1. Cost
There are two main types of costs you have to consider when calculating the budget of getting a car: upfront and ongoing. Some of the costs you have to consider are:
The upfront costs of the car, whether it is a finance deal or a whole cost upfront
Finance repayment – if you choose to pay the car through car finance or personal loan, you need to factor in repayments
Insurance
Annual Road Tax
Servicing
Other costs include repairs, new tires, and valets
These costs add up, making it important to have some breathing room in your budget
2. Fuel
Different families use cars differently, think about how yours is going to be used. Is the car going to be the primary car driven at low speeds in an urban environment? If this is the case, you need to avoid diesel-powered cars because they are not great when used for low-mileage and low-speed driving over a longer duration. If you get a diesel car, you are going to be faced with large maintenance bills. The best option in such a situation is a petrol-powered car, or if your budget allows, then a hybrid or even a pure electric vehicle. If the car is going to double as a commuting vehicle with something like 20,000km a year, a diesel-powered car is going to make the most sense because it will keep your fuel costs low.
3. Seating
The number of kids is going to have a big impact on the car you choose. If you have just one kid, most car models should be good enough. If you have three or more kids, you will have to be put that into consideration when choosing the right option. This doesn’t mean having to get a seven-seat car, some vehicles have five seats that are wide with separate rear chairs. Such cars should be big enough for your family.
4. Safety
If there is one area you should never skimp on when buying a new or used car is safety equipment. If you are getting a new car, then have a look at the list of standard safety equipment and see the options you have, and choose the ones that are going to keep your family safe. Car safety is an important thing to consider when buying a car, and you should always keep that in mind when looking at different options.
There has been a lot of advancement when it comes to cars, and they come with a lot of safety features today. Some of the features include Lane Departure Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Keep Assist System, Traffic Sign Recognition, Adaptive Cruise Control, Intelligent-Adaptative Cruise Control, Intelligent Speed Limiting, Low-Speed Follow, and Road Departure Mitigation.
5. Finance
There are different ways of financing a new car – cash, PCP, dealer financing, and bank loans/credit union. Car dealers have different financing options to choose from. Look for one that works best for you.
6. Considering having more than one car
You might be stressing yourself trying to find the best car for your family, but the solution might be finding buying more than one car. For school runs, you can have a cheap petrol/hybrid/electric model while parent commuting to work over a long distance might need a car that is more suited for long-distance driving.
7. Interior trim
Many people don’t consider the interior trim of the car and whether it is suitable for family life. If you have a young family, then you should be looking for dark upholstery because it is going to be easier to clean compared to bright colored upholstery.