another child later on? What’s more, your children will
eventually get bigger. Thus, you might be needing more legroom sooner than
later.
Safety Features
It doesn’t matter if there are kids on board or not: driving safely is a must!
Still, looking for added safety features in a family car is always a good
thing. Aside from the standard seatbelts, child locks, airbags, and anti-lock
brakes, you should also look for collision warning systems, adaptive cruise
control, and parking assist.
Of course, a vehicle becomes more expensive if it has more features. If you
have a limited budget, list the safety features you want in order of priority.
Then, look for a reasonably priced car that meets most of the items on your
list.
Storage and Hauling Capacity
If you’re traveling with babies and young children, then you’re going to be
bringing a lot of stuff. This means that you have to make room for strollers
and baby bags loaded with extra clothes and diapers, along with the usual
must-haves like emergency toolboxes and first aid kits.
As such, you need to look for a family car that has a spacious interior and
also ample storage capacity. This way, you don’t have to worry too much about
making all your luggage and cargo fit. Some car models have foldable “stow and
go” rear seats, which can be helpful if you have to bring big items like twin
strollers.
Ease of Cleanup
Whether you like it or not, your kids are going to make messes in the car.
Thus, it’s better to choose a vehicle with easy-to-clean surfaces. Rubber
floor mats, leather or pleather seats, and dark colors are your best friends
when it comes to stains and spills.
Creature Comforts
Going on a long journey? You can bet your kids will get bored and you’re going
to need some back-up. Luckily, a lot of newer car models have a lot of
on-board entertainment options such as built-in screens for watching videos.
If you have older children who’d rather use their mobile devices, USB charging
ports are essential.
Other things you might want to look for are voice-activated systems that can
help you make hands-free calls, send texts, and control your music player. For
driving safety, consider getting a car with a native GPS, parking assistance,
and lane-departure warning.
Diesel or Gas?
Your fuel choice can affect a lot of things, including performance as well as
long-term operating and maintenance costs. This means that there’s a right
choice, depending on where and how often you drive. If you’re going to use
your family car exclusively in urban settings for, say, quick trips to the
park or for picking up your kids from school, then a gas engine is better.
Meanwhile, if your family car will also serve as your daily driver that will
see long hours on the road, getting a diesel car will actually be more
economical. It can cost more to maintain, but you can expect better
performance overall.
Reliability
You won’t be getting much use of your family car if it’s always in the casa or
auto shop for repairs. Thus, for your own convenience and peace of mind,
choose a vehicle with a reputation for being sturdy and reliable.
What’s more, you should also consider whether a car brand or model is “talyer
friendly.” Simply put, it’s ideally a vehicle that even the smallest roadside
auto repair shops can handle. Again, this is all for your peace of mind.
Happy car shopping!
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Great suggestions on finding a new car. We recently replaced our 20 year old car and I searched for months looking for just the right one.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a really great and very informative post! I agree with all of this points! Thanks for sharing this with us
ReplyDeleteThese are all really great things to consider before buying a car! This is so informative thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteA car is indeed a big investment so we gotta be careful and consider a lot of things. Comfort is on top of my list for the kids.
ReplyDeleteSearching for a new family car is not easy task at all. Safety is the most important for me. Thank you for these advice.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great reference and a big help especially to those who are buying their first family car. Your on point and detailed about this. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThese are really good points to consider when getting a different car, also good to take into consideration getting a slightly older model because it may shave thousands off the price!
ReplyDeleteThese are some really great points to consider when getting a newer car, also good to consider a model that's a few behind current because it may shave off thousands!
ReplyDeleteMan right now with the cost of gas I wish I could afford an electric car... if you can even get one. LOL.... we have a car with good gas mileage and I would go wait gas for sure as the price of diesel I even worse ;)
ReplyDeleteI would definitely say safety and reliability are top priorities for us. We really need a truck to be able to haul and be able to buy lumber, etc but the price of gas has us hesitating on that right now hard!
ReplyDeleteThis is all useful advice. We considered these when choosing mine and my husbands cars. Safety is an important factor.
ReplyDeleteWe love our new car, it offers plenty of space and storage. It just the biggest gas guzzler we've owned so far. And that's really not good with these horrible gas prices!
ReplyDeleteFinding the right family car is so important. Thanks for your ideas to help make the decision process easier with all this great info.
ReplyDeleteYup, I always try to keep these in mind when getting a car. Mine is hybrid!
ReplyDeleteI got light gray interior in my car. Big mistake. Definitely go with dark if you have kids. I am forever cleaning our seats, even with a seat cover.
ReplyDeleteThese are important considerations for anyone buying a vehicle! Price and safety are my top two concerns.
ReplyDeleteWhen choosing a new car I am looking at its capacity, comfort and type of fuel!
ReplyDeleteWe just downsized from a minivan, and space is definitely an issue! It is important to consider all of this.
ReplyDelete