As you progress through life, your automotive needs will change from time to time. For instance, when you pass your driving test as a youngster, you will drive a small car. As you get older, and insurance becomes cheaper, you will trade up for a more refined car.
And when you settle down, get married and have a family with your significant other, you will doubtless need a big family car. Most parents buy estate cars or people carriers. The Ford Focus estate and Audi A3 Sportback are just two of the most-popular family cars in the United Kingdom.
A lot of families tend to stick with used cars. After all, they are much cheaper to buy than brand new ones. But what if I was to say that brand new family cars could be just as affordable as used ones? You might think I’ve gone nuts! But it’s a fact, rather than my opinion. Here’s why:
You don’t have to own your car
For decades, many people got told that they should buy cars and “keep” them. They get led to believe that owning a car is cheaper than leasing it. The trouble is; those people end up paying more for their cars than they would if they leased!
Something that the business world has done for centuries is buying stuff based on their total cost of ownership. Businesses don’t just look at the initial buying price. They also take into account the cost to maintenance and any general ongoing costs.
You can change your car more often
As a car ages, the money you spend on keeping it on the road increases. Each year, there will be more things to fix, and so you end up driving a money pit of sorts.
Leasing a car is better. One way to think of it is that you are driving a hire car on a long-term basis. At the end of the term, you can hand the car back and walk away with nothing to pay, or you can lease another brand new car.
The typical lease period for brand new cars is only three years.
You can get brand new cars for less
You might not know this, but it is possible to get brand new cars for less than their recommended selling price! If you look at the Autohouse website, for instance, you can make great savings on brand new cars. And the good thing is that you still buy your car from the dealership!
Also, car dealers usually have promotions at certain times of the year. You will never have to pay full price for that brand new family car you’ve always wanted!
New cars are safer
Car manufacturers want to make their latest models safer than the predecessors. When you travel with your family, safety will be of utmost importance.
On that basis alone, it is better to get a brand new car. Do you want to put your family at risk by driving an old car? I know I wouldn’t!
Have you recently got a new and discounted family car? Share your experience with us here. Thanks for reading!
Image via Flickr
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