Why do you hate minivans?

[shevacc]

We're considering replacing DH's car next year with a minivan for our future camping/roadtripping/maybe family size needs (hopefully I'll have a new LO or be very pregnant by then and we might want 3). I would drive the potential future van. They seem practical, mom-friendly, comfortable, roomy, and even get ~27 mpg...what's not to like? I have no delusions of having ever been "cool" to worry about . I'm confused by all the hate out there so I'll ask you guys...why do you hate them so much?

[tuck]

Blind spots and parking. Other than that, no hate.

[jaime183]

I hate driving our SUV because parking spots are too small so I imagine I would dislike parking a van too

but we rented one on our trip and I do like the space, the captains chairs and the automatic doors. And sliding doors- our suv has huge doors

[charlielove]

I just feel like my SUV does all those things and looks cuter doing it.

[shevacc]

Sept 3, 2013 23:46:51 GMT -5 @chelsmonster said:

They are not aesthetically pleasing to me

LOL . I can't figure out how to edit the poll to add "fugly" so I'll consider that a subcategory of uncool.

[thedahliharpa]

I don't hate them and would love sliding doors while I have 2 in carseats but would only consider them if we had 3 kids. I prefer them over big SUVs like Escalades that can also have 3 rows and captain chairs in the second row.

[eav2c]

I have no hatred towards mini vans. I don't think I'll drive one though, H wouldn't go for it. I don't think he's hit that level of parenthood yet. Maybe once we have 3 kids I think minivans are great for room and I like the idea of having one so I can transport the kids easily to activities along with their friends (I'm totally picturing them as teenagers as I type this). All that said, I do not buy cars for looks. I buy them for price/mpg/practicality/etc so a minivan, willing it meets my requirements, would be as top of a contender as any other car.

[Deleted]

They are ugly and such a stereotype. The mom in her minivan loaded up with kids.

Though I am the pot calling the kettle in my Jeep. I hate being a stereotype!!

[Deleted]

I don't! I want one

[shevacc]

Sept 3, 2013 23:55:36 GMT -5 eav2c said:

I have no hatred towards mini vans. I don't think I'll drive one though, H wouldn't go for it. I don't think he's hit that level of parenthood yet. Maybe once we have 3 kids I think minivans are great for room and I like the idea of having one so I can transport the kids easily to activities along with their friends (I'm totally picturing them as teenagers as I type this). All that said, I do not buy cars for looks. I buy them for price/mpg/practicality/etc so a minivan, willing it meets my requirements, would be as top of a contender as any other car.

Practicality is where I'm at too. Partly I posted bc a family friend with a 5 and 8 year old just got one for carpools, etc. and totally got razzed on FB about how he should be required to turn in his manhood card. I refuse to imagine a teenage G just yet . An older mom friend loved hers while her kids were young then switched to a CRV once they were both in high school.

[Deleted]

We are buying one tomorrow!! Lol

[biblionerd]

I think it's ridiculous to let aesthetics outweigh practicality. They're just more practical in a lot of circumstances, so we'll be getting one. It would be stupid for us not to. I'm excited about it. Even if I hated the way a minivan looked, which I don't, I refuse to pay waaaay more for a huge SUV/crossover to fit 3 car seats. Even then, none offer the same storage with all of the seating in use.

[Deleted]

We have to get a van. It's the only option to have enough room and not pay a shit ton in gas.

[monkeybabe]

I dislike large vehicles.

[bigapple]

Sept 4, 2013 0:35:46 GMT -5 monkeybabe said:

I dislike large vehicles.

Same. I wouldn't buy an SUV either because both seem unnecessarily large. It took a lot for DH and I to start renting Intermediate size cars to fit the RF convertible seat.

[kkfeb04]

My reasons:
1. I refuse to be that asshole minivan driver that can't park in the damn lines. In my daily driving in my podunk town, nobody knows how to park them. I get pissed a woman at daycare. She constantly parks on a diagonal when its a straight spot. Constantly, which means I can't open the damn door to get one of the kids in. I can't tell you how many times I scratched that fucking van and I DGAF. She has even said "I guess I'm over the line a little." I responded back not a little when I can't even open the door. I reminded her cars don't have sliding doors and the spots are straight....that was over a year ago. She still fucking parks over the damn line.

2. There's nothing mini about a minivan.

3. It's ugly.

4. Our previous cars were sports cars, there's no way in hell I will be caught driving a van.

5. We are 2 and done. We are on vacation, our large sedan can hold our children, our double stroller, our suitcases, the kids' toys and other crap, the dog (and his "suitcase"--he's at his hotel) and we still have room for another large suitcase and then some in the trunk. There's nothing in the actual cabin of our car and if need be, we could sit someone (mostly the dog) in the back seat with the kids.

[sunshineluv]

We just bought one, I love it.

[shevacc]

Sept 4, 2013 0:35:46 GMT -5 monkeybabe said:

I dislike large vehicles.

I think that's the worst part -- the size. But we can't fit our camping gear plus bikes in the car and I miss car camping.

[Deleted]

I am not crunchy. Like at all. Bu I have a hard time with minivans. They look so large. And they have become a symbol to me of how much stuff, space, and comfort we require to transport our children. And the sheer amount of tonnage we require to feel safe.

But, I'm a smug mother of a single kid who drives a very used car. So I can ride this high horse.

[mala]

I voted too big, buuuuut I'm a hypocrite because we just bought a minivan. I didn't want a big car, I wanted either a large hatchback or a small SUV, but when I think about how much I want to fit into the car (2 kids plus stroller plus dog) there was no way we were going to have enough room in anything but a van or a full size SUV. Considering the gas milage and height of SUV (our dog is large but she has trouble getting into cars if they're too high) we decided to go with a van. We got the Mazda 5, though, which is the smallest of all minivans. It has plenty of room, though it we take the dog plus two kids on an extended vacation we will probably have to add storage in a roof rack. Right now, with only one kid, there's plenty of space.

There is definitely a stigma of having a minivan, though. It's the stereotypical soccer mom car. It feels like it's what you get when you have given up everything you are and all you have become is a mom (or dad). I think that is totally unfair.

And they're "mini" vans because they are scaled down versions of full sized vans (the 12-15 passenger vans).

[laurack]

I voted special hate flake because I don't really "hate" them I just see them as unnecessary for us right now, we have no need for the third row of seats and I would feel better in my 1 child (or future 2 child) state with not a minivan.

We almost bought a Mazda 5 but I was able to find the vw wagon on cl in our price range. Even with three children we wouldn't need a van though we might need new carseat(s). If there are triplets in my uterus we will get a minivan.

[silverjm]

I have nothing against them them, we just don't need one. My one kid fits in my car just fine.

[cat19]

I think we all remember that buying a minivan got me ktfu with #3.

[katie]

I don't think there is anything wrong with not liking them because they are ugly. I am not going to drop $30K for a car that, to me, doesn't look good. I also think other vehicles can do what they do too minus the sliding doors. I love my Jeep and it's a to each their own thing.

[katfco]

I love our minivan, although I wouldn't mind a crossover. It's the SUVs I hate.

1. We take a lot of long trips, and they're a lot more comfortable when one of us can sit in the back and entertain the kids without being squished.
2. It's so much easier to get the kids in and out of the seats.
3. Automatic doors
4. It isn't the cars that result in blind spots or bad parking; it's the drivers.

[laurack]

Also when they are older, if you don't HAVE a minivan you can't take extra kids into your car and instead you can pawn yours off on the large-vehicled and sit around the house eating bonbons.

[bigapple]

Sept 4, 2013 5:48:28 GMT -5 @thadsrad said:

I am not crunchy. Like at all. Bu I have a hard time with minivans. They look so large. And they have become a symbol to me of how much stuff, space, and comfort we require to transport our children. And the sheer amount of tonnage we require to feel safe.

But, I'm a smug mother of a single kid who drives a very used car. So I can ride this high horse.

This is my problem too, We were at Hershey over the weekend and watched a family of four wheel out an overflowing luggage trolley and strap loads to the roof of their minivan. How the fuck do you require that much stuff?

When we went camping in June, we had a compact rental and managed to fit all of our gear in the trunk. I completely overpacked for our week in Maine last week (stroller, suitcase/duffel for each of us, pack n play, clip on high chair, bin of toys and books, two carriers, cooler, etc) and still had plenty of room in the Chevy Malibu trunk for groceries and shopping on the way back.

[PatBenatar]

My parents had them growing up and I loved being the passenger in them for road trips. So much room!

But we do not plan on having more than 2 kids so I don't see the need to get something that big.

[kkfeb04]

The Mazda5 is a minivan? Really? My coupe is longer than that micro wannabe. Needless to say my sedan is larger in both width and length and probably holds more shit. My sedan is longer than midsized SUVs. I swear it was made in the 2000's and not the boats of the 50's & 60's.

I could fit a 3rd carseat easily if I didn't get huge car seats.

I must drive the tardis.

[TrudyCampbell]

They're huge. I don't like SUVs either.