How long did you need your minivan for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those that carpool - do you buy car seats for all the other kids? Or do you wait to carpool at the booster seat age and just buy extra boosters? I know those seem like rookie questions - my kid is 1 so I don't know much about those stages.

This what we did. Waited until the children were older to carpool and bought two extra booster seats. it's easier have the extra booster seats in the trunk and not have to borrow one from the children we're car pooling with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those that carpool - do you buy car seats for all the other kids? Or do you wait to carpool at the booster seat age and just buy extra boosters? I know those seem like rookie questions - my kid is 1 so I don't know much about those stages.

We have an extra carseat that is almost always in the back row. We take it out when we need the space. Sometimes when I am driving one child and her friend, my other child is elsewhere so we can use her seat. We carpool to preschool and friends come over after school for playdates, so it has been nice to have the extra seat.

The minivan is also great when relatives come to town, so you can go places in one car. Who wants to drive two cars to the zoo? (we don't live near a metro).

We can fit 7 in our SUV - great when relatives come to town or carpooling.

For us, the SUV was problematic when relatives came to visit. My mom has problems with her knees and climbing onto a high SUV was tough. The minivan is easier because it's lower to the ground.

[Anonymous]

Plus there is plenty of room in the back for illicit sex... that is if your affair partner doesn't mind laying in cheerio's and juice box trash

[Anonymous]

My old SUV sat 8. My current one seats 7 since my older kids are now front seat riders. We carpool 5 nights a week - play 3 travel sports, etc.

SUV is harder to get in/out than minivan for sure. I prefer the look of the SUV. I'm not the one climbing in and out, so doesn't bother me...

[Anonymous]

We have had our Quest since 04. DS is 13 and while DH would love a SUV, it's just not happening. Too many friends and junk to haul around. Maybe when the kids get to college.

[Anonymous]

Two kids; until they were 5th and 6th grade. At that point older one could sit in front (he was 5'10"!) meaning we could transport friends if necessary without a third row.

[Anonymous]

You'll need it for the long haul unless you plan to upgrade to a suburban. You'll be schlepping other kids, sports gear, etc.

[Anonymous]

Can we all agree that functionally, there isn't much difference between a minivan and a 3-row SUV. People who think they are too cool for a minivan get the SUV and pretend it isn't a minivan which is fine with me, but don't spend a lot of time talking about how much better it is than a minivan. They're pretty much the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus there is plenty of room in the back for illicit sex... that is if your affair partner doesn't mind laying in cheerio's and juice box trash

Haha - wasn't it a capri sun in Transparent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we all agree that functionally, there isn't much difference between a minivan and a 3-row SUV. People who think they are too cool for a minivan get the SUV and pretend it isn't a minivan which is fine with me, but don't spend a lot of time talking about how much better it is than a minivan. They're pretty much the same thing.

If that's what you need to tell yourself to live with your choices.

[Anonymous]

My parents had a minivan from the time I was around 9/10 (when they first came out) until I was out of college. Using it to haul my stuff back and forth from the dorms was great. Now that she has four grand kids who are getting out of the car seat stage, my mom is thinking about getting one again.

My grandparents bought a minivan in their late 70s and loved it. They would go on road trips all the time with their friends and everyone had plenty of room to spread out. I don't think it is necessary for everyone but I don't think you can go wrong with a minivan at any age. We have one and love it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mistakenly got one when I had my third child b/c I thought I needed it (all in carseats). I had it for a year and got rid of it because I hated it so much. It was convenient, I'll give you that, but I am vain enough that I felt like I had given up on life every time I approached that damn thing. Traded it in for an SUV and never looked back. No one NEEDS a minivan.

Wow, that is really sad. I can't imagine caring that much what other people think. I definitely can't imagine my car dictating my identity. Wow.

[Anonymous]

We just got our first minivan - kids are 8 and 4. Had an SUV that was 12 years old that we drove until it fell apart. We plan on driving it for sports and family outings for quite some time. They are also great for hauling things up to college!

We also have our ILs moving in with us, and the SUV climbing in and out and over seats wasn't going to cut it. My retired folks keep getting minivans for the space and the ability to haul lots of stuff around. So far, so good.

[Anonymous]

Never. Have two kids and got an SUV.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 kids close in age. I love my MDX.

Would never drive a minivan.