The Minivan - the Ride for Cool Moms

I admit that my daily mode of transport is the minivan. Moms across America either love 'em or hate 'em. Nothing telegraphs your status in life as a married, middle-class mom like a minivan. Some women (and men) wouldn't be caught dead in a minivan. They're just not cool. For these folks, it's like having to admit you've given in -- you're no longer glamorous and young and available for whatever life has to offer. Instead, the minivan says your lifestyle is average and encumbered by kids, like Bowling for Soup's 1985 woman (who actually drove a yellow SUV, but you get the point). "Her two kids in high school, they tell her that she's uncool."

It's All About Image

Some people say minivans are geeky. Frumpy. Definitely not sexy. They prefer the "Suburban Family Assault Vehicle" otherwise known as an SUV. The nickname suggests a rather confrontational attitude towards life, like driving is a constant war against a cruel enemy presence. A understandable approach, especially around these L.A. freeways. SUV ads communicate a rugged sporty image -- these guys are out hiking, kayaking, doing cool outdoorsy things for recreation. Never mind that 9 out of 10 SUV's don't ever leave the pavement and are more likely schlepping around grocery bags and soccer team gear on weekends.

Others love their minivan and embrace the life circumstances of family and activities that led to its purchase in the first place. The minivan says "soccer mom" and we don't mind that it does. Minivans and the moms and dads that drive them are cool!

Fans of minivans, we know how to get real. We've moved onto another stage of life with acceptance and have chosen a vehicle that's the most practical option. Sure, becoming a parent meant giving up that little red 240SX 5-speed I used to drive. Ever try to buckle a baby into the back seat of one of those? Not fun. But it is fun and fulfilling to put my energy into family life. So I don't care what other people think of my ride, I'm laughing at myself right along with them...

Room - enough for the dog, kids, their friends and all their stuff for short trips and long vacations. All sorts of things fit into the back of that van, from bikes to 4 by 8 ft sheets of plywood. Because of the flat floor, the van fits long items like skis and soccer banner poles easily. I just slide them along the floor under the seats.

Comfort - extra room means more comfort. For my husband, who stands well over 6 feet, the leg room and head room are fantastic. Because minivans are built like cars as opposed to the truck styling of an SUV, they have a smoother ride. It's a comfortable ride for everyone, even in the back seat. Minivans are easy to step up into even if you're wearing heels and a miniskirt (not the case with some SUV's). And somehow the minivan seat was designed to be the perfect height for lifting and buckling a toddler into a car seat without having to bend over.

Safety - minivans are built like cars, with the same safety features. SUV's are built on a truck model, hence the infamous tendency to roll. (See www.nhtsa.dot.gov for rollover ratings of specific models.) For me, a petite person, being seated up higher than in a car makes visibility that much better while driving. With the way people drive around here in Los Angeles, I'm happy that my loved ones are surrounded by a substantial vehicle that affords some protection if we get hit.

The sliding doors - so many kudos for the sliding door feature.

1. You can open the van from a distance to air it out on a hot day. Plus your kids can get right in since they're probably running ahead of you anyway, while you lag behind because you're carrying all their stuff.
2. With remote door control, you can let your kids out for school drop offs without getting out of the car. No need for kids to struggle with a door that's too big for them to handle.
3. No worries about dinging the car next to you while opening the door when you're parked in a tight space.
4. No worries about the door blowing or falling back on you as you're extricating a kid from the car seat. Santa Ana wind is a serious factor here in So Cal, I've been slammed in the back many times! Ouch!
   

DVD player - instrumental in surviving long boring rides. I think the distraction might even keep the kids from getting carsick. On the other hand, there are dozens of kid movies that I have heard a zillion times, but have never actually seen! Our Honda Odyssey has headphones so the kids can listen to their own thing in the back while the parents can enjoy separate audio in front, but I haven't actually figured out how to work the system yet .

Mileage - compared to a gas-guzzling SUV, it's not bad. I've seen SUV's rack up close to a $100 tab at the gas station. We use the van for transporting the family and the stuff, but our other car, the commuter, is a Toyota Prius, 45 miles to the gallon. So it's a nice balance.

If only we could get the best of both, a hybrid minivan. Unfortunately, they have not been available in the U.S. There are rumors that Toyota and Hyundai are working on hybrid models for the American market. Hope it's true, so when my old Honda Odyssey finally dies, I can replace it with a new gas-efficient minivan. Because I am not planning to give up my minivan (or the family life that goes with it) anytime soon.