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Trends in Transportation
What Will Meet Your Family's Needs? By Lisa Marie Metzler
Have you seen the TV commercial where the parents are packing their baby's things into an oversized SUV and pull virtually everything out of the baby's room to fill the cargo space? When the mother queries if they have forgotten anything, the father replies, "Yeah, we'll only be gone an hour."
Once you add a baby or two to your family, your seating and cargo space diminish quickly. A stroller, car seats, diaper bags, travel bassinets, play yards, toy bags and bouncy seats leave little room for passengers in a typical car. It's time to consider your options. Minivans, SUVs and station wagons all offer more cargo space. With so many options, how do you choose the right vehicle for your family?
Make a list of what you must have in your vehicle. Will you be carpooling? Will you make long trips to a grandparent's home on a regular basis? Would a four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive fit your winter driving needs? What about fuel economy? Internet sites such as Edmunds.com provide free, third-party automotive information, tools and services for consumers. Here you can research and compare car models and obtain safety information, road test reviews, consumer advice and more on just about any vehicle make and model.
