2nd kid... time for a minivan?

[Anonymous]

We have two kids...no minivan. Currently have a CX-9. It's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course you don't "need" a minivan. However, I've never encountered a minivan owner who regretted having one.

These threads always end up resulting in half the posts from minivan owners who will tell you that they are the best, and SUV owners who try to explain why their "cool" SUV is practically just as good as a minivan. I've got news for you; there is nothing cool about anything other than a classic sports car. Everything else is just transportation.

That was my take, too--no one I know with a minivan regrets having one. We have an Italian friend who is really into cars, and one of their cars is a minivan. He *loves* that thing. No, it's not "cool," but it's really practical.

And I totally agree--if you think your SUV is cool, you are kidding yourself. My dad's '57 Chevy is cool. My uncle's '67 Mustang is cool. My friend's classic T-bird is cool. Your SUV is exactly as cool as that minivan and sedan parked next to you in the lot.

I’m not sure why people aren’t allowed to have aesthetic preferences on this issue when they do on all others! So what if I want to wear dress shoes to a fancy event in winter instead of practical boots. If it makes me happy and your boots make you happy so be it. No decision is inherently better than the other for all people. And sure you can claim that nothing is cool unless it’s jimmy cho but that’s a bit of an extreme position.

[Anonymous]

We did because in addition to the two kids we have two medium-sized dogs. Our family lives far away, and we drive, so it was easier for us to just get the minivan for all the space. When the kids get bigger and the dogs are gone, we'll downsize.

[Anonymous]

We have two kids and two sedans. It's never been a problem, including for road trips.

I will never, ever own a minivan because it's an aesthetic (and driving) preference. If you want to have one for whatever reason, then that's a great decision for you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you shopping for a car anyway?

Agree with those who say wait and see if you have a third kid or until your kids are school aged and you think you'll be a carpooling family.

We traded in our SUV within a couple of weeks of having baby#3--my oldest was in first grade and having all three in one row wasn't going to work--and with an infant and a toddler in carseats it was too hard for him to get in and out of the third row. With the minivan he could easily get from back to front, my toddler wasn't poking big brother or baby sister, and I could control the doors from the driver's seat.

Now my kids are 13, 8 and 6 and the minivan is great for carpooling--my older two each have 3x/week sports practice and we only drive each once because we carpool with two other families on each team. On road trips everyone has plenty of space and the dog fits too.

I had a highlander for a month last summer and it was a pain--difficult to access the third row, absolutely no leg room back there so my oldest and his friends couldn't sit there, and with the third row in use there wasn't even room for groceries in back much less a trip to Costco or a weekend away.

OP here-- we are potentially looking for a third car to be used by our nanny during the week, since we feel we can't reasonably ask her to keep two car seats installed in her sedan (she has kids of her own). As a result, our options are really wide open-- we just need something reliable and safe. DH likes the idea of having a minivan available for those rare times we need it; I'm not convinced those times will ever occur. A third row could be useful for the 1-2x a year we have out of town guests, but I'm not particularly inclined to make a decision based on a use case that is the exception not the rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you shopping for a car anyway?

Agree with those who say wait and see if you have a third kid or until your kids are school aged and you think you'll be a carpooling family.

We traded in our SUV within a couple of weeks of having baby#3--my oldest was in first grade and having all three in one row wasn't going to work--and with an infant and a toddler in carseats it was too hard for him to get in and out of the third row. With the minivan he could easily get from back to front, my toddler wasn't poking big brother or baby sister, and I could control the doors from the driver's seat.

Now my kids are 13, 8 and 6 and the minivan is great for carpooling--my older two each have 3x/week sports practice and we only drive each once because we carpool with two other families on each team. On road trips everyone has plenty of space and the dog fits too.

I had a highlander for a month last summer and it was a pain--difficult to access the third row, absolutely no leg room back there so my oldest and his friends couldn't sit there, and with the third row in use there wasn't even room for groceries in back much less a trip to Costco or a weekend away.

OP here-- we are potentially looking for a third car to be used by our nanny during the week, since we feel we can't reasonably ask her to keep two car seats installed in her sedan (she has kids of her own). As a result, our options are really wide open-- we just need something reliable and safe. DH likes the idea of having a minivan available for those rare times we need it; I'm not convinced those times will ever occur. A third row could be useful for the 1-2x a year we have out of town guests, but I'm not particularly inclined to make a decision based on a use case that is the exception not the rule.

You have posted in multiple threads on this forum and gotten good advice. I think this is something you and your DH can figure out on your own.

[Anonymous]

Three kids - from teens to tweens. Never had a minivan. Always had an X5. I can't stand the driving dynamics of a minivan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course you don't "need" a minivan. However, I've never encountered a minivan owner who regretted having one.

These threads always end up resulting in half the posts from minivan owners who will tell you that they are the best, and SUV owners who try to explain why their "cool" SUV is practically just as good as a minivan. I've got news for you; there is nothing cool about anything other than a classic sports car. Everything else is just transportation.

That was my take, too--no one I know with a minivan regrets having one. We have an Italian friend who is really into cars, and one of their cars is a minivan. He *loves* that thing. No, it's not "cool," but it's really practical.

And I totally agree--if you think your SUV is cool, you are kidding yourself. My dad's '57 Chevy is cool. My uncle's '67 Mustang is cool. My friend's classic T-bird is cool. Your SUV is exactly as cool as that minivan and sedan parked next to you in the lot.

I’m not sure why people aren’t allowed to have aesthetic preferences on this issue when they do on all others! So what if I want to wear dress shoes to a fancy event in winter instead of practical boots. If it makes me happy and your boots make you happy so be it. No decision is inherently better than the other for all people. And sure you can claim that nothing is cool unless it’s jimmy cho but that’s a bit of an extreme position.

My X5 M is way cooler than any of those cars you mention. It's black over black and gets me to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. And that's important to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course you don't "need" a minivan. However, I've never encountered a minivan owner who regretted having one.

These threads always end up resulting in half the posts from minivan owners who will tell you that they are the best, and SUV owners who try to explain why their "cool" SUV is practically just as good as a minivan. I've got news for you; there is nothing cool about anything other than a classic sports car. Everything else is just transportation.

That was my take, too--no one I know with a minivan regrets having one. We have an Italian friend who is really into cars, and one of their cars is a minivan. He *loves* that thing. No, it's not "cool," but it's really practical.

And I totally agree--if you think your SUV is cool, you are kidding yourself. My dad's '57 Chevy is cool. My uncle's '67 Mustang is cool. My friend's classic T-bird is cool. Your SUV is exactly as cool as that minivan and sedan parked next to you in the lot.

I’m not sure why people aren’t allowed to have aesthetic preferences on this issue when they do on all others! So what if I want to wear dress shoes to a fancy event in winter instead of practical boots. If it makes me happy and your boots make you happy so be it. No decision is inherently better than the other for all people. And sure you can claim that nothing is cool unless it’s jimmy cho but that’s a bit of an extreme position.

My X5 M is way cooler than any of those cars you mention. It's black over black and gets me to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. And that's important to me.

And my Model X is way cooler than your X5.

[Anonymous]

I have an 8 yo and a 4yo. We have two smaller SUVs and no plans for a minivan. Definitely not necessary in the younger years. may be helpful as they get older, carpooling, etc. some of the features are pretty cool on minivans these days, though we will probably upgrade to a full size SUV instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an 8 yo and a 4yo. We have two smaller SUVs and no plans for a minivan. Definitely not necessary in the younger years. may be helpful as they get older, carpooling, etc. some of the features are pretty cool on minivans these days, though we will probably upgrade to a full size SUV instead.

I'm surprised you say that. It's SO hard on us in the younger years to travel with small kids and a sedan. Two pack n plays and one small stroller take up the entire trunk almost. We had to leave the majority of Christmas presents behind because they didn't fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have an 8 yo and a 4yo. We have two smaller SUVs and no plans for a minivan. Definitely not necessary in the younger years. may be helpful as they get older, carpooling, etc. some of the features are pretty cool on minivans these days, though we will probably upgrade to a full size SUV instead.

I'm surprised you say that. It's SO hard on us in the younger years to travel with small kids and a sedan. Two pack n plays and one small stroller take up the entire trunk almost. We had to leave the majority of Christmas presents behind because they didn't fit.

Oh the horror! Or you could just not buy so many presents and not take two pack and plays with you. Somehow most parents of the world survive without a minivan. For a family with 2 kids, it's a want, not a need (like having a 5000 square foot home for 4 people.)

[Anonymous]

Nope. You don't need it for two. Three, definitley.

[Anonymous]

We have an SUV that seats 7 and another that seats 5. No need for a van, and the 7 seater is great for hauling things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We currently have two cars (small SUV and sedan). DH keeps hearing stories of people who moved to a minivan after having a second baby. I'm unconvinced.

If you moved to a minivan after #2, why? What are the use cases where a small SUV wouldn't work but a minivan would?
Did you need the minivan right away, or was it more helpful later (when kids were in school, etc.) to help with carpools/etc?

Hell no! I have 3 in a tiny BMW x1