When you settle down and start a family, your personal dynamics change. As a responsible and mature adult, you know that your priorities will shift from self to your other half and eventually the kids. Even your criteria for choosing a vehicle will also change. Depending on the size of your brood, you will have to look for the perfect family car. And here are some tips to help you get through with it.
For a small family with two kids and a business, a pickup truck like the Ford Ranger Wildtrak is a nice and safe choice.
The Personal Car
When you are a young professional and earning quite well, one of the first things you might want to buy is a car. It gives you the convenience of going anywhere you want to go. Plus, there’s a certain stature and prestige that comes with it.
So most of the time, the sassiest car is chosen, partly because of the status it represents.
In my case, I did not really care for a car when I was still working, though I did have my car crushes. When I was in my 20s, I fancied the Mercedes Benz Musso and the Honda CRV. Needless to say, I have already been into the SUV back then.
But since I don’t drive, I was content with taking all forms of commute. I only decided to buy one when my hubby and I got married. We thought that it would be a good part of the family plan, in case I get pregnant and we have a child.
The Couple’s Car
When we finally settled down, there came an opportunity for a vehicle purchase. A second-hand car was being offered to us — a vivid yellow Hyundai Getz.
Hubby and I shared the expense of buying the car as well as the maintenance. We had a great many road trips and adventures with our second-hand Hyundai Getz.
But let’s face it, the Getz is a small car and now with two kids, our youngest daughter at age 3 is already asking us to “buy a car with more seats.” Phew!
She actually meant an SUV that could fit us and a few other family members plus luggage. Since she is the smallest, she notices that she gets squished whenever some people would hitch a ride with us. Or she has to sit on my lap.
Why a Yellow Car?
Check out this video we did many years ago. It just goes to show how much we (or I) love yellow. haha
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Tips in Buying the Perfect Family Car
It seems that Siobe Shane already knows what she wants in a perfect family car for us. It meant more seats and more room.
But aside from all that, what are the other qualities that we should look for in getting the perfect family car? Here are some tips for you if you are searching for one, whether it’s brand new or a second-hand unit.
- 1. Consider how many are you in the family and the ages of your children. A small car may be fine if you have a maximum of 3 little kids.
- 2. Evaluate the car’s safety features.
- 3. Consider how you will use the car.
- 4. Make the most of a test drive, especially if you are checking out a brand new vehicle. Bring the whole brood along!
- 5. Weigh the pros and cons of the options presented to you, especially the features as well as the financing.
- 6. Weigh all the features according to what you can afford.
The bottom line would still be the car you can afford. It was only 3 years after Shane complained that we were finally able to upgrade. We got another good-as-new second-hand car — a Toyota Avanza in champagne color. It’s not an SUV but an MPV, which is the right size for the family and right for our budget. Plus, it can fit in our garage with ease.
Checking Out the Cars in the Market
In evaluating the car’s features, I have discovered that the best place to go would be the internet. There are dedicated car websites that will easily turn up all the information you need in one place
Look for those websites that provide a one-stop resource for all the car information you need because usually, these are written by experts. You can find different models plus comparative prices and features.
And most of all, these sites are open for reviews. Users can easily leave their experiences about a certain car on the site.
You may also want to check out testimonies in blogs, like what hubby did for Ford Territory.
A Word of Advice
In recent years, cars have become more affordable. Back then, it seems that only a privileged few can own one–or more.
Nowadays, a two-income household can very well afford to buy the perfect family car. But in terms of a vehicle purchase, don’t settle for something just because it’s cheap and on sale.
It’s not everyday that we middle-class people can afford to buy a car. So it should be something that can last us for at least 5 years without us having to complain every single time we go out.
Additional note: It’s best to find a fuel-efficient car for environmental reasons. You don’t only get to save precious pesos for the family budget, you also lessen the environmental impacts of your vehicle use. Remember, it’s not just about us. Whatever we do affects the rest of the world.
Thanks for sharing some tips on buying a family car, Mommy. isa sa fave color ko din Yellow 😍💝
Yehey! I have an ally. I prefer yellow in pretty much so many things. Including the car!
My bestfriend made a spreadsheet to list down the pros and cons of the different cars he was eyeing. Eventually, he went for a Mitsubishi Montero. I forgot though why he chose it over the Ford Everest when he kept raving about how he liked the Ford Everest. Maybe upon putting all of them side by side, he saw that the Montero has more Pros. Yet there was a hint of regret when he once again reiterated how good a car was the Everest. But I think when choosing which car, you also prioritize the features that are “non-negotiable”. Well probably on top of it all is whether you can afford it. hahaha… I want a Ford Ranger Raptor or the Ford Territory, but that is only if I can afford them.
Ford Territory for the win! <3
Hahaha wow naka spread sheet!
One of my biggest dream ay makabili ng family car para kapag nagtravel kami. Very helpful po itong mga tips momsh pra incase na mabigyan ng pagkakataong makabili meron na akong knowledge ❤️