Comments on: Car Shopping, Part 2.

By: the idiot

the idiot — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 05:28:39 +0000

Having driven more than a handful of foreign and domestic minivans over the last twenty years, I’d say I’m more than satisfied with my practical research. The last two made my wife want to puke, so that’s pretty much out. Having browsed the minivan listings at the local CarMax as recently as a month ago, I found that the only models I’d consider are well out of our price range. So that’s out too.
My immediate priorities are focused solely on finding a safe, economical, affordable vehicle for my family, and that’s not going to change.

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:00:52 +0000

Sounds remarkably like my other minivan-hating friends before they had kids and actually researched & drove a minivan for the first time.
Now followed by something about changing priorities, I believe …

By: the idiot

the idiot — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:34:47 +0000

One of the reasons I married my wife is because she told me she did not want to drive a minivan, period. They don’t come with manual transmissions. They are, yes, very spendy; the second best way car companies have found they can gouge consumers is to build a glorified delivery van with cupholders and DVD players and mark it up $20K.
Perhaps I will change my mind in five years, but for now we will go with a CR-V.

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:11:07 +0000

OK – I’ll bite: why isn’t a minivan an option? Granted it’s not very aesthetically pleasing, but I’ve never met a parent who didn’t love its convenience, functionality & safety. And I know several who swore never to go the minivan route and then kicked themselves for not conceding earlier once they finally made the leap.
Way spendy and not a minivan, but these are really pretty: http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/minisite/venzaexperience/?exp=true