Picking the Best Used Car for Your Family
Every family is different. Don’t buy a minivan just because you have four kids and feel you have to.
Choosing a car that best suits you and your family is an important decision. With the number of vehicles on the market, there is something out there for every family. The hard part is finding that perfect fit. There are many new models constantly being released, but if you don’t have the money to cover the expensive monthly payments of a new ride, you will be forced to buy a pre-owned car. That isn’t always a bad option—as long as you’re informed on your search. To help you out we are going to share a few tips for picking the best used car for your family.
If you have a list of a few different options, research how the vehicles performed in crash safety tests. The websites for both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety are both great sources for this information. Cars with overall safety ratings of five stars from the NHTSA or cars rated as Top Safety Picks from the IIHS are both great choices, as those are the highest possible ratings available.
You should also consider going with a newer vehicle. Just because a car is used doesn’t mean that it has to be from the ‘90s. There are even 2013 models out on the used market right now. The older the vehicle is, the less safety features it’s likely to have. If you’re looking for a family vehicle, you’re likely going to want one with side-curtain airbags. This is a newer feature and may not be included on old models. Be sure you know exactly what you’re getting before you buy.
Another step you should take is to figure out the vehicle’s history. If you buy from Briggs Supercenter, this information is included. Just because a vehicle looks like it’s in good condition doesn’t always mean that it is. It could have been involved in an accident and simply rebuilt, or it could have some serious water damage from flooding.
If your family road trips look anything like this, you may be doing something wrong. We all know smiles are nonexistent after eight hours in a car.
Finally, be sure that the vehicle fits your family and lifestyle. If you’re planning on taking the vehicle on road trips in the summer, you may want to find one with a great highway fuel economy. If your family enjoys the outdoors, opt for an all-wheel drive SUV with a great towing capacity. You get the point. Don’t just go out and buy a minivan because you’ve hit the age where you think it’s required to buy one. There are plenty of great options out there which can suit all of your family needs and keep you from looking like a soccer mom.
We have a lot of great used vehicles in our inventory, so if you’re looking for a place to start, be sure to check out all that we have to offer. We are almost offering used car specials. Our website makes it easy for you to narrow your search to only the cars that you want to see. As always, if you have any questions about anything at all, or are interested in scheduling a test drive, don’t hesitate to get a hold of us today.
