anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,033 
|
Post by anniebeth24 on Feb 11, 2015 13:04:05 GMT
I love, love, love my mini-van. It is definitely an all-purpose vehicle. With the back seats folded, it can haul all kinds of stuff. With the seats up, it hauls all kinds of kids! It's also a very comfortable ride with great sight-lines all around.
Mine is ten years old and I will be sad when it goes. I only have one teen at home and probably wouldn't be able to justify a replacement van, especially since we get Ford company discounts and they don't make them anymore.
|
|
|
|
Post by PEArfect on Feb 11, 2015 13:56:11 GMT
I've never had a desire to own a van. I love my Jeep!
|
|
|
|
Post by elaine on Feb 11, 2015 14:01:55 GMT
While your kids are small I would recommend a minivan over SUV for 2 main reasons:
1. Sliding doors that won't ding the cars next to you and which you can open and shut without leaving the drivers seat;
2. The low floor makes it easy for toddlers and young kids to get in and out of. You don't need running boards. If you do go with an SUV, be sure to spend the extra to get running boards so that you don't have to physically help your kids get in and out of the car once they are good walkers.
I have a Honda Odyssey that I love. There is plenty of room and it is great to drive. And tons of cup holders! That said, I understand that some people prefer SUVs. I had a Ford Escape hybrid when they first came out, and even though it was a small SUV, the boys still had a hard time climbing in and out, so I went back to a minivan.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:35 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2015 14:18:03 GMT
I would rather die than own a minivan. I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
|
|
|
|
Post by apeacalledliz on Feb 11, 2015 14:32:26 GMT
Minivan... so easy, so comfortable and so much more room, no question with three little ones all in car seats it is the way to go. We had minivans for 14 years, when my oldest graduated high school we were able to downsize a bit and get a small SUV. I do love my car but there are times that I actually miss my minivan and have considered buying a used one just for long trips and when we want to have more than 5 people in the car.
|
|
~Susan~
Pearl Clutcher
You need to check your boobs, mine tried to kill me!!!
Posts: 3,259
Jul 6, 2014 17:25:32 GMT
|
Post by ~Susan~ on Feb 11, 2015 14:46:21 GMT
I had a minivan for 10 years when my girls were little and I really miss all of the extra room that it had. Super easy with car seats and people getting in and out. I downsized several years ago to a car and really couldn't get over the loss of space and it wasn't nearly as comfortable.
A year and a half ago I got a SUV and I feel like I have the best of all worlds. It is comfortable, easy to get in and out of, and has the fold down seats for cargo room. If I really need to, I have a 3rd seat to haul extra teenagers around.
|
|
|
|
Post by izzyscraps on Feb 11, 2015 14:56:46 GMT
Thank you everyone! When I buy a car it has to last me a long time so that's why this decision is taking me so long. If I buy a minivan I'm a minivan until it dies. Ha. You guys have really helped me out tho!!
|
|
|
|
Post by moveablefeast on Feb 11, 2015 14:59:40 GMT
I would buy an Odyssey in a heartbeat. My friends have a brand new one that I borrowed to tote everyone (including her kids) to an event and it was just fantastic. Sliding power rear doors are just so full of win. LOL it's the little things. I only have one but sometimes I ask my DH if I can have an Odyssey. How much easier would carpooling be! Costco trips! Imagine road trips in a big comfy van rather than my little sedan! But alas, no. He is unconvinced.  |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:35 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2015 15:05:30 GMT
Minivan. To me it was easier to get small children in and out. As they got older, we could fit half a brownie troop or 5 lax players with equipment. It was easy to load and carry cellos and euphoniums (plus their players) all at the same time. With the seats down I can fit full sized shirts of plywood in the back and have more room than lots of SUVs. Not as sexy or glamorous as a fancy suv, but very practical.  |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:35 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2015 15:07:00 GMT
When I was in your shoes many, many years ago, I opted for a minivan and never ever regretted that decision.
IMO, with little kids minivans are much easier and better than an SUV. The ability to move around within the vehicle is much easier in a minivan.
If you're looking for a vehicle to carry around 3 older kids, then I'd consider an SUV.
But I must admit that for the past 3-4 yrs, I've coveted those driving around in a 4 door vehicle that seats only 4 comfortably. That's next for me...no more SUV, minivans. |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:35 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2015 15:08:17 GMT
I would rather die than own a minivan. I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Do you have children? How many? What are their ages? |
|
|
|
Post by gmcwife1 on Feb 11, 2015 15:27:25 GMT
I would rather die than own a minivan. I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I was almost that way about SUVs  To me they were mostly moms that thought they were too cool for a mini van I still miss my cars and being an individual in a sea of SUVs. But we can't fit all the dogs in a car so it will be a while before we get another one, unless we get a car for dd. But her dog is the largest so . . . |
|
blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,049
|
Post by blue tulip on Feb 11, 2015 15:33:52 GMT
personally, I would (and have) chose the minivan. I had a ford explorer, and there was virtually no leg room between car seats and the back of the seat in front. plus, just not a lot of extra room to maneuver around in. we've since had minivans with captains chairs in the second row, and benches, plus 3rd row seating. we prefer captains chairs, they are nicer when you carpool with adults and they give the kids a little more separation. plus there's room for backpacks, diaper bags, groceries, etc etc. the doors open wider so it's easier to put kids in and out.
we also like how you can remove the backrow or all the seats and haul pretty much anything you need to. ours was full of 4x8 sheets of drywall this weekend.
do I love the way they look? hell no. but they are so, soo convenient! |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:36:35 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2015 15:54:48 GMT
I would rather die than own a minivan. I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Do you have children? How many? What are their ages? I have two sons, currently ages 18 and 11. The oldest is Autistic and will probably never drive or live on his own. He's 6' 4 and weighs about 200 pounds. He wears a size 13 shoes. He's comfortable in the back seat...that's important to me. I have driven a Jeep Grand Cherokee since they were 9 and 2--4 successive purchases. My nephew, who lives w me, is 5 and still in a seat. I am way too cool To drive a minivan. When I'm no longer carting boys around all the time, I'm moving to a Wrangler. |
|
smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,992
Location: Houston, TX
|
Post by smartypants71 on Feb 11, 2015 16:34:44 GMT
Not as sexy or glamorous as a fancy suv, but very practical. I have a gf who is a former Playboy model. She has triplets and drives a minivin. She makes that minivan sexy  |
|
|
|
Post by craftygardenmom on Feb 11, 2015 16:38:34 GMT
As someone who drove a VW convertible until I had kids, I NEVER thought I'd see the day I'd be behind the wheel of a minivan. We're now on our second Honda Odyssey, this one with a built-in DVD player (LIFE.SAVER.  ), and I'll drive that baby until the wheels fall off I love it so much. |
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on Feb 11, 2015 16:40:46 GMT
I love my minivan. We have five kids and a dog that can all fit in the van, plus we have a lot of storage room in the back for when we travel. We looked at various SUVs but most of them with third row seating were seriously lacking trunk space. Plus, I love remote sliding doors. And we have a DVD player in ours which is a big bonus for car trips. I personally don't care if I'm cool or not. I just want everyone to be comfortable.
|
|
To me they were mostly moms that thought they were too cool for a mini van 
), and I'll drive that baby until the wheels fall off I love it so much. 