If you’re on the lookout for a vehicle with versatility, easy access and loads of space for persons, goods or a combination of both, the minivan (otherwise known as a multi-purpose vehicle) is your go-to vehicle. Whether you need to buy a car to fit your tribe of children, transport the extended family, allow you a comfortable road trip to the coast or help you move house, a minivan ticks almost all boxes. And while prices on these cars in the new vehicle segment are dear, purchasing a low-kilometre quality pre-owned vehicle is a savvy alternative to open up options that weren’t initially within reach when traversing the new car showrooms.
But why is a minivan the obvious choice in the pursuit of a quality used vehicle? We list 3 convincing reasons:
#1 They’re roomier
Maybe your life falls into one of the following scenarios:
- Squishing the 3 kids, your spouse, Gogo Prisca and uncle Jabu into your large SUV for a trip to church on a Sunday morning is a logistical nightmare, requiring an additional exorbitant Uber ride.
- The sedan that once adequately fitted the two kids, wife and Spot (the dog) for the road trip to the coast is not going to cut it with the impending arrival of baby number 3.
- You need to buy a car that serves a number of purposes. Transporting the family and camping equipment one weekend and helping your neighbour move into a new apartment the next.
In all these situations (and so many more), buying a minivan is your spacious solution!
They’re sizable both in the cabin and the boot (or you can pull out some seats to make space for bulky cargo too). This makes road trips with the family more comfortable and visits to the home improvement store a breeze (no need to fork out more cash for delivery when you purchase a new couch or need to transport bathroom tiles for the home reno).
#2 They’re versatile
When buying a car, hatchbacks, sedans or SUVs are popular but limited in terms of space. Opting for a minivan, however, delivers on space and versatility.
These 7 to 9-seater family vehicles are called ‘multipurpose vehicles’ for two significant reasons:
- You can load up a fair few passengers
- You can take out a row of seats and store your equipment in the back without compromising on comfort.
And if you’ve put the entire house and kitchen sink in the cabin, you can simply install roof racks to store other items such as surfboards etc.
Whether this week there’s family coming to stay and next week you need to load up the kids for a mountain-biking excursion, the family van can do it all – with ease (and probably room to spare).
#3 They’re accessible
There’s something slightly nerve-wracking about offloading your kids from an SUV or sedan in a tight parking space at the mall. Will younger children ding the neighbouring car door upon their exit of the vehicle? How will you squeeze open the door to help your sleeping 3-month-old out of the car without hitting their head on something and waking them up?
There is so much beauty in the sliding doors of a minivan. (Doesn’t it make you want to go out and buy a used car right now?):
- No worries about dents in neighbouring vehicles
- No more struggles to get the kids out of the car from a tight parking space.
But what if you have an ageing relative or wheelchair-bound friend that you are transporting? The lower clearance of a minivan (in comparison to an SUV) makes it the car of choice for wheelchair users, the elderly and the less mobile. Plus, there’s still plenty of space to store the wheelchair, stroller, walker or crutches in the roomy and versatile cabin.
Make your dream of owning a minivan a reality
With excellent multi-purpose vehicle options on the market in South Africa from brands like VW, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Mercedes-Benz and more, the only thing holding you back may be the sizeable start-up costs of acquiring these vehicles brand spanking new.
But these versatile, spacious and accessible vehicles need not be so out of reach.
The option to buy a second-hand car becomes a no-brainer when you can tick the following boxes at a reputable used-car showroom:
- A wide range of quality, low kilometre vehicles
- Transparency concerning the vehicle’s service history
- A detailed condition report supplied prior to purchase
- Wholesale prices delivered to the public
