NP here who's not anti-minivan per se. I also drive a small SUV which still feels a bit too big. Minivans are boats. Way too big for me to ever feel comfortable driving, much less parallel parking. So I completely empathize.

My next car will be the Mazda 5.

The pros far outweigh the cons, OP. I happen to like the sliding doors. I happen to dislike that it is wider than most cars.

Um, unless you are 16 and have no hope of having a decent career, your car is not going to be what makes or breaks you. The owner of my company pulls up in a MV, that does not make him "less owner". Wow, you people are sad.

I kinda wish I had one just for the sliding doors. And fyi - I had a small SUV before moving to my bigger one and there is no way a double jogger would have fit in the back of it. No way.

I used to think a MV would make me uncool. Didn't happen.

Of course, my friends who think a MV will make them uncool, I just don't have the heart to tell them that they were never cool and their imagery is all in their mind. No, really. I just think they are trying too hard to portray something they are not. Others have brought it up and have said the same, so it is not just me.

OP, can't DH just buy and drive what he wants? I think there is at least one MV with AWD. D.C. shuts down at the threat of snow, so I don't see AWD as an issue either way. Your arguments do not sound rational.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my minivan. I can open and close doors without touching them. I can climb in the back with everyone and get them set in their carseats and not have to get back out. I can take 4 extra ppl along and not have to worry about someone being smooshed between 2 carseats. The trunk space is so nice to have (fits strollers, bags, first aid kit, backpack with cloth changes etc... Oh, and I'm only 5'2" and I fit just fine and do not feel like I'm swallowed up by the car. Mine is 7 this February. I won't be going back to an SUV or sedan any time soon.

You gotta be an at home mom. No way am I driving a minivan to the office. Not good at all.

Nope. I work AND I own a minivan. Nothing wrong with it. I like a bigger car. I cannot stand 4 seater cars anymore. I like to sit above everyone else. I like the room in the car. Absolutely NOTHING wrong with that. Everyone has their own opinions. There are enough different types of cars to go around.

we only have one car. he travels for work so I get to drive all week and he drives weekends.

Anonymous wrote:And I'm so not ready for it!

I've driven them a lot while babysitting and I HATE them. Please help me...

We're expecting #2 and I drive a small SUV. I love it! I'm very short and being up there makes me feel safer and drive better. The thing is 4WD and holds pretty well in snow, sand, debris, etc. And it's compact. I can see all around it when parking.

The minivan we can afford won't have a camera so parking will be a mess. DH is concerned about space (we drive friends a lot, another carsear plus a double stroller) but I don't think this is enough reason to get a van. We're doing well with this car and I see no reason why we would need anything bigger. Am I wrong?

If DH wants a minivan, he's quite entitled to get one to drive. If he want YOU to get a minivan, then you veto him because you're happy and content driving your SUV. He can get and drive the minivan and then as a family you go out in his car. When it's just you and the kids, you use your car.

Your keen perception really honed in on the main point there. Obviously, when you read "X = Y does NOT imply Y = X", the clear meaning is "Y = X".

One more time, all together now, because 3-series BMWs are bought by people under 40 does not mean that most people under 40 are buying 3-series BMWs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Most successful, educated people under 40 think that cars are a tool--a necessary evil."

Only in Seattle. The only people driving the BMW 3 series are under 40. They sure think it's a signaling device.

Most people committing violent crimes in DC are young and black. But most young black people in DC are not committing violent crimes. Demographic trends are what they are, anecdotal evidence to the contrary.

Meaning no one under 40 buys a car because it's a status symbol? Then why does a 38 year old emergency room doc I know spend $875 a month to rent an X5?

Anonymous wrote:"Most successful, educated people under 40 think that cars are a tool--a necessary evil."

Only in Seattle. The only people driving the BMW 3 series are under 40. They sure think it's a signaling device.

Most people committing violent crimes in DC are young and black. But most young black people in DC are not committing violent crimes. Demographic trends are what they are, anecdotal evidence to the contrary.

Anonymous wrote:VBA!

?? What's VBA?

"Most successful, educated people under 40 think that cars are a tool--a necessary evil."

Only in Seattle. The only people driving the BMW 3 series are under 40. They sure think it's a signaling device.

Anonymous wrote:LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my minivan. I can open and close doors without touching them. I can climb in the back with everyone and get them set in their carseats and not have to get back out. I can take 4 extra ppl along and not have to worry about someone being smooshed between 2 carseats. The trunk space is so nice to have (fits strollers, bags, first aid kit, backpack with cloth changes etc... Oh, and I'm only 5'2" and I fit just fine and do not feel like I'm swallowed up by the car. Mine is 7 this February. I won't be going back to an SUV or sedan any time soon.

You gotta be an at home mom. No way am I driving a minivan to the office. Not good at all.

BWAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

OP here and I had to wait a good while until I stoped laughing and crying to be able to type my response!!!!

How old do you guys think I am? No, I'm not worried about being cool (HA!) and my babysitting years ended just 2 years ago when I had DC1. And I still babysit on occasion and the last van I drove was just 4 weeks ago when we went to FL for vacation. It had a camera but still I felt like all the other cars were on top of me.

We practice sports that's why we like our SUV and I told DH there's nothing wrong with asking friends to meet us at our destination or have them drive behind us when we go out together. Our family is growing and some things inevitably must change.

I'm doing just fine handling DC in and out of the car and our weather is much worse than DC's mild seasons. Our car is in the garage and most of the palces we go to also have covered lots.

Seems like I got exactly what I was looking for. There's absolutely no great reason to get such a huge car for us just yet.