View Full Version : The age of the Minivan
Lizzie Bee
02 Oct 2006, 11:33 AM
I think we're getting there: the age of the Minivan. :o
We have three kids that all sit strapped in the back seat of our Toyota Camry. I'm resisting the move to the Minivan. Do any of you have any good suggestions of family-friendly cars/SUVs/minivans/whatever? I'd love to hear a first-hand report from people who have any thoughts.
Ringo
02 Oct 2006, 11:42 AM
you know, those minivans have some COOL features and look very convinient. We're talking about getting one in a year or two, so I'd be very interested to hear what others have to say.
Right now we have a Saturn VUE (their car-based SUV). it's nice, didn't cost to much and my wife loves it. I'm indifferent. I mean, it's a good car but it's nothing to get too excited about. I would imagine the advantage off the minivan is that it's easier to get kids in and out (you don't have to lift them up into the car) and now most of those minivans have doors that open automatically, which would be worth the cost alone in my opinion. I mean, armful of kids, toys and bags ... an automatic door would be a godsend at times.
Lizzie Bee
02 Oct 2006, 11:52 AM
I already bought one Saturn in my life.
Fool me once... ;)
Mr. Bee
02 Oct 2006, 11:54 AM
I'm still sticking with my Honda Element - lots of headroom because I'm tall, moonmat flooring for spills, good gas mileage. Only drawback is that it won't work with more than 2 kids - only 4 seats :(
_chachi
02 Oct 2006, 12:01 PM
after months of badgering by wife, i finally resigned myself to the fact that i am middle-aged and we bought a honda odyssey. it's actually really nice. they pack a lot of features into it. i don't feel very tough driving it around, but it works for our family.
Sachin
02 Oct 2006, 12:39 PM
I'm going to get one of these:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/images/2005/03/07/a_team_400x300.jpg.
billreeves
02 Oct 2006, 12:46 PM
My wife and I are starting to look for a minivan -- my Saab convertible is super inconvenient for the child. I pick him up from day care at the end of the day, and have to put the top down to get the child into the car seat. It hasn't started raining yet but when it does, we're going to have to come up with something else.
I wanted to wait for a hybrid minivan to come out, but it looks like that won't be until next year -- the Toyota Sienna minivan is expected to have a hybrid option for the 2008 model year. I don't think we can wait that long. We may end up with an Escape hybrid SUV, although I'm not super fond of that model -- but we really want to go hybrid.
Boundzy
02 Oct 2006, 02:53 PM
We bought a Toyota Highlander before the birth of our daughter. It's been a dependable vehicle with a higher "cool factor" than a minivan. It would be worth considering if you have no more than 2 children. It is more than adequate for carting our 1 child, her assorted paraphernalia, and our dog. My parents have a Honda Odyssey that works well for bussing their 3 grandchildren. Also, I've heard good things about the Toyota Sienna.
Ringo
02 Oct 2006, 03:03 PM
I'm going to get one of these:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/images/2005/03/07/a_team_400x300.jpg.
that's probably a good idea because on the way to drop Zack off at daycare this week I had to foil a kidnapping. In my Saturn I just never have my grenade launcher handy when I need it.
Sachin
02 Oct 2006, 03:10 PM
It's hidden in the engine block. Stoopid GM.
Lizzie Bee
03 Oct 2006, 11:17 AM
Maybe I should get one of these:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3225099782534022273&pr=goog-sl
Ringo
03 Oct 2006, 11:39 AM
don't forget the bumper sticker:
'If this van's a-rockin', don't come a-knockin' ... becuase it means I'm trying to change the diaper of a squirmy two-year-old and frankly nobody wants to see that'
it's kinda small print though.
Pints
09 Oct 2006, 03:16 PM
I'm going to get one of these:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/content/images/2005/03/07/a_team_400x300.jpg.
You don't already have one? Sheessssh Sachin!
it's right there in the handbook.
Diapers, Crib, Auhtentic A-Team Replica Van, Car Seat.
Man I may have to report you to Social Servcies.:(
Ringo
09 Oct 2006, 07:37 PM
You don't already have one? Sheessssh Sachin!
it's right there in the handbook.
Diapers, Crib, Auhtentic A-Team Replica Van, Car Seat.
Man I may have to report you to Social Servcies.:(
you just have a replica van? :rolleyes:
Pints
10 Oct 2006, 08:49 AM
you just have a replica van? :rolleyes:
No, unofortunately my child will never know the spoils of "Ivy League" :(
Ringo
10 Oct 2006, 11:09 AM
No, unofortunately my child will never know the spoils of "Ivy League" :(
well, after my little guy wins the world cup and the champions league a few times I figure he can pay his own way through Harvard and finally get to curing cancer. just call it a hunch, but I see that in his future.
SoccerPrime
17 Nov 2006, 12:30 PM
I think we're getting there: the age of the Minivan. :o
We have three kids that all sit strapped in the back seat of our Toyota Camry. I'm resisting the move to the Minivan. Do any of you have any good suggestions of family-friendly cars/SUVs/minivans/whatever? I'd love to hear a first-hand report from people who have any thoughts.
Just saw this thread Jules.
We have 2 kids and we upgraded from a Toyota Corolla to a Ford Windstar last year. Its great and I love all the extra room. Road trips are infinitely more fun.
We bought a 2 year old used one for under $12k, so it wasn't too bad on our budget either.
Hope that helps.
Sachsen
19 Nov 2006, 11:35 PM
Our Kia Sedona is really nice. Handles really well, interior is very comfortable, good acceleration and braking. Only downside is not a lot of "trunk" space behind the rear row seats. But there's plenty of room everywhere else for our three kids, a couple friends, and all their junk.
nancyb
24 Nov 2006, 09:42 PM
The minivan was a lifesaver for us. With four kids, there really aren't many other options, except taking two cars everywhere you go.
IntheNet
04 Dec 2006, 02:35 PM
I think we're getting there: the age of the Minivan. :o .
I like the idea of minivans and it is an extension of the historical Conestoga wagon that brought westward expansion throughout this nation. The mini-van is the ultimate purpose vehicle...like the Conestoga wagon, the mini-van is a heavy, broad-wheeled covered freight carrier used extensively! I personally believe the mini-van is a distinctly American creation due to our emphasis on the family! Those that criticize the mini-van end up accessoring their cars and turning them into de facto mini-vans anyway...
Variations on the mini-van are sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) that are simply mini-vans with 4WD...
I would like to see the mini-van as a concept renamed the AMERICAN van and some patriotism ascribed to it...Ford, GM, and Chevy should get right to work on something like that...
It is our country and our mini-vans...
The Chevy Astro and the Ford Aerostar mini-vans were discontinued due to cheap foreign mini-vans taking their place but the need for a distinctly American mini-van is clear: there should be a something of a low-cost mini-van available with the attraction of a Chevy Surburban or a Ford Expedition, yet smaller and appealing to the energy conscious... something larger than a Chevy Cobalt or a Ford Escape in the mini-van style... a true mini-van for the ages...
Matter of fact... the MLS should sponsor and embrace the mini-van on behalf of all the American soccer moms... imagine a DC UNITED mini-van or a CREW mini-van? Detroit should catch on to something like that...