At some stage in your life, you will want to settle down with your significant other and have kids. Most people think that will never happen to them, but then when it does they are happy that it did!
When you do have a family, one of the things you need to make sure of is that you have a suitable car. The days of driving around in your sporty coupe or three-door hatchback are pretty much over when you have a baby!
Photo Source: kona99 (Flickr)
Some folks will say you can use your existing car.
But have you ever tried to get a baby seat into a car that has a low centre of gravity? It’s not easy – trust me!
If you are unsure what car to buy, or even what you need to look out for, worry no more for this blog post will tell you all that you need to know.
What are your Requirements?
You need to think about what your requirements or your local car dealer in search of a used family car.
Consider the following questions:
- Passengers and cargo. How many people will be travelling with you on a regular basis? And what cargo do you need to carry with you?
- Size of car. Can you get by with a small family car, or do you need a large vehicle?
- Ease of use. Some people prefer to drive an automatic car instead of a manual one.
Assuming you have one or more child, you will also need to think about their comfort level. A car with more legroom at the back will be better for small children.
ISOFIX Anchor Points
Most modern cars come with ISOFIX anchor points in the rear seats as standard. If you buy compatible car seat bases, they just clamp onto the anchor points in a matter of seconds. Baby seats also let you use seat belts, but they can be cumbersome to thread through.
I recommend researching whether the used car you want to buy comes with ISOFIX anchor points as standard. This marvellous invention makes life so much easier!
Storage Space
When you have a newborn, you need to drive a car with plenty of storage space. First, there needs to be enough room to fit the car seat and mounting base to your car. You shouldn’t put any junk in the way of the base’s support leg that goes down to the floor.
You will also need to consider room for the pram, as well as their changing bag complete with essentials. And if you have a toddler, you will also need space to carry their toys around too – especially if you are going on a road trip somewhere.
Rear Headrests
All modern cars come with rear headrests. But some used cars might not have any for whatever reason. It is important that your next used car buy includes them so that you can attach a mirror to one or both of them.
Not only does the mirror entertain your kids, but it enables you to keep an eye on them using your rear-view mirror.
I hope this guide has been useful to you. Let me know if you have any other tips you’d like to share with our readers!