Proud minivan driver

[wombat13]

The recent thread on lease vs. buy had a number of posts that referenced driving certain cars b/c they're cool which got me thinking...

I am a proud minivan driver. They are by far the most practical family vehicle. Unless one has a boat or heavy trailer to tow or actually goes offroad, driving a SUV amounts to paying thousands extra to appease one's vanity - "I may be a slightly overweight, middle-aged married man with two kids, but hey I'm still cool!" And the vast majority of SUVs have never towed or gone offroad.

Flame away.

[ElJimmyStrappo]

Good for you! My wife refuses to ever drive a mini van. Fortunately we don't have chitlins yet.

[pablo1025]

ya im with you on the practicality of a minivan, but my wife will not even set foot in one, so we compromised and she got her tahoe, hmmmmmmmm looks like i lost that fight

[wombat13]

We also have a Jeep Liberty and when we bought the Toyota Sienna my wife and I agreed that I would drive the minivan because it has more leg room and she liked the Jeep better anyway. Now we both want the Sienna. I will inevitably lose that battle.

The only downside to driving the minivan that I've noticed is the number of other drivers that just can't deal with being passed by a minivan. They go to great lengths (and speeds) to make sure they get back ahead of the minivan. I refer to those drivers as members of the Little P**is Patrol (LPP).

[XDinNC]

Hmm. Must be the same ones who always want to race me just because I've got a Hemi.

[D_Fence]

My wife gets a company car to drive one weekend a month. They are trying to put a lot of miles on the cars to test out certain components, so the encourage the employees to use them for weekend trips and such. So, we've gotten to drive a bunch of fully loaded current year cars. I told myself years ago that I wouldn't ever want a mini-van. After driving a fully loaded Honda Odyssey I *almost* changed my mind. That thing had no resemblance to minivans from even a few years ago.

My beef with the whole SUV thing is that so many claim they bought them so they could tote around car loads of friends and family. I'd say out of 100 SUVs I see in a weekend, the majority have a sole occupant and the vast majority have no more than 2 occupants. A buddy of mine with a good head on his shoulders has two kids and a house he is renovating. He bought an SUV, and he just uses it when it is necessary. He and his wife both have late 90's Honda Civics for their daily commutes and quick trips around town.

[D_Fence]

Originally Posted by wombat13

The only downside to driving the minivan that I've noticed is the number of other drivers that just can't deal with being passed by a minivan. They go to great lengths (and speeds) to make sure they get back ahead of the minivan.

As a whole, my observation has been that minivan drivers are the fastest drivers on the road. They aren't necessarily the worst drivers, but they sure are in a hurry.

[catamount]

Originally Posted by wombat13

I am a proud minivan driver. They are by far the most practical family vehicle.

Nothing wrong with a mini-van; if you have kids they are practical as heck, but I would hate to lose my pickup truck. It sucks hauling full sheets of plywood in a minivan. Although it can be done if the seats fold down. And if you have a trailer you can haul just about anything. So at my house we have a minivan, a pickup, AND a trailer.

I have to admit, though, I do feel sort of like a house-husband driving the minivan.

[tbhahn]

I learned to drive in a mini-van (1990 Plymouth Voyager), and it was my ride for a few months once I turned 16...best part about having it was the looks I got from parents of girls I dated. See, the middle seats were taken out back when my folks first got it (I was a tall kid, and liked the extra legroom on trips). The ol shaggin wagon treated me right till I got my Jeep Cherokee...

[rev-arb]

I have have had three different minivans. Did not have a problem buying them or driving one. For long trips they are certainly a comfortable way to travel. Especially if you have kids. Right now we want another MV. Looking at the Kia and the Hyunai. (same vehicle different logo) We do not have one now. I traded the MV for a Durango so I can pull my camper. As well, living in SD, I need it to get in and out of my driveway in the winter. (mud, snow). I have always like them, wife does not mind driving them at all. I think it is just a stereotype we need to get over. Of course, now that GM and Ford are not making them, everyone will be driving Crossovers.