Anonymous wrote:Daily driver between spouse and myself is a Range Rover and a Porsche 911. We both still go to office and don't work from home. For kids sports on weekends and trips we have a suburban. 3 boys ages 8, 11, and 12. Nanny drives them in an old Volvo XC90 that we provided for her.

Oh, what a great and practical solution! OP, just go buy a Porsche, a Range Rover, a Suburban, and don’t forget a Volvo for the nanny.

Daily driver between spouse and myself is a Range Rover and a Porsche 911. We both still go to office and don't work from home. For kids sports on weekends and trips we have a suburban. 3 boys ages 8, 11, and 12. Nanny drives them in an old Volvo XC90 that we provided for her.

Here’s what you do Op:

Rent a minivan to go on a short vacation. Maybe a weekend away at the beach or mountains. Once you see how much better it is, you won’t ever go back.

A few years ago, my van was in the shop and they gave us an SUV — it was such a PITA! Getting my baby in the car seat was infinitely hard on my back and my 3 year old couldn’t climb in by himself. (He had been climbing in the van by himself since before he was 2!) And the icing on the cake was that parking became a huge issue because without the sliding doors, people could easily make it hard to access the backseat. My husband loves SUVs and even he was fed up after a few days. But until you drive a van with kids abd experience how much better life can be, you just accept all these annoyances as part of life.

Also, you get the minivan and then your OTHER car can be something else. Smaller, more fun, more fuel wise.

You will use this car for the next 10-15 years (that's how we roll in my family) and after the mini van, you can get something else. A large SUV etc, when your family needs have changed.

But minivans are MADE for families with multiple kids. It's the entire reason they are on the market. And so they have thought of all the things you wouldn't have.

We have an Odyssey and it's the perfect family car. If your DH is not convinced, rent one for a weekend.

The sliding doors helps the kid's ability to get IN AND OUT without me needing to feel stressed about being careful of cars next to us. They can get in and out so easily I am not exaggerating when I say this was a MASSIVE life improvement. Mine were 3 and 5 when we got it. We often use the back of it like an extra room, on wheels. To change, to take a break, etc.

I never worry about how to pack stuff up when we go on a driving vacation because there is more than enough room. I love that we can carpool with friends (non-covid times) and not have to worry about cleaning out the entire trunk to get a 3rd row up. There's always room.

Minivans for life!

Yea, tell hubby to get over himself. It's minivan time.

Chrysler Pacifica.

If you don’t want minivans, try new Hyunda/Kia SUVs. They are good size (smaller than Tahoe/Expedition but slightly bigger than Pilot/Highlanders).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are older (18,16, and 8). I drive an Explorer. Usually we take two cars when we go on a driving vacation (when we have luggage and dogs), so we only have all five of us in the car when we are going places around town. And anymore, we rarely have all five of us at once anyway.

We often do the same thing - my kids are 22, 17, 15. All boys, over 6' tall
Add large dog to the mix, and all of the gear. Even a minivan gets pretty tight, so we do opt out for driving 2 hatchbacks instead from time to time.

Anonymous wrote:My kids are older (18,16, and 8). I drive an Explorer. Usually we take two cars when we go on a driving vacation (when we have luggage and dogs), so we only have all five of us in the car when we are going places around town. And anymore, we rarely have all five of us at once anyway.

Do you think there's any chance you could get your husband to test drive a minivan? I was in the same situation 5 years ago when pregnant with my 3rd and was REFUSING to even look at Odysseys. Somehow my husband and the dealer convinced me to at least test drive. Now I'm a convert. I can't imagine dealing with all 3 and the door situation

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Anonymous wrote:Also, 10-12 years to own a car is pretty aggressive... Probably will be more like 7-8.

You be surprised how long folks keep cars. My brother in laws mother is 99 and still has the car she went on first date on with husband 82 years ago and it still runs. Still titled in dead’s husband name and registered. It is a 1931 Ford Model A.

You know this is not common.

DP, of course it's uncommon to find a Model A with one owner, but take a look at the cars around you next time you're out for a drive. Owning a car for 10-12 years is absolutely not "pretty aggressive."

I agree. My car is 20 years old and still going. My parents first car was kept at least that long but eventually "rusted" out - I think the engine was still good, but years of salt in winter took its toll. 82 years is a bit extreme though

They just don't make cars they used to before
We got Odyssey when i was expecting our twins 16 years ago. That car died 8 years later. Now Nissan Quest approaching same age. Hope it's going to survive 2 boys learning how to drive then I'll get something less boring for myself

As for OPs question - minivan is your best bet. Might not be cool to drive, but definitely does the job done better than alternatives.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, 10-12 years to own a car is pretty aggressive... Probably will be more like 7-8.

You be surprised how long folks keep cars. My brother in laws mother is 99 and still has the car she went on first date on with husband 82 years ago and it still runs. Still titled in dead’s husband name and registered. It is a 1931 Ford Model A.

You know this is not common.

DP, of course it's uncommon to find a Model A with one owner, but take a look at the cars around you next time you're out for a drive. Owning a car for 10-12 years is absolutely not "pretty aggressive."

I agree. My car is 20 years old and still going. My parents first car was kept at least that long but eventually "rusted" out - I think the engine was still good, but years of salt in winter took its toll. 82 years is a bit extreme though

I drive a Mazda CX-9 with kids who are 7, 4, and 3. It's not perfect, but it strikes the right balance between too big and too small, and is not a minivan.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, 10-12 years to own a car is pretty aggressive... Probably will be more like 7-8.

You be surprised how long folks keep cars. My brother in laws mother is 99 and still has the car she went on first date on with husband 82 years ago and it still runs. Still titled in dead’s husband name and registered. It is a 1931 Ford Model A.

You know this is not common.

DP, of course it's uncommon to find a Model A with one owner, but take a look at the cars around you next time you're out for a drive. Owning a car for 10-12 years is absolutely not "pretty aggressive."

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