We've started car shopping recently, and anyone who has purchased a car before knows that it's a painful process. Shaun's Altima has 151,000 miles on it and she's starting to show her age. She's done her job, but it's time to put her to pasture. So, we figure Shaun will take my Volvo and I would get a new car. But the question became what kind? Prior to my Volvo I had a mini-van (collective gasps!) - it was a Honda Odyssey to be exact. It was okay, but I started to feel like I was driving the "junk car." Odd smells would permeate from the back seat............knick-knacks and other odds and ends would clutter the back seats.........random kids would pop up in the car.Finally we had enough and I bought the Volvo V70 station wagon. I like it because, while it doesn't offer the kids a lot of room, I can see whatever trash/toys/filth that accumulate within eye shot.
We went to the Mazda dealership and looked at a CX9. It's a beautiful car that seats seven. The particular one we test drove was loaded - moonroof, leather, heated seats, bluetooth built in, Bose sound system, etc...We got the old, "Take it home overnight and see what you think" spiel. So we did (I figured if anything I could use their gas and not mine). Shaun and I came to the conclusion that it was too nice for us. We are an active family, and I don't want to worry every time the kids get in the car that something will get messed up or ruined. I also looked at a used (2004) Chrysler Pacific which seats six. It was also loaded and included a DVD player. It didn't drive as nice as the CX9 (to be fair it was used), and I felt it was a pain to put the middle seat down to get into the third row of seats (the CX9 slid very easily).
Shaun brought up a good point - we could easily get into one of these "crossover" cars, but once it's fully loaded with our family, there isn't any room left for cargo. So if we were to go on a trip somewhere we would need a roof rack. There also isn't room for our dog if we were to take him to the beach with us.
So, with that said, I waved the white flag and conceded to a mini-van (I know
people...I know). It's just a far more practical vehicle for our family. We aren't sure which one we'll end up with (we looked at the Honda's again which have since been upgraded), but I think we'll get a few more bells and whistles in it to at least soothe my pain. Face it - there's nothing fun about driving a mini-van. You are basically a glorified bus driver - for the short bus that is.
12 comments:
My husband thinks that your husband is turning gay because he's going to be driving the volvo wagon full time.
He's going to have to get a real manly bumpersticker for it, maybe: "My Other Vehicle Is a John Deere"
My husband IS gay - I thought that was widely known.
WAIT a minute.....why do I deserve such attacks? T5M...I believe your husband is the "soccer mom" of the family.....The last 25 times I have seen him driving he is behind the wheel of a mini-van? One day I noticed his SIRIUS was tuned to the Disney Channel AND there were no kids in the car...I just checked the SIRIUS website and found 2 channels for him..OUTQ and Martha Stuart Radio
I vow to never drive a minivan...
Yes, he keeps putting one of those magnetic soccer things on the back of the minivan, but I remove it on the weekends when I drive the mv.
Jones, you can vow all you want when you don't have kids, but wait and see what happens when #3 comes.
I laugh at the vows I made before I had kids:
"My kids will never eat McDonalds ...or hot dogs" (eat at least once a week)
"I will never use one of those leash things on a kid (Amaya has one)"
"My kids will eat what the family is having for dinner" (Huh! we eat 5 different meals every night!)
"I will never own a minivan" (and indeed I wouldn't have, if it wasn't for "that baby" - we held out until the day before I gave birth to #3).
...oh the list goes on, there are tons of them!
I vowed to never marry a gay man....
Well that went out the window about six years ago!
Kristy--I also vowed to never drive a mini-van, but it was either that or take 2 cars everywhere we went. Your view may change when you have a few kids and all their stuff! Also gas doesn't seem to be as bad as the suv's (so I'm told).
Wendy--good luck on the car search!
the attacks continue....
I believe there are other options...the Chrysler Pacifica??
Not so minivanish, or SUVish. John would like to just pile the kids all in the back of a pick-up truck like we used to do when we were kids - much more posh!
Yeah, I know, I grew up in the sticks!
Kristy - I test drove the Chrysler Pacifica - it only fit six (Mazda CX9 fit 7) and it was hard to put the middle seat down to get to the 3rd row. Plus we have a dog. Once you fill up the car with kids, there isn't room for luggage or "kid stuff."
Minivans are practical. Once you reach 35, you'll like practical.
maybe you can go with the smaller car and just attach a trailer to it...then you could stick the kids in it and drive quietly with the luggage in the seats :-)
I like your idea Nancy - I think it's legal in Maine as well.
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