The average family car will travel 59,814 miles, suffer 12 dents and scratches – and be home to 36 family arguments, a study by car finance experts revealed yesterday.
Car Loan 4U found that for the six years the average family will use the same car, it will also be used to go on 18 holidays and mini-breaks, 66 day trips and make 702 trips on the school run.
It will also be the setting for at least one break-up and be used as a make-shift bed for the night by 22 per cent of drivers.
The result is the car will be home to 12 drink spills, hear children say ‘Are we nearly there yet’ 360 times, be the scene of 216 tantrums and completely breakdown twice over that time.
Meanwhile, it will suffer 12 faults over its lifetime and will be kept going for more than a year and a half on its last legs before finally being replaced with a new one.
James Wilkinson, CEO for online car finance specialist Car Loan 4U, said: “Close to one in five customers have told us they look to update their vehicle as direct result of changing family circumstances.
“The average family car is really worked hard over the years, running errands, visiting friends and relatives, holidays, day trips and numerous school runs.
“Many of us spend a huge amount of time in our car, especially when you factor in the time you spent lost or stuck in traffic, so it’s inevitable it’s likely to witness a host of family arguments and spilt drinks.
“But it means our car is likely to end up a little bit worn out before too long, both inside the car and mechanically.
“We specialise in finding car finance packages to suit all types of personal circumstances, and what’s more, we offer full vehicle history and vehicle valuation checks so you can be assured your new car is roadworthy and worth the asking price too.”
The study of 2,000 drivers revealed the average family car will make four trips a month – 48 a year – to see relatives as well as 30 trips to the doctors, dentists and hospital over its lifetime.
It will also travel to three holidays, mini-breaks or weekends away and 11 family days out each year.
The school run also sees the average car rack up the miles, with 47 minutes spent on three trips to and from school each week.
Over the course of each year, that amounts of 117 trips, lasting a total of more than 30 hours.
But it’s not all plain sailing as the average driver will end up lost in their car twice a year – 12 times in total and will be sat in traffic eight times a month – 576 times over the six years.
And with each of those jams lasting around 23 minutes, the equivalent of nine days over the six years is spent in a traffic hold-up.
It also emerged the average car will be cleaned out just five times a year, despite being the scene of a bout of car sickness once over the average 12 months.
Meanwhile, the hard work takes its toll on the car with it gaining an average of two dents and scratches each year, and a total of 12 faults over the six years requiring £1,491 to fix.
James Wilkinson added, “There’s only so much you can do to keep your car at its best and worryingly, it seems a large number of us keep our car limping on long after it needs fixing or replacing. While it may seem like it’s saving you money, it may end up costing you more in the long run.”
When Brits finally take the decision to change their car, they will spend six weeks researching what car to get next, test driving three motors before buying a new one. Ford Focus is considered the best family car, followed by the Ford Mondeo, Audi A4 and Volkswagen Golf.
The average family car:
Travels 9,969 miles a year
Will be driven by two different people
Is used for three holidays, mini-breaks and weekends away
Will be driven to 11 day trips
Is used for three trips to or from school lasting a total of 47 minutes a week
Makes four trips to see relatives a month
Makes five trips to the doctor, dentist or hospital each year
Gets lost twice a year
Gets stuck in traffic eight times a months for 23 minutes on each occasion
Will be home to 6 arguments a year
Has two spilt drinks inside it a year
Will be cleaned or tidied five times a year
Will be home to three tantrums a month
Will see one bout of car sickness a year
Will hear children say ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ five times a month
Will see £3.54 found in loose change each year
Go through a drive-thru three times a year
Witness six songs sung along to at full volume each week
Have two scratches or dents each year
Develop two faults each year
Break down twice over the course of the time you own it
Will need £248.51 spent on repairs each year
Will still be driven for more than a year and a half after first thinking you need to replace it.
Top ten family cars
1. Ford Focus
2. Ford Mondeo
3. Audi A4
4. Volkswagen Golf
5. Vauxhall Astra
6. Vauxhall Zafira
7. BMW 5 series
8. BMW 3 series
9. Vauxhall Insignia
10. BMW 1 series
