We love our minivans. We got it because we often have more than just our two kids in the car and we also go on long driving vacations. The first one lasted us 9 years and 150k miles. We bought another used Odyssey and if it last as long, then we shouldn't need it anymore for the kids.

And I'll probably buy another one because they are so dang handy.

I drove a van for 14 years as my kids were growing up, and it got us through beach vacations, carpooling, sports team driving, and house decorating/remodeling. I replaced it with a new SUV for my everyday use, but we kept the van because that thing can haul SO much! We've moved our oldest into and out of college housing with it, and will hopefully keep it until the youngest gets through college. For a family, I don't think you can beat the comfort and convenience of a minivan.

As to what anyone else thinks about what I drive? I don't care!

I have one teenage and a humongous dog. My minivan is on its last legs and I'm gonna replace it with...another minivan! I love my minivan and I don't give a fuck what others think about me.

Anonymous wrote:Can we all agree that functionally, there isn't much difference between a minivan and a 3-row SUV. People who think they are too cool for a minivan get the SUV and pretend it isn't a minivan which is fine with me, but don't spend a lot of time talking about how much better it is than a minivan. They're pretty much the same thing.

I can't agree. We just looked at a Sienna and a Highlander, which are built on the same basic frame. There was so much less room inside the Highlander, and it's more money! I wanted to buy the Highlander, but we ended up with the Sienna. It's roomier, and we have four kids.

BTW, OP, this is our second minivan. DH now drives one to commute to work. It's so much easier for carting around the kids/sports equipment/carpooling on weekends. He used to borrow my car to do this, but now he has his own minivan.

They are dull cars, but they are very functional. We'll keep ours until the kids go to college, maybe beyond. I don't like small cars, so would never drive a Prius, even though I'd love an electric minivan!

Anonymous wrote:So not impressed with people who think a minivan is the essence of "giving up" or indicates that you have lost your identity. I mean, you seriously think that people look at a minivan mom dropping her kids off at school vs. a MDX mom or whatever and think, "Wow! That MDX mom clearly has an identity outside of being mommy! Good for her- she hasn't given up!"? Uhh, I think not. Get over yourselves.

+1

This is just it! Makes me want to avoid certain people. At this rate, I'll proudly hang with the minivan contingent!

So not impressed with people who think a minivan is the essence of "giving up" or indicates that you have lost your identity. I mean, you seriously think that people look at a minivan mom dropping her kids off at school vs. a MDX mom or whatever and think, "Wow! That MDX mom clearly has an identity outside of being mommy! Good for her- she hasn't given up!"? Uhh, I think not. Get over yourselves.

Anonymous wrote:LOL at people in this thread. One PP says that they would, gasp, never allow possessions to determine their identity, and in the same breath makes sweeping statements about people that drive certain cars. Ok, then.

I don't think material possessions determine people's identity but you are kidding yourself if you don't think the choices you make play a role in shaping who you are. Doesn't make you a bad person. Doesn't mean you treat people badly or can't look at yourself in the mirror.

I don't think the original person said anything about a minivan determining his/her identity.

Yet, those who consider themselves "too good" for a minivan are anything but. Surely you don't believe people would say so, IRL. It's hard not to judge whatever statement they think they are making, because it's so blatantly ridiculous, that's all.

LOL at people in this thread. One PP says that they would, gasp, never allow possessions to determine their identity, and in the same breath makes sweeping statements about people that drive certain cars. Ok, then.

I don't think material possessions determine people's identity but you are kidding yourself if you don't think the choices you make play a role in shaping who you are. Doesn't make you a bad person. Doesn't mean you treat people badly or can't look at yourself in the mirror.

I don't think the original person said anything about a minivan determining his/her identity.

Anonymous wrote:A minivan allows me to carpool kids to sports' practices, playdates, parties, etc..
I don't know how parents of school aged kids exist without one.

+1

Or get over themselves. They must be terrible, selfish parents!

Anonymous wrote:We got a minivan when our oldest was in 3rd grade. It really wasn't necessary until then.

I was just tired of being the mom who couldn't hold up her end on carpooling, bringing kids to events, etc.

+1

Plus, if you have a dog, and/or luggage, the minivan is a no brainer. The gas mileage beats our other vehcles, by far!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mistakenly got one when I had my third child b/c I thought I needed it (all in carseats). I had it for a year and got rid of it because I hated it so much. It was convenient, I'll give you that, but I am vain enough that I felt like I had given up on life every time I approached that damn thing. Traded it in for an SUV and never looked back. No one NEEDS a minivan.

Wow, that is really sad. I can't imagine caring that much what other people think. I definitely can't imagine my car dictating my identity. Wow.

Looks like that person cared more about what HE/SHE thought, not about what other people thought. I think lots of our choices dictate our identity, no? The clothes we wear, the way we decorate our home, the names we choose for our children, why is a car any different? Why shouldn't someone choose a car that they like? I'm missing something here.

NP.
Of course external possessions don't determine my identity! My identity comes from within - how I treat others. If I can look in the mirror every morning and tell myself that I'm making a positive impact on the world around me. And so on and so forth. I like that my identity remains the same whether I'm driving a beat up clunker or a Mercedes, whether I'm dressed in Target or Ralph Lauren.

Why would I allow my possessions and material things to determine my identity? What a sad life!

+1

PP here. Agree 100%. It is particularly funny to me to read about or hear people thinking that driving a minivan has such a negative connotation. We own different types of cars-so I am fully aware that people treat others according to what they drive. I happen to find it amusing when people act particularly vapid. Yet, I basically know how people are going to act by their car. For example, most times the Suburban type vehicles are awful drivers and have an inflated sense of self and false sense of security (the big vehicle, they believe, "shields" them from their bad driving). But I consider this their issue, no matter what I am driving. They are stuck with themselves long after I drive away.

I guess that sums up, or at least analogizes, why I could not care less what anyone thinks. I mean really, if people act like a jackass, does it really matter wth the are driving? Maybe wisdom really does come with age.

We got a minivan when our oldest was in 3rd grade. It really wasn't necessary until then.

I was just tired of being the mom who couldn't hold up her end on carpooling, bringing kids to events, etc.

We actually didn't get a minivan until the kids were school aged and we starting doing carpools, more sports equipment, etc. We'll probably get rid of it once our oldest starts to drive. I'm just not sure why a mom of two under two would even need one?

A minivan allows me to carpool kids to sports' practices, playdates, parties, etc..
I don't know how parents of school aged kids exist without one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mistakenly got one when I had my third child b/c I thought I needed it (all in carseats). I had it for a year and got rid of it because I hated it so much. It was convenient, I'll give you that, but I am vain enough that I felt like I had given up on life every time I approached that damn thing. Traded it in for an SUV and never looked back. No one NEEDS a minivan.

Wow, that is really sad. I can't imagine caring that much what other people think. I definitely can't imagine my car dictating my identity. Wow.

Looks like that person cared more about what HE/SHE thought, not about what other people thought. I think lots of our choices dictate our identity, no? The clothes we wear, the way we decorate our home, the names we choose for our children, why is a car any different? Why shouldn't someone choose a car that they like? I'm missing something here.

NP.
Of course external possessions don't determine my identity! My identity comes from within - how I treat others. If I can look in the mirror every morning and tell myself that I'm making a positive impact on the world around me. And so on and so forth. I like that my identity remains the same whether I'm driving a beat up clunker or a Mercedes, whether I'm dressed in Target or Ralph Lauren.

Why would I allow my possessions and material things to determine my identity? What a sad life!