Mini Van? SUV? Or Station Wagon?

inlove5 · May 2012

How many kids do you have? I am starting to think about a new car and have wondeed if I would like a mini van. We only have two kids (3.5 yr and 1 yr) and won't have another anytime soon (probably not at all). Will I really use all that space? I'm thinking someday I may need to fit more kids in my car than my own.

I currently have an ifiniti qx4 (sized like a pathfinder) and I am completely miserable when the four of us are in it for any lengthof time. To fit both carseats in requires scooting the passenger seat up and the latch system makes it so that the carseats are right next to each other. Also I'm guessing that a minivan is easier to get in and out of than an suv- especially since I have a bad back. True, not true? Mini van, SUV, or station wagon?

dsmithplus2 · May 2012

I currently have a Ford Escape that I love love love, but with another LO one the way and not much room with just 1 kid, I need something new.

Personally, I've never wanted to be a mini-van driver - haha.. I don't know why, but I just hate the looks of them!! H has really been trying to talk me into an Escalade, he loves them and they have more room than we'll ever need (for once kids have friends over). I am starting to like it more and more. Right now I'm debating on what I want... I will probably end up with the Escalade, I love them, but I'm worried we might NEVER need all of that room and we will be paying for something that didn't have to be so big.

Station wagon - I hate them. I don't know why, I think its the look, but I hope I never have to drive one!

Good luck

jnjmommy0609 · May 2012

We HAD a 2006 saturn vue...that was until I crashed into a telephone pole. I loved it. It was the perfect momma car for me. A lot of room

CocoBrynne · May 2012

We have a Jeep Liberty that we love. My whole family has Jeeps, they're just cool lol. We only have one baby so it works great for us.

ToBeMrsT · May 2012

2 kids

We a 2011 Minivan (Honda) and a 2004 SUV (with really low miles). 99% of the time we drive the minivan with the kids and use the SUV if we don't have them with us. We've had our minivan for a little over one year and we LOVE it. It has a ton of space and all of the features on the van are fantastic.

RubyLou11 · May 2012

When I was younger my family had several mini vans and I hated getting in and out of them, and eventually learning to drive in them. Plus I just personally hate the way they look. I'm fighting tooth and nail with DH to keep our SUV and never go to a van.

We have a Toyota Highlander and I love it. As some others have said its similar in size to the Escape and Liberty and I've heard a lot of good things about this size of SUV. Not too huge, not too small, and wont kill you on gas. I also love that you can put groceries in the back and not have to bend over like you would in a regular car. GL!

HarrietNJMommy · May 2012

I have 3 (almost 4). I drive a minivan. While I could drive a big SUV (think Suburban, Denali, Escalade), I choose the minivan. It's so much more convenient........

Cars are a personal preference. You need to figure out which one will work for your lifestyle......

GL!

StacyBee79 · May 2012

We got a 2012 Honda Odyssey EX about a month ago - I'd been driving an Accord for the past 12 years, and with our 3rd on the way we wanted something with more room. I'm a little embarrassed at how much I LOVE my minivan. It's so roomy, comfortable, smooth to drive, and has lots of neat features even though we didn't get the top of the line model. I'd encourage you to test drive one before you rule it out - minivans are cooler than they used to be.

Plus, I really think it's easier for kids to get in and out of than an SUV is.

jaeleigh25 · May 2012

We just got a Ford Flex, which is a crossover van, station wagon, sub. (DH calls it my svagon!). We LOVE love love it! DH is pretty tall, about 6'1", and he can drive with a pretty large rear facing convertible car seat behind him. It is very nice, and is a 7 seater, but the back row folds down for cargo storage- perfect for the dog. HTH!

lucylea · May 2012

Last summer right before #2 was born we bought a Mazda CX-9. Its a smaller third-row SUV/crossover. We usually keep the third row down so we can use it for storage, but its nice to have the option of the third row when we have extra people along. My mom stays with us for a week at a time here and there so its come in very handy. My only complaint is that the third row only accepts rear facing seats or seatbelt positioning boosters since there's no tether.

I test drove a couple minivans, but I just don't like them.

pinksweetpea2 · May 2012

I love my swagger wagon (Toyota Sienna). I have two kids, a large dog, and family that visits frequently (flying in- so they need transportation). It is super easy to put seats in and out, up and down, etc. I love the automatic doors and the one I have is AWD- which is terrific in the winters here in New England.

I know some people worry about the stigma associated with minivans, but I refuse to let myself be defined by a car. I rock it.

I had an Audi Station wagon for about the first year of Lily's life and although I loved driving it (love German cars), I found it just too tight. The carseat took up so much space in the second row making it impossible for two more adults to fit back there when family was in town. Also, our poor dog just hated being cramped in the way back...and forget about having enough room for longer trips.

I hate SUVs- they are so freaking big and such gas guzzlers...and I find a lot of people who drive them around here do not know how to drive or park them correctly. ;b

Temp174496125006552 · May 2012

I have two kids and am pregnant with our third (and last). I drive a Honda CR-V. While I love it, there is no way I'd be able to get 2 carseats in the back seat and still have room for Jordan to sit when we go places as a family. Plus, my brother and his wife are TTC and have approached me about watching the baby when he/she arrives. Which means there's a chance we'll need to be able to fit 3 carseats. So, DH and I are in the process of researching new cars.

I will NOT drive a minivan, so we're looking into SUV's that have a wider back seat. I am fairly certain that we're going to wind up getting a Honda Pilot. I have a couple of friends who own one and absolutely love them. Plus, we've been really happy with the CR-V, so I thought it made sense to stick with another Honda.

I absolutely love the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and that would be my first choice, but the back seat isn't any/much bigger than the CR-V...which is the whole point of getting a bigger car in the first place.

Fishstyx · May 2012

I'll be the first to vote for wagon! I have 2 kids and I looooooove my VW Jetta Sportwagen. Personally, I couldn't do an SUV or minivan due to poor fuel economy. My VW has a huge cargo space and loads of leg room. It has lots of creature comforts like heated seats and handles like a dream.

notkateanymore · May 2012

I have one and drive a Mercedes GL with a 3rd row. It's a big large for 1, but I used to drive carpool that included 3 boys so I needed the room. We hope to have one or two more, so this car will be perfect.

tottee2u · May 2012

I second the highlander. We just got the 2012 Toyota highlander and I love it. Car seat installation was a breeze and there is a ton of room. Leather was a must for us with a toddler and another on the way. I think the third row seating will com in handy in next few years with family and friends. Also toyotas last forever! Good luck.

webMistress0609 · May 2012

Another vote for a wagon. I had a van for 6 mos & hated it. Hate SUVs too. Wagons usually have the same if not more space, better fuel economy, & drive better. Unless you need a 3rd row seat, get a wagon.

kacelle · May 2012

I have a 1 year old and drive a minivan. It is amazing. I'm a huge fan of the sliding doors, and having so much cargo room is fantastic for traveling and toting her stroller and everything else.

ETA: I have a Toyota Sienna. I also like the Chrysler Voyager and Dodge Caravan I've driven.

Jessica Swanlake · May 2012

We have a VW passat wagon, two kids, one on the way and a dog. It is perfect in every way fr our family. Plenty of space in the back, a rack up top for when we go camping and it gets almost twice the gas milage of most SUVs (32 mpg on the highway). Plus the engine just kicks it- that lady can haul when you want her to.

notkateanymore · May 2012

pinksweetpea2:

I had an Audi Station wagon for about the first year of Lily's life and although I loved driving it (love German cars), I found it just too tight. The carseat took up so much space in the second row making it impossible for two more adults to fit back there when family was in town. Also, our poor dog just hated being cramped in the way back...and forget about having enough room for longer trips.
I hate SUVs- they are so freaking big and such gas guzzlers...and I find a lot of people who drive them around here do not know how to drive or park them correctly. ;b

I drove an Audi wagon when MY Lillie was little too and had the same problems. They are tiny cars! Our main issue was that the passenger was basically in the dashboard of the the car thanks to the carseat.

shortstuff15 · May 2012

I would go SUV but thats because I have one. We just bought a Toyota Sequoia a couple months ago and LOVE it. Neither of us are minivan people though, so a van was never an option and we want 6 kids, so we needed a bigger SUV anyway. We easily fit all our stuff for a week long vacation in it (including a double stroller) and it's comfortable for me (5' 3") and my husband (6') to drive and we will be able to fit 3 carseats across the middle bench because we've already done it once (we took my husband's cousin, his wife and their kid swimming with us - so that was 2 bucket seats and our convertible). There is a 60/40 split back seat, so once we have to our oldest can move to the back and we'll only lose one seat of storage space.

What you want to drive will be your personal preference, but I hate minivans (the sliding doors are the worst feature in my opinion, plus they aren't good for short people to drive in my experience) and everyone always says they are the best and very few people talk about the SUV's, so I give my personal SUV opinion.

Also, in regards to fuel economy, we went almost 600 km's on one tank (that's 370 miles) in our big SUV, so the economy isn't really all that different then even our car. We drive a lot of highway though, so that does help, but even now we last filled up our tank April 24th and we still have around 100 kms (62 miles) left to go before we fill it again.

Mom2Mack1 · May 2012

I love my minivan but it is def not for everyone. We have a Honda Odyssey and it is super roomie. It's not brand new but has the sliding doors which are great. I also love that the back seat folds down rather than having to be removed. We always leave it down so I can just throw everything in the back. We're currently expecting LO #2 and have a 100lb dog that travels with us.

HarrietNJMommy · May 2012

amy052006:
The way people feel about minivans is exactly how I feel about the big SUVs, like and Escalade or something similar. We live in the city. We don't haul stuff (outside of people). Not my style.

LOL! I call them monster trucks!

penguingrrl · May 2012

For looks I would go for a wagon any day. I love how wagons look. Right now our only car is a beetle and we definitely need more space. We're likely going to get a new to us Honda Pilot this summer. We considered a lot of vehicles and the Pilot is smaller than most other 8 seaters, has almost identical gas mileage to a minivan (as opposed to a suburban) and I think it's nice enough looking. You don't have third row seating and ample storage at the same time, but I don't envision needing both at once, just want extra seats for carpooling/having friends over after school. For family trips the kids will sit in the middle row. I can't get over the minivan stigma and would not want one because of it. You also have to pay extra for a minivan that sits 3 in the middle row and part of the appeal of the Pilot for me is that you have so much storage space with the third row down. Minivans don't seem to have *that* much storage if the third row is up (although to be fair I haven't actually been inside a minivan in at least 15 years).

Notwifezilla7 · May 2012

We have a minivan. It was exactly what we never thought we wanted but needed. It's awesome, and I totally was against it to begin.

We drive a lot, often going on day trips and such. Having the space is a plus and the access to the third row is easy, especially for adults.

MrsLnt · May 2012

We have a 2008 Pilot, bought used before the twins were born. I love it so much. We've only used the 3rd row a few times but it's nice to have the option to bring people with us. And I've got room for a stroller (or two) and other stuff. Our SKR 65s fit great RFing and we have enough room to put them next to each other, so we can still access the 3rd row and have a seat in the middle row free. We went with something so large just in case we had another baby, but, if not, we've got enough room for them and their stuff and family members. We may downgrade to a smaller SUV or even a sedan as they get older. I don't think a minivan is really a necessity with only 2 kids, but I'm not a fan of them.

Adventurers · May 2012

Honda Pilot

It's a fantastic mommy mobile with room to grow if your family expands, and cool enough for daddy, too!

hdowell1 · May 2012

I just recently bought the new Dodge durango which I LOVE!!! I have a 12yo 5 yo and baby on way. The 3 way seating def gives me some peace when the 5 year old wont leave his big sister alone. So she pretty much always sits in the 3rd row without anyone bothering her. I have a 6'2 husband who weighs about 270 so hes a big guys and fits perfectly into the car, even the second row. Best choice we ever made. Was a little pricey but in the long wrong the best decision. We always have other kids with us for sports or just going to bday parties. I had a dodge nitro before (only 5 seats) and it was very uncomfortable for us. Im persoanlly not a minivan person thus why i chose to go with and SUV. Plus the gas mileage isnt bad at all. i get about 21 city and 25 highway

celiabwatson · May 2012

I don't actually have an opinion about what vehicle either I or other people get. I do however have an opinion about having a larger vehicle.

We have 2 kids right now and plan to have more someday (but not soon). Even with just the two kids I find myself wishing for more room. Example: I have a friend who is pregnant with #2 and doesn't have family in town. She's asked me to watch her son while she's in labor (he's 2). I'm totally happy to do that for her. However, I can't fit 3 carseats in my car, meaning she'd have to drop him off when she goes into labor, or I'd have to go to her house and be stuck there. Neither sounds like an ideal situation. Even if I had a slightly larger sedan we'd have a problem if she had 2 kids already.

I love the idea of being able to transport other people's children when necessary. Luckily my parents are passing their old minivan on to us because they don't need it anymore. I'm really looking forward to having a bigger car.

Oh, and my current car is so small that I haven't been able to fit a passenger comfortably since my son was born, and had to turn him forward when his sister was born.

ejh090305 · May 2012

I love my mini-van, 2008 Town and Country. I have two lo's and want another. We got it when DD1 was only 5 months old. The minute I lifted that infant carrier into the back seat I was sold. It was so easy. And now that they are both forward facing they watch shows in the car on our many long car trips. I can't tell you how many times we've had to stow the rear seats to haul stuff around too. It is really just a great thing to have. It is almost paid off and have no plans in another vehicle for a long time.

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