As your family grows, you’re likely going to need to update or upgrade the car you plan to shuttle everyone around in. For most families, space is the number one issue. From car seats to big teenagers, each family has its own unique needs when it comes to finding an affordable, spacious, and safe family car. And with all the options out there, it can be hard to know just which one is going to be best for you. So to help you in making this decision, here are three tips for picking a new family vehicle.
Consider The Long-Term
Once you have a couple kids, you may be feeling that you sedan is just no longer cutting it in the space department. But while your immediate needs are likely the things in the forefront of your mind, Allstate recommends that you also think about the long-term needs of your family. If you plan to have more kids, you may want to get a car that allows you room to grow. If you’re going to be an empty nester soon, you may not be worried about space after a few years. So before you settle on one particular car, consider if that car will still fit your needs in five or so years in the future.
Think About Your Lifestyle
Along with the spatial needs of your family, you should also consider how a car will or won’t work with the lifestyle your family now leads or is planning to lead in the future. According to Jack R. Nerad, a contributor to Parenting.com, it’s good to think about if your family has any hobbies that will require you to have extra space around your car, like if you bike or ski. Additionally, if you plan to tow something like a trailer or camper, you should also consider this when choosing a new family car. And even if you don’t have a large family, if you frequently are taking your child’s friends or teammates from one place to another, you may want to make it easy to accommodate them by having more seats than you may need on a daily basis.
Bring The Brood Along
When it comes time to actually buy the car, Matt Jones, a contributor to Edmunds.com, suggests that you bring the entire family along for the ride. Before you choose to sign the final papers, you’re going to want to make sure that everyone fits in the car safely and comfortably. By having everyone there, you will be able to see if something may not work well for your family or if this car will be the perfect fit for you all.
If you’re going to be buying a new family car soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you make the right choice.