The family vehicle is the functional heartbeat of many homes. It offers functionality, the opportunity to get out and about, making many tasks faster. For those working from home, it can enable you to make deliveries quicker if you’re dispatching products, or make sidelines from your desk quicker and therefore cheaper. However, as Australian fuel prices increase, many families are feeling the squeeze.
Whilst it seems any vehicle will do, you can definitely save some pennies on your insurance and taxes whilst getting a better auto experience and having more funds for your family and business. Furthermore, you might find yourself driving a much better car for the needs of you and yours.
Old Can Be Gold
First off, realise that you don’t necessarily need a cutting edge vehicle to move ahead. Some of the best car models are from years ago and have beaten the following years models, for various reasons. The Kia Sorento, for example, is still great in its 2002 iteration, whilst 2017 car models have been recalled. Whilst this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy a new model, it does show that second hand or old cars are still good to go. Make sure, however, that everything is above board, signed and documented, and taken with an independent used car appraisal in hand. As there can be a tradeoff in tax costs and insurance with older vehicles, it’s important to make sure you get a good deal.
Hybrid Engines
An important considerations for on-the-go moms for those busy days when you have lots of different locations to hit is the ability of the engine to stop-start without burning too much fuel. Historically, cars suffer in terms of fuel efficiency from these sorts of operations, and heavy traffic can impact adversely in this respect. It’s worthwhile, then, to think about hybrid engines. These can also help on delayed school runs, where leaving the engine running is a huge drain on cash and leaves pollutants. Big car manufacturers like Volvo are committed to going all-electric in response to government pressure and subsidization in response to the Paris treaty. You’ll be doing your bit for the planet and saving money.
Safety
Safety features have come on leaps in bounds in recent years but are often not present in all cars. Family cars are more likely to have these safety features inbuilt as part of the cost, and can help with everything from safe parking to providing safe in-car entertainment, such as car-seat screens. Whilst this may not seem like a safety feature, research has shown that bickering or distracting children is one of the most pervasive causes of distracted driving accidents.
The considerations you need to take to make sure you’re getting the most out of your family vehicle are a little different from what you usually might consider; things like cheapness and space. Starting with these guidelines, you won’t go far wrong.