Recent shifts in how people are buying cars have seen an increase in the sale of small cars with low carbon emissions. For some drivers, car size is becoming an increasingly important factor when considering buying a car. Car drivers are also becoming more interested in small cars that are friendlier to the environment, whilst others are buying small cars in order to protect their bank balance.
For those who are considering downsizing their car - or who are considering purchasing a small car – it would be better not just to think about the cash you are saving or how to reduce your carbon footprint by buying a car with low carbon emissions, but to first think about your ideal car size and what space you need in your car.
Don't be fooled into thinking that small cars have no storage space. Car manufacturers have spent a great deal of time and money to build small cars with generous storage capacity.
So apart from looking at car size when buying a car, you may need to also address what you store in your car and how you use your boot space. It may be time to clean out your boot space, or to stop using it as a mobile storage unit. Do you really need to be travelling to and from work with a picnic basket, tennis rackets and deck chairs cluttering up the boot space?
Downsizing your stuff does not mean giving up on your activities or your essentials. Instead you need to only carry items you are going to use, and take them out once they have served their purpose. If you stick to this rule – apart from improving your fuel consumption – the next time you stop at the supermarket you will have enough boot space for your groceries, instead of driving home with a free range chicken on your lap.
For large items or for holidays you may want to consider installing a roof rack or bicycle rack. Whilst it may not be sensible to travel with a roof rack all the time, having the option for special trips can make more economical sense than driving a larger vehicle because every May you need it for the family trip.
Another option is to invest in a trailer that can be attached as and when it is needed - and perhaps more importantly - detached when not needed. This could be handy for house moves or when you have bought a large item which you need to transport.
If it is essential that you need to use a baby seat in the car or a pushchair in the back, then take these items with you when you test drive the car. At Carmony we have developed the ‘lifestyle’ search to assist with boot space questions.