To Mini Van or Not to Mini Van...

Lucky, are you really a man? lol. I never knew cars had the power to do hair and make up! Gotta get me one of those! ; )

I do not have O. and I would NEVER get a minivan! I have rented them on occaison.
LOL
It's a sell out!
It's the principle!
Congrats on #2...

I love my min van so much that I would probably get one even when the kids are out of the house. I used to drive an SUV and the van is about 100% better. Easier to drive, much easier to transport kids, more space, and just overall better equipt to deal with the needs of a family. And to be honest-I think people who "own" their status as parents and are not ashamed to have a van are much cooler than ones who strive in an SUV to be the cool young and hip person that they ONCE were.

You should check out the 2011 Odyessy-it has room in the middle for 3 large sized carseats and the middle seat slides up for better access to baby!!

I went from a Camry to a Sienna in Sept and I LOVE it. no regrets. same gas mileage, bigger gas tank, room for friends and everyone's gear, automatic sliding door center seat in the 2nd row pulls way forward for better access to baby... it's also a V6, where your corolla is probably a 4-cylinder - you get more power from a bigger engine, better acceleration. My whole family loves it.

And to "Lucky" - I'm not a frumpy, no make-up or hairstyle mom - except maybe on the weekends - I have a corporate job and my co-workers love that i have room for all of us to go out to lunch in one vehicle. Your stereotype is outdated.

I went from a chevrolet malibu to a chevy venture. I dreaded the switch and was severely afraid of my image that was changing but we got the van at a very good deal. Best thing I ever did. A van is so much easier with kids. Plus, when I do something with my sister or SIL we are able to pack ourselves and the 4 kids all together in the van. I have a chevy uplander now with a built in DVD player....LOVE IT!

Edit to add:

I am a working mom that has to dress for work. I wear makeup and I think I'm stylish. Even on my days off, you will hardly ever see me out and about with a tshirt or sweatshirt on. Oh and I wear heels almost every day. People can look frumpy in SUV's and cars too.

Oh and one more thing, not sure how old your child is right now, but fast forward and put yourself into this situation. You are at the Dr's office with both your 3 year old and her newborn sister, your 3 year old starts throwing a fit and complete meltdown when you go to leave (she loves playing on the toys there), and you are carrying your newborn in a heavy newborn car seat on your arm with your purse and overstuffed diaper bag in the other arm. (Oh and add, its late fall, so you have coats on too) You have put the car seat down, pick up the screaming 3 year old, pick the car seat up, while carrying all this out to the car with a set of keys in your hand. Think of how great it is (would be) that you have a button on your keys to open the sliding door where your newborn sits. The door opens on its own you gently get the car seat in the latch, throw the diaper bag and purse on the floor and now are able to open the other door and get your screaming child in their seat with 5 point harness with both hands. (Keep all this in mind.....love my automatic sliding doors.)

I laugh at people who won't get a minivan bc it's not "cool". How insecure must they be to care that much about how their car looks? My husband is 6'5", well built, athletic etc and he's secure enough to have a couldn't care less attitude when he drives the minivan. It's super functional and drives like a car vs the harder ride of some SUV's. Of course, his other car is a Porsche 911S so not sure we're really that frumpy family Lucky describes. We also have a midsized wagon that doesn't look great but also is functional and we're not worried what people think about us or how they judge us based on our cars. I've seen all sorts of looking people drive all sorts of cars! Anyway, the only downside to the minivan is parking but that would be the same for some SUV's. It's probably better for the minivan vs a larger SUV bc of the sliding doors. But I do miss a smaller car when parking... What drove us to get one is our kids getting older and wanting to be able to drive their friends. It's just so easy to have the minivan. They can walk in it to the back row, they use it as a clubhouse etc. We have a loaded Sienna so it has AWD too for bad weather. Love, love, love the minivan.

I had a suburban when I had my second child. The transmission went out and I had to get a sport wagon and wish I still had the SUV.
While I can definately fit two car seats in the back (one was a booster until this year - now he is out - YEAH growth spurt) it was almost ALL I could carry.
I could never drive work friends to lunch - no room, I could not haul the dog comfortably, I had a difficult time transitioning. The only reason I am starting to love my wagon now is 1. I do love station wagons 2. only have one car seat in it now 3. I actually cleaned out the back and realized there is plenty of room to haul stuff :)

So my recommendation is look at something with a little more room unless the only thing the vehicle will be used for is transporting kids to and from child care.

Personally, I would never jump on the minivan bandwagon - go the SUV route - LOL!

I admittedly used to bag on vans -- until we purchased one! My goodness, we love it. We bought a Toyota Sienna when I became pregnant and I wish we'd bought one sooner! Soooo roomy; removable seats; privacy glass (tinted windows for nursing when out and about was really nice), I could go on and on. If ours died, we'd buy another...

It depends on how much room you desire. Being that you used to have an SUV I think you would be a good judge as to whether an SUV would be enough room for your family. If you like A LOT of flexibiltiy and room than bump up to a minivan with stow and go seats. With two kids you can stow the back row and have A LOT of storage room for strollers, groceries, bikes, or vacation luggage. (I can not speak for the flexibility of 3 row/8 passenger SUVs)

PS. As for do I wish I had a tiny car back, HECK NO! When my van needs repaired and I have to drive my husband's car I want to go mental because I miss the roominess and I swear there is nowhere to put my purse ;-)

PSS. If you've never had a mini van than please don't feel the need to judge them.

In my 9th month of pregnancy, I realized that it was going to be a real pain to deal with a baby, carseats and strollers in my MINI! Our Graco stroller/travel system we had selected and received didn't fit in the back unless the seats were let down -which of course is impossible with a baby in the backseat! We traded it for a Subaru Legacy wagon that was really nice and did help "ease" my transition to a mini van! We camp and go on road trips a lot, and I was already noticing how cramped it was in the Subaru with the carseat, toddler and all of our gear, so I did what I never thought I would do -and got a mini van! I wasn't working at the time, so we purchased a used Caravan, and it was fine (I was so in love with the sliding doors). Last year we upgraded to a loaded Sienna, and it is FANTASTIC! Everything happens at the touch of a button, the DVD player has headphones so we don't have to listen to the movie they're watching -and can listen to what we want -it's wonderful and it drives very nicely. Yes, I intend to get my MINI again someday (I keep saying "after the stroller years...") -and MINI is making two larger versions now, so it may be a reality, but right now I can honestly say I adore my mini-van. Especially with multiple small children, it makes things much easier.

***Lucky, you need to get out more. MOST of the women I know driving mini-vans are professional, well-dressed, nice-looking women -including myself. In fact, I've been hit on and flirted with on several occasions while driving the mini-van! What type of vehicle do you drive? I can guarantee you I've probably seen some real dogs driving those too.

I kow I will get zinged pretty good here but....I may have three kids but I DO NOT drive a mini van...I am sorry to be insensitive and stereotype but I have never seen an attractive, Stylish, well kept woman drive one of these...Only women with no make-up, frumpy clothes and no hairstyle whatsoever...Mamas if I am wrong please make me eat crow and see how narrow minded I am....But please tell me that you if you do drive a Mini that you are opposite of what I described...LOL

No I am not a man!!! LOL! Hard working woman doing my best to raise three little kids with my DH. I just see so many mommies out there letting themselves go and then they drive a mini van to boot.

Sorry I do see many frumpy women out there driving mini vans.....! I personally know about half a dozen but to each his own....JMO....I wish it was an outdated stereotype but it isn't...

I've seen two carseats in a Saturn so while it may be tight squeeze your Corolla would do just fine...Why not look at getting a SUV?

I miss my Toyota Corolla! That was my single woman's car and I drove it til the body was almost rusted through and the driver's side door wouldn't open because a deer ran into it on the freeway. Deer was fine, car was not.

Then I drove a really cool small sized pick-up when I had my first baby. It was a little tight with the car seat and anyone else who wanted to ride along had to sit in the middle of the front bench seat... and the truck was a stick shift.

So you can imagine how luxurious and convenient the new minivan seemed by comparison! Not only was it easy to get my kids in and out of their car seats, we could all sit in the van and eat lunch, fit all the beach gear in the back and carpool with the neighbors. Plus, when my kids got older and got their licenses, it was so uncool to drive that they only asked for the keys when absolutely necessary.

To Lucky - sometimes I drive my mini van with no make up, while wearing a swimsuit with shorts and a tank over it, wet hair pulled back and sunglasses, blairing Bob Marley music while I take my kids to the beach - GASP - I guess I'm frumpy - Oh, well, I'm having fun and so are my kids. There is more to life than being a "put together" woman!!!!!!

I even had a mini van before kids!LOL! I've always enjoyed camping and lots of people with me I guess. I love mini vans. You can easily fit whatever gear you need - wagons, strollers, beach umbrellas, tents, coolers - you name it! and still have room for the kids. We have opened up the back hatch and laid on blankets to watch fireworks! I only have 2 kids, so I've always just left the seats in the middle and took out or "stowed" the seats in the back to make room for gear or the dog - so much more room than a car trunk. The reason I originally went with a van vs a SUV was that the vans seemed better on gas and overall cheeper to buy - you get more for your money. Vans really have come along way, automatic slider doors on both sides, sliders have windows that roll down (not just pop out at the corners like they used to ) built in tvs, etc. Honda Odyssey is great and actually looks a little sporty - get one in black.

We went from sports cars (Camaro and T-Bird) when we got married to a GrandPrix, which we kept until child #2 came along. The very day she turned one, and had to be turned around to face forward we traded "up" to an Avalon. It was quite roomy and the two children were separated enough that couldn't touch each other. Enter child #3 (surprise!) and it was with much gnashing of teeth that Hubby was persuaded to trade "down" to a Sienna minivan. My arguing point was that I did not want three children crammed together, practically on my back. We all needed space. As it turns out, I should have pressed for a double-cab pickup since that's what I use my minivan for. Not only do I haul three children in it but am known to carry chickens, foster dogs, two bikes and a trike, a 4x4 wagon, lumber and you name it.

If it were me, and I only had the two children, I would not have gone to a minivan 'cause a car is plenty enough room. We looked at SUVs and just couldn't justify the price, the amount of gas they consumed or the way they were configured. You and your husband will figure out what's best for your family...

K.

My friend made the transition and LOVES her mini-van... She was so NOT a mini-van mom and she LOVES her mini-van!!!!!!! Me- can't do it, lol... I'll stick with SUV's... Good luck!

My husband bought a Grand Caravan back in '00 when his sedan died. We use it for so many things, including hauling the kids. I've also had good experiences with friends' Honda Odyssey vans. I thought I'd hate a minivan, but I find it convenient and easy to drive. I've heard people say that our van drives more easily than some people's cars (like a Charger, which is pretty big). We still have my Saturn for most of my travel (I have 2 seats back there occasionally) and DH has a commuter car, but the van still gets a lot of use. That's where we keep our second car seat, what we use for camping, groceries, etc. I drive both it and my car frequently. Gah, it sounds like we have so many vehicles...You can get a van without it being a monster conversion van or full-sized van (like my SIL had...THAT was a "beast of a van").

One of our friends moved from a sportscar to the minivan and he's one of the coolest guys you'd ever meet. Some days I'm jeans and a sweatshirt and some days I'm running to a client meeting in heels and a skirt. I'm no more cool or uncool in the van vs any of our other cars. And, frankly, I'm old enough to not really care. :)

I have a corolla and you can fit 2 car seats in it easy but they will be on the sides (where the latch system hooks are) and not in the middle (which is safest for baby...unless you have a slim fit seat for your toddler/older child. We also have a Toyota Sienna minivan which we LOVE. It took some getting used to driving such a bigger car but I feel much safer driving around in it. It will be the only "kids" car come May as we are expecting #3 then. If I KNEW I was only going to have 2, I would probably have stayed with a car or even a small SUV (like a RAV 4) and not made the jump to a mini van but we want 4 or 5 so it just made sense.

I think you need a bigger car for sure, minivian or not, you'll have to decide! It seems there's a war waging here that with which I may not want to get involved! ;) My husband was majorly for the minivan and I was pushing for the SUV. Both have good qualities, but I felt that either was a must. I had a Saturn before and even with one kid I barely fit us, the stroller and groceries. There was no way I could fit another and feel like I could breathe. We checked out a lot of cars, so I'd say do that too and find what you really want. The Chevy Traverse was really cool and was our second choice. Congrats and happy shopping!

I did after we had our second, (for a few years all we had was the van) now we have a van and a cavalier, I hate the small car. i don't think I will ever go back to a small four door myself to drive. Granted we love our small car for the commuter car. I hate to drive it. We now have three kids and still love the van. It is more confortable, it makes a great (playground on wheels) all around love it. and it gets 20mpg which isn't bad but not awesome

I made the switch and never looked back. I never had the mini van stigma, so it was an easy choice for me. I drove a corolla and easily transitioned to the mini van. I can not image having to but the car seat or the baby into the car seat, bending over or contorting my body to make sure all was secure. In the van it is so simple, easy to reach, easy to secure, in and out in a flash. Plus you have enough room to always have the stroller with you in case you need it, plus what ever other bags you pick up along the way. Make the switch, it will make your life easier and trust me with two little one's you will need all the ease you can get. LOL

short and sweet... . I LOVE MY MINIVAN!!

I went from a tiny Subaru Forester to a Honda Odyssey. Best decision ever! I love the Odyssey. With two kids, it has enough room for the car seats, enough room to take along guests in our car and plenty of room to haul everything needed on long car trips. The luxury features in the Odyssey are nice, too. Love having heated seats, a good audio/video system and auto doors.

When I was younger, I said, "Put this in stone, I will NEVER own a minivan!" Ha, times change! I'm in the Minivan Fan Club now!