Why You Should Not Buy a Mini-van
But that was then, and this is now. The novelty wore off quickly, and after about a year, I was tired of driving a van that was anything but “mini” – the thing was huge – and couldn’t wait to downsize. Two years later, it was love at first sight when I first saw my dream car.
My Volvo Cross-Country wagon is family-friendly, yet rugged and cool. There is a third seat that flips open and faces backwards, so its maximum passenger capacity is seven. When I took it for that first test-drive, I felt so low to the ground, like the car was hugging the road. Wow..driving was fun again!
Let me share with you ten reasons NOT to buy a mini-van:
1) The “fun” factor: A mini-van’s other name is “mom-without-a-life-mobile”: Just because you’re a mom (or dad) you don’t have to stop being cool or having fun. Busy moms deserve to enjoy life outside of parenthood, once in a while. Your kids will be just fine if you take them to soccer practice in a sedan or wagon (hatchback wagons are great for things like sports gear) and after you’ve dropped them off, you’ll enjoy zipping around in a car a lot more than driving a sluggish van.
2) Appearance: Mini vans are basically, ugly.
3) Fuel-efficiency: Vans are less fuel-efficient than most cars, and with the price of gas these days, who can afford to keep filling up some of those monster-vehicles?
4) Avoid turning into the neighborhood taxi-cab: Vans are like open invitations to drive every three-and four-year-old in the neighborhood to pre-school. Personally, I don’t mind giving other kids rides and think car-pooling is a very good thing…but there are times when, more than anything, I value my privacy. I do not want to be too “available”; being a parent to my own kids is demanding enough.
5) Parking problems: A mini-van can be very difficult to park because of its size. I know many a van driver whom avoids parallel parking at all costs.
6) Unnecessary space: Honestly, most families do not use all of the space in their vans, but for a few times a year. The only time we used all of our van’s space was when we had to pack up to stay at a rental house for our summer vacation. I’d rather buy one of those storage containers for my car’s roof-rack, and use it as needed than have all of that unused, open space in my vehicle every time I have to run an errand.
7) Don’t be pegged “crazy driver”: Let’s face it, women, and moms in particular, have poor reputations when it comes to their driving abilities. It’s true that parents are often distracted while driving with kids in the car, which can lead to erratic driving and even car accidents. But why advertise that you’re flustered? A mini-van in itself, is like a big “warning” signal on wheels.
8) Safety: Studies have shown that vans (and SUV’s) are not as safe as cars. My Volvo wagon has many amazing safety features, including rear side airbags that are safe for children and all-wheel drive (for bad weather). Now that’s family-friendly!
9) Style: European=classy. I cannot think of a mini-van that is manufactured in a European country, except for maybe a Volkswagen bus, and I’m not even sure if they make those anymore. It’s not that I don’t love my country; I just don’t think it produces the nicest automobiles. German and Italian cars are probably the finest, but I’m quite happy with my Swedish wagon.
10) Distance between you, your spouse/partner and kids: the driver’s seat and front passenger seat are so far apart in many, if not all, mini-vans. When it’s just the two of you, out for the evening, don’t plan on holding hands. And you’ll have to shout in order to be heard by your spouse beside you or kids/passengers in the back seats. Try reaching back for your child’s dropped sippy cup (preferably, when you’re at a red light or Stop sign!) and you’ll find that it’s impossible to do unless you get out of your seat.
What’s the moral of the story?….Bigger is not necessarily better!
