My current car is a three door and there's no way that I can clamber in through the seats to not only strap Tyler into his car seat (already quite a task I can assure you!) but a newborn into the rear-facing car seat too. A five door is what I need. I also need a bigger boot. I'm going to be using my Silver Cross pram again with this baby and the chassis is slightly bigger than a normal buggy so I need a roomy boot for fitting it all in.
However, getting a new car can be quite costly. I don't mind getting a second hand car but I need something reliable and if I'm honest, I'd actually love to get a new car, something which I can have for many years and not have to worry about upcoming repairs, NCT, etc. There are a few things I'll be keeping in mind when purchasing a new car and I thought I'd share these with you all too.
1. Safety is a priority
No parent is willingly going to but their children in an unsafe car, hence why I'm more inclined to want a new car. However, if you're going for a second hand car make sure you do thorough checks before purchasing. Bring a mechanic or a family member who you know is knowledgeable about cars, with you to the viewing and let them check the specifics of the car and determine in just how good a condition it is. Also, one important aspect of cars that a lot of people seem to forget is having tyres that are in good condition. Have faulty or old tyres can be detrimental to the safety of your car, but buying new tyres doesn't have to be expensive either, autocare sites offer great tyres at afforable prices - so there's no need to be slack when it comes to keeping your tyres in check.
2. Determine your budget
Although I know I would love a brand new car, I know that it would be quite costly and with a new baby on the way I have to judge whether or not I can take on an extra bill every month. If you think you can afford it then car finance can be a great route to go down when it comes to being able to purchase your new car and pay back it back on a weekly or monthly basis, but remember to look carefully at the interest rate (APR) to make sure you're getting a good deal. This is an option I'm currently looking into, I just need to work out my monthly budget. If however, you only need a car for a certain amount of time - the summer months for example, then leasing a car could be a great route to go down. Sites such as Parkway Contracts offer great value on a VW Golf Lease and considering that my other half has a golf, I highly recommend it as a family car.
3. Take your family size into account (and if it'll be growing some more!)
As I said I need a five door car as we'll have two children. There's no point in sticking with a small car just because you've had it for a long time. I need more space in the car and I really do need those extra doors! It's important to take into account how much space you'll need for car seats and booster seats as your child will be using them for a considerable time. Also, it's important to think about whether or not your family will be growing some more, going for a bigger car can help you in the future by not having to upgrade or change your car again too soon.
4. The Economical Aspects
It's important to take into account, when changing your car - the cost of insurance on the new car - whether it will be going up or down, how much tax you'll have to pay on the car each year and petrol/diesel costs (if you're going up an engine size). My current car is only a one litre and is quite cheap to run and tax, hence why I've been slow to change it. I'll be considering the economical aspects before I purchase a new car as these will also have to be factored into my monthly budget.
Remembering these four tips will help you to choose the right car for your family and your budget.
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