Peer Pressure to NOT Buy a Minivan. Need Opinions.

To me a minivan screams - MOM. There is nothing I am more proud to be than being a mom, so I drive my minivan with pride. I also love the convenience.

Go test drive several options. Bring three carseats along (and maybe even three dolls to take in and out of the seats). Oh, and bring hubby along, too.

I got my first minivan at 25 when I had two kids...now at 27 I LOVE my minivan with my three kids! Stow and go BABY...LOVE it...If you are too young then I am WAY to young! Get the Mini and enjoy!

you could use a watch of this video at least for a smile...althought I would not reccomend the toyota....but that's just me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql-N3F1FhW4

We know a couple that always makes comments about our minivan...snide comments. I always think in my mind that they must be stuck in high school. Seriously. At some point it is important to stop worrying about what people think, especially when it comes to image. I have two kids. No car I drive is going to make me a cool, hip twenty-something with no responsibilities.

Get your minivan and get flames painted on it.

"Too young"?? Who are mini vans made for? Moms with kids! So if you're a mom with kids how can they say you are too young?

Mini vans are awesome. We have a VW Routon with dual dvd system and all automatic doors - even the hatch opens and closes with the push of a button! IF you get one, all "these people" will want to check it out. I don't get the stigma against mini vans at all.......it's like if you have a baby but refuse to carry a diaper bag.....or it's raining outside but you refuse to carry an umbrella.......you're a mom with soon to be 3 kids so get a vehicle that works for you. People (some) think that getting a mini van is like admitting defeat or something.....like you've given up. Most mini vans are cool with great options!

Your post made me laugh because it was where my husband and I were in our thinking BEFORE we bought our Toyota Sienna. Used to bag on minivans all the time. Then we bought one and we were both like "Daaaang! This thing is great; wish we'd bought one before we had our kid!!" Seriously! Soooo much room, so solid, so convenient, great for kids, spacious for travel/road trips, fabulous for Home Depot runs (our back two seats are removable and then the area in the back is a huge open space. And ours is an older model, so we don't even have all the new perks of built-in DVD players, etc.

So, for what it's worth, we love it and we'd buy another one when ours dies.

Go with a nice minivan and you'll never, ever regret it. My husband is a car guy who will tell you all day long that he hates Hondas and Toyotas, they're boring, they're not made for "car people," minivans suck, etc. We just bought a 2005 Odyssey and I can't get him out of my car LOL (his car is an Infiniti sedan, so not a junk box by any means). My FIL took the Odyssey the other night when he had all of our kids and he's still raving about it (he's a "car guy" too). This isn't our first minivan - we had a Madza MPV and a Chevy Venture - but it's the best we've had.

For three kids, with 2 in car seats for years to come and one in a booster for a few more years too you can't beat the convenience of a minivan. It's made for families like yours - just buy one and be done with it!

Yes this is a huge purchase, I definitely agree you don't want to regret your decision. There are many, many advantages to owning a minivan when you have small children. You will be the primary driver, consider *every single one* of the pros vs. concerns over image and what someone else thinks. How many vehicles will your family own? If your husband has his own car or SUV to drive most of the time, it really isn't fair of him to be so closed minded when it comes to selecting YOUR primary vehicle just because he may have to drive it on some occasions. We have 2 kids. We are a one vehicle family, a minivan, a Mazada MPV. We've had it for over 10 years. I can't imagine all the road trips and toting kids and stuff around we have done without it. Would I love something more fun? Sure, but not as much as I love all the money we're saving not trying to maintain an image or somehow prove we are cooler than the minivan driving families. You shouldn't totally rule out a minvan until you've shopped around and compared what's on the market.

A minivan is a rite of passage. You've earned it. I don't believe it's at the heart of every accident...in Atlanta it's either a motorcycle or someone trying to get around a tractor trailer truck...When my little ones were small I had several minivans, a couple of big SUVs and a station wagon. The minivan was most convenient and easiest to manuever in traffic because of the visibility. No, it isn't cool....but what Mom is looking to be cool! Cool is in the eyes of your little ones!

God bless!
M.

My husband was the same way. He drives a 2000 Toyota 4 Runner and wanted me to keep driving either a car or a small SUV. I had a Dodge Avenger (when it was a sports car) when he married me and then a fire engine red Toyota Solara afterwards. Now I can't get him out of my Sienna. I swore that there was no need for a mini-van but honestly, I love, love, it and will drive a mini-van until my youngest is out of college. (Yes, we do tailgate in the mini-van and it is PERFECT for that activity too.) The nicest things about the mini-van versus SUV - small children can get in and out by themselves (due to the height of the mini-van) and sliding doors. My 5 year old is always bumping his head on the door of the SUV because he forgets to look where it is!

Go and do some test driving. Put three car seats into whatever you are seriously considering to make sure they fit! C.

I'd ignore the comments and peer pressure. I LOVE our 2011 Honda Odyssey and we had the 2000 model before that. Nothing beats it for cargo space and seating. I prefer the way it drives over an SUV too. Another feature for small kids is that there are sliding doors so you don't have to worry about your 4 year old slamming the car door into the vehicle you are parked next to. This is STILL an issue for my 12-year-old when he rides in my husband's car despite trying to teach him not to do that. I couldn't even list all of the great features my van has. The only thing I miss and wish it had is all wheel drive, but that shouldn't be as much of an issue where you live.

I would ignore the comments about not getting a minivan. I never thought I would have one either but when baby #3 was on the way, we gave in. We've had our Toyota Sienna for 5 yrs now and love it!

There are a few things that we were unable to match in all of the SUV's we drove before picking our van. 1) Getting kids in and out quickly - the third row can be a nightmare if you have more than 2 car seats installed; 2) Gas mileage and maintenance costs are lower; 3) Parking - my van is bigger than a sedan, but I can still parallel park it and get in and out of places.

The van is practical and is less expensive to own if you buy a good one. The Honda and Toyota are really the best overall. Before you buy, I would look at Consumer Reports. They really do have the best reviews and advice for buying a good year and model. Best of luck!

I think the minivan carries a bad stigma about losing ones youth. I think its b.s.. If you have 3 car seats to cram into a vehicle you might as well make life a little easier on yourself and get a van so that you wont spend 1/4 of your life listening to children scream because of their close proximity.

thats just me though..........one day you and your husband can drive hogs while your kiddos have to buy minivans to seat your grandkids, such is life.

I have NEVER understood the minivan issue that some people have. I've heard the same thing. People thinking it's something they would never ever buy. Maybe I'm too practical, but I just don't care if it's a minivan. It doesn't bother me at all! If it's the cheapest option for the size of family, and if it's the best deal, there's no way I'm not going to buy a minivan for my family:-)

I definitely understand what you are saying regarding the pressure from other people. It can be surprising how much it can influence you. All I can say is we have a Honda Odyssey (we bought used because you save so much money!!). We LOVE our van. I never feel embarrassed. We have five kids, all in car seats, and it fits them well...even if we did have to buy new car seats that are slimmer so we can fit three in the back row.

If the only reason you don't want a minivan is due to peer pressure, I would get a minivan. But my hubby wasn't like yours. He was totally fine with a minivan. If my hubby was totally against it, I would probably make a list of vehicles (including minivan) and have him prove why other vehicles are better:-) Do a list of pros and cons for each vehicle.

But there are good SUV's out there. I would go for a Honda something, slightly used, because they are great, safe vehicles.

Good luck!

I have 3 in carseats and wouldn't trade my minivan for anything else....at least until the older ones can climb into the third row of a bigger SUV and buckle *themselves* in. I sure as crumbs am not going to play at being a contortionist to do it right now! haha

Plus, we removed one of the second-row captain's chairs so it's SUPER-easy to get everyone in and out quickly, especially in the rain :o)

I used to be the same way, but
1. It is temporary, when everyone is old / big enough to not need the car seat/booster I can get whatever vehicle I want.
2. I Love my mini-van. it is plenty big enough for my house of 5 +1 G-ma at times. I hate having to take 2 cars for just 1 too many persons for the car.
3. With 3 kids our Trailblazer (5 passenger) was just not big enough, the 3 car seats fin into the back but destroyed the arm rests and put allot of unneeded stress on the door hinges.
4. People should not judge until they walk a mile in others shoes. I would not trade my van in for anything.
Do what is best for your house hold and not what others want you to do. Age has nothing to do with needs, I am also in my early 30's and have had a minivan for 2 years, and could not imagine life without it. Many times my hubby and I ask how we managed without it.
I like the safety of everyone piles into the back, I shut the doors lock them then fasten everyone in and climb into the front without worrying that I might get mugged or worse because I am distracted with my children. It happens. This same scenario works for rain or bad weather. You backside is not sticking out getting soaked while buckling in 3 seats.

I'm nuts about my 2004 Honda Odyssey with DVD package . . . we have gone all over in that thing, very comfortably. And it's great to drive every day too. Tight turning circle, decent gas mileage, etc.

I've heard great things about the Sienna too.

When we're ready to buy again my husband wants another Odyssey (in addition to our first one) - he loves it so much.

Tell your husband it's not a ticket magnet. I think my husband figured that out. It's also easier for a big guy to get in and out of.

I think the key here is "none of these people have 3 kids"

Translation: none of them have had to figure out how to keep the toddler and preschooler from running off while they're buckling or unbuckling the baby, or had to run through a series of mommy-yoga poses to make sure all three are buckled when the three seats are side by side on a single bench seat, or hoisted a double stroller up into the cargo area of an SUV, or had to flip part of the second row seating of the SUV forward to reach the seats in the 3rd row.

You're the mom. You're the driver. Test drive a few vehicles and think of what the logistics would be of loading your kids and gear into the different vehicles. I only have twins so we've managed fine with a small sedan, but tons of the families in our parents of multiples club who have 3 or more kids *love* the convenience of the minivan - you don't have to lift the kids or the stroller up so high to load, you can easily get all the kids into the minivan, close the door, and then get everyone buckled, you can change diapers on the floor of it, etc. And when your kids get older, it works great for carpools, field trips, hauling camping gear, etc.

And then, when your friends are older and have more kids of their own, you can smile and feel vindicated when they start getting minivans of their own
;-)

Get a minivan!!! It's not stylish, but the practicality of it FAR outweighs it. I was lukewarm on a minivan. Got an oddessey in 2007 and LOVE IT!!! We even gave up all wheel drive and don't regret it (an issue here in CO, but not in GA). When the kids are a bit older the doors are awesome. It's easy (and dare I say fun to drive). ALSO, the cost of the vehicle is less. SO IS GAS!!! SO is insurance .... need I say more? Good luck with your decision. I haven't regretted mine for one second!!!

I love our minivan. We can take the back seat all the way out and have so much space to haul stuff when we make the trek to visit grandma. Also, we have a lot of out of state visitors as house guests, since we live in wine country and are just about an hour away from San Francisco and our van allows us to take the whole group on the "California Experience" without leaving anyone behind or having to take two cars.

Get what fits your family and lifestyle and forget what silly impressions others may have. Be happy and be safe! Don't ever allow being fashionable compromise safety. I never thought vans, mini or otherwise were dorky. It doesn't matter WHAT you drive, someone somewhere has labeled it. If I'm not mistaken, SUV's like the Expedition have always had that "environmentally irresponsible" label.

SUV's are far larger and more massive than the use to which they are put requires. This means two things: They are terrible "road hogs" and they are horribly wasteful. Hauling around a ton of unnecessary steel requires power, and that means a big V-8. Now don't get me wrong -- I love big American V-8s. But when they are put to the use of hauling a ton of unnecessary steel with the aerodynamics of a shipping container, they get gas mileage in the low teens in around-town driving (the use to which most SUVs are put). If we're ever to get away from foreign oil, dumping our "beloved" SUV's is the first of many steps it will take.

Most people who drive SUV's probably don't realize this, but "real" SUVs are trucks. Suburbans, Expeditions and their slightly smaller siblings are ladder-frame trucks with solid rear axles. Now if you're in the business of hauling literally tons of cargo, ladder frames and solid rear axles are a good thing. But if, like almost all SUV drivers, you simply need to take yourself or your family and a little bit of inanimate stuff from point "A" to point "B" on paved roads, this automobile design is terribly inefficient for your needs. Unless your family weighs in the realm of "tonnage" get a station wagon, or a minivan and do the world a favor.

We have 3 kids. My hubby got a lot of flack from the guys at work after we bought our Honda Odyssey. But guess who they ask to drive when they all need to pile into a vehicle and go somewhere?

Who cares what people think. You'll love having the sliding doors of a van when you are carrying a baby and holding a toddlers hand. You don't have to worry about your door hitting someone elses when your trying to get your kids in their car seats.

We did get a nice van, the Honda Odyssey with all the bells and whistles.....leather, navigation, back up camera, dvd, etc. My hubby loves driving it now.

I never thought i would have a minivan....when i found out i was prego with # 3 we went and got one.....i love it!!! i have the stow and go seats so there is plenty of packing space. the sliding doors on both sides make it easier to get the kids in quickly....plus sometimes the dog. i rented an suv, but didnt really care for it.

Get a minivan! I was a hater, but now I am so glad we got one instead of the SUV. The Acadia sized cars didn't have enough storage room so we looked to the Suburban, which I loved. But now I know that I am so happy we didn't get that . So much easier to get the kids in and out of a minivan, not to mention so much easier to maneuver. We had a two year old and newborn twins, so mega car seats. They are now 3.5 and 17 months and we still love our minivan! Don't listen to anyone else, get what works for you.

Check out the Ford Flex. All the perks of a minivan, but NOT a minivan. :)

The seven passenger suv's LOOK great but with small kids, they aren't convenient. Getting to the third row is hard unless you want to take out a carseat every time.
My husband hates minivans but after looking for months and months we gave up looking at smaller suv's because they just aren't practical with 3 kids. We couldn't afford a suburban or the like so we bought another minivan last weekend. I LOVE minivans!! You just can't beat the convenience of them esp. when you have 3 or more kids.

I suggest taking your carseats and putting them in the suv that he likes. It helps you see what you will have to deal with when getting in and out.

I do not understand what the big deal is about the mini vans, it's a way to get around. If you are blessed enough to afford one, go for it. They are specious, they are convenient, good on gas. I liked mine when we had one.
We have a small 4 door saturn and a Ford expedition. Not ideal for me, but we have no car payments and it's all that matters. We have all 3 kids in car seats in our saturn(two britax frontier 85 on the sides and britax chaperone infant in the middle). You can easily just get two Sunshine radians XTSL, keep the car u drive now and be done with it:)

I'm on my second mini-van. I only have two kids, but we travel with family, friends a lot so the 7 seats are great. Getting to the back seat is not a big deal. Also we camp, go down the short a lot, etc., and we can fit a ton in our van. There is storage in the floor in front of the middle row which is great for that kind of stuff. Friends who had a mini van and then got an suv cannot fit what I can (unless they have a Suburban or something that big). I figure this is my last van, as the kids are getting older. But I have no regrets. I have a great stereo, sunroof (lol), two dvds, heated seats, auto start, it's all very comfy!

I started with a green chevy venture...ugly! Oh and I was only 28, I think. I now own a loaded chevy uplander (still a van if you didn't know that).

What I love most about my van...
It is convenient for trips. This past spring we packed the car with 4 adults and 3 children. We all fit comfortably on a 2 1/2 hour drive.

I can go shopping with my sister, her two kids and my two.
The kids can easily get in and out of it.

It makes WONDERFUL shelter at soccer games when its raining. I actually had half the soccer team in the back after I fold the back seats down. And at least 3-4 parents stand underneath the hatch.

Oh and I love the built in DVD player. Just took a 45 minute trip to a Halloween event with my SIL, MIL and our 4 kids. The kids were LOUD, I put the DVD on and all we heard the rest of the way was peace & quiet. (Even while stuck in a traffic jam)

Oh the bonus of a van and 3-4 kids...you don't have to put them close to each other...so you won't hear "He/She's touching me"

Oh and thought I should mention, my parents have a extended chevy envoy....I've road in the third seat...UNCOMFORTABLE. I've put the kids in the 3rd row on a long trip...HARD to get in and out.

3 carseats....oh, yeah...minivan!

I think the minivan stigma is so stupid. I'd really like one, to be honest. We area also expecting our third child, and a minivan would be so so practical. We just can't really afford to buy another car right now.

We really, really didn't want a minivan. So, we got a Yukon. Really, the only differences btwn the two are that the Yukon does not have sliding doors and it sits up higher. Other than those two things, it has just as much room as a minivan, and we have captain's seats in the second row, so the set up is the same. I don't regret our decision for a second. My kids are 3, 4, 5 and 9 and we've had it for almost 3 years- so they were younger when we got it and it worked for us then too.

I've always said "I'll NEVER own a mini van". Well, now I'm driving a mini van, Chrysler town and country. Before that we had a Suburban. I've found that it's so much easier getting the kids in and out with the mini van. We've also used it as a cargo van since all the seats come out and it has towing option along with 4 wheel drive. Don't worry about what other people say, do what's best for your family. Just go out and test drive to see what you're more comfortable in. Maybe your hubby will change his mind!

My husband also did not wish to go to a minivan when our 3rd was on the way. We made do with our Chevy Malibu for about a year before he finally caved in. We ended up going with the Toyota Sienna and love it. We did a lot of research and went with the 8 passenger because we really didn't want to have one kid by themselves (they were 1, 4, and 5 at that time) and getting to the back row of many SUV's and minivans was tricky with a car seat in the middle as well. We also like the stow and go seats in the back row and the fact that even with the seats up there was plenty of room for a bulky double stroller and more. My husband really doesn't mind driving it now. He's glad we decided to get the minivan.

I would never own one, but my friends that have crossed over love them. However, something happens to people when they get behind the wheel of a minivan. It's like they become possessed. They drive at least 5 mph under the speed limit, are prone to zoning off when a light turns green, and cause traffic jams on the interstate. A friend of mine has a saying "Behind every traffic jam is a minivan". I find myself flooring it to get around them, so I don't get stuck behind them. What is the deal with minivan drivers? lol
Oh and if you are minivan driver, and you think this doesn't apply to you, then you are the culprit. :)

I had my third child at 30 and bought a minivan just before he was born. I never wanted a minivan but the honest truth is there is nothing as convenient as a minivan for a mom with so many small children. The larger suv's will work but they do not have all the conveniences of a minivan like the automatic sliding doors that give you easier access to your children. Everything about a minivan is built with a mom in mind.

I recently drove a Buick Enclave for a few days and would consider it if my children were older but it doesn't have the storage space or accessibility of a minivan so it wouldn't work for me right now.

As much as I didn't want a minivan and fought against it, I now love my van and wouldn't want to drive anything else until my children are older.

Get the Toyota Sienna and you will LOVE IT! I never imagined in in my 15 years of driving an outdoorsy 4-Runner that I would EVER be a soccer mom minivan driver! LOL. However, it is very stylish, goes as fast as my old 4-Runner, has sliding back doors for easy accesst o the kids, and you can haul a ton of "kid stuff". I have 5 and 2 year old girls and we take it everywhere - usually way too much stuff in tow. That's my 2 cents....good luck with YOUR decision and don't listen to anyone but yourself as you will be driving it! :)

Some SUV's have not trunk space. some you have to climb over the 2nd row to get to the 3rd. SUV's are more expensive in gas. The doors to a minivan can open automatically(how freakin cool is that?!) I am on baby #4 and we are getting a minivan. I can't afford new but I either want a Grand Caravan or a Honda Odessy. I will get what I can afford though. My husband is against them too but he hardly goes anywhere with us so I told him to drive his own car..lol If you are at the option to get whatever you want go test drive some vans and SUVs and see what you like best. I love mini vans and am jealous of every single person who owns one! Go for the van alll those people who say no dont' have to drive it you do. Plus you can take extra people with you say a friend and her two kids on an outing or your parents or sibling..whoever you get the idea.

I too hate minivans but it sounds like you are one of the families that NEEDS one. There are a lot of things I do, say and use that I at one time said "I'll never do THAT". Isn't that what parenthood is all about, realizing that at one time we just didn't know EVERYTHING like we thought we did. Get the dumb minivan for now, enjoy the convenience, drive your little family around proudly and know that all too soon those car seats will turn into softball equipment, extra friends and heavy backpacks. When your kids can get in and out of the car themselves (and will be dying for your to ditch the minivan ;) you can buy whatever family car makes your life easiest and looks sharp as well. Enjoy your babies!

One of my mom friends has a mini van and she loves it. She finds it very convenient. She caught a little flak for it, too, but doesn't care because she's been so happy with it.

I too vowed never to get a mini-van. And we still do not have one because we don't quite need one yet (#2 is due very soon, so not necessary for us at the moment). But we do plan on at least one more child and know that we'll need more space for sure. Again, I was so against getting a mini-van for the same reason as the comments you've received, until... we shared the Chrysler stow and go van with my brother's family on a road trip a year ago. It was awesome! We had that thing packed with kids and luggage, and there really was still quite a lot of room to move. We didn't find out until after the trip that thing even had a table in the back to entertain kids/play games. It was easy to drive and the way mini-vans are made these days, they look almost as stylish as the SUV's so many deem as the go-to vehicle. I say if you guys think you'll benefit more from a mini-van considering convenience and affordability, go for it without a second thought of what others think. You're the one dealing with getting kids in and out and driving it, not those who make the comments. I've come to terms with this, as I'm only 31, but you're a mom, and for a while you might have to drive a "mom vehicle" ha ha ha - we're all in the same boat (car). And I don't mind being there :) Good luck!!

We have a minivan and a Trailblazer with a 3rd row. I drive the minivan and LOVE IT!!! It is so nice to be able to fit more people, and it is relatively easy to climb in to the 3rd row and buckle a kid in or sit there myself. I have had to use the Trailblazer before, and it works. I don't know how the Acadia is set up, but with the Trailblazer you have to fold down one of the seats in the 2nd row in order to get to the 3rd row. It limits the seating options, and with 3 kids (all in carseats, I'm guessing), I would consider that to be a pain-in-the-butt and something I would rather not have to deal with on a regular basis.

My husband also did not want a minivan, but he admits he's glad I talked him into it. Good luck, whatever you decide!

I don't have much help for you, but I too am looking at an Acadia, and in fact probably getting one by this weekend. Its so nice with the captains chairs and is still really nice looking. I wouldn't ever consider getting a minivan- mainly because when I was 16 and all my friends got new cars, I had to drive my M.'s minivan and have hated them ever since! lol. They are practical, but I would much rather go with the larger SUV. I am 29 and have 2 kids with probably one more to come in a couple years.

I HATE mini vans! Living in an area that has a long snowy winter I will not buy a main vehicle (I do have my fun impractical one) unless it has 4 wheel drive. My sil has a 7passenger Durango she put the baby in the middle and the two older ones in the back. She also kept one middle seat folded down allowing easy access to the back row and more room for groceries.

I have two siblings and my parents both had regular cars. At one point they had a VW station wagon (yes wagons are back, ours got 40 mpg - it was diesel). Since you will have 3 kids, you will be 5 people, not 7 so you could definitely have a normal car. They get better mileage (cheaper, smaller carbon footprint), are way easier to find parking for and you won't be seen as a 'minivan mom'. You can definitely find good quality carseats where 3 will fit in a standard car's backseat.

I love my minivan and its an 8 seater.. I am 33 and have 4 children ages 14 to 8.. even if i had no kids i still love it though would rather a conversion van for the fold down into bed back seat.. The mileage gas wise may be lower but you can do so much more traveling or even buying stuff at store.. i got mine used for 1,600.. i suggested buying from a used car place and seeing how you like then cause there are no cars you can put 3 car seats in

I have a friend who bought a Honda Pilot and that baby is HUGE (inside) we fit 3 bigger kids (6,7,8) and two kiddos in carseats plus had room to spare.

Many, many years ago, my husband was hesitant about having 3 kids because he didn't want a minivan. Someone actually laughed at him about that. "You're planning your family size based on the type of car you have to drive?" Well, the joke's on him because not only did we grow out of a minivan, we now have a 15 passenger van! haha We absolutely love it. We did enjoy the minivan while we had it. We loved the extra room in it. We liked being able to take other people with us until our family got too big. I can't imagine not having a larger car for all the stuff we take with us. Traveling is so much more comfy in a larger van. Love it. :)

My friend (who has only two kids but ferries Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts a lot) got a Ford -- not sure of the type -- that is like a smaller SUV but still seats two adults in front and about five kids in back, in two back rows. Looks great, not like a minivan at all. You don't have to drive a minivan to get the space you want. Also, beware of really popped-up, high vehicles no matter what type -- one person I know really injured her back, long-term, from repeatedly hoisting her baby up and down in and out of a super-high SUV. I'd go with the vehicles that are smaller and lower than SUVs but still seat at least five, usually with a third row option so the kids are not right on top of each other -- two can go in the middle, the third in the back row. I don't like the look of minivans (and have no need of one) but these look good and, much more importantly!, seem to have better sight lines for the driver and be easier to park, based on my experience riding in my friend's vehicle.

I am in a similar position and pregnant with baby number three. I am getting a minivan. Seems like the best option. GL

M

ETA- For all the ladies that are saying, "go for it"... No offense intended here, but unless you've EVER worked on one, you have NO IDEA why the husband's [some who do work on them] HATE THEM!!! Even just getting the friggen spare tire from a "stow and go" Chrysler is a PAAAAIIIIINNNNFUL process.

If he's going to be DRIVING it, then I think he has a say. If you'll be the only one DRIVING it, then no... I say get what you want.

Personally, I LOATHE minivans. They're heavy, HORRRRRRRIBLE to work on [or expensive to get repaired if not doing your own work], poor gas mileage, and uncomfortable for a short person [me] to drive. It makes my lower back and knees hurt for a long time after driving one for only a few miles. Couldn't imagine driving one every day.

Love my CUV. Not as high to lift the kids into [SUV], large enough for a few kids and groceries, and you can still get an AWD/4WD version with better gas mileage than an SUV or a minivan.

Get a mini van already!

They are specifically designed for moms schlepping (sp?) around alot of kids, walking through a parking lot, holding a baby, holding another child's hand, pushing a cart and/or stroller, carrying loads of shopping bags, needing to load sports equipment, snacks and their children all in one fell swoop. Everything you need to drive, call people, and feed your kids is all within reach of the driver's seat. They are low to the ground so you don't have climb high SUVs to load all your children, and most of them come with kid safety features like more than one set of anchors for multiple car seats, auto slide doors, and they are usually loaded w/the latest entertainment gadgets known to man like built in DVDs, multiple charger ports and rear temp control.

I know all this b/c my husband is begging me to get a mini van and keeps taking me shopping for one. But I can't give up my F150 v8 EcoBoost supercrew just yet...

I love my CRV but it came after years of owning minivans. If you don't want to have major back problems get a minivan when your kids are younger. I couldn't even imagine dealing with car seats in anything else.

I have heard of too old for a minivan but not too young. I was 26 when I bought the first one. Of course that was also the same year they really started making them as well. Had them right up until my oldest kids started driving and now I have my CRV.

Meh, maybe it was just easier for me because the other option was a station wagon and at that point that screamed, Hi I am old.....

Check out other kinds of cars if you feel like you can't do a mini van just yet. I have 3 children too and am not quite ready for a mini van. I know some people love them, my two SILs included, but I still feel too young for one. When hubby and I started planning for baby #3 we also started car shopping. We decided on a crossover vehicle, the Ford Freestyle. They have since done away with the Freestyle and replaced it with the Taurus X which is very similar. We did a LOT of researching and shopping before we bought the car. What we found was some cars with the 3rd row have very small back seats, even some vans. We test drove a few anyway and found the 3rd rows to almost be a joke. My kids would have been uncomfortable if we were on a long trip. The Freestyle (and other similar styled crossovers) have fairly large 3rd rows and decent storage too. Adults have sat in the back of mine and were fine. They wouldn't have wanted to go on a long road trip back there but for a short distance its not bad.

As one other momma mentioned, having 3 car seats could be an issue. Take the seats along so you know how they'll work before you buy the car. I think, with a crossover, your older child should sit in the back (assuming he/she can buckle in without help.) That's what we did, the older child sat in the back so we could help the younger 2 in the middle row.

I have a chevy uplander and it doesn't have the typical mini van look or feel. WhenI ride in it I sit high and I feel like I am in a truck more than a van. I like that there is a lot of room in it for my 3 girls and out dog, and we have the rack on top for extra stuff!! Og course my next vehicle will not be a van because they will be a little more grown, but for now, its awesome!!

Love, love, love my Odyssey!
The most important piece of advice I have is for you to check how easy it will be to get a child in and out of the 3rd row - whether it's an suv or minivan.

My father has an Expedition and three (soon to be 5) grandchildren in carseats, hence the "dad wagon" in his late 50's. It works pretty well, actually, but you will have to put someone in the "way back" (as we call it). The most likely candidate would be your 4 year old, but just be aware that getting him/her in and out of that 3rd row is tough.

I do a lot of things now that I always swore I would never do... wear flat shoes, leave the house in sweats, let my children wear sweats to school, etc. We say a lot of tihngs when we're young and not in the situation itself!

We've looked pretty seriously at the Town & Country minvan. Friends of ours have it and my husband is in LOVE with it! Of course, "loaded" it's damn near $60,000! We'll see. If you need the space, then get the minivan. Loading children in and out of a 3rd row is a pain.

**I think VW makes a Passat wagon that seats 7 and depending on your budget, check out the Subarus.

Due to finances having a minivan or SUV wasn't even an option when I was raising the sensational 6. Yes 6 kids 10 and under neatly tucked into my Pontiac Sunbird. I miss that car. We have some great memories.

My next car was a Mazda MX3. A two door red sports car. Someone actually gave it to me. I'm not even going to tell you how many people I squeezed into that car at one point.

Long story short we now own a Jeep Commander and I wouldn't change a thing. I love that truck to pieces. We only have the one vehicle and we make it work for us.

Do what you feel is right for you and your family. Don't be pressured by the masses.

I have never wanted a minivan, but I want an SUV even less. And now with the hybrid options, I feel like a minivan is a really practical option for people with a family. We have only 2 kids, but even then, our Subaru is not big enough. If anyone come to visit or if the kids have friends come with us, we have to take two cars and that's just silly. And trying to go camping?? We're all jammed up with food and gear.

I'd tell your friends with no kids that you've done your research and a minivan is the best vehicle for your family. Then I'd be sure to put on those stickers about how your kid is in on the honor roll at (whatever name) school, and the various ribbons of support magnets, and maybe those little decal stick figure families (including pets) in the back window. Oh, and make sure you wear your visor anytime you see them. Tell them it's required when you own a minivan to do all of those things.

k , mini vans are SO much easier than an SUV , for one simple reason.
The doors.
They slide open not swing open, No chance of Jr banging the door into someone elses car, so easy to get into when someone parks too close. No trying to squeeze into the door.
ok two reason, they are lower to the ground and the younger ones can get in and out by themselves.
oh wait 3, lol
They hold more stuff.

I had four kids, never drove a mini van. Would not be caught dead in one.
Just did not like them or the way they handled. Fast forward 35 years, I am
now carting around two kids and a third coming next year. I will definitely
need to get a new car but it will be another SUV. Right now I have a trailblazer. I will stick to something like that.

I'm anti-minivan also, but if I had 3 kids I would have broken down & bought one. Everyone I know who has one loves it for all the reasons you've listed. The one I do kind of like is the Nissan Quest because the inside of it looks like a space ship to me, haha!!

My inlaws tried to take 3 kids in one of those SUVs. It was horrible finding and reaching the seatbelts. Take your car seats to the dealer and try them out. You will see for yourself which works best.

I have had both, 3 mini vans and since have had 3 SUVs. I prefer the SUV once the children get to the age of getting in and out on their own - approx. age 7-8 and up. My purpose and my fondness of the mini van went out when they put dual side doors. I liked the fact that there was one door in and out for the children for safety reasons. Another was that you could get out of the weather while putting the children in their car seats due to the roominess.
The only pressure I have ever had was from my best friend, she didn't think the mini vans were too cool..and cramped my style as a person. She said, a mini van yells - Hi I'm a mom! She preferred to not look like a mom when riding around without the children, which she is very proud of her children so that wasn't the issue. She just did not want her vehicle to obviously state her status in life. I never let that bother me, I was what I was!
I have had the Toyota Highlander with 3rd row seat, and loved it! I now have grown children and 2 smaller grandchildren and have a Honda Pilot w/ 3rd row seat! Love it for the more room for larger children. My dad purchased my Highlander, and that was my favorite and I miss for maneurability. If I had small children I would definitely go with a mini van for comfort, and the ones I had drove great! I did not have one, but the Honda Odyssy is a very nice vehicle if it is in the budget and it looks appealing.
Good Luck!
M.

Hi! I have an 8 year old and an almost 4 year old. I will be 40 this year and I drive a minivan, but never thought I would. I absolutely love it! It was the best decision we ever made.

I had my 3rd when I was 24, and at 25 we went looking for a minivan. We bought an Armada instead. My only regret with the Armada was at the time my kids were 6, 4, and 2. Only the 6 year old could reach the higher handles. I LOVE my Armada (8 passenger) and would get it a million times over again. It is so easy for the kids to climb in the back and I love having it over a minivan. We walked away from what we were looking for (Sienna) because of the price tag. A new one was over $40k! WOW! I see more people switch from mini-vans to SUV's, but to each their own!!

I loved mine! I also have three kids and my husband was also really against it, but I insisted. He makes a lot of our big decisions so I felt I had the right to make this one, especially since my car is basically MY second home :)
Now that my son's in college I drive an MDX which I also love, but I don't regret the minivan years at all. And my husband got used to it, and even he had to admit it was great for traveling. Just make sure you get the nicest one you can afford, with all the bells and whistles!

Personally I think our Explorer (with a 3rd row option) is roomier than a mini-van. There's not all that much space behind the seats in a mini-van for bikes, cargo, luggage, etc.

But, you're a big girl--don't cave to peer pressure if it's something you really want!

what about the Mazda5?

I bought the Honda odyssey when my 2nd was 10 months old and I was only 30. At the time I still thought I might want 3 kids (turns out I'm all set with 2!)

If I knew at that point I was done I probably would've gotten a small suv instead. Although my husband and I DO love the van. I think with 3 kids it's the best way to go. 3rd row is easily accessible. I love that the split 3rd row folds down....when flat there is a TON of space back there (can easily fit
the kids bikes plus more stuff). When I have the 3rd row up the trunk is still huge (and deep). The girls can easily open/shut the doors.

ETA...just read Leslie's comment about removing a 2nd row seat...awesome to be able to do that!! I have 2 friends with vans that have 3 kids and each did that. That way you have all that open floor space to change diapers and for kids to easily get to 3rd row. Huge plus!!!!

Like I said...it's come in super handy even with just 2 kids (but prob wouldn't have gotten it if I knew I was "done") but for 3 kids I think it's a must have. (my husband thought it was very soccer mom-ish while shopping for them, but soon enough he loved it more than I did!)

I never wanted a minivan either, but my husband was hugely opposed to it. Then one day he mentioned it would be a good idea. I was floored. So we went out and got one. My first ever brand new car, and it's a mini-van, LOL. Not exactly a thrilling purchase. The bottom line, though, is that it is SO practical. They're designed for families, and it shows. My absolute favorite feature is being able to hit a button and the door slides open. Handy for dropping the kids off at school and picking them back up again, but also because now all I have to do is hit the button and tell them to get in. I wouldn't trade my minivan for anything, and not because it's cool or fun, but because it makes my life easier. We looked at the Toyota Sienna, the Nissan Murano, and the Acura MDX. I gave up my Ford Explorer to buy a Honda Odyssey. No regrets.

I had no idea there even was such a thing as "minivan" stigma. So I would have just got one without a thought!

When Baby #3 came along 3 years ago we broke down and bought our first mini van... a 2007 8-passenger Toyota Sienna! We were looking at the utility vehicles with the third seat but then you have no trunk. We love it!! As for mini vans backing up traffic… not sure I’ve ever heard that before. I do notice people getting agitated behind me trying to see around the van… most back off when they finally see I have vehicles in front of me! I think MamaDuckP has been behind me before! LOL