How To Buy a Mini Van

Not many children grow up with dreams of one day buying a minivan. But most adults with a family or people who need a roomy vehicle in general know the importance of buying a car that meets their needs despite the lack of appeal. Modern upgrades have turned the minivan from a “soccer mom car” to a full out luxury vehicle. Here are some tips for making the right purchase when the time comes.

Determine How Much Room Is Needed

Minivans come with many options. Determine how many passenger seats will be needed. Most minivans can safely hold seven passengers but some offer up to eight or nine seats. Determine whether the minivan will need to hold several car seats for younger children or whether you need more room for growing teenagers. If the vehicle will be used on road trips or to make weekly grocery trips, make sure your final pick has adequate cargo room for storage.

Pick The Door Style

One of the best features about a minivan is its door options. Moms of little ones know how hard it is to maneuver an infant seat in and out of a vehicle without sliding doors in a crammed parking lot. Some minivans offer a sliding door on one side while others take it a step further and offer remote opening for when your hands are full. Pick a minivan with a door option unique to your needs.

Think Safety

Minivans are known for toting around precious cargo. But while features such as a television in the back seat may be great for the kids, it can be distracting to a driver. Blind spots are a big problem in larger vehicles. Picking a vehicle with a rear-view camera is a good option. Other safety features to consider are rear backup alerts, traction control, side and passenger air bags, security alarms and anti-lock brakes.

Test Drive

Minivans can be a big adjustment for those not used to driving a vehicle larger than a sedan. Be sure to test drive any vehicle before purchasing it to make sure you are comfortable. Determine if the vehicle has any blind spots and how difficult it is to perform normal driving tasks such as switching lanes or merging onto the freeway. Pay attention to how the vehicle operates and whether there are any funny sounds.

Consider Upgrading

To make the cost of the minivan more affordable, consider trading in an older vehicle. This can bring down the cost of the minivan extensively. If the dealership does not offer enough for the old car, consider selling it on your own to help pay for the minivan. If visiting a dealership, take the vehicle’s Kelly Blue book with you to show the dealer what you expect out of the offer and to validate your reasoning.

Shop Around

Although certain features such as engine size and power are universal in most minivans, each make and model is different. Allow yourself plenty of time to shop around and do not rush your decision. By comparing makes and models of competitor brands you should be able to narrow down what is needed and affordable. If you have a family, bring them along while you shop around to help with the decision making process.

Read Reviews

Reading minivan reviews is a great way to make an educated purchase. Reviewers may mention something you overlooked at the lot. Reviews can be located online or in car magazines. Try finding a review from someone who is not trying to sell the vehicle and will give their honest opinion. Ask a trusted expert about any questions you have regarding the review or a feature you do not understand such as maintenance requirements or safety ratings.

Visit Your Bank

If you will be financing your vehicle or taking out a loan, the first step is to visit your bank and determine what is needed to pay for it. The bank should be able to tell you what documents are needed and what you will be eligible for. Bring your pre-approved papers with you when going car shopping to make the buying process easier if you choose to buy from a dealership or car lot.

Talk To Other Minivan Owners

Before shopping around, talk to some friends or family members with minivans and ask what they like or do not like about their vehicle. They should be able to provide unbiased feedback about the pros and cons of owning a minivan. In addition to searching on the internet for reviews, other minivan owners will tell you what a seller or a dealer will not. Bring them along while you go minivan shopping or ask them to recommend a trusted dealer.

Set The Budget

The most important part of buying any vehicle is to set a budget. Minivans tend to be more expensive than a middle size vehicle due to size and other features. Aside from the price of the minivan itself, take into consideration other factors that require payment such as taxes, registration fees, financing, insurance and gas. Talk to an accountant or practice budgeting a few months in advance to make certain the payments are affordable.