Top tips for buying a child friendly car
It’s time for a new family car and there’s a lot to consider.
Here are our top tips for buying a vehicle that suits the school run as well as it does Saturday morning sport.
Research, research, research.
Purchasing a car is probably the second largest purchase of your life so spend time researching online and in the dealership.
Talk to family and friends about what they like and dislike about their cars and read online reviews from motoring writers and consumers.
Safety
Websites like HowSafeIsYourCar.com.au provide independent ratings for new and used cars based on laboratory and real-world crash data.
At a very basic level, you should understand how many airbags your car has and whether it has crash avoidance features like auto emergency braking, electronic stability control and traction control.
If your kids are younger, you should also consider how many carseats or boosters can fit across the back.
Comfort
Consider how many people are in your family and how easy it will be for them to sit and climb into the car in car seats, and then as teenagers.
Leather seats make wiping up spills easier and creature comforts like DVDs and TVs, air conditioning and heating in the back can make long car rides more tolerable.
How many seats you want for the kids (and their friends) and how much boot space you need are also important considerations.
Maintenance costs
Keeping your car well-maintained means it will be safer and run more smoothly. But at what cost? Most new car manufacturer’s now offer capped price servicing for an extended period – make sure you research what is and isn’t included. European cars have a reputation for more expensive parts and servicing – again, research this to understand the facts.
One final tip - try to avoid taking the kids to the showroom when you are in the researching phase. But make sure you take them along when it’s time for the final decision so you check how easily they all fit in the back.
