As the Irish economy seems to be bouncing back, so are the number of people changing their cars.
While public transport works for some people when it comes to getting to work, what about those of us who live away from bus or train routes? Work shifts? Or getting to where we work would take planes, trains and automobiles?
If you are in the same boat, we took a look at car factors to consider that will keep you safe and comfortable without burning too big a hole in your pocket.
If you are going to be spending many hours in your car you want it to be comfortable. We’ve asked around and we reckon there are three things that really matter when it comes to comfort in a car in Ireland.
1. Seats: it’s the part of the car that is going to have direct contact with your body so it’s really important it works well. Look for good padding, robust upholstery and comfortable back support as a minimum. If you can stretch to heating and ventilation or adjustable seats will make sure you are very comfortable no matter long you are sitting in the car.
2. Leg room: good leg room on a long commute really matters, for both driver and passengers. Having the space to stretch your legs while sitting in the car, waiting for traffic to move helps manage stress and makes you feel a little less restricted.
3. Suspension: especially important if you drive secondary roads or laneways regularly.
The other thing to look for when it comes to choosing a car you are going to use every day is how many Miles per Gallon (MPG) you will get from your tank. But this shouldn’t be the only factor that you think about when choosing the most cost efficient car for a commute, there are other things to think about:
Running costs: outside of fuel think about how tax and insurance costs will impact on your overall outlay.
Maintenance: again research whether there are common maintenance issues with the brand of car you are thinking about buying. What seems like good value to begin with can quickly become expensive if it ends up in the garage sooner than you would like.
Depreciation: finally it is worth looking into how much the car is likely to depreciate. If you commute by car every day chances are you will want to change your car reasonably frequently so being able to sell it on might matter and impact on whether you can get a ‘new’ or ‘new to you’ car the next time!
If you face into a commute of more than 3 hours each day you really need to combine comfort and efficiency to stay sane! Another thing to consider for a long commute is the layout of the dash, test drive as many cars as you can to make sure you find the layout that works best for you.
If you are lucky enough to only be a short hop from where you work but you need a car to get there. There are many smaller car options but it may now also be worth considering going electric car.
Once you have found the right car for you, don’t forget to drive safely.
If you need information on insuring your car, get in touch today, we would be happy to help. Get a car quote online today!