Minivans: Do you drive one and swore you wouldn't?

I really love my minivan. I didn't get one until I had my 3rdchild. Our biggest reason to wait was the milage, we were getting 'bout 30 w/our'88 Acura, but it was tight. Really my only complaint about minivans IS the milage.
The minivan was essential for those times I would nurse and change the baby there and the boys had room to play and wait. Now that they are older it's still great everyone's stuff and booster seat fit easily. We have that sense of personal space siblings like. Plus the seating for when grandparents visit. Also we travel out-of-state in it several times a year.

I love my van and I prefer it to my hubby's sedan for any mom only trips.I just do not get the " not cool" thing at all. We had some gay couple friends with minivans, for thier bizes or to haul thier dogs. These are very stylish guys and I guess I got some confidence from them. Like Melissa writes there are too many benefits to just not have one just to NOT have one,KWIM?

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I grew up in mini-vans and hated them. Now that I'd be in the front seat I am not so opposed, but I'd rather not have one. I am the type of person who expands to fit the space I have. When I had a 2-door coupe I hauled around a small amount of stuff. I now drive around with a VW Passat packed full of absolutely necessary stuff. I don't even want to think what I'd do with a minivan or suv!

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We are going through this decision right now... we currently have a tiny Honda CRX that is my husband's little run-about and we also have a Lexus SUV, mind-you it is the smaller one and is now 7 years old.

We want to upgrade the SUV to either another SUV (with more room - one kid here, one on the way, and two big dogs) or a minivan. I would KILL for the new Mercedes minivan-esque little number (R-class Sports Tourer) but it is too expensive. I think it is coming down to the Honda Pilot, the new Toyota RAV4, the Mitsubishi Endeavor or a minivan. But my hubbie is dead-set against a minivan... me? Can't decide. ARGH!

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We seriously considered it on our last car purchase, but I have issues with depth perception and didn't want to drive something that big regularly. I told my husband that he'd have to drive it to work if we got it, and then the idea got vetoed. Mostly we wanted it for hauling the nieces and nephews as well as ours, 'cause we stopped at 2 kids. But if you have three, I think it is pretty much required.

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We just returned from a vacation in Napa where we rented a minivan. My husband always thought it would be convenient and fun to own one. I always vowed to never ever own one. After driving it around for 6 days, he conceded. There won't be one parked in our driveway. Ever. I don't know why one would need all that space and, quite frankly, it was a real pain in the ass to access anything in the third row. There wasn't much storage space for strollers and suitcases either. I felt cramped and it wasn't comfortable at all. It felt cheaply constructed; I would hate to see one in an accident. I'll stick with my SUV that has room for us, the kids, and our dogs.

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I'm a long way from worrying about cool. I want something that has room for 3 kids, a wheelchair, many sacks of groceries, and all the rest that goes along with kids.

I don't want an SUV - too big and it's not necessary for us. The 7 passenger extended mini is perfect. A car is just too darn small.

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SIZE MATTERS

I guess I'm weird. i wanted a minivan when I was about to turn 16 because I wanted everyone to ride with me. My parents lead me to a Ford Ranger though, which I drove for eight years. I have yet to find a vehicle that I can affordably fit in. Unfortunately, for someone like me, 6'3" and 310lb with a size 15 shoe, size matters.

I would be in a minivan tomorrow if I could afford it. With just one 9 month old, I feel the need for all the space. My wife is tall too and with our son's seat still facing backwards, there's very little leg room in the front passenger seat of our Taurus.

Last year, my mom bought the 2005 Toyota Sienna limited, which has in-dash GPS, wireless headphones for the DVD player and a fancy cruise control that slows the van down if you get too close to the car in front of you. Maybe I'll buy her's used in a few years. I'm in TN and she is in CA. I think it would be fun to fly out to Grammy's house when Jefferson is 4 or 5 and drive back in the minivan.

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you have just described me--I have an 8 yr old volvo station wagon and rent a mini van every time we travel as a family. Mini-vans are *SO* much easier all around but...I can't bring myself to buy one YET! I am seriously considering the Highlander Hybrid right now though...

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I totally have minivan envy right now. I didn't buy the mini-van 2 years ago when I got my passat wagon . . .noooo I still couldn't. do. it. Lame of me because clearly, the cool had left long ago. Now I don't feel justified in swapping my perfectly good wagon for another new car - and I go through the same argument as seen in earlier comments about only having 2 kids and do I really need all that space? But then I see another one roll by at school while dropping off my daughter and I think, damn, should've gotten the mini-van.

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We own a (newish) Passat and a (slightly older) pickup truck. We've thought of trading in the truck for a SUV, because we need a practical vehicle for hauling things other than children. The 3 kids in the backseat of the car, while sometimes slightly awkward, work. You would have to pry that car (not just the keys, the CAR) out of my cold, dead, lifeless hands in order for me to get rid of it. It's got a huge trunk, wonderful gas mileage, and it was a birthday present. I just can't see myself driving a van...

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I, like so many others and debating on becoming a "mini-van" mom. We too have rented one for trips, and they really are incredible. There's just something about them stopping me. I can't picture me sporting the "mommy mobile" 24/7.
My question is this....does anyone know of a SUV with the interior layout like the ones in mini-vans? You know, with the bucket seats in front, then in middle, and the big seat on the 3rd row?

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Kate, What kind of wagon? I have an Outback that was great, before the carseat took up residence. I could fit three dog crates back then, but now I can only fit one. One of our dogs died recently so we are down to just two, but it's impossible to carry kid, husband and both dogs. Somebody would have to be strapped to the roof!

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Count me in on the minivan love. :) I too don't see what the big deal is. It's just another vehicle...not that different from an SUV, just different "looks" externally. I've never understood the whole vehicle=status symbol thing though.

And I'm probably not cool (nor ever have been), but I don't feel "uncool" in my van. I LOVE my van. It's got everything I could need and want in a vehicle and is so wonderful on those car trips we take.

When my son was born, we had a Dodge Neon. A car that I was perfectly happy with before was now the bane of my existance. It was hell on my back having to bend down and reach into the backseat for my baby. I had to be on medication! So yes, we have a big vehicle for one child (didn't think we'd have only one for this long), but the saving grace on my back was wonderful at first and we STILL manage to fill it up when we travel. It's nice not to have to worry about space.

My next van will be a Toyota Sienna Hybrid. I heard they're getting real close to being released here in the U.S. :)

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I am one of those who will never own a minivan. Yes, there's the "cool factor", but for me, it's practicality. I live in the country, and need the ruggedness that a pickup truck affords - 4 wheel drive, hauling space, etc. So I have a 4-door Silverado, and I absolutely LOVE it. If I have stuff, throw it in the back. Dog goes in a crate in the back (or sits, seat-belted, in the back seat of the truck, next to child). Child fits nicely in the back seat. Everything is accessible.

And it's way cool.

And I will NEVER have an in-vehicle DVD player, which seems to be becoming 'standard equipment' on minivans. There's so much world to see outside the windows of the truck, and that travel time affords us so much talking time, why would I stick a video in and cut all of that off?

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We'll need to replace our 2000 Ford Explorer this year or next. With two kids and a large dog, any trip is a struggle to pack for. As for "who needs that much room in a vehicle?" We went to Ikea this weekend and naturally had to leave the stroller behind so we could actually buy things. A average trip to Target and to the grocery store fills the back when our stroller is in the car. I didn't think we'd need more room but we really do.

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Having grown up being shoved in one minivan after another I have said I will only drive a minivan if I am completely down on my luck with no money and the van is given to me.

I don't know exactly why I hate them so much but I just get the gags everytime I even drive around in the one our company owns for shuttling equipment around. If the time comes that we need more space than a sedan can provide I will definitely go SUV before going minivan. I know some folks love the ones they own, but I will have to pass on one.

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One baby, one dog and a husband and I manage fine with my 2000 VW Beetle which fits my Phil n Ted Stroller in the back with room for groceries to boot! Our other vehicle is a 2003 Passatt which we would never get rid of. I f I need more space I think I will be looking at a wagon for myself but so far the Beetle has been pretty darn easy to work with. And you would have to pry the keys out of my cold dead hands to get it....

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I always thought I would drive one. I have been coveting a Honda Oddessy for years now.

However, being a mom now and having to negotiate a parking lot or a highway full of gigantic SUVs or darkened windowed minivans, I simply cannot be part of the problem in having one.

Our next car will be a Prius or a small vehicle. Just coming back from Europe makes this whole big-car-obsessed country look dopey.

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ok, I am moving, and I will be moving again, and I have a act and I have to go from 1 coast to the other, then I am buying a house and will have to move furniture etc..., so I am thinking of getting a minivan for taking me and my cat across country and then all of my stuff again later....no kids, but neophews and =nieces once in a while, AM I NUTS to get this kiddie mobile when I myself have no kids?

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