Motoring

What to look for in a car for your outdoor adventures

4x4
Written by C Wolsey

If you love spending time in the countryside and always have trips booked, then it makes sense that you will want your next car to be a vehicle that reflects your outdoor lifestyle. There are lots of different cars on the market today and some of them are much more suited to the countryside and outdoorsy lifestyle than others. You will want a car that you can trust to take you on long road trips, get through tough terrain, and easily store all your camping and hiking gear. Perhaps you are even looking for a car that’s comfortable enough to sleep in. So, what should you be looking out for?

Financing Your Car

First things first, it’s a good idea to set a budget for how much you want to spend on your next car. Then, you can look into the different options that are available to finance it. Hire purchase finance is a common option for buying a new car and this can help you pay for a newer, top-spec car for outdoor activities in a more manageable and affordable way compared to buying outright.  You can check out the cars available at ChooseMyCar. ChooseMyCar offers hire purchase car finance options including Bad Credit Car Finance on a wide range of vehicles. Simply fill in the form to get quotes and see if you are eligible to borrow. 

Boot Space

Depending on the type of outdoor activities that you want to do, the boot space in your car is probably going to be a top priority. If you like going camping, hiking, and taking part in outdoor activities that require a lot of equipment, then you will want to be able to comfortably get this in your car without having it all over the back seats. A car with ample boot space means that you and any passengers can be comfortable in the car even if you’re transporting a lot of gear, and you don’t have to pay any extra to get a trailer or roof rack installed. 

Terrain Handling

The type of terrain that you need your new car to handle will depend on the activities that you like to do. If you tend to drive to places that have a car parking space for you to use before heading on your outdoor adventure, then you might not need a four-wheel-drive Jeep designed for driving through the great outdoors. On the other hand, this type of car might be the best choice for you if you think there’s a chance that you might get stuck in the mud as you drive across fields and other outdoor terrain. A car designed for the job will be much easier and much more comfortable to navigate. 

Fuel Economy

If you are planning to take a lot of road trips and explore lots of new countryside areas in your new car, then the fuel economy is going to be a huge factor to take into consideration. The last thing that you want is for your road trips to end up costing you much more than you bargained for because you need to keep filling up your tank. You can check the fuel economy of a car online with various different sites where you can find specifications and information on a wide range of vehicles. 

Entertainment

Do you often take long road trips into or through the countryside? While the view itself might be all you need once you get there, chances are that you will need to do a lot of motorway and A-road driving to get to your destination, especially if you are a city dweller who loves to spend as much time in the countryside as possible. Because of this it’s a good idea to choose a car with a good hands-free entertainment system for you and your passengers on the road. A Bluetooth connection to your phone is a must; not only will this allow you to put on your favourite playlists without breaking any laws, but you can also easily answer or make calls hands-free on the road too. 

Noise Levels

Whether you’re driving long distances to your destination on the motorway or driving through rough terrain, the last thing that you want is a noisy and rattly car. It’s a good idea to test drive any cars you are interested in buying on different types of roads so that you can see how noisy they are. 

Adjustable Seats

Easily adjustable back seats might be a must for anybody who is looking for a car to take them to all their outdoor adventures. Whether you think you might need more room in the car to transport large camping equipment or you are hoping to use your car as your tent and sleep in it for the night, the more room you can create, the better. If you are planning to sleep in your car during your outdoor adventures, then make sure that you can fold the back seats down completely flat for a more comfortable experience. 

Emissions

Last but not least, emissions have always been an important factor to consider when buying a new car, and this is becoming even more crucial these days. Depending on where you live, you may have to travel through areas that have clean air zones such as London’s ULEZ or Ultra Low Emission Zone where drivers of cars that do not meet the emissions limits are charged to pass through. If you are often travelling through the ULEZ and other such zones that are planned for the future in different parts of the country, the cost could quickly add up if you take a lot of road trips. Getting a low-emissions car not only means that you will avoid paying these charges, but you will also save on your annual or monthly car tax bill and can feel good about driving something that is causing less damage to the environment. 

If you love spending time in the great outdoors, getting the right car to take you on all your adventures is essential.