Am I alone?

[TheOtherVillainess]

I've seen a lot of threads discussing mini-vans and SUVs of late it seems.

Am I the ONLY person who has absolutely NO desire to own one of these gashog monsters?

TOV

 

[ChrisnSteph]

No, but with my three kids (two still in carseats), they won't fit into a regular car. We actually have our awesome but gashog Suburban for sale. I hope to replace it with a smaller SUV. I also have a Ford Explorer, but again the kids are like sardines in the backseat with those two carseats and my 10 year old in the middle. I won't drive a mini-van. I'm just not a mini-van kind of girl!

 

[Feralpeg]

I have a small SUV (Hyundai Sante Fe) and it gets great gas milage.

 

[chell]

I used to want one - until they became so popular.

 

[2buzzboys]

I have a small SUV (Hyundai Sante Fe) and it gets great gas milage.

Me too & I agree -gas isnt too bad for this car. Would be even better if the prices would come down.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm right with you! I have no desire to have a SUV sometimes a van would be handy but not often enough to buy one.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I've never been a huge fan of mini-vans even though my mother had one when I was growing up. It was 1990 Chevy Lumina...you probably remember them and their clones. They looked like wingless space shuttles. Pointy nose, squared off back end. Mom's especially resembled a shuttle because it was white with black and red trim.

TOV

 

[momsgoofy]

DH had an Explorer...and I hate driving it...give me a compact anyday! My first car was a 1972 Nova...quite small by the standard of that era. I've had small cars ever since.

 

[Poohnatic]

No, you're not the only one. My motto has been 'death before minivans', that said, my SIL's Odyssey is nice to drive. DH likes it-he can have one, I'll keep my little car thankyouverymuch!

Suzanne

 

[DisnyMama]

I drive a 2003 Saturn Vue which I really love. I think I get good gas mileage and I drive round trip 44 miles per day to work and I can go more than a week on a full tank of gas. I had the little Saturn prior to this car and I felt like I was sitting on the ground. Both cars seat a mximum of 5 adults and I like that my Vue lets me sit up a little higher, gives me a little more ground clearance especially with rain and some of the flooding that I have to drive through when it rains and the extra cargo space that I didn't have before. I am not a little person so I would see this car as a good fit for me but definately not a gas guzzler.

 

[Stephieann]

We are going to get a Crystler town and country with the stow and go seating. we are foster parents and when you have 2 or more it is hard to go see my family with 2 kids(in car seats) 2 adults plus luggage and things to keep occupied in a car. Biggest time is christmas.....no room for gift and luggage.

 

[Stacerita]

No mini van for me! I dont want to be caught dead driving one of those "mom" cars. Besides, I have issues with parallel parking so a mini van and me are just asking for problems.

 

[janette]

I cringed at the thought of a mini-van but with 2 kids and one with really long legs my sedan just wasn't big enough. The Vans I liked were cheaper than the SUVs so now I have one. Since I've had it a few times I've been in rent cars it feels really weird to sit so low. I don't know if I'll go back to a regular sedan. My van gets decent gas mileage so it hasn't been too bad to fill.

I'll probably look at the new Toyota Highlander Hybrid if I was looking right now but hopefully I won't be in the market for a few more years.

 

[debloco]

I've seen a lot of threads discussing mini-vans and SUVs of late it seems.

Am I the ONLY person who has absolutely NO desire to own one of these gashog monsters?

TOV

No, you are not alone Glad to see I'm not alone either!

I modified an old "Bloom County" line that I mutter under my breath (okay, so maybe I'm not muttering sometimes )when I've had it with the "noacceleration/headlightsinmymirrors/can'tseearoundthem whileontheroadorbackingoutofparkingspaces/thinktheycandrivelikethereisnosnowontheroads" SUV's and/or minivans...

they "...all should be banned! Like asbestos!!"

 

[C.Ann]

I just bought a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country LX mini van with the stow and go seating for a song (with the extra options package) and an unbelievable 8yr/80,000 mile warranty (which includes roadside assistance) that will go into affect after the original 3yr/36,000 mile warranty runs out..

I needed a mini van for 3 reasons in particular:

#1 - I can't see in a regular car.. I feel like I'm sitting on the ground and it's
harder for me to get in and out of the car.

#2 - When I move up here to the lake for 7 or 8 months I have a TON of
stuff I have to bring up and then bring back home again.. With a regular
car it would take around 10 trips.. With the mini van it will take one - or
two - at the absolute most..

#3 - I cannot efficiently "curbside shop" with a regular car.. No way I could fit
a Little Tykes Kitchen, a Playschool picnic table, and a dresser or two in
a regular car..

All in all, I don't think 26 highway and 19 city (which I rarely ever drive in the city) is bad gas mileage at all.. I have had cars that were a lot worse..

Oh - and did I mention that with the stow and go seating, if I should ever become homeless I can get one of those air mattresses and live in the back of my van? Even has power outlets all over the place..

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I've gotten used to the fact that I can't see. I had a hard time parking my giant landyacht of a Buick that I used to own (a 92 Buick Skylark). I can't imagine trying to park one of THOSE monsters.

TOV

 

[MzDiz]

When my kids complained so much about the cramped situation in the little car that I thought my ears would bleed, we bought a minivan. There are five of us, and a car simply doesn't work.

 

[ilovepcot]

I like being a bit "different" so I chose other type vehicles. In fact, our kids all drive mini vans and SUV's, but DH and I drive 2 seater sport cars! (Well I do have that new Caddy for when Spider needs to come along.)

 

[mamacatnv]

I am not a fan of the large SUV's I just don't see the point. I always had a Honda Accord or a Toyota Camry. Then DS started to grow, and grow and grow. At 15 he was 6'2" 225#'S. The above referenced cars just weren't cutting it and I was unwilling to move to the back seat as I am 5'8". So, not wanting a SUV but needing room we bought the Honda Odyssey. Even my best friend who swears mini vans are hideous likes mine. We have captains chairs in the middle seats so everyone is comfortable. It is a V6 and gets really good gas mileage, it is front wheel drive and I never have trouble in the snow.

Over the years we have rented mini vans and SUV's I must say that the Dodge, Ford and Chrysler mini vans were awful, they were uncomfortable,, gutless and noisy. My Odyssey is non of that. I rented a Ford Explorer a few weeks back on a trip, it was comfortable but too big, hard to park and it sucked up gasoline.

I really want the 2 seater BMW, but it will have to wait a few years until the kids are grown and gone

MamaCatNV

 

[HugsForEeyore]

For me, gas mileage and putting alot of miles on a car is what is important, as well as a decent price on a car, so anything large and expensive does not interest me. I am not exactly in a rich profession, so a "smaller" car (sedan or coupe) is all I will ever consider driving. I live in an area where most people have a large SUV (Tahoe, Suburban, Expedition, etc), so I am in a definite minority around here. Though if I had a bunch of kids, I would consider a minivan then.