Buying a car at any time can be full of trials and tribulations. But looking for a car for the whole family is another thing altogether. There is just so much more to consider when it comes to family cars. The good news is that it is not all that difficult to get hold of decent family-friendly cars. And the even better news is that you do not need to spend an arm and a leg in order to get such a vehicle. If you are currently in the process of looking for a car for the family, then you might be wondering where to begin. There is so much to consider that the whole rigmarole can become a little confusing. But don’t worry. To help you out, I’ve put together this short list of factors to consider. Take these into consideration when you are shopping around, and you can’t go far wrong.
Space
This is quite possibly the number one concern when you are hunting around for a family car. No matter how big or small your family is, how much space a car has is probably a paramount concern. This is particularly so if you are keen to take your car on long journeys or for holidays. With children and adults alike, comfort is key to the experience. So you want to make sure that you get a hold of a car with plenty of legroom for everyone. Your luggage is also something to take into consideration here. It’s a good idea to try and find a car which has a reasonable-sized boot. There is nothing worse than everyone being crammed in together with all the bags on a long journey. Given that, ideally, you want both legroom and a sizable boot, your ideal option is obviously quite a large car. Something like a people carrier might well be ideal. However, not everyone has the budget for such a vehicle. It all depends on your own situation, and what you think is best. Sometimes you need to make a bit of a compromise – that’s fine, too.
Doors
You might not always put much consideration into the doors, but they can make quite a difference. The number of doors you need depends, once again, on what kind of family you have. The truth is, not many people really need a huge five-door car. Even for an average-sized family with three children, three doors is probably enough. Usually, they don’t cause enough bickering for it to be worth splashing out for a five-door car. However, if you are the kind of parent who likes to make things as easy as possible, then a five-door might well be your best option. It’s not just about the number of doors, either, but the type of door. Arguably, the best door type for a big family with sprawling kids is the sliding door. These make the whole getting in and out process so much easier. There is also the safety factor; sliding doors are less likely to hit any little ones unexpectedly. These things do happen, so it’s worth taking them into consideration!
Experience
At the end of the day, you are going to be the one doing the driving – unless you have an older child whom you trust a great deal! So as well as finding a car that the kids can enjoy, you need to take yourself into consideration as well. It is a good idea to ask yourself, off the bat, what kind of driving experience you enjoy? If you have always wanted to treat yourself to something a little flashy, then why not take this opportunity to do so? People often make the mistake of thinking that a family-friendly car can’t also be stylish. But that is not the case. Certain makes and models do well to keep everyone happy. BMW, for example, offer several models which give you that classy feeling while allowing for the behavior of your children. And with their reliability and those famous BMW tyres, you can be sure of your family’s safety as well. Remember: you are the driver, so you need to be happy with what you are driving.
Child-Friendly Features
Finally, let’s have a quick look at some of the child-friendly features which you want to look out for. Dark-colored interiors are a little stroke of genius, as they hide spills and stains much more effectively. You might also like to look for rear-tinted windows, in order to help save your children’s eyes from the rays of the sun. Increasingly, parents are swearing by in-car DVD players. Whether or not this is a necessary addition is something for you to decide alone. Whatever you go for, remember that comfort and safety are always the paramount concerns.
