...

[lg3]

I also think minivans are extremely ugly, but I am good friends with some minivan owners. We use the 4-wheel drive often on our SUV (just a Chevy Trailblazer) and the extra space in back is imperitive for hauling equipment dh uses for presentations, etc. We actually would prefer a bigger one if possible, but our garage can't handle it.

 

[Beth76]

We use the 4-wheel drive often on our SUV

I've used the 4WD several times this year. I think it's the first time. I have an auto feature which you're supposed to use when it's slick and then the actual 4WD for driving on snow. I never really needed to drive on snow until this year. It worked great!

 

[sassyat30]

My point is people complain about the way a mini van looks or what it stands for (mommy mobile) but SUVs are just as bad. Not necessarily ugly, just I don't think they look any better then a minivan and they scream mommy just as much.

Most SUVs scream "inferiority complex" to me.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Most SUVs scream "inferiority complex" to me.

inferior to what?

 

[npmommie]

I have nothing to add ( haven't read thru the entire thread)............but I did tell hubby my next suv will be a Tony Soprano ( aka Escalade)

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Hi, Tiggersmom here - proud SUV owner who doesn't feel the need to justify WHY I have one.

I'm with you. We have one SUV and one sedan. I don't feel the need to justify our choices to anyone else...although I secretly laugh when I overhear some of the "evil SUV" comments (a lot of which are not accurate in the least and the ignorance is annoying).

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Oh come on, don't you want to try and earn DisPhD's seel of approval and see if she thinks it soundls like you need one?

All DisneyPhD has done was to express her opinion, and frankly, in a non-threatening way. I hardly see any need for your sarcasm or defensiveness. Seriously, she hasn't attacked you at all.

 

[Jabber_Jaws]

Ok this thread has made my mind up for me. I’m trading in my SUV and buying a Sherman Tank.

Just think about it I can just plow over every car in my way, and make it to work in record time. No more wasting gas being stuck in gridlock for an hour or so.

I can then say I am doing my part to save on gas..

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

No, way. There is no possible way an odyssey fits more cargo than an escalade. No way. My brother and neighbors both have odyseys (nice as minivans go) but I'm sorry, they do not fit anywhere close to an escalade. We are talking full size escalade right (like a suburban, not a tahoe) Never mind, even a tahoe fits more cargo than a minivan (not more people though).

Hmm... I wondered about that. I have a Sienna and had to rent an suv while it was in the shop (no minivans were available). We felt we had significantly less trunk space with the SUV, when all 3 rows were up. It also felt harder to manuever to the rear seat to help the kids, etc because we had to fold a seat down (which meant a car seat couldn't be in that seat then) instead of just being able to walk back and I missed my power doors during the school drop off and on errands. I was glad we had the experience because I had been tempted to look for one when we traded in the minivan this fall. I would still consider one (if price, features and gas mileage were equal) but only if the kids were older. Both SUV's and Minivans are strictly mom mobiles here, and neither is very sexy, so thats not a factor to me.

Here are the numbers directly from Cadillac and Toyota (couldn't find Odyssey specs). It seems like the Sienna does have more cargo space.

In cu.ft from front, middle and third row to back:

Escalade: 108.9/ 60.3/ 16.9

Sienna: 148.9/ 94.5/ 43.6

Certain model Sienna's and Odysessy's can seat 8 people also (in response to the poster who stated no minivan can seat 8).

 

[RC Fan]

I haven't read the whole thread, but Escalades practically breed jealousy. This is particularly true with the current Escalade, which is a bit 'blingier' than the previous generation. My brother-in-law has one, and he gets a lot of comments.

 

[mirthmaiden]

And I agree...lets start a bad person thread.

Can I go first?

I hate those ladies at Wegman's who think they are better than me because I don't shop in my Sunday's best and wear my diamonds...

I wear my diamonds, sapphires, and my chinchilla fur coat. I have my driver take me to Wegman's in my blinged-out Escalade.

This made me laugh out loud. Exactly who would you report something like this to?...if you wanted.

Hee. Can you just see her going in to tell the clerk, "Um, excuse me maam... that guy just said something mean to me!" I'm sure they have a special form to fill out for that situation.

I mean, don't you have to be super extra nosy to even get a read on the price?

Well, I think so, but that's just me. I usually pay at the pump anyway, but if I have to walk to and from the store, I'm watching where I'm going, trying not to be run over by the idiots driving 73 mph through the parking lot, and thinking about what's next on my agenda. I don't give a rat's posterior what other people are or aren't putting in their gas tanks.

Ok this thread has made my mind up for me. I’m trading in my SUV and buying a Sherman Tank.

Just think about it I can just plow over every car in my way, and make it to work in record time. No more wasting gas being stuck in gridlock for an hour or so.

Yes! How fun would that be?

 

[LaraK]

Hmmmm....did the mommy wars just take on a new element? The SUV mommy versus minivan mommy wars?

I agree that both are now identified with mommies....I'm an SUV mommy because I always thought buying a minivan would be like giving up my identity of myself. I will admit to watching a few commercials advertising certain elements of minivans and thinking "oh THAT would be cool!".

I wonder if the working mommies are more SUV mommies and the minivan mommies are more at home mommies. The prius mommies must be crunchy mommies.

Seriously? Who cares what other people drive?

 

[mirthmaiden]

Seriously? Who cares what other people drive?

I know. I couldn't care less what you drive and I hope you feel the same way about me

 

[slo]

I didn't read this whole thread - sorry!!!!


OP - to make you feel better, I only put $20 to $25 at a time (which is approx a 1/2 tank in my car). I never put in a full tank There have been to many times that I would spend $50 to put in a full tank, and then the next day, the gas price is lower - it would make me so mad I work across the street from a gas station, so it's very easy for me to get gas, and I see the gas prices every minute of the day from my store.
*I can't get over that someone gave you hard time about how much gas you put in your car - some people need to get a life, and stop making everything their business!!!!

 

[slo]

Hmmmm....did the mommy wars just take on a new element? The SUV mommy versus minivan mommy wars?

I agree that both are now identified with mommies....I'm an SUV mommy because I always thought buying a minivan would be like giving up my identity of myself. I will admit to watching a few commercials advertising certain elements of minivans and thinking "oh THAT would be cool!".

I wonder if the working mommies are more SUV mommies and the minivan mommies are more at home mommies. The prius mommies must be crunchy mommies.

Seriously? Who cares what other people drive?

To answer this question.......

I work full time, and I have a minivan (I'm actually on my 3rd).
I love my van, because I find them easier for my kids to get in and out of (use to own a Mountaineer when my 1st DD was 1-3 years old). I love the fact that I can open the side door when we are approaching the van, and I love the fact that the kids door slides open, because then I don't have to worry about my kids hitting other people's car with their door (this happened on vacation in our rental car. It wasn't a hard hit, but it made me realize how happy I was to not have to deal with this at home). Yeah...I love my van

 

[Mkrop]

Hmmmm....did the mommy wars just take on a new element? The SUV mommy versus minivan mommy wars?

I agree that both are now identified with mommies....I'm an SUV mommy because I always thought buying a minivan would be like giving up my identity of myself. I will admit to watching a few commercials advertising certain elements of minivans and thinking "oh THAT would be cool!".

I wonder if the working mommies are more SUV mommies and the minivan mommies are more at home mommies. The prius mommies must be crunchy mommies.

Seriously? Who cares what other people drive?

SAHM here with an SUV

And if my preschool or DS grade school is a little microcosm of society, the SAHMs own the most SUVs. There is my sociology lesson for the day

I will quote myself again "to each his/her own!"

 

[diznygirl]

Hmmmm....did the mommy wars just take on a new element? The SUV mommy versus minivan mommy wars?

I agree that both are now identified with mommies....I'm an SUV mommy because I always thought buying a minivan would be like giving up my identity of myself. I will admit to watching a few commercials advertising certain elements of minivans and thinking "oh THAT would be cool!".

I wonder if the working mommies are more SUV mommies and the minivan mommies are more at home mommies. The prius mommies must be crunchy mommies.

Seriously? Who cares what other people drive?

I drive a Saturn Relay - which was billed as a "crossover" between an SUV and a minivan. Saturn discontinued the model. I don't know what any of this says about me. I guess I'm just confused.

But I love my power sliding doors!

 

[Planogirl]

I bet that eventually regulations will be tightened and big SUV's will become less common. I can see gas rationing and more luxury taxes in our future.

I'm still glad that I have a small car right now. I see $100 and up on the gas pumps when I drive up to refuel and I just about pass out!

 

[DisneyPhD]

To answer this question.......

I work full time, and I have a minivan (I'm actually on my 3rd).
I love my van, because I find them easier for my kids to get in and out of (use to own a Mountaineer when my 1st DD was 1-3 years old). I love the fact that I can open the side door when we are approaching the van, and I love the fact that the kids door slides open, because then I don't have to worry about my kids hitting other people's car with their door (this happened on vacation in our rental car. It wasn't a hard hit, but it made me realize how happy I was to not have to deal with this at home). Yeah...I love my van

You know just what I am talking about!!!!!!! Even worse when a kid gets knocked in the head with the door, that has happened more times then I care to think about. Not with the minivan.

Tink&SquirtsMom, thank you. I knew I wasn't crazy. I can see how you might be able to put more big stuff in an SUV with the 3rd row down, but with the 3rd row down on the van you can fit a heck of a lot in there too. It seems 6 one way, half dozen another.

Thank you Dakota_Lynn. I was beginning to wonder what in the world I said.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I am sorry, this is all just too funny. Who really gives two figs?

I have had two SUV's and two minivans. The third child pushed me into the minivan, purely for ease (Gosh, I hated flipping those seats or my kids climbing over to get in the 3rd row). And for the record, with all 3 seats up, my minivan holds WAY more than my SUV ever did.

Now, when my kids are bigger, who knows what I will drive. I would guess whatever suits my needs the best.

I will say that everyone's car doors are probably a little less 'dinged' with all the minivans on the road. My kids aren't swinging open any car doors open in packed parking spaces . The other day a kids swung open a big, heavy back door right into my car...totally ticked me off.

Seriously, folks, drive whatever the heck you want. My DH always laughs at these arguments....mostly b/c he is a pilot and says it is hard to excited over a car when you drive multi-million dollar aircraft for a living.