I think you should do it. I've heard minivans have really gotten a bad rap for no good reason.
They're reliable and comfortable, like a pair of nice grey Haggar slacks.
They're roomy and durable, like a pair of good ol' Fruit o' the Loom tightie whities.
And they're stylish, like a good pair of navy blue socks.
At our age, its important that we dont worry about frivolous things like being 'cool' and 'having an identity'. It's good to be comfortable with the fact that for the rest of your days, your selfish desires are to be subservient to the practicalities of raising and providing for your family. every. single. moment. of. your. life.
And buying a minivan is a great way to assert your newfound status with a hearty "yessiree!"
Did you see the discussion thread when Soulsnax was choosing a new car (and ended up with an Outback)? My DAD came on and called me and my whole generation out for our too-young-or-hip-for-an-ugly-ol'-mini-van-poseur-stance. :)
(Speaking of that, dud, Larry, you're a designer, why are mini-vans so fugly?)
But anyway, my dad said we should all just man up and suck it up and get mini-vans. :) I grew up in bright green VW Westfalia pop-top camper van, btw, which was followed by a succession of boxy Mitsubishi mini-vans. Once I flew the coop, he ditched the vans for upscale SUVs. Oh well.
(Full disclosure--I drive a Saturn Vue, which replaced an old MB wagon with a huge cargo area.)
But you know what? Mini-vans don't really seem to have much more cargo space than a wagon or SUV, if you're not folding down the third row of seats or whatever. Anyway, by the time we need another car and/or have another kid, I guess I can hope that somebody comes up with a mini-van that's not ugly. :)
But as I write this, a good friend with a second kid due in weeks is probably at a dealer right now, buying a Sienna with all the bells and whistles (DVD, navigation system, etc.) (commenter and momblogger Superha's husband, actually). When their first came along, he had to switch cars with his wife--she took his Accord for the carseat space, and he was stuck with her red Miata with Mashimaro aftermarket accoutrements. Heh. Guess this is an upgrade.
hey i'm one kid short of a mini-van and i'm not kidding...they are the way to go! yes they're geeky but the honda odyssey is a marvelous vehicle for the new boomer babes.
I agree with Angie-- DON'T DO IT! It IS possible to have kids and not give up your car-- my parents did it, and dang it, so am I. My husband will never talk me out of this.
There is a practical question re: minivanage. Are you comfortable driving and parking one? I can't tell you how many drivers I see that have no business behind the wheel of a big ole minivan/ suburban/land yacht, especially in the city. They're fantastic on the freeway, but with the 250' turning radius and blind spots galore, minvans aren't always the solution. That, and it's the automobile equivalent of getting a vasectomy--you know you should, but that doesn't ease the pain and there is no going back.
15 comments:
I think you should do it. I've heard minivans have really gotten a bad rap for no good reason.
They're reliable and comfortable, like a pair of nice grey Haggar slacks.
They're roomy and durable, like a pair of good ol' Fruit o' the Loom tightie whities.
And they're stylish, like a good pair of navy blue socks.
At our age, its important that we dont worry about frivolous things like being 'cool' and 'having an identity'. It's good to be comfortable with the fact that for the rest of your days, your selfish desires are to be subservient to the practicalities of raising and providing for your family. every. single. moment. of. your. life.
And buying a minivan is a great way to assert your newfound status with a hearty "yessiree!"
Or, if you get one, spray the interior with like a whole can of that AXE body spray, and the chicks will dig it.
if the (mini)van's a rockin, dont come a knockin, knowatimsayin?
Dude AXE! Yes! Why didn't I think of that! Shit should I use AXE or TAG?
Wait a sec...so do you have one or not?
do what I did back in the day: put up some tapestries, throw in a couple turntables, a disco ball, and some incense, and you're set!
Henri, I'm just a minivan poseur.
We have an Subaru Outback and a Mazda Tribute (small SUV).
Did you see the discussion thread when Soulsnax was choosing a new car (and ended up with an Outback)? My DAD came on and called me and my whole generation out for our too-young-or-hip-for-an-ugly-ol'-mini-van-poseur-stance. :)
(Speaking of that, dud, Larry, you're a designer, why are mini-vans so fugly?)
But anyway, my dad said we should all just man up and suck it up and get mini-vans. :) I grew up in bright green VW Westfalia pop-top camper van, btw, which was followed by a succession of boxy Mitsubishi mini-vans. Once I flew the coop, he ditched the vans for upscale SUVs. Oh well.
(Full disclosure--I drive a Saturn Vue, which replaced an old MB wagon with a huge cargo area.)
But you know what? Mini-vans don't really seem to have much more cargo space than a wagon or SUV, if you're not folding down the third row of seats or whatever. Anyway, by the time we need another car and/or have another kid, I guess I can hope that somebody comes up with a mini-van that's not ugly. :)
But as I write this, a good friend with a second kid due in weeks is probably at a dealer right now, buying a Sienna with all the bells and whistles (DVD, navigation system, etc.) (commenter and momblogger Superha's husband, actually). When their first came along, he had to switch cars with his wife--she took his Accord for the carseat space, and he was stuck with her red Miata with Mashimaro aftermarket accoutrements. Heh. Guess this is an upgrade.
hey i'm one kid short of a mini-van
and i'm not kidding...they are the
way to go! yes they're geeky
but the honda odyssey is a marvelous vehicle for the new
boomer babes.
i cannot believe i'm going to be the voiceof reason here . . . do NOT get the minivan.
disclaimer: i live in texas and i drive a suburban.
Finally, one person has the decency to try and talk me off the ledge.
I agree with Angie-- DON'T DO IT! It IS possible to have kids and not give up your car-- my parents did it, and dang it, so am I. My husband will never talk me out of this.
our odyssey does 0-60 in 7.6 secs. wheee
Check out our friends' new ride .
There is a practical question re: minivanage. Are you comfortable driving and parking one? I can't tell you how many drivers I see that have no business behind the wheel of a big ole minivan/ suburban/land yacht, especially in the city. They're fantastic on the freeway, but with the 250' turning radius and blind spots galore, minvans aren't always the solution. That, and it's the automobile equivalent of getting a vasectomy--you know you should, but that doesn't ease the pain and there is no going back.
r2dad, I enjoyed the vasectomy analogy. ouch!
Minivans do 21 to 40 in 1 second
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