It’s always a difficult thing to admit, that it’s time to upgrade the family car. Sometimes upgrading a family car is due to family growth, such as a new child or family member staying with you and then there are the other reasons, that your car is slowly showing those signs it’s time to upgrade. No matter what scenario your facing, letting go of the current car and jumping into a new way can always be a difficult process. If you’re wondering whether not you can hang onto the family car a little longer, well then make sure that your family car isn’t showing these signs it’s time to upgrade.
Signs It’s Time to Upgrade the Family Car
It’s Breaking Down Frequently
This is one of the obvious signs that it’s time to upgrade the family car. When you find that your car breaks down more often than it stays running, it may be time to call it quits. The cost of repairs will start getting so out of control that you’re finding that the family budget can no longer handle the costs. You’ll also find that having a family car that constantly breaks down makes it difficult to have a reliable form of transportation to get your kids to and from their events and other appointments.
Crumbling Interior
As you look in the back seat or the trunk and storage space of your family car you notice that the interior is starting to crumble. The vinyl or leather can also begin to fade and tear in some spots. This may mean that your family car has had too much wear and tear internally and is ready for an upgrade. With the older cars, you’ll find that the interior crumbles to the touch or that the roof cover is starting to fall down.
No Longer Passes Inspections
With the new emission laws, many family cars stop passing inspections and that makes it difficult for you to keep the current family car. If you find that your check engine light is on and the local garage is going to charge you an arm and a leg to repair it as a means to pass state vehicle inspection standards then it may be time to upgrade the family car. This goes back to the breakdown issue, your costs will far outweigh the benefits of hanging onto this vehicle, and if it can’t pass inspection then you won’t be able to drive it legally anymore anyways.
Poor Gas Mileage
As your family car gets older the gas mileage may get worse and worse. If you find that you’re at the gas station more often than ever before, then it may be time to upgrade the family car. Just like the mechanical repairs, breakdown risks, and other signs, it’s time to upgrade the family car, if your gas mileage is costing you way too much then it may be time to consider upgrading to a more eco-friendly family car with better gas mileage.
The whole point in having a family car is that it’s reliable and you can count on having something available to get the kids where they need to go as well as drive to and from work. Having a reliable family car is just one of the many necessities of family, and that’s why I wanted to share these signs that it’s time to upgrade the family car, so that you can make the decision to upgrade and have something more reliable to get to and from your destinations on a regular basis.
