3. My flameful opinion is that people who buy obnoxiously big, gas-guzzling SUVs just because they have a couple of kids annoy the piss out of me. I can fit all 3 kids in the back of my sedan, and so can you. Get an SUV if you want, but don't act like you have no choice because you have kids.
This is how I feel about minivans. While I know there are a lot of conveniences to them, just because you're... say... pregnant with twins doesn't mean a minivan is your only option. Like you said, you want one for all it's other bells and whistles, fine, but just because you have 2 kids doesn't mean you have to have one. Own it.
I have an SUV, a pretty big one. Mostly for hauling stuff. I have spent the last year practicing hauling less stuff and can't wait to downgrade to a smaller SUV or crossover.
Own up to what? That a mini-van fits my needs better than any other kind of car? That I can legally fit my family plus friends/visitors in it? That I can comfortably fit everything for our beach vacation every year? That I know I'll be able to own it for 10+ years no matter how big we decide to make our family?
I'm just left wondering what on earth you think most mini-van owners aren't owning up to?
My related flameful is that I once left a cart directly behind a car that parked so close I couldn't get into the passenger side of my car without moving it. And it was in a Costco parking lot (HUGE spaces) in an area of the lot that had tons of free spots around. There was NO reason for it whatsoever. The best part was the people came back right as we were pulling out so we got to see their WTF reaction. It was awesome.
My related flameful is that I once left a cart directly behind a car that parked so close I couldn't get into the passenger side of my car without moving it. And it was in a Costco parking lot (HUGE spaces) in an area of the lot that had tons of free spots around. There was NO reason for it whatsoever. The best part was the people came back right as we were pulling out so we got to see their WTF reaction. It was awesome.
I LOL at people who think they need a car for a vacation or family visit that occurs once/year. It's as if Hertz doesn't even exist.
We have an SUV, a roadster, and are about to get a leaf. Solely so I can get into the car pool lane. We have no kids, just the 2 of us. So I am not in a position to judge anyone's wants. But it's a want, not a need, which I think is what people are pointing out.
3. My flameful opinion is that people who buy obnoxiously big, gas-guzzling SUVs just because they have a couple of kids annoy the piss out of me. I can fit all 3 kids in the back of my sedan, and so can you. Get an SUV if you want, but don't act like you have no choice because you have kids.
I'll put on my flameproof suit and join you on #3.
I think it's why America is so fat. You know how fish will get bigger in a bigger fish tank? Yeah, right. Look at the size of our houses compared to what the used to be - and even kids have double or queen beds. And when not in their big houses, they get drive around in their big mini vans or SUVs.
And grow to fill their fish tank!
But then why are the fattest Americans, statistically, the poorest, who live in the smallest homes?
This is how I feel about minivans. While I know there are a lot of conveniences to them, just because you're... say... pregnant with twins doesn't mean a minivan is your only option. Like you said, you want one for all it's other bells and whistles, fine, but just because you have 2 kids doesn't mean you have to have one. Own it.
I have an SUV, a pretty big one. Mostly for hauling stuff. I have spent the last year practicing hauling less stuff and can't wait to downgrade to a smaller SUV or crossover.
Own what? It gets 27/19 mile to the gallon. It's low to the ground so it's not as dangerous to pedestrians or bikers, has fewer blind spots, and is not prone to roll overs or blowovers. It fits both my kids AND any extra family member(s) that is visiting us or we are visiting (no more caravanning multiple cars to a single location). If the kids are cranky, I can sit in the third row and read to them (or yesterday, I sat in the third row and fed K). And it can haul. Oh, it can haul. No one HAS to have one, but you all know, I WILL go point for point on the minivan vs. SUV. One is a practical "family car"; the other car is clever marketing for people who are afraid they will suddenly turn "uncool" if seen in a minivan but will somehow retain that coolness in a Durango. Newsflash: what makes you uncool is the unique mixture of spit, snot, and graham crackers than now adorns the shoulder of every article of your clothing. You're a parent. Own that.
[seriously?!? like I was going to let this one go?]
And the Odyssey fits a 4x8 piece of plywood, flat. Ohmigawd, I love my 10-year-old Odyssey that hasn't had anything major fail on it yet (@128k and going strong).
I LOL at people who think they need a car for a vacation or family visit that occurs once/year. It's as if Hertz doesn't even exist.
We have an SUV, a roadster, and are about to get a leaf. Solely so I can get into the car pool lane. We have no kids, just the 2 of us. So I am not in a position to judge anyone's wants. But it's a want, not a need, which I think is what people are pointing out.
As a one-car family I assure you it's very much a need.
And if renting from Hertz is so easy why aren't you donig that as opposed to owning more cars than you have family members? What's good for the goose and all that.
I'm not anti mini van or SUV, but saying people should rent a car for a one time a year occasion is not the same as saying someone should then rent a car for every day use lol.
I'm not anti mini van or SUV, but saying people should rent a car for a one time a year occasion is not the same as saying someone should then rent a car for every day use lol.
I'm not anti mini van or SUV, but saying people should rent a car for a one time a year occasion is not the same as saying someone should then rent a car for every day use lol.
Exactly!
Lol I was arguing against you! Your response didn't make sense in response to renting once a year.
I actually really like some of the newer SUV's which are extremely fuel efficient (moreso than vans, i've found). That being said, I dont drive either (we have an Accord and a Civic).
Lol I was arguing against you! Your response didn't make sense in response to renting once a year.
LMAO. Sorry. I'm not feeling so hot.
My point was that I don't need 6+ seats on a once-a-year basis. despite mentioning a yearly vacation, I also mentioned being able to fit famly and friends which happens monthly and sometimes weekly.
ETA- I also ASSumed that with more cars than drivers, one of those cars will not be used on a daily basis. But obviously I could be wrong. Roasters are known for their utility!
Lololol at minivans/SUVs being a need. We are a one car family and our one car is a Corolla!!!! You should see that thing when we take road trips with a baby and a cat!
Lololol at minivans/SUVs being a need. We are a one car family and our one car is a Corolla!!!! You should see that thing when we take road trips with a baby and a cat!
Lololol at minivans/SUVs being a need. We are a one car family and our one car is a Corolla!!!! You should see that thing when we take road trips with a baby and a cat!
This is how I feel about minivans. While I know there are a lot of conveniences to them, just because you're... say... pregnant with twins doesn't mean a minivan is your only option. Like you said, you want one for all it's other bells and whistles, fine, but just because you have 2 kids doesn't mean you have to have one. Own it.
I have an SUV, a pretty big one. Mostly for hauling stuff. I have spent the last year practicing hauling less stuff and can't wait to downgrade to a smaller SUV or crossover.
Own what? It gets 27/19 mile to the gallon. It's low to the ground so it's not as dangerous to pedestrians or bikers, has fewer blind spots, and is not prone to roll overs or blowovers. It fits both my kids AND any extra family member(s) that is visiting us or we are visiting (no more caravanning multiple cars to a single location). If the kids are cranky, I can sit in the third row and read to them (or yesterday, I sat in the third row and fed K). And it can haul. Oh, it can haul. No one HAS to have one, but you all know, I WILL go point for point on the minivan vs. SUV. One is a practical "family car"; the other car is clever marketing for people who are afraid they will suddenly turn "uncool" if seen in a minivan but will somehow retain that coolness in a Durango. Newsflash: what makes you uncool is the unique mixture of spit, snot, and graham crackers than now adorns the shoulder of every article of your clothing. You're a parent. Own that.
[seriously?!? like I was going to let this one go?]
I highlighted the part that maybe you didn't read where I said what part of ownership needs to be, well, owned.
ETA- I'm not anti-minivan. I drove one for a good chunk of the summer and it was great. I am anti people who can't just admit they wanted a minivan and blame it on having a second child. Or hell even a 1st one. If someone wants one, as you do, great! Have at it, but the excuse makers are the ones who feel they have so much credibility on the line that they have to make weird excuses about what they bought the car instead of just saying "Because I wanted it."
Ugh. So, I have a friend who had twins. She traded in her sedan for a mini-van. I asked her how she liked it and she was all like "Well, I am having twins. I don't like it but it was my only option. I mean what other car can you drive twins around in?" I told her "Your sedan."
1. I could give a rat's ass if people leave carts in the parking lot; I park near them so I can dump my younger 2 in.
2. I am from Louisiana (NO), and the carjacking while pumping phenomenon is unfamiliar to me.
3. My flameful opinion is that people who buy obnoxiously big, gas-guzzling SUVs just because they have a couple of kids annoy the piss out of me. I can fit all 3 kids in the back of my sedan, and so can you. Get an SUV if you want, but don't act like you have no choice because you have kids.
Does your sedan have AWD and fit 2 carseats and a booster? I'm not being snotty. We're looking for a new car and I need a backseat with 56" hiproom and I need at least part time AWD. If this is your car PLEASE tell me because finding something that fits this and is under $30k is like finding a unicorn fucking a liger.
But why must mini-van owners justify themselves? You could say that about pretty much anything. Fuck, I could get mighty high on my horse about 2+ car households, homes over 1,000 sq. ft., etc. since most people don't *have to have* them. But I don't because I know they're very practical for most famililies. Just like it's very practical for them to own minivans.
Ugh. So, I have a friend who had twins. She traded in her sedan for a mini-van. I asked her how she liked it and she was all like "Well, I am having twins. I don't like it but it was my only option. I mean what other car can you drive twins around in?" I told her "Your sedan."
But why must mini-van owners justify themselves? You could say that about pretty much anything. Fuck, I could get mighty high on my horse about 2+ car households, homes over 1,000 sq. ft., etc. since most people don't *have to have* them. But I don't because I know they're very practical for most famililies. Just like it's very practical for them to own minivans.
Oh honestly. They don't have to justify them. That's the freaking point. If any car owner just said "This is the kind of car I wanted. It works for me" that would be the freaking end.
Ugh. So, I have a friend who had twins. She traded in her sedan for a mini-van. I asked her how she liked it and she was all like "Well, I am having twins. I don't like it but it was my only option. I mean what other car can you drive twins around in?" I told her "Your sedan."
Tell me that's not annoying? I DARE YOU!
Oh I won't.
What did she say back to you?
Deer in the headlights. Changed the subject. I laughed out loud and allowed her to move on.
Post by mominatrix on Sept 30, 2012 15:27:54 GMT -5
oh, ffs.
we spent the last four years, with two kids, owning one car, a compact car, a Scion xB (the old style, smaller one). After sharing one car (and having H either have to take an hour-and-a-half bus ride to and from work OR leave me home with the toddler and no transport) we decided to buy a second car.
We considered a second small car and realized we would do better to have something we could carpool with (as nobody else can fit in the xB), take friends out in, and make Ikea runs in with the family. We bought a minivan. Because it's practical and because it makes sense for us.
Yes, we don't NEED the third row to haul the four of us. But it's nice to be able to make a Costco run in the thing and not have to put cans of tomatoes or boxes of peaches under the kids' dirty feet.
But I'm with SBP that minivans and SUV's don't belong in the same breath. You don't want to know the number of people who, when you ask why they bought a SUV, the answer is something like, "because I just couldn't bring myself to drive a minivan."
Own what? It gets 27/19 mile to the gallon. It's low to the ground so it's not as dangerous to pedestrians or bikers, has fewer blind spots, and is not prone to roll overs or blowovers. It fits both my kids AND any extra family member(s) that is visiting us or we are visiting (no more caravanning multiple cars to a single location). If the kids are cranky, I can sit in the third row and read to them (or yesterday, I sat in the third row and fed K). And it can haul. Oh, it can haul. No one HAS to have one, but you all know, I WILL go point for point on the minivan vs. SUV. One is a practical "family car"; the other car is clever marketing for people who are afraid they will suddenly turn "uncool" if seen in a minivan but will somehow retain that coolness in a Durango. Newsflash: what makes you uncool is the unique mixture of spit, snot, and graham crackers than now adorns the shoulder of every article of your clothing. You're a parent. Own that.
[seriously?!? like I was going to let this one go?]
And the Odyssey fits a 4x8 piece of plywood, flat. Ohmigawd, I love my 10-year-old Odyssey that hasn't had anything major fail on it yet (@128k and going strong).
We don't have kids and we have an Odyssey. I LOVE it. LOVE it. It's the best car ever. Sliding doors are the greatest invention of all time. My sister needed to pick up some furniture and called me because she didn't think she'd be able to fit the furniture in her big SUV (less height in the storage area). When we went to unload her furniture at her house she said, "Wow, it's so much easier to get things out of your car than mine!" I told her that was because it was lower to the ground and she said, "Oh, wow. That really is useful, huh?"
But why must mini-van owners justify themselves? You could say that about pretty much anything. Fuck, I could get mighty high on my horse about 2+ car households, homes over 1,000 sq. ft., etc. since most people don't *have to have* them. But I don't because I know they're very practical for most famililies. Just like it's very practical for them to own minivans.
Oh honestly. They don't have to justify them. That's the freaking point. If any car owner just said "This is the kind of car I wanted. It works for me" that would be the freaking end.
I don't think your issue is with minivan owners. It's with your friend.
Post by pescalita on Sept 30, 2012 16:44:34 GMT -5
I don't get why people think its a cool thing. SUVs and crossovers have been soccermommobiles here for more than a decade. I prefer an SUV just cause I like sitting up higher, but I'm under no delusions my CRV looks "cool".
I am curious though about the height of these people in sedans. A is behind the passenger seat in both cars because MrP can't fit in front of him.
I don't get why people think its a cool thing. SUVs and crossovers have been soccermommobiles here for more than a decade. I prefer an SUV just cause I like sitting up higher, but I'm under no delusions my CRV looks "cool".
I am curious though about the height of these people in sedans. A is behind the passenger seat in both cars because MrP can't fit in front of him.
Yeah, I wonder about this too... we have a shitty Equinox, but with the taller seat rear facing, it's pushing being comfortable for me/my husband depending on who we put it behind. I'm 5'10 and my husband is 6'2, so we're taller than average probably, but nothing crazy.
Our other car is a 2 door civic, and it's pretty much impossible to RF a kid in that car for either of us. It's fine if only one of us is in the car because it can go behind the passenger seat, but usually we just trade cars instead - whoever has the kids has the larger car.