Anonymous wrote:It's a living room on wheels. They aren't giving up part of their house!

I think you are right. This is how I feel about them.

We have two old vehicles, none of them as large as yours, and our oldest is in college.

I would never buy a van. But buy one if it makes you happy, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From cradle thru college, we never owned a van. Get whatever you want. Rent something different for times you need something different.

+1. Minivan people are a strange breed. You’ll pry the keys to their minivan out of their cold, dead hands. My 70 year old aunt, with 3 children in their 30s, still refuses to part with her minivan.

Lol. OP here. I probably should have titled the thread with that. My family got a van when I was 7 and had such happy memories. I got a van when our first was born. My mom is now 82 and loves my van. Strange, happy breeds we are, yes.

Just opening myself up to other options. Thank you for the suggestions!

Anonymous wrote:Love my RAV-4

+1. My sister with three kids in college and lots of mileage to cover to everybody's location has a small fleet of hybrid RAV4s and everybody in the family loves them. They handle dorm contents, hockey gear, multiple dogs, etc.

It's a living room on wheels. They aren't giving up part of their house!

Anonymous wrote:From cradle thru college, we never owned a van. Get whatever you want. Rent something different for times you need something different.

+1. Minivan people are a strange breed. You’ll pry the keys to their minivan out of their cold, dead hands. My 70 year old aunt, with 3 children in their 30s, still refuses to part with her minivan.

Love my RAV-4

Might I suggest the hybrid Ford Maverick? Great gas mileage, drives like a car, can haul stuff and not super pricy. Mini van would also work, if you prefer that. Also just moved my daughter into an apartment, packing bed frame, rolled mattress, dishes, etc., and it all fit in a Subaru Impreza.

From cradle thru college, we never owned a van. Get whatever you want. Rent something different for times you need something different.

When I was down to 1 at home I downsized to a Subaru Outback and I absolutely love it. Still quite a bit of space (although it is an adjustment at first), easier and more fun to drive, easier to park.

Honda Pilot

We have a Tiguan with foldable third row and it’s great, practical and comfortable.

Something small.
Rent a minivan for the dorm move in/move out days.

Bigger SUV

We've got a 13-year-old Honda Odyssey that has 130k miles on it. Before that, we kept another Odyssey for 11 years.

Kids are now in college. The van has been great for moving and for our road trips. Just so comfortable and has transported everything I could possibly need- including family when they visit!

We've got one sedan and one small SUV that our 2 kids have been driving.

When we replace the van, I'd love to get another van but should I look at other vehicles?
What would you recommend?

TIA!