OT- Minivans
- Thread starter TigerBlood28
- Start date
I
If your kids are little then it's a good option for 5-7 years which is how long you might need it anyway. Do what your wife wants. Real dads don't look down on guys in minivans. They have more important things to worry about.
can't make you feel better about it either. But, I was in your position 12 years ago. We were two seconds from getting my wife a tahoe. Her sister had an Odyssey. My wife saw the practicality and it had more storage in the back than the tahoe. We had a dog and with two kids you can keep the back folded down and it is like a six foot bed on a truck. Lots of space. Combine the automatic doors for shopping and groceries for kids that are too young to get in and out by themselves and it makes her life a lot easier. And a happy wife means...
If your kids are little then it's a good option for 5-7 years which is how long you might need it anyway. Do what your wife wants. Real dads don't look down on guys in minivans. They have more important things to worry about.
Toyota Sienna. Some friends have one with 230,000 miles and it still looks and runs great. As far as driving one goes don't worry about it because no one really gives a shit about what you are driving. It's all in your head!!
Ask all my friends.....I'm cool when I drive the wife's Mini Van. We swore never to own one but it was a life saver when the kids were young. We have run the wheels off of a 2006 Honda Odyssey and it has been great. Kids are older now so when the van dies it will probably be replaced with an SUV.
As mentioned by several, they are great for tailgating as long as you are not in charge of bringing the grill.
As mentioned by several, they are great for tailgating as long as you are not in charge of bringing the grill.
Just curious, what is the difference between bringing the grill in an SUV as opposed to a minivan?
I have four kids who go to all of the games, so I don't have a bunch of options, but I wouldn't trade our Odyssey for anything (except another Odyssey). I put a trailer hitch on the back and I take out one of the middle seats (3 kids can sit on the back row) and I am able to bring a 50 inch TV with all the satellite set up, a grill, 2 tents, flagpole, 2 coolers, a table, generator and all the other stuff that goes with the tailgate, along with 6 people and I can still see out the back no problem. I have considered a bunch of other "tailgate machines" from old broncos to suburbans, but I can't find anything that can beat my minivan for what I am going for. Plus, it rides like a dream, and it has been to 3 Orange Bowls to prove it.
As others have said, you lay those seats flat and it functions as a pick-up truck as well. I plan to be a minivan owner for a long, long time.
As others have said, you lay those seats flat and it functions as a pick-up truck as well. I plan to be a minivan owner for a long, long time.
I've had a Honda Odyssey since 2008ish. Around Christmas the transmission went out and my wife suggested we just get another car. I fixed the transmission (new Jasper) and then gave her my SUV to drive. So I've been driving the van since January of this year and I love the sliding doors w/ 3 kids. The heated seats, sunroof, DVD player, & remote doors are awesome. I could easily trade it in for something else but it's a great vehicle to carry baseball equipment around in and I don't really care how dirty it gets post game. One day I'll trade it/sell it and get a sparkling clean mid-life crisis car; however, I'm embracing the season of life that I'm currently in and I'm saving a car payment every month that I choose to drive it. My wife is happy and so am I because I didn't have to buy her another car. #drivethevansavethefamily
Mini Van Watch: We actually have ended up going with a SUV. I humbled myself and told her lets get a minivan if she wants one. Honestly, we couldn't afford a good one that fit in our range, but thanks to the mini van guys on here who vouched for them. I'm more open to them in the future, but being completely honest, I'm glad we are not going that route this time. I couldn't handle turning 30 and getting a mini van in one year.
Not sure I would be able to get it up if mine bought a minivan... good luck my man!
ITT: A bunch of dudes caring way too much about what other dudes think of them for driving a van.
If you want to drive an SUV because it makes you feel better then whatever. Giving anyone a hard time for choosing the practical option for their family, however, is some very weak sauce.
If you want to drive an SUV because it makes you feel better then whatever. Giving anyone a hard time for choosing the practical option for their family, however, is some very weak sauce.
The Chrysler Town and Country. If you get one fully loaded or just with the options you want they are the best of the van world. Nice leather tons of room plenty of options. (dvds sun roofs, navi, back up cameras and sensors, swivel middle seats with the Stow and Go seats) Best van out there for the price. If you are more inclined to believe that imports are better then the honda Odyssey is the way to go. Anything else you will find in the van lines are a waste of time and money. If you are not one who wants a ton of options and would rather keep your price down then go with the dodge caravan and add the minimal options you like. Same van as the T and C just less money and less options. I sell used cars for a living and I have sold a ton of vans. I keep using the T and C as my go to van. I have sold more of those than any other make.
Even though your "covered truck" comment was the worst thing I read in this thread. The quote above is accurate.
I use to live and work in Charleston every summer. I had a little 4 door mazda 626 that was a pretty nice ride for a 16 year old. Half way through the summer for some reason my dad made me switch cars and take my mothers toyota mini-van. Dont know why he did but it was his car so, "yes sir" was my answer (although I did utter some other things out of earshot). So Im heading back to Charleston in this grocery-go-getter pretty sure my social life is over and I may as well suck start a pistol. Well I was wrong. I was working with guys from 15 to 21 and as soon as it was discovered I had a van, it was turned into the party wagon. We could load up surfboards and 8 people, we always had room for girls to catch a ride, we could put 6 kegs in the back and have a party just by popping the tailgate and on occasion it was useful as a bedroom. It was a great summer. I sometimes miss the old van.
I will second the sienna. Have plenty of friends that have them and love them. Like I said in my earlier post, we went with the odyssey. They are a bit pricey now, but good vehicles. We went through two of them until last year when she finally got her tahoe.
Toyota Sienna is the way to go.
Put over 200,000 on ours.
Minivans are uncool only if you aren't cool.
If you wear cargo shorts and drive a minivan, it's not the minivan.
Put over 200,000 on ours.
Minivans are uncool only if you aren't cool.
If you wear cargo shorts and drive a minivan, it's not the minivan.
Leather reclining seats, tvs, easy to carry the kids. We don't have kids yet, but we'll be happy getting one in about 5 years.
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