The Great Car Debate

Daenaria86 · December 2015

So DH and I are a one car family. We have a toddler and at one point had an SUV and a sedan. The SUV is now gone, we got rid of it to save money so I could be a SAHM. However now that we are expecting baby #2, I'm pushing for a used minivan. I cannot see myself loading two kids into an SUV and we are always getting together with friends. I think a minivan would be a lot better than a large SUV (I had a Mazda CX-9 with third row seating, but third row was not comfortable and we had no trunk space with it up).

So is anyone else planning on getting a new car? Anyone else fighting the minivan?

Parker16772 · December 2015

Def no minivan for me ever. I have a Tahoe and love it. Loading DS1 in and out is easy. There is a lot of room in the 3rd row but it does take up the whole back with it up so you can't really put much back there which is def a down side. If we have a 3rd child later I would consider a suburban for that reason alone.

bbiutmcph · December 2015

Add me to the no way mini van camp. Honestly until I just had our third I had two kids in a corolla sport and it was not a hassle or issue and it was paid off so extra bonus there. Recently got a RAV4 third row and still with my three kiddos it's fine with the stuff we have. I guess I personally don't think you need a huge vehicle due to kids. My husband has a four door Tacoma which also is fine with our family. Our older kids are past strollers and such so our things we bring along aren't as much but I have no issues having three kids, sports equipment, groceries etc in my Rav and it's decent on gas which was a bonus.

Cowboycorgi · December 2015

We have a Honda Pilot, my SIL has a Honda Odyssey. She is regularly getting stuck in snow while we have had no problems even in the 2013 snowmegedon. We live in Michigan, so dependability matters more than room for us.

Besides that I think her mini van is pretty nice, so if you live in a warmer climate it shouldn't really matter which you get.

meggyme · December 2015

We just bought a 2015 Toyota Highlander. It has a 3rd row. Like you said with the third row there's not as much trunk space, but enough for a stroller. But when we're not carting around a bunch of people the third row folds well and gives tons of space. I wouldn't drive very far with people in the third row, but it's a nice option.

splsmama2016 · December 2015

We just traded in my 2012 Honda Fit for a 2016 Honda Pilot. I LOVE it!!! I'm also in the no mini van club (for now), and the pilot has tons of space, even with the third row seating up.

Jules08 · December 2015

I am not planning to purchase a new vehicle, but I currently have a Ford Escape. We have road tripped cross country since DS was 9 months old (currently 4) and have found that our Escape was more than enough room to pack everything he'd need and everything we'd need (including camping equipment). #2 will be here in April and I cannot foresee any issues with our current SUV for the same type of trips. I am in the NEVER camp for a minivan; however, when we do upgrade / get a new vehicle we'll be looking at the Acura MDX and the Honda Pilot (2016 because I prefer the new design).

splsmama2016 · December 2015

@Jules08 we looked at the MDX as well, but went with the Pilot because it just looked like it had more space. And it also gets a tiny bit better gas milage. And by tiny, I think it was like a mile or 2 better haha.

lalala2004 · December 2015

We intend to get a small mini van soon (Mazda 5). More than likely we'll keep the back seats folded down for storage unless we have nieces and nephews or others to transport. Then when we have multiple kids and they're older, they'll have a bit more personal space. I learned to drive on an old Mazda mini van, and am more comfortable with them than SUVs.

jonesl12 · December 2015

No mini van... We went with a Audi Q7 due to the extra third row space and there is plenty of room.
It's all wheel drive , great safety rating,and good in the snow too. I'd prob do anything not to have to buy a mini van.

LaurenAsh23 · December 2015

I have a Honda Odyssey and love it! Dd is a big toddler (always has been big). I had a Buick Enclave before and dh had a Yukon, getting her in and out of both was difficult. The van is so much easier, I get amazing gas mileage and we have so much room. I know a mini van isn't for everyone, but I love mine.

GinnyJ2012 · December 2015

I have a 08 Nissan Pathfinder with a third row that splits 50/50, so even if we go for baby 4 in a few years I won't need a new SUV. I can fit three seats across my middle row so I won't need the third row up for now. Even with the third row up there's enough trunk space. We have an Australian Shepherd so we need the larger truck when we travel. I've never had issues loading either of my boys in the truck, and my older one climbs in by himself.

JennyS86 · December 2015

We have almost 2 yr old twins and one to come, currently driving a honda accord. Probably going to a Honda Odessey unless something else is just fabulous.

kristib1027 · December 2015

I'll never be a mini van mom! Gross! We upgraded from my beloved gold g6 when I found out I was pregnant with #2 to a new Ford Escape, no third row, but it fits us so well and I have so much trunk space and rides so smooth. It's def a great starter SUV since I've only ever driven a sedan.

thaisac1 · December 2015

Daenaria86 said:
So DH and I are a one car family. We have a toddler and at one point had an SUV and a sedan. The SUV is now gone, we got rid of it to save money so I could be a SAHM. However now that we are expecting baby #2, I'm pushing for a used minivan. I cannot see myself loading two kids into an SUV and we are always getting together with friends. I think a minivan would be a lot better than a large SUV (I had a Mazda CX-9 with third row seating, but third row was not comfortable and we had no trunk space with it up).

So is anyone else planning on getting a new car? Anyone else fighting the minivan?

We are also a one car family, husband drives me and picks me up at work everyday which is a 8-minute drive (he works from home) and that works well. However once the baby is here it won't be practical for him to drive me while baby is sleeping...so we are thinking we will need second car.

We already have a mini SUV so that will be a good baby car. So for the second car we may get something smaller, prob a sedan or a hatchback, whatever it is we will probably get a hybrid as we would love to have something "green".

satuttle1014 · December 2015

I'm part of the no mini van club. They have great gas mileage but nothing else I particularly like. I wouldn't get a car based on driving friends around, what fits for you and your kids? I have a Lexus RX 350 and love it and eventually if we have 3 kids like we want, I will upgrade to an extra large SUV, like a suburban, expedition, etc. But those are my type of cars.

My sister had a Toyota 4 Runner and just recently traded that in for a Tahoe because it was way more spacious for her and how she packs. The Tahoe is super nice.

If you live somewhere cold or where it can snow, then make sure it is all wheel drive other than that, the Rav4, pilot, etc. other suggestions of what PP's have would be great cars. You really don't need that much space and as someone suggested when the 3rd row is not in use it can be folded down for more room.

lionstigersbears · December 2015

We have a Volkswagon Tiguan, a Mazda CX-7, soon to be 2 kids and 2 giant dogs (85 lbs. each). No minivan for us, if they were good in snow I might be swayed but otherwise nope. It's hard to decide what we should do since we already have enough space for everyday type driving, but with a double stroller, other gear and dogs somewhat regularly it's just not going to work. My sister has a suburban and it's awesome, especially in snow, and while I do feel it would be good for us I'm worried about it fitting in our garage! Haha. Probably should do a local test drive and try to pull it in. Plus, we don't need a large and a midsize SUV. Ideally I'd like a suburban and a sedan that fits 3 across just in case, but 2 new cars is not happening. We shall see...

ashcart01 · December 2015

We have an Acadia. It is exactly like a minivan on the inside (I think it had a little more room for stow- and-go than the mini-van we were looking at) and I think it looks nifty. We got a low-milage used one, and it was actually cheaper than the used mini-vans we were looking into. We live in the midwest and we wanted an AWD vehicle for our colossal snow storms.

HepCat · December 2015

We have an outback and love it. Tons of room (plus the roof rack), fun to drive and we could get one fully loaded for less than a minivan. We use diono seats for our two now, so if we have a third we can sit 3 kids across.

Daenaria86 · December 2015

I will add that I'm short at 5'2" and we live in Florida - tropics year round. I see advantages for a higher SUV (I'd have gotten stuck in flooding more than once had I not been driving my CX-9). I see advantages to both for sure.

2goofykids · December 2015

It's just DH and I right now and we have one car, a hyundai accent hatchback. I absolutely love it, and once we can afford it DH will be getting an older car just for commuting and such. I love mine, and can't see myself getting a minivan ever. I love SUV's because I like to sit up higher while driving, and if I didn't have enough kids to really need a whole van for I would feel kind of silly with all that extra space.

swflJD · December 2015

I refuse to ever drive a minivan, and I don't like driving cars, so I will be sticking to SUVs. I'm a FTM, and I have a 2013 Mercedes GLK350. It's a small SUV, so I may eventually get something larger once LO gets older and starts accumulating more stuff, but for now it should be fine. DH has a Chevrolet 2500HD truck with 4 doors that is quite roomy, so we should be okay on vehicles for now.

AGK2015 · December 2015

No minivan for us, and no SUV either, for that matter. We just bought a new hatchback Subaru Impreza in early 2015, and we plan to drive it into the ground. We're hoping for 2 kids (this baby will be our first), and there's plenty of room for 2 car seats; if we end up needing 3, it'll be a tight squeeze, but we can make it work. We could probably even fit the dog in the middle when we travel as a family (or she can travel in my lap, which is uncomfortable but not the end of the world). Not to mention: we're city-dwellers and rely on street parking; a larger vehicle would be more comfortable to ride in, but significantly less convenient. Add in increased gas prices and our strong preference for AWD (since the snow in our area can get pretty debilitating), and in our eyes, a larger vehicle is a major luxury; it definitely isn't a need.

groovylocks · December 2015

IN 2014 I bought a 2015 VW Golf new. Bought it outright with savings. I didn't know I'd have a newborn in a year and it's small for us. My husband has a small suv but that wee golf is making it hard to take her anywhere without his car being involved. I'm thinking of trading it in for a Tiguan. Can't sell it... VW reputation is shot... Even gasoline models like mine ( and I almost bought a diesel..) aren't selling for what they're worth. VW is doing pretty fair trade ins. I'm thinking it over..

SherlockedMom · December 2015

2 kids with an SUV is fine and dandy. Even 2 kids with a sedan is fine. I think a bigger car at this point would just be a want vs. a need, if you're looking to be frugal.

We bought a bigger car, as this is #3 and we couldn't fit 3 car seats in my sedan. But we bought VERY cheaply used.

doozer1345 · December 2015

GinnyJ2012 said:

I have a 08 Nissan Pathfinder with a third row that splits 50/50, so even if we go for baby 4 in a few years I won't need a new SUV. I can fit three seats across my middle row so I won't need the third row up for now. Even with the third row up there's enough trunk space. We have an Australian Shepherd so we need the larger truck when we travel. I've never had issues loading either of my boys in the truck, and my older one climbs in by himself.

My MIL drives a much older Pathfinder so hers (I don't think) doesn't have a third row. DH and I have been looking for a 3rd row SUV and have been looking at the newer Explorers. I'm pretty intrigued by the Pathfinder now! I have an Altima right now so I've really been more partial to Nissan anyways. How's the gas mileage? Any drawbacks?

BostonBaby1 · January 2016

I'm not a minivan person. We live in the city in New England so I originally didn't want anything big but would work in the snow. (Background is this is my 4th pregnancy this year.) With my second, I traded my rear-wheel drive convertible in for a 4wd sedan. At the beginning of the fall, DH got a rather large SUV. We figured if we needed to switch, we could.

Long story short, DH got hit on the highway last week. The SUV needs a bit of bodywork but my gosh, did it take the hit well!!! SOOOOOO glad we spent the extra money,

ammnam14 · January 2016

I'm an odd ball and want a mini van, DH does not. We are hoping to purchase a Tahoe sometime in the future! Right now we own a mid size SUV and a car which works just fine.

Disneygeek77 · January 2016

Meh, we got a minivan when I was pregnant with our second. I really like it. It is comfortable and easy to take them in and out. Of course, I never considered minivans lame and also never cared about the whole mom with a mini van stereotype. It works for us and is nice to have when my mom or sisters are with us.

RMLandy · January 2016

I have an Acadia which I love but my sister is OBSESSED with her mini-van. I say try it out and if you love it, go with what works for you!

redfallon · January 2016

Acadia here, too. Third row is roomy enough that even my 6'1" husband can sit back there and not hit his knees on the 2nd/middle row seats. I leave it up all the time and have room for groceries in the back and the stroller most of the time. We have two kids now (2 year old and 1 week old) and have the bucket seats in the middle row.

Jellybelly119 · January 2016

The car seat lady has a good review of different types of vehicles and how many seats/boosters will fit in each row that I saw on FB today:

https://thecarseatlady.com/2015familyvehiclebuyingguide/

I honestly don't remember if there was a minivan section because I would have scrolled right on by it!

Latina211508 · January 2016

We do have 3 vehicles but we bought an SUV (Tahoe) after having our third baby. I love our Tahoe. It seats 9 and honestly is so comfortable. I can fit all 3 of my children nicely in the second row. I'm pregnant with baby#4 and my eldest will be sitting in the third row after his arrival. It's a no go for a mini van. Just not my style. I can still fit a big stroller behind the third row seats so i have no issues with space.

imakeeff0rts · January 2016

I'm definitely fighting for a mini-van, but we're in kind of a weird situation.

We're in Germany right now, and I'm going back to the states to have this baby. I'll need something to drive. I REALLY want a mini van. After driving a 2 door tiny freaking car here and dealing with getting a toddler in and out of said tiny two door car, I'm done. I want the space. My husband is selling this car, and when I get back we'll be getting a burner vehicle for me to get to and from places locally (everything I need is less than a half mile away, but I don't want to walk to the grocery store or clinic with an infant and a toddler in bad weather).

Mrs Sweet Tea · January 2016

We will always have a large SUV or possibly a minivan. I will fight the minivan as long as possible though. We have two dogs that we take almost always take with us when we go on vacation or to visit family so we need room for them plus however many kids we have.

DisneyIsabelle · January 2016

Acura MDX here. I love it, so hopefully it will last me a while. I see parents easily loading their kids into the minivans and the gym all the time and see the appeal. But for now, sticking to SUV for sure!

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