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Five
steps to choosing the perfect car to keep your family safe and meet all
your needs as a parent.
Looking for a new car that'll keep your family safe and meet all your
needs as a parent? Here's a step-by-step guide to finding the perfect
ride.
Step 1: Evaluate the car's safety features
The safest cars have the following features:
Good performance in crash tests
Visit the Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Web
site.
Low rollover statistics
The NHTSA rates most post-1997 makes and models for how well they
resist rolling over during sharp turns and maneuvers. Cars are rated on
a scale of one star (the worst) to five stars (the best). A one-star
rating means the car has more than a 40 percent chance of rolling over.
A five-star rating means the car has less than a 10 percent chance of
rolling over.
A LATCH system to tether your car seat
LATCH is an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. It's a
new standardized system for child seat installation that stabilizes the
seat and reduces the potential for head injury. All vehicles
manufactured on or after September 1, 2000, are equipped with a top
tether anchor, and most new child car seats have a top tether -- you
may have seen it on your car seat if you bought it after September
2000. Starting in September 2002, all new cars, minivans, and light
trucks were required to have two lower anchors -- right at the
intersection of the seat back and the cushion -- to make installing a
car seat much easier and safer. Starting around the same time, all
child car seats with an internal safety harness were required to have
attachments that connect to the lower anchors in new cars. The LATCH
system was designed to secure a car seat to the car without using the
car's seat belt system. Some cars already have the full LATCH system.
Check with the manufacturer.
An on-off switch for the front passenger
airbag
Almost all vehicles without rear seats or with small rear seats, such
as pick-ups or sports cars, now include a passenger-side airbag on-off
switch as standard equipment. If you currently drive a car with a small
or no backseat and you need to transport children in the front seat --
and you don't have an on-off switch for the airbags -- you can get
authorization from the NHTSA
requiring the dealer to install a switch in your car. Ask your car
dealer for a brochure about this option. If the dealer doesn't have
one, check with your state motor vehicle office, or the NHTSA.
Remember, though, that if you have a rear seat, that's the safest place
for children.
Advanced air bag features
A few cars come with "intelligent airbags" that automatically turn off
if they detect a small child in the front seat or if an adult is seated
too close to the airbag, since airbags aren't safe in these situations.
Other systems automatically adjust the way the air bag works depending
on the size of the passenger or the intensity of the crash. Talk to
your dealer or check out the manufacturer's information for more
details.
Front seat side impact airbags as either
a standard feature or an option
According to both the NHTSA and the IIHS, front seat side airbags could
prevent serious adult head and chest injuries for side impact
accidents, like sliding into a pole or tree or being broad-sided by
another car. If they're not standard, front side airbags may be
available, but they can add about $300 to $1000 to the price of the
car. Keep in mind, however, that this safety feature is for adults
only. Side impact airbags are not safe for children under 12. If you
must carry a child in the front seat of your car, ask the dealer to
turn them off.
Rear seat side impact airbags that are
safe for kids
Most manufacturers have not met the safety standards for children for
rear side impact airbags. Most side air bags are designed to protect
the head and chest of a fully-grown adult, and may cause serious or
fatal injuries to children under age 12, according to the NHTSA. Check
with the manufacturer; if they can't prove that their rear side airbags
meet the safety standards for child passengers, have the dealer
deactivate them for you. You can have them reactivated later.
Lap and shoulder belts on all seats
Surprisingly, not all cars come with shoulder belts in the middle of
the rear seat -- manufacturers are only required to have a lap belt for
that seat. Make sure that you never put a child in a seat with only a
lap belt. A child secured in a car seat with an internal harness is
fine with a lap belt only, but a child in a belt-positioning booster
seat needs a shoulder harness. According to the NHTSA, lap belts
without shoulder straps can cause severe abdominal injuries in children
under 12.
Anti-lock brakes
An Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) prevents the car's brakes from locking
when you slam your foot on them in a panic situation. Locked brakes can
severely limit your ability to steer. Look for a car with four-wheel
ABS. Some SUVs, trucks, and vans have two-wheel ABS (usually on the
back wheels), leaving the front wheels vulnerable to locking.
An interior trunk release
Almost all vehicles with trunks manufactured after September 1, 2001,
have an interior trunk release to prevent anyone from getting trapped
inside. Ask the dealer to show you the trunk release as you're checking
out the car. Look for a release that's easy to see.
A back seat that accommodates your car
seat
According to the NHTSA, a properly installed child seat should move no
more than an inch in any direction. Improperly installed car seats can
result in serious injuries. When you're out car shopping, bring your
car seat with you and try to install it in the backseat. If your seat
doesn't fit properly, you may have to get a new one (something to keep
in mind as you budget). Avoid cars with deep bucket seats in the back
or a hump in the rear middle seat. These features can make it nearly
impossible to install any car seat snugly.
For more safety advice about specific cars Review the NHTSA Safety
Features Chart, which provides information on safety features
for most car makes and models.
Step 2: Consider how you'll use the car
Once you've found some models that meet your safety standards, really
think about how you're going to use the car. Some questions to ask
yourself:
How many kids (and pets) do you have?
If you have (or are planning to have) three or more kids or you carpool
regularly with extended family or friends, it's probably in your best
interest to look at a mini-van or large SUV. If you have one or two
kids, you could be happy with a station wagon, most SUVs or passenger
car. Dog owners often rave about station wagons, but if your pet is
small or rarely gets in the car with you, a passenger car could be
enough.
Where will you do most of your driving?
City drivers should consider the smallest possible car to make it
easier to park, maneuver in tighter streets, and start and stop
quickly. If you plan to commute in the car or you'll be logging some
serious highway miles such as on family road trips, you'll want
something larger and more comfortable. Consider extra driving comforts
such as cruise control, a good audio or video system, and
air-conditioning. You may also appreciate a car with a large gas tank
so you don't have to stop and refill all the time. But bear in mind
that larger cars use more gas per mile, so compare mileage estimates
while you're shopping and factor that into your budget.
What kind of weather do you drive in?
If you drive in the snow or on rough roads regularly, you'll probably
want an all-wheel or four-wheel drive car. Otherwise, it may not be
worth the extra price, or maintenance costs. As an option, 4WD or AWD
can add about $2,000 to $4,000 to the price of the car. Plus, they
increase your fuel consumption and may cause you to burn through tires
more quickly. If you live in a warm weather climate, window tinting and
air-conditioning should be a high priority. If you live in a wet, rainy
area, anti-lock brakes are a must.
Can you park the car?
Some of the larger SUVs and vans are difficult to park, not only
because of their size but because many have wide turning radiuses,
(this is often a safety feature to keep top-heavy vehicles from tipping
over during a fast turn.) If you're considering a very large car, check
the height of your garage door, or the parking garage where you usually
park to make sure the new car will fit.
How much storage will you need?
Every parent needs enough trunk space to haul a stroller, so bring
yours with you when you shop. Beyond that, look for cars with a
flexible storage system. Do the seats come out or fold down easily? Is
it possible to use the roof for carrying large items? If you go the
mini-van or van route, you'll have plenty of hauling space. Most models
allow you to take seats out for transporting large items or reconfigure
the seats to pack in up to 6 passengers. However, some of these systems
can be tricky. Ask the salesperson to show you how to remove and fold
down the seats, and give it a try right in the showroom.
Will you be towing a boat or camper?
If you want to pull heavy gear or plan on driving in the mountains
regularly, you should consider a six-cylinder (V-6) engine. They're
generally smoother and quieter than four-cylinder engines, and they
provide more power for towing and handling altitude changes. However,
cars with V-6 engines tend to be more expensive (as an option, a V-6
can cost you about $2,500) and they're less fuel-efficient. If you only
need this kind of power once a year, it might make more sense to buy a
smaller, more efficient car and rent a powerful one when you need it.
Step 3: Make the most of a test drive
Although you might be tempted to leave the kids at home when you go on
a test drive, they can be a great help in making your final decision.
Once you've narrowed down your choices, grab the kids and the car
seats, hit the road, and ask yourself the following:
Can you get to your kids easily?
There's nothing more exasperating than trying to get your infant car
seat out of the back of a two door car. Many families choose a
four-door car for this reason. When you're looking at different models,
strap your car seat in and practice getting your child in and out. Try
it several times and ask yourself if you can live with repeating this
motion multiple times a day for the next few years.
Can your kids get in and out themselves?
If your kids are old enough, have them practice getting in and out of
the models you are considering. This can be particularly challenging
with large SUVs.
Are your kids comfortable?
Can they see out the window? Do they have enough leg room? Are they
blasted by the air-conditioner? Any minor nuisance that your kids
report on test drive day could easily turn into a real tantrum trigger
if they have to put up with it daily.
Will the car fit your life?
When you take your test drive, try to simulate your daily use --
whether that's running errands around town or commuting long distances
on the highway. Don't let the salesperson take you on a scenic drive
that doesn't give you a feel for the way the car will handle when you
use it.
Step four: Weigh the pros and cons of
options
Once you've narrowed it down to one or two models, it's time to think
about options. Choose wisely, and you could end up with a car you'll
love forever. Choose poorly and you could spend a fortune on features
you don't need or end up with a car that's missing something crucial
for your family. In addition to the safety features listed above, here
are some family-friendly options to consider:
Safety locks on the rear doors and
override window controls
These two features keep little hands, arms, and children safely inside.
Override window controls come standard on most cars with power windows.
Air Conditioning
Even if you don't live in the toasty Southwest, air-conditioning can
keep your kids from screaming that there's too much wind in their
faces. If it's not standard equipment, air conditioning can easily cost
about $800 to $1,200, but it increases the resale value of the car.
Remote keyless entry
Remote keyless entry allows you to open or lock car doors with a push
of a button -- a lifesaver for anyone who's ever carried a sleeping
child or bags of groceries. This feature often comes as part of a power
window/power lock package or with a car alarm. Remote keyless entry can
cost from $200 to $1,000 depending on what else is included in the
package.
Fabric protection on the seats
Ask the dealer if this is an option and how much it will cost you.
Dealerships often charge a premium for the service ($100 or more), but
you might find the convenience worth it to protect your seats from day
one. If you don't want to pay the dealer's cost, you can spray the
seats yourself with fabric protection products available at auto supply
stores.
Video system
These backseat entertainment units, available with DVD players or VCRs,
can occupy your kids on long trips, but they're usually pricey --
sometimes costing up to $2,000. A cheaper option is to buy a portable
DVD player that you can use in the house, too, and plug it into the
car's power source (about $500 and up). But bear in mind that portable
systems can slide around in the car.
Rear seat cup holders
Kids like to snack in the car. Giving them a place to put those drinks
can save you time and money cleaning up spills.
Step five: Figure out what you can afford
When considering if a car fits your budget, don't forget to examine
hidden costs, such as maintenance, insurance, and gas.
What are the car's maintenance costs?
Some car makes are much cheaper to maintain than others. Check out the
Car
Talk Web site for information on car maintenance costs. They
have data for most makes and models. Consumer
Reports also tracks maintenance records but they charge for
reports.
You can decrease your maintenance costs by doing some of the work
yourself -- such as changing the oil and checking fluids. Keep in mind,
though, that some manufacturers will void your warranty if you do any
of the work yourself.
Check in with people who own the car that you're considering. They'll
be able to tell you things that the dealer or manufacturer won't.
How much will your car insurance be?
Some cars will trigger a higher insurance premium than others because
of theft or accident rates. Call your insurance agent to get an
estimate before you make your final decision. You can also get
information about how frequently cars like yours get stolen from the
cars.comweb site.
What kind of gas mileage does the car
get?
In general, lighter cars get better mileage than heavier cars and V-4
engines are more fuel-efficient than V-6 engines. Some cars require
premium gasoline for optimal performance, which can cost you anywhere
from $5 to $10 more per tank than regular gasoline.
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Article from BabyCenter.com
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