OP here. All this love for the minivan is making me reconsider switching! I do love that thing. I've never understood the hate.

But having two minivans seems like...too much.

No one drives sedans. Get a highlander since you like Toyota.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Vans 4 Life!

Pulling up and everything fits in is just life changing. Sliding doors for groceries are awesome. Going on a roadtrip and being able to pack whatever we want is great too. I also love being able to fit our parents in the car too when we go out instead of taking two cars.

I keep telling my husband all of this! The stuff we have hauled in that van - it's great. The fold-down seats, the car-like handling, no doors slamming into other cars in the parking lot... I could go on. Not my mom's 80s Dodge Caravan for sure.

He says that, if I like it that much, I can drive it... and I don't like it THAT much. So he'll get his pick of the next vehicle, which I'm pretty sure won't be a minivan.

Right! Everyone wants to RIDE in the minivan, and take roadtrips in the minivan, and use it to haul stuff home. I can't get over the fold down seats and the magic sliding captains chairs in the middle.

18 wheeler. No other options.

Anonymous wrote:Vans 4 Life!

Pulling up and everything fits in is just life changing. Sliding doors for groceries are awesome. Going on a roadtrip and being able to pack whatever we want is great too. I also love being able to fit our parents in the car too when we go out instead of taking two cars.

I keep telling my husband all of this! The stuff we have hauled in that van - it's great. The fold-down seats, the car-like handling, no doors slamming into other cars in the parking lot... I could go on. Not my mom's 80s Dodge Caravan for sure.

He says that, if I like it that much, I can drive it... and I don't like it THAT much. So he'll get his pick of the next vehicle, which I'm pretty sure won't be a minivan.

I would get a pickup . But I do woodworking and gardening in my free time so need to haul stuff.

Vans 4 Life!

Pulling up and everything fits in is just life changing. Sliding doors for groceries are awesome. Going on a roadtrip and being able to pack whatever we want is great too. I also love being able to fit our parents in the car too when we go out instead of taking two cars.

My husband says that, after over a decade of driving a minivan (both Siennas, too), he wants a Ford Bronco. I'm not a fan, personally, but I haven't been driving a minivan and probably get less of a vote.

My mom got a convertible

I loved my Toyota Highlander; we had to trade it in for a minivan recently but it was a great car. Turned on a dime, great visibility, and super quick. Without the last row of seats up, storage in the back was perfect. Big enough that I felt safe on the highway but could handle tight parking garages also.

My mom's RAV-4 is smaller but is fine for driving around town. Fun car to drive.

Thanks all! I realize I wasn't very specific in my ask, because I really don't have a lot of requirements. I'm not looking to spend a ton, just a mid-range safe reliable car. Maybe in the 25-35K range I guess? I'll look into the RAV-4

Hybrid CR-V or RAV-4. Very practical, good value, good fuel mileage. You can also spend more and get the RAV 4 Prime, which takes the hybrid to a higher level and is a plug-in hybrid, so you can drive about 40 miles before the engine has to kick on at all.

And if you're really spendy, like the previous poster said, there's the Model Y. I'm not familiar with the Kia. I'm sure it's good.

I like my CRV hybrid.

Tesla model Y if you want to splurge. If you don't want to spend much, a Kia Niro plug in hybrid.

How many kids? Will this be the vehicle you will take on a driving vacation? I have 2 kids so we can all fit with luggage in a sedan. I even delivered my 2 sons (separately) to college drop offs in a sedan. I guess it depends on how much stuff + people you haul around.

I have never been someone who cares much about my car. I want something functional and comfortable. For the past seven years, with my kids growing up I have had a Sienna and absolutely loved it. Everything fit easily, it was comfortable, could haul any amount of people and their gear plus the dog. Love it. My oldest is getting her license soon and she'll get the minivan as a primary vehicle. So I get a new car! My youngest is starting middle school, so I still have some years of hauling kids, but we'll still have the minivan in the family when needed.

What kind of car do I get for daily use? If we ever go back to the office, I will have a crappy commute downtown. But other than that, it would be just regular errands and groceries, etc. Do I buy a sedan like an accord or prius? To I get a smaller SUV like a RAV-4?