Not too long ago I was anti-minivan and swore I would NEVER drive one. In the past two and half years I drove a Jeep Commander and a Chevy Silverado....both vehicles are large and rugged. The truck was a loud diesel, making it feel even more rugged.
I enjoyed these vehicles, but as we learned we would be having kiddo #2 I realized that the truck may no longer be a good fit for the family. I could barely climb into the truck myself, let alone lift an infant car seat into it. So began the search for the right family car for us.
My husband kept pushing the mini-van, but I kept researching SUV's as I really didn't want to drive a van. As the search went on and I couldn't find an SUV with enough room inside (the commander had 3rd row seating but it was very crowded inside), I started looking at the mini-vans and opened up to the idea of owning one.
I am now a PROUD owner of a Toyota Sienna!! I love my mini-van and here are a few reasons why:
1. Diaper changing is a breeze! I dislike using the changing tables in public bathrooms, so I change my kiddos' diapers in the van. There is so much floor space between the middle and front seats for changing diapers. And in the winter or the rain when I don't want to stand outside the van with the door open, I can even sit on the floor with them.
2. It holds an insane amount of stuff. With the large amount of floor space (we have captains seats in the middle row leaving more floor space) and the large back end, you can almost pack your whole house! Rylee even told me once, "Mom, we have a lot of stuff in here!"
3. The back end storage is more useful than an SUV. When I drove the Jeep I couldn't fit anything else in the back end once my large jogging stroller was in. The mini-van is "family friendly", leaving plenty of room in the back end for a stroller plus additional luggage, grocery bags, etc.
4. The large side doors. Getting kids and/or bags in and out of the car is so much easier with the large side doors that slide open to give you more room. The sliding doors also keep your kiddos from door dinging the car next to you.
5. It drives like a car and is easy to park. I know many SUV's drive like a car as well, but after driving the truck, this was a great thing for me.
There are many other things I love about my Sienna, but they are more optional things that aren't standard to all mini-vans. I am very glad I was able to get over the hump of thinking that mini-vans were uncool and see all the conveniences of having one. James loves the van so much that he says he would drive one even if we didn't have kids. There are plenty of other vehicles I would rather drive if I didn't have kids, but for now, this is the perfect family vehicle for us and I plan to drive it for a long time.
So, the next time you say, "I will never own a mini-van", be ready to eat your own words after you try one out! Sometimes convenience has to trump our dignity.
No comments:
Post a Comment