All the mini van hate just hurts my heart y'all. I have a Chrysler Town and Country and love it. I just can't do the big SUV… gas and the cost honestly make me shutter. I drive my mom van with pride (and a breastfeeding silhouette sticker. Yes. Im serious) If you have one or are fixing to get one rock that mom van with pride.
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My dd knows the fist bump
We loved that movie! My 21 month old ds does it too!
We have a Yukon Denali and it's great for 2 kids! I have the captain chairs so the kids have plenty of personal space and they can't really touch each other! It has the DVD player which is great! I the third row flips up with plenty of room for groceries. Now we have another child on the way my oldest will have to go to the back. Not much space in the back with third row down. I can flip up only one side and still have a seat, which is probably what we will do. I grew up with my mom having a mini van, so I have nothing against them. I just don't see myself in one. Plus, I don't think my husband would be caught dead in one! Ha!
I haven't read all the replies but after our first we upgraded from a small suv to the Kia Sedona minivan. I was always that person who said no van, and yes I love it. There is so much room, and it is so easy to get the kid in and out. I love my Kia, one of the really nice things is the warranty. 10 years 100k because we bought new. But even second owner is pretty good. That was big for me since we shouldn't have any big car bills for a while.
I can't really relate because this will be my first child, but I do have a lot of friends/neighbors with several kids. It seems that everyone in my town drives either a Town & Country or a Chevy Suburban. I don't even want to think about the MPG on the Suburban- they're huge!- but I know I have at least one neighbor with 5 kids who loves theirs.
My husband has a Pilot and loves it. I have a smaller SUV, which will be fine for two kids, but I'll have to trade it in for something bigger if (when ) we have a third. with the third row seating in the pilot it can accommodate 4 car seats and there is still storage room in the back. No offense to those of you with (or getting minivans) But we are happy with the SUV's and intend to stick with them.
I am so glad you posted this! We are in a similar situation as my DD will only be just turning 1 when the twins arrive! I also really really don't want a minivan but I understand the concenience. We are going to be looking at the Pilot and the Traverse (and maybe the Odyssey- ugh).
Thank you ladies for all your suggestions!
We have a Pilot and Odyssey. Putting kids in and out (especially now that they want to open/close doors and get in/out on their own) we much prefer the Odyssey. If we do anything as a family we always take the van because it's easier and more roomy. Just something to think about.
When I was expecting our 3rd, we went from a Chevy Equinox to a Chevy Traverse. It instantly felt too small. With 3 kids in the car, I had one kid in the 3rd row with the seat split with the stroller next to him and no additional storage. The Traverse is perfect for 2 kids, but no more than that. I should have gone straight to my Suburban. Two months after our fourth baby was born, I got my Suburban. I LOVE it. It has the entertainment system and feels very luxurious. The gas in not that bad…it has a 32 gallon tank which lasts forever and I don't fill-up as often as I did with my Equinox or Traverse. I am now expecting our 5th and I think our suburban will be just fine.
I had to swallow my pride and get a mini van for a while. I had a Honda Odyssey. Let me tell you it was the sh*t! Lol. So comfortable! So easy to get in and out of. Such a smooth ride. I loved my mini van! We had to sell it because my husband ended up getting out if the marine corps and we moved to the wv mountains. Need 4x4 in the summer so I have a SUV. Not nearly as convenient or nearly as much easy access storage as a mini van. I miss my van lol.
See, I always hear that once people give in and get a minivan, they love them! But I need 4 wheel drive too for snow. If minivans don't usually have that option, I might have to rethink the SUV. I just don't want this huge beast of a car either.
@Bfavors , I don't have to worry about DH divorcing me. He wants me to get a minivan and thinks it's funny. He would never, ever drive it to work though.
I don't think you necessarily need a four wheel drive for the snow. Snow tires are more important imo. We have a little mazda 3 and regularly pass 4wds in the ditch on snowy roads.
We have an Equinox which I Love, but baby 3 means a bigger vehicle. I'd love a Suburban, but they literally cost twice as much as a van! And the Toyota and Honda vans are top safety-rated year after year. The Sienna comes with an awd option. Pretty sure we're getting one of those, we're from MN, but move a ton with the Army, hoping to end up in WI eventually = lots of snow...
I will never understand why people hate minivans so much. My husband bought be a new Honda Odyssey this year and I completely love it!!! We can fit everyone in comfortably, and if we have friends or family with us we can all go in one car since it comfortable seats 8 people. And there is plenty of room for extras! Good luck on your decision, but I HIGHLY recommend the Odyssey!!
My husband and I had had a bmw and that was so tiny with 3 car seats. Luckily a few months later we bought a Chevy Tahoe. I'll admit I can't do a mini van. That's one thing I just don't want to drive. Lol but our Tahoe fits 9 comfortably. I absolutely love it. I'm pregnant with my fourth and happy we don't have to worry about buying a bigger vehicle.
We just got a GMC Acadia. Seats seven, very customizable if you want upgrades, I believe it is available as a 4WD/AWD, very high safety ratings, and it's not as big as driving a suburban. It rides smooth and has been great on our road trips. Gas mileage is decent for the size.
This mama also needs a bigger vehicle I currently drive a 4door ion love my car I have no complains and the hubby drives a mustang which we can never use because there's 5 of us but soon there will be 6 and I had my heart set on an suv, any suv! I have repeatedly said no mini-van for me but after reading all the comments I will definitely look into the possibility of getting a mini-van and the DH loves the idea of a mini-van rather then a gas guzzling suv.
Re: Mama needs a minivan (or larger SUV?)
Married since 8/7/10