Why Do people Hate Minivans So Much?

[pacrosby]

I don't begrudge anyone an minivan. Some of my best friends drive them. However.....I would never drive one. Why? They are ugly. Just that simple. I don't connect cars to status or coolness and I'll drive one for 10 years. My car doesn't say anything about me, as far as I'm concerned. But when I was a kid and all the moms drove station wagons, I hated them because they were ugly and swore I would never have one. Minivans replaced station wagons and I felt the same way about them.

If I didn't think they were ugly or didn't care that they were ugly, I MIGHT drive one. But there are plenty of vehicles that don't make me shudder when I beep the remote, so I drove cars for years and then opted for a crossover that seats 7-8. And isn't ugly.

Sure your car says something about you. Otherwise you wouldn't care if it were ugly. Saying it's ugly, is simply another way of saying it's......well..... uncool LOL

 

[Queen2PrincessG]

Gee... judgmental a bit? Subarus are as common as pigeons in parks around here, and the Forester is probably the most popular model. I certainly see more of them than the Outback, which seems to be number two. We also really LIKE the vehicle, for what it's worth.

We just don't like minivans (for reasons I already said), and the image we've maintained is the image of people who don't drive a minivan. If I tied my self-image to the kind of car I drive, I'd be driving either an M60A1 tank, or a Maserati. Sadly, both would be equally impractical, and possibly equally expensive to own and operate.

I've heard that the new Maserati doesn't handle as well as the 09's. But I wouldn't be picky if someone wanted to give me one.

Yes, it is about preference and self image. I don't like the image Minivan gives off.

 

[wowsmom]

Just read the whole thread and had to chime in.

I've been driving a minivan since my boys were 4 and 1. They are now 17 and 14. I've never been a minivan lover or a minivan hater...it's just not that big of a deal.

What I love about my minivan is the room. We have a few days in the fall when taking my boys to school involves having:

2 tall teenagers
2 large, full backpacks
2 lunch bags
3 tenor trombones
1 bass trombone
2 mute bags (carrying mutes needed for Jazz class)
2 shoe bags (shoes, gloves, socks for Marching Band)

It's nice to know all that will fit quite easily into the backseat of the minivan. When we get to school, the 17 yr old gets out of the front seat, opens the sliding door, grabs his stuff and hits the button to close it. The 14 yr old gets out of the sliding door behind me, grabs his stuff and closes the door.

The unloading time in carline is miniscule - especially compared to the kids I see getting out of 4 dr cars or SUVs, where they have to go around the back of the vehicle and open the trunk to get out their backpacks, lacrosse sticks, tennis bags, colorguard flags, etc.

It has also been nice having plenty of room for road trips - we've driven across country as well as from L.A. to Seattle and never felt squished.

Once my car needs to be replaced, I will probably get something smaller - just to make parking a bit easier (it can be hard to fit my minivan into the spaces between all the large SUVs where I live!).

I've never really understood the "SUVs are better/minivans are better" arguments....just buy the car that works for you.

 

[HannaBelle]

Mini-vans are nerdy, they are not cool and there is no way to look cool driving one. All of that being said...

I have 2 kids and I love my mini-van!

We routinely have friends and family ride with us, we loving driving carpool and getting to meet our kids friends. I also use it for event planing for church and work. I am a big nerd and that is okay by me b/c we are a close family and all of the cousins want to ride with us b/c they THINK we are cool!

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Hmmmm...still don't see it LOL

Now the PT Cruiser.............THAT looks like a hearse! Still, I kind of like it because it's different. I hate that fewer and fewer cars have a distinctive stamp anymore. You generally can't tell what something is until you are right on top of it. I miss the old days when you knew what was coming a mile away!

And once more I'll have to argue that people are mistaking what some mean when they say a minivan is not cool. The coolness factor lies in the 'car' itself. It's not a matter of the car 'making' the driver look cool. My 4 kids don't make my car any less cool looking (well, at least not on the outside ).

Absolutely. There are many things that I consider terribly "un-cool" and would never wear or do (Crocs, fannypacks), that doesn't mean that those things don't have value and usefulness to another person. We all try to manifest our "cool-ness" in different way.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I've heard that the new Maserati doesn't handle as well as the 09's. But I wouldn't be picky if someone wanted to give me one.

Yes, it is about preference and self image. I don't like the image Minivan gives off.

Just curious...What image does one give off driving a Jeep?

 

[EMom]

Sure your car says something about you. Otherwise you wouldn't care if it were ugly. Saying it's ugly, is simply another way of saying it's......well..... uncool LOL

Yeah, when I drove the last few cars for 7-10 years, it said "she's frugal." And I didn't care any more about coolness and cars then than I do now.

You have it wrong. Uggs are cool. Yet I think they are ugly and won't wear them. It's all the rage to have board straight hair. It would look ugly on me, so I stick with curly. I have driven plenty of cars that lacked the "cool factor." But when I looked at them, I didn't think, "U-G-L-Y", so I was content. Not cool, but content.

Scions are ugly to me. Flexes are ugly. Hummers are ugly. So are minivans. I imagine the people driving them don't think they are ugly. Maybe when they look at my vehicle, they wonder why anyone would buy THAT? But I don't care. I didn't pick it for coolness. It had to fit my short legs, be comfortable, be reliable and the only thing I asked for in "styling" was that it not be ugly. Ugly is not synonymous with uncool. And cool isn't the same thing as good-looking.

If (like me) you don't give a rat's red rear end about "cool", you can still cringe upon seeing something you perceive as ugly. And you can still say, "I may not be picky about cars, but I draw the line at buying/driving a butt ugly one."

I get why so many people like minivans. But the truth is, many others find them ugly. I don't care that it's a mom wagon. I'm a mom and I haul DD and her friends, so anything I drive is a mom wagon unless I'm alone in it.

Some dislike minivans because they maintain they are "not cool." I am not in that camp because I don't care about coolness. I do, however, care about UGLY. I'm in the "I can't drive it because it's too ugly" camp. I would drive it if it was all I had, but I have a choice, so why not choose something NOT ugly? Why not wear a pretty shirt or at a minimum, a nonoffensive one that does not make people avert their eyes? Why not comb my hair instead of wearing a rat's nest? Just because you have SOME standards (nothing ugly, thanks) doesn't mean you require "cool".

 

[DVC-Don]

We had a newly married couple move in next door and one time the wife explained to us how they had made a "pact" before the wedding that they would never have a minivan. At the time we were on our 3rd minvan. A year latter they had twins and one of our amusements was to watch them try to load the two car seats, double stroller and diaper kits into their VW Golf. Before the twins were one year old, the couple was driving a Honda minivan.

 

[Nette]

Years ago, SUV's and minivans looked quite distinct. I think it's getting to the point where most minivans and SUV's look about the same. One is cheaper and gets better gas mileage, so it was an easy choice for me. For me, it's all about being practical.

I don't really think it's true that mini-vans get better mileage (but maybe you meant that the SUVs get better mileage )... I looked at the dodge grand caravan and it claims up to 25 mpg HWY... The Ford Escape (non Hybrid), Edge and Explorer all (claim to) get at least 28 mpg HWY...

ETA: just looked these up:

Sienna is 24 mpg HWY
Sedona is 25 mpg HWY
Odyssey is 28 mpg HWY

 

[Ceila]

I can fit three kids in my back seat. Why I would need/ want to take more than that EVER, I don't know. I'm not big on carpooling and I'm not going to volunteer or request others to take my kid around. It's selfish/safety. No one really needs a minivan.

Yes, because quantity out weighs quality.. though I don't know, maybe that holds true for you. I have one child who I can give myself to. I choose to have her so why would I pass responsibility of taking her places to anyone other than her father and I.

Ok, so you do it for your kids. Why can't the nanny bring them in their car? Do you see my point. It's not an actual need. It's so that you can make someone elses life easier and because you want control of the playdate.

I don't want my child in someones car and I don't want the responsibility of someones child in my car either. Unless you have like 5 kids I don't get it.

And if my daughter told me to drop her off a block away next time she would be walking the entire way to her destination. There is no need to accept rudeness for kids, teenagers or not.

I know what i will and will not allow and I stand firm in my beliefs and choices that will not change when she is 12, 13 or 14.

You really are too much

So, when a bunch of girls are going somewhere together with another mom driving, you will force your daughter to meet them there so you can drive her yourself? Talk about controlling...

I'm always make sure that my children only are driven by people I'm comfortable with, but they are allowed to go places with their friends when another parent drives. News flash - kids enjoy driving places with each other, and it's a great social time for them (and you get great insight into what their friends are like). But you go ahead and keep believing that you know it all, even though your "princess" isn't even in school yet.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I really like my Ford Aerostar. I wish I could have one. So roomy and comfy. Plus I could take out the seats to haul stuff. I have an expensive car and it is very costly. I am glad we dont have payments though. But a van would sure be nice for traveling.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't really think it's true that mini-vans get better mileage (but maybe you meant that the SUVs get better mileage )... I looked at the dodge grand caravan and it claims up to 25 mpg HWY... The Ford Escape (non Hybrid), Edge and Explorer all (claim to) get at least 28 mpg HWY...

ETA: just looked these up:

Sienna is 24 mpg HWY
Sedona is 25 mpg HWY
Odyssey is 28 mpg HWY

SUV's are considered gas guzzlers when they are compared to cars, which seat only 5 passengers, as well. The extra large (ie Suburbans) are considered gas guzzlers when being compared to minivans (both types seating 7/8), because they don't get nearly as good gas mileage as minivans.

I needed a vehicle that would seat at least 7. My minivan drives great, is roomier, and has more cargo space, than most extra large SUV's, plus has the very convenient sliding doors, and no need to manipulate seats to access the back row. It was also about $10,000 less that a SUV that would seat 7/8. I spend more time in the van than I do looking at it! So better gas mileage is just another plus.

 

[TanyaS]

Well, what about an Olds Silhouette? It's the Cadillac of mini-vans.

I drive a mini-van (Honda Odyssey), but I also spent Saturday cheering for a Lego robot, so coolness doesn't really run in my family. The team came in second and gets to go to the state competition. Whoa!

 

[dizcrazee]

I think there's something in human nature that causes some people to want to be cool or hip. Other people are more practical and pragmatic-oriented and have no regard for popular opinion.

Since mini-vans have fallen out of fashion with the "hip" crowd, only people in the second group want to own one. I'm glad that I'm in the second group, because we love our mini-van and we can't afford to be cool or hip.

 

[Nancy]

Yeah, when I drove the last few cars for 7-10 years, it said "she's frugal." And I didn't care any more about coolness and cars then than I do now.

You have it wrong. Uggs are cool. Yet I think they are ugly and won't wear them. It's all the rage to have board straight hair. It would look ugly on me, so I stick with curly. I have driven plenty of cars that lacked the "cool factor." But when I looked at them, I didn't think, "U-G-L-Y", so I was content. Not cool, but content.

Scions are ugly to me. Flexes are ugly. Hummers are ugly. So are minivans. I imagine the people driving them don't think they are ugly. Maybe when they look at my vehicle, they wonder why anyone would buy THAT? But I don't care. I didn't pick it for coolness. It had to fit my short legs, be comfortable, be reliable and the only thing I asked for in "styling" was that it not be ugly. Ugly is not synonymous with uncool. And cool isn't the same thing as good-looking.

If (like me) you don't give a rat's red rear end about "cool", you can still cringe upon seeing something you perceive as ugly. And you can still say, "I may not be picky about cars, but I draw the line at buying/driving a butt ugly one."

I get why so many people like minivans. But the truth is, many others find them ugly. I don't care that it's a mom wagon. I'm a mom and I haul DD and her friends, so anything I drive is a mom wagon unless I'm alone in it.

Some dislike minivans because they maintain they are "not cool." I am not in that camp because I don't care about coolness. I do, however, care about UGLY. I'm in the "I can't drive it because it's too ugly" camp. I would drive it if it was all I had, but I have a choice, so why not choose something NOT ugly? Why not wear a pretty shirt or at a minimum, a nonoffensive one that does not make people avert their eyes? Why not comb my hair instead of wearing a rat's nest? Just because you have SOME standards (nothing ugly, thanks) doesn't mean you require "cool".

That makes total sense to me.

I'm still trying to come to terms with how any car that a Mom drives and hauls kids/equipment etc is not a "mom car". Also trying to figure out how one measure "cool" for a car?

I did get a good chuckle today...not driving my mini van but the regular old 4 door car (which I like the looks of BTW, but would not drive if I had a choice..for some reason DH wants to drive the van right now )...anyhow, I found myself checking out cars to see who was driving what thanks to this thread. Got a good laugh at the drop off line at the school I pass by..lots of the SUV/hybrids in that line. I'm thinking that 10 years from now those will be the uncool "mom" cars and the next best cool car to haul family and stuff in will have come around. AND there will be a thread on the DIS going on for pages and pages about why people hate SUVs and think XYZ cars are better.

 

[Chelley00]

We just traded in our Uplander minivan for a crossover. I wanted another van, but with our GM discount and the rebates, it made more sense to get the Traverse.

We have the same interior space and more bells and whistles, but honestly, I miss my van. I miss the trunk space. I miss the sliding doors (DS7 loves having a window that rolls down, but he does it ALL the time and keeps opening my doors and almost hitting other cars)

I'm okay with being uncool because it means I could haul 4 kids and friends around and still be able to afford the gas, which I wouldn't have been able to do in an SUV

 

[herdtoDisney]

I've been driving minivans for over a dozen years I currently have a 1998 Chevy Astrovan, which is the giant of mini-vans (at this point, I also have a commuter car, a 1997 Chevy Cavalier which I LOVE).

Gotta be honest-I don't see the thrill in the SUV's! At least all my kids are old enough to get themselves in and out and are out of carseats. I always see moms standing out in the sun/rain/snow buckling kids in on both sides. With my van, I always plopped everyone in, shut the door, and stood inside and buckled them! I was out of the elements. And the SUV's are so high up, I'm short and it would have been hard to lift the baby bucket so high. The only advantage to the SUV's I see is the 4 wheel drive (if so equipped) but I drive even my lil' Cavalier in snow and i'm in the Northeast and have to be to work in ANY weather.

I do like the looks of the Traverse-but it has little trunk room. Good luck parking the Suburbans and Expiditions We are going to Disney next month and have rented some monster SUV-a Yukon or something (we needed the seating with my folks coming and my van is just too old for the long trip). I'm dreading the gas mileage. But I guess I will experience 'COOL'

 

[momto2girls]

No one really needs a jeep, either. It's all about personal preference and what you choose for your family.

I drove a minivan for about 8 years. It was really handy when my kids were very young and I was strapping them into the 5 point harness car seats. I loved the automatic sliding doors.

I'm currently driving a mid-sized SUV (Volvo) and while I absolutely love it - it has 7 seats, so great for carpooling (I'm a hockey mom and we do like to help each other out -I'm not sure how that is selfish), I know that my next car will be a minivan. The back seats in the Volvo are fine for the current sizes of my kids, but once they are teens they will definitely need more leg room in the third row.

I had my minivan for almost 6 years. I also ended up getting a fully-loaded Honda Odyssey when my kids were babies/toddlers. It was awfully handy when I had little ones. However, when my youngest was five, I knew that I was completely over the minivan (and I was thrilled about it!). Now I drive a Volvo SUV as well. I love it! I agree that minivans have their uses, but I am very, very glad that my time in them has ended.

 

[scbelleatheart]

To me it's not a hate of minivans. I had one for a few years. It was a need for a vehicle that would fit 4 kids and get us there safely. I needed 4 wheel drive, high undercarriage because I wasn't getting stuck in the snow with kids and be at the mercy of nature. I also liked Onstar and AAA. Heck, we could get stuck in the drive that was 1/4 mile long and DH was out of town! I also liked being the biggest vehicle out there. I feel safer.
Now we have one SUV (smaller) and I just don't drive in the snow unless I'm in it. One older SUV that's just for emergency use to pull the other one out and a couple of cars for when you can actually see the road and don't want to pay out the wahoo for gas. Besides the kids (adults) always need a loaner for some reason or the other.

 

[SaraJayne]

We just traded in our Uplander minivan for a crossover. I wanted another van, but with our GM discount and the rebates, it made more sense to get the Traverse.

We have the same interior space and more bells and whistles, but honestly, I miss my van. I miss the trunk space. I miss the sliding doors (DS7 loves having a window that rolls down, but he does it ALL the time and keeps opening my doors and almost hitting other cars)

I'm okay with being uncool because it means I could haul 4 kids and friends around and still be able to afford the gas, which I wouldn't have been able to do in an SUV

Just a hint...you can lock the windows on the drivers side door.